Hay Days is the biggest, most exciting snowmobile event of the pre-season. After a long wait and parking challenges last year, Hay Days officials said they improved it for this year, and they did…BIG TIME! They worked with the township and local landowners to shuffle people in and keep traffic flowing. Everyone we talked to said the wait was minimal at best. In fact, the biggest complaint we heard was the wait in line to get in. Early birds arrived well before the 7AM gate opening hoping to get the pick of the litter.
I walked the swaps early at a good pace and I know I didn’t see half of the items people brought from all over the country. I saw people walking around with seats, skis, suspensions, engine parts, motorcycles, ATV parts and much more. It was dizzying.
As the day grew warmer and air dustier I stopped for a few minutes and watched the freestyle motorcycle riders do tricks in the air; the smell of beer and corn dogs nearby. As I strolled toward the big-four displays, I talked with several vendors, took photos of new and improved sled mod stuff, and took a break for an ice-cold Muscle Milk (I found I like the vanilla). Here are some photos of my Hay Days sightings, some old, some new.
Rare 1974 Sno-Jet Phantom Jet. This is a prototype and has a 440cc Yamaha fan motor. Number 1 of only 2 in existence.
Vintage sleds at memory lane.
This Cat "Limo" has been a vintage attraction at Hay Days for many years.
Here's another angle.
Swap area.
Hot new Polarises on display.
Yamaha has new dual-keel skis. Shown here with several wearbar combinations.
Yamaha is also introducing long-lasting slides made of UHMW and Delrin inserts. They claim 8X the wear for about 4X the price.
Ski-Doo and their sleds, including the brand new rMotion rear suspension.
Craig Marchbank recognized for 30 Years of Racing with Ski-Doo.
Where's American Pickers for this Dino gas pump?
"Throw it in and let's go" seemed to be the motto for this swapper.
The Double X-Treme girls were signing calendars.
Freestyle tricksters on their motorcycles.
Sled Divas and their tricked-out sled.
Sled Divas clothing on display.
New RXF gear also on display.
Cold Flow Hood Vent Kits.
Mountain Addiction gas cans and storage bags.
Tucker Hibbert Graphics Package makes you look like a Monster Cat Racer.
Super cool Fox technology on display at the Fox Shocks booth.
Power steering and all at the Yamaha snowmobile display booth.
Yamaha racers getting ready to sign autographs.
The new 2012 Axxxtion Sports calendar is now available.
And you could get yours signed on the spot.
The new 2012 Pink Ribbon Riders Arctic Cat sled on display. You can get tickets to win this from the pinkribbonriders.com web site.
Nash Car Trailers are really nice. Hand-Built one at a time and they come in a really nice looking flat black.
Speedwerx Cat mods for the 2012.
Split Rail Skis are available for Polaris, Ski-Doo, and some Yamaha's. They have a new spindle this year.
New High-Side Steering from Curve Indsutries.