The Waconia Ride-In started out as the Vintage Snowmobile Club of America's Midwest Ride-in over 20 years ago. Today, it has grown to be the single largest and most comprehensive vintage snowmobile ride, show and swap in the world. Our corporate name is MWVSS, but people know us as "the Waconia Ride-In".
We are a non-profit organization with a 30 member organizational committee that works year-round to pull this event off. However, for the event weekend itself, we have partnered with the Carver County Sno-Runners, Chaska Sno-Hawks and the Westonka SnoBlazers snowmobile clubs to organize and put on this large event. Certainly other organizations contribute to our success:
Southwest Trails Assn.
Northwest Trails Assn.
Waconia Fire Department
Hamburg Fire Department
Waconia Lions
Watertown Lions
MnUSA Region 8
South Tonka Snowmobile Club
With each event, these volunteers log in some 2,000 hours to ensure that you have a fun, safe and rerwarding experience at the Waconia Ride In!
Proceeds from the Waconia Ride-In go back into the snowmobile community for snowmobile training, trails, etc and also restoration and presentation of antique and vintage snowmobiles. On occasion, we focus on a special fund as our budget allows. This has included:
- a fund for Ed DeVault, who died racing snowmobiles a few years back.
- donation to the Snowmobile Hall of Fame & Museum, in memory of C.J. Ramstad
- donations to vintage snowmobile brethren whose families are in need
- conributions to snowmobile museums
CONTACT US @ waconia99@gmail.com
or call our hot line at 651- 649-4688
Our success and strength comes from sharing the load in putting on this great event. By breaking the tasks down into manageable pieces, each Committee person can make an important contribution without being burdened by overload.
Please consider giving back to your favorite sport. Our Committee is a fun and energetic bunch and we would love to hear from you. Our Committee is more than just our winter event. We enjoy a summer picnic, and we get together at fall swap meets such as Princeton and Hay Days. We focus on fun and camaraderie and together, our event is greater than the sum of its parts.
So e-mail, call or visit with any Committee member. We are proud of what the Waconia Ride-In has become and invite you to become a part of it.
With great pride and admiration, we are pleased to announce that our long-standing Committee Chair is a 2013 inductee into Snowmobile Hall of Fame in St. Germain, Wisconsin.
In their words...
Leveraging an undying love of snowmobiling, a clear vision and knack for grassroots organization, John Zeglin led the growth of the world's largest vintage snowmobile event, the Waconia Ride-In, while simultaneously growing the vintage snowmobile hobby.
Zeglin's passion for the vintage hobby is matched only by his dedication to growing the sport. With the help of friends and other like-minded enthusiasts, Zeglin launched the Midwest Ride-In in 1993, attracting roughly 150 entries. Considered a successful event at the time, Zeglin would guide the vintage event to attract upwards of 7,000 participants less than two decades later, with no end of growth in sight. Motivated only by a desire for excellence with grassroots representation, Zeglin shaped the event as a volunteer-only, not-for-profit entity whose proceeds are given to multiple snowmobile organizations. The event currently enlists the volunteer support of more than 150 people, several snowmobile clubs, a trail association and multiple public and civic organizations.
Living in Delano, Minn., Zeglin has also served as the president of a local club; organized radar run events; created promotional vintage displays at various events; and organized the Ski-Doo Vintage Reunion, all in addition to running a successful business.
A local magazine featured the Waconia Ride-In and our Chair, John Zeglin. Congratulations, John!
Click HERE.
As published in the September 2012 edition of MINNESOTA SNOWMOBILING, the official publication of the Minnesota Snowmobilers Association…
(Vol 33, No. 1, page 6)
by Mn USA Vice President Report, by Gayle Quistgard:
… Jack Speckel of Watertown has been involved in all aspects of the sport of snowmobiling. He became a member of the Crow River Drifters in the 1970’s. Jack later joined the Carver County Snowrunners in the 1990’s. He has been known to use his own truck and ATV to assist in maintaining the trails. Jack has signed and groomed trails, plus he has maintained the groomer.
He has been a very active and long term member of MnUSA, serving as a lead director and board member. Jack represents snowmobiling by meeting with both state and local legislators. Because of his demeanor, he generates respect for his position on issues.
The ultimate volunteer, Jack works the club booth at the Carver County Fair and MnUSA’s State Fair booth. Through his hobby of vintage snowmobiles, he has been deeply involved in many events. With his organizational skills and involvement, the Waconia Midwest Vintage Snowmobile Show has become a premier event.
With over forty years of involvement in snowmobiling, Jack has not lost his passion for the sport. He is one of the most successful recruiters for membership in MnUSA.
One of our very active Committee members has received the highest honor from the Minnesota United Snowmobilers Assn. (MnUSA)
Jack Speckel has distinguished himself through volunteerism benefitting modern, vintage and antique snowmobilers! Click here to read the impressive press release.
Quite apart from being Secretary and Website Manager for the Waconia Rode-In Committee, Valdi Stefanson has received recognition for his humanitarian efforts serving the poor in several South American countries.
Valdi received Rotary’s Service Above Self award. It is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Rotarian, and worldwide only 150 Rotarians (out of 1.2 million) were selected to receive this year’s award. Valdi is active with International service projects that serve people in need --- providing clean water, hospital supplies and school equipment in Guyana, Bolivia and Nicaragua.
Rotary is a service organization of business professionals that promise high ethical conduct and volunteer service in community, region and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto ‘Service Above Self”.
Additionally, Valdi serves as host of the popular OLD IRON dvd series that features vintage and antique snowmobiling.