A Show About Trail Groomers?

[skiroule]

When checking the selection of occupation-based shows on the "The" channels (History/Discovery/Learning) today it seems that what is missing is a show about trail groomers.

Should I be worried that I would probably find this show interesting? I mean, a lot of us know of equipment (good and bad) and operators that would make great subject matter. Throw in some of the things that happen to the operators and equipment and you have Thom Beers dream situation. Maybe even a mileage scoring system.

Even after some thought about a catchy name, I got nothin'. Maybe later, but in the meantime I have to believe the creative J.D. membership can come up with something.

 

[Admin]

Your idea might be closer to reality than you think. I'm not saying anything, but just saying... it might happen. I've heard some things.

-John

 

[Minnesota Flats]

As a part time groomer driver in the Brainerd,MN lakes area, I think this would be interesting, even to many snowmobilers. Some seem to think trails get groomed by some type of magic.

They don't understand the time it takes at 4MPH to 7MPH in the Tucker while pulling the Mogul Master drag.

Groomer drivers know there is a lot of technique managing the hydraulic controls on the pusher blade, and on the drag, to get the best "white asphalt" on the trails.

My all time favorite grooming video.
"Fantasy." trail grooming machine. Variable width on-the-fly, huge dozer blade, and plenty of power.
Sure would be fun to drive it sometime.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7oT5siIcjU

 

[frnash]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7oT5siIcjU

Wooo, now that was seven plus minutes of pure spine tingling excitement! Ice Road Truckers is in trouble now!

 

[Marty]

How bout this one from my buddy Luc "The Groomer Guy"

Great riding up there..........man I miss that 45% exchange rate, back in the good old days!


http://youtu.be/HOpxnhoEpec

 

[skiroule]

Your idea might be closer to reality than you think. I'm not saying anything, but just saying... it might happen. I've heard some things.

-John

Interesting......

At first I thought it was just a fun concept but after a thinking about a little more, it seems as valid, if not more valid than what's out there now. I don't know if we would need a driver with blue hair though.

But there is the matter of the name. My first attempt was "White Knights", which isn't great but it's way better than my next two: "Snowmen" and "Powder Pushers".

 

[roundhouse]

Ribbon Rollers

Trail Boss

Ice Road Tuckers

Trail Blazers

Winter's Warriors

 

[russholio]

Groomers Gone Wild!

 

[dcsnomo]

Ribbon Rollers


Ice Road Tuckers

http://youtu.be/45CHLPg39Kg

 

[skiroule]

The big New Holland with the variable width planer would be a challenging experience on Trail 120 (aka the Freda Loop) or on "The Swamper" up in the Arrowhead. I'd definitely watch Groomer Dave have a crack at it.

I absolutely loved Luc "the groomer guy". Talk about a show promo! What gets me about this video is that it's obviously mid day or later and there is still untracked powder on the trail.

 

[frnash]

… Ice Road Tuckers …

Now that's a good one — even though it's going to go right over the heads of 98.7% of the audience!

 

[Minnesota Flats]

Wooo, now that was seven plus minutes of pure spine tingling excitement! Ice Road Truckers is in trouble now!

Great proposed titles, all.

How about "boredom and terror at 5 Miles Per Hour.?" LOL

Everything is going well until some throttle-jockey rider comes around a curve like a bat-out-of he!! headed right for the pusher blade, and stops about 2 ft away from disaster.
Or:
You are cruising along at 5 or 6 MPH, and you suddenly hear a loud noise from the engine or suspension.
Or:
You are trying to pull some fresh snow into the drag from the side of the trail... and damn!.... I thought that tree stump was further off the trail, and BANG!, the machine comes to a dead stop. Oh s**t , the shear pin on the drag hitch just snapped too.

Groomer operators all have stories to tell.

The big New Holland with the variable width planer would be a challenging experience on Trail 120 (aka the Freda Loop) or on "The Swamper" up in the Arrowhead. I'd definitely watch Groomer Dave have a crack at it.

I absolutely loved Luc "the groomer guy". Talk about a show promo! What gets me about this video is that it's obviously mid day or later and there is still untracked powder on the trail.

That drag would be too wide for a lot of our trails in Crow Wing County, MN.
But if you watch the video closely, you will see how the driver uses the variable width to grab fresh snow on the side of the trail, and pull it onto the trail surface.
Caveat: you would have to know every inch of the trail to avoid snagging obstructions under the snow.

The technique of pulling snow on the riding sueface can pay off by extending the riding season a bit as Spring weather approaches, not to mention lay down a nice base

Again, I gotta drive that thing some day. And absolutely love the humongus 3-point hitch mounted dozer blade.
That tractor barely flinches when pushing down big drifts on the fly.