Midwest Ride-In Seeking
Organizational Committee Volunteers
If you enjoy old snowmobiles, you know that the Midwest Ride-In is the largest event in the hobby of antique, vintage & classic snowmobiles. Our annual end-of-January event is celebrating its 31st annual show in 2022! Midwest Vintage Snowmobile Shows (MVSS) is a non-profit and proceeds go directly to support local trail clubs and promotion of the history, hobby and sport of snowmobiling (www.mwvss.com).
We have been blessed with a strong 20+ member Organizational Committee for many years. As with any volunteer organization, succession of individuals is healthy and provides new perspectives and talents that allow our event to improve.
Our move to the ERX Motor Park in Elk River is part of this evolution and changed the needs of our Organizational Committee. Social media and the internet have reshaped how events are marketed and function. And quite simply our Organizational Committee is experiencing more grey hair as time marches on. Some members have been with us since the very beginning and others wish to reduce their time commitment after decade(s) of volunteering. In short, our needs have changed just as our location changed.
We ask that you consider a role in shaping the future of the Midwest Ride-In. We seek volunteers in certain target areas, as outlined below. Some tasks are year-round, and others focused on pre-event timelines. Some require meeting attendance and others can be done remotely.
Most importantly we are looking for people passionate about the hobby. Some specific skills and areas of expertise needed going forward are social media experience, graphic design, flyer and brochure design, Judged Sunday Show registration coordinator, summer show participants (displays and merchandising), sponsor coordinator (particularly in the Elk River & NW metro), drone operator and an auction coordinator.
If you can help in any of these areas, please contact us at MidwestRideIn@gmail.com or talk to a current committee member at this year’s Midwest Ride-In. Look for us in the ballroom or working outside in the red FXR jackets with the Midwest Ride-In logo on the back.
Thank you for your consideration.
The Midwest Vintage Ride-In Board of Directors
The Midwest Ride-In is the name of our event. The incorporated nonprofit name of the organization is Midwest Vintage Snowmobile Shows (MVSS). Distinct from the Committee that coordinates the January show, the MVSS Board of Directors and Elk River Volunteer Committee serves to manage the nonprofit in terms of governance, compliance, finances and all that boring stuff. Congratulations to the Board of four officers and seven “at large” members — most pictured at our 2016 Saturday night banquet.
ABOUT MIDWEST VINTAGE SNOWMOBILE SHOWS --- THE ELK RIVER RIDE-IN PEOPLE!
The Midwest Ride-In started out as the Vintage Snowmobile Club of America’s Midwest Ride-in over 25 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 came to know us as “the Waconia Ride-In” when our show was held annually in Waconia, Minnesota. It is now held at the Elk River Motorsports Park in Elk River, Minnesota.
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 many snowmobile clubs to organize and put on this large event.
Certainly other organizations contribute to our success:
- Elk Lake Easy Riders
- Southwest Trails Assn.
- River City Snow Riders
- Hamburg Fire Department
- 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 rewarding experience at the MIDWEST RIDE-IN!
Did You Know?
Proceeds from the Midwest 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. Also the International Hall of Fame and the Top-of-th-Lake snowmobile museums.
- Donations to vintage snowmobile brethren whose families are in need.
- Regular contributions to snowmobile museums.
- Sponsorship of vintage shows and events, such as the Annual VSCA Nationals show.
Kevin Lehse Raffle
A big success thanks to all that bought raffle tickets and to Chaska Sno-Hawks Snowmobile club for sponsoring this great benefit!
Pictured above is Kevin Lehse and the handoff of exactly 100% of proceeds!
One of our Committee members needed your help and support! Kevin Lehse recently received a shocking diagnosis of AML Leukemia. Kevin is undergoing a chemotherapy regimen in hospital and seldom able to get to work. His expenses and bills have skyrocketed.
Many of you know Kevin. He is always a judge at the LOUD snowmobile contest. He usually illustrates our event sweatshirts. He hand-makes miniature replicas of snowmobiles.
The Chaska Sno Hawks Snowmobile Club held a benefit raffle for a 1972 Sno Prince Jr. A cute and colorful mini-sled! Raffle tickets sold for $ 5. In addition to the snowmobile, each tickets includes a chance to win a snow blower, snowmobile lift, chainsaw, and $100.00 gift card from Hobby Lobby.
Pictures below…
Kevin is known for making these miniature models
Kevin likes his antique snowmobiles.
Here is Kevin in action! Check out the hat!
Kevin demonstrates a tin-cab balancing act!
Pretty color combination. You want this mini-sled.
Rare 1972 Sno Prince Jr. Made in Quebec, Canada
JACK SPECKEL - Midwest Ride-In Hall of Fame 2015 Inductee
Our first inductee to the Waconia Ride-In Hall of Fame was none other than JACK SPECKEL. Congratulations!
OUR COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR, JOHN ZEGLIN, is inducted into the Snowmobile Hall of Fame !!!
With great pride and admiration, we are pleased to announce that our long-standing Committee Co-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 Midwest 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.
OUR COMMITTEE CHAIR, JOHN ZEGLIN, FEATURED IN TONKA TIMES MAGAZINE
A local magazine featured the Midwest Ride-In and our Chair, John Zeglin. Congratulations, John!
Click Here to read the article!
COMMITTEE MEMBER JACK SPECKEL HONORED IN MINNESOTA SNOWMOBILING MAGAZINE
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.COMMITTEE MEMBER JACK SPECKEL named SNOWMOBILER OF THE YEAR
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.
UPDATE: The press release is no longer available on the MNUSA website.
COMMITTEE MEMBER VALDI STEFANSON RECEIVES ROTARY INTERNATIONAL’s HIGHEST AWARD
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.