There was at least one fatal snowmobile wreck in Minnesota over the weekend. The victim was a man who drove his snowmobile off a rural road in Carleton County and into a wooded area. Alcohol and excessive speed were contributing factors in the deadly wreck. At least two other snowmobile wrecks involving injuries were reported.
When are they gonna learn? Save it for when it's parked for the night!
- Thread starter maj16
- Start date
Firecatguy
New member
some day but if you bring drinking and riding up on the forum you will be BLASTED with those who seem to think its ok to drink and ride........not me....and boy would I come unglued if a drunk ran into me......
FCguy...I know I will and I don't care...it totally Plsses me off when they think they need to get hammered, or even have one or two for that matter, and get on the sled, car, wheeler, whatever, and think they are 10 foot tall and bulletproof and ruin someone's life....
Okay, I feel better now.
Okay, I feel better now.
Firecatguy
New member
me to my friend me too.. I do all the police towing for my area and I should start A thread with all the pics I have taken in 20years of scraping people and their vehicles from the road way..I have seen destruction of entire family's by drunk drivers........
The drinking & driving topics always get hairy. Obviously no one should be driving anything if they're drunk. The problem is that some people have a few, the alcohol gets to them- and they THINK they are fine and they are not. So I understand where you 'no alcohol what so ever' people are coming from. I don't necessarily agree with you, but I respect your opinion. I think I can have a beer with lunch or dinner b/c I'm adult enough to know that's all I can have- and I stick to that rule. But not everyone does. I also know that even very responsible people can make mistakes. I wouldn't assume this guy was a party animal who finally had an accident. It could have been his one stupid moment. Either way- it' sad. I feel for his family. I'm thankful he didn't hurt any innocent people around him. And I'm sad it's another black eye for the sport I've loved since I was a kid.
Firecatguy
New member
If you want to have one while eating and get on a sled no problem. Same thing with a car.There is a legal limit. I just don't like to see the people that are drunk and riding. I don't drink at all while on a sled or driving a car. I can wait until I'm done. That is just me! I have bee out with friends that had a beer and then went out riding. They went a lot faster and crazier with just one beverage in them then before the drink. I couldn't believe the difference. That is why I chose to wait until I'm done riding before drinking.
yamahauler
Active member
You can't fix stupid!
These morons are the reason I don't like riding at night. Yea it can happen during the day but I would say majority at night.
These morons are the reason I don't like riding at night. Yea it can happen during the day but I would say majority at night.
saying you cant have a beer and drive a snowmobile is outrageous, having a beer or two while eating a fine burger at any bar/resturant on the trail is not wrong. You just have to control yourself and not be an idiot.
Ill have a beer while i eat lunch and go back out there, some of you need to calm down, but for the most part everyones on here has there head on straight.
If I plan to DRINK, more then 1-2, sleds parked and I might have a headache the next morning to go out riding again...
Ill have a beer while i eat lunch and go back out there, some of you need to calm down, but for the most part everyones on here has there head on straight.
If I plan to DRINK, more then 1-2, sleds parked and I might have a headache the next morning to go out riding again...
I can't imagine there is a person in this forum who would say it is OK to drink in excess and drive a sled. Now, if you stop for lunch or dinner, have one beer or bloody, that I don't have a problem with.
What I have a problem with is this: Last winter a group of guys at the lodge in Twin Lakes must have each drank at least 5 tall RB and Vodkas in a about the time it took me to have dinner, we got the heck out of there before they left!
Some of you may remember the couple who was killed in Minocqua last Jan. The guy (who hit them also died) it was discovered was smoking weed.
What I have a problem with is this: Last winter a group of guys at the lodge in Twin Lakes must have each drank at least 5 tall RB and Vodkas in a about the time it took me to have dinner, we got the heck out of there before they left!
Some of you may remember the couple who was killed in Minocqua last Jan. The guy (who hit them also died) it was discovered was smoking weed.
Firecatguy
New member
I wonder who sets out to get drunk and crash???do you think they start out saying "just few"??
Pass the popcorn.....
Pass the popcorn.....
rsvectordude
New member
There are lots of people on this forum that drink to excess and read these topics.......Some care some don't.....As long as there are sleds and snow people will die on them drinking or not..I would say the people who don't drink on them are the minority of the sledding community because if you look around you at the bars I really don't see too many non-drinkers around....More like piles of empties on the tables..
snow_monkey
New member
It's just a matter of time that the drunk driver will get caught. We watched the Dnr follow a group of guys out of the Fife Lake Inn last year. 2 miles down the trail they had them all pulled over going thru various sobriety tests.
The problem here is that the offenders view this as Law Enforcement singling them out, or entrapment, and get all plssed off thinking that L.E. was in the wrong. I say go for it. Law Enforcement officers have a difficult job....
anonomoose
New member
Yep...run them over again, even if you have to circle around to do it. Dummies that think the LAW doesn't apply to them, are better off not spreading seeds.
Each one of these fatalites just adds to industry whoa's. Like it or not we all suffer for the few that use sledding to drink...I just wish that they would go cut a hole in the ice and go for a long swim...or go bungee jumping....at least the fatality would be seen in a different light.
anonomoose
New member
I'm a biker...and I can tell you that even ONE drink affects your ability, and I don't care if you are 300 lbs. Alcohol dulls the senses, and all you need is for a millisecond to expire comin around a corner, or turning your head away looking at a distraction and you can hook a ski, root, barbwire, anything. You need MORE reaction, not less.
There is a reason for zero tollerance riding. It just makes sense. Save the "relaxing" for after the sled is put up. Then designate a driver...you owe it to your relatives that really would rather not have to pay for a funeral right now, or being a statistic on a ride, where "alcohol" was involved, and pushing one more legislature member to say, "enough of this" on the rest of us who know why even "one" is too much.
Drinking and riding is similar to smoking and cancer...it never is going to happen to YOU, right....it is someone un-named out there...never YOU....until it does, and then it is too late, eh?
Learn to like yourself more...pull the bottle down when the keys are put up. Live to teach your grandkids to ride...be responsible...life is way too short to blow it out on a weekend on some trail...that has your name on it.
I've been bounced off my sled twice. The first time was after driniking a few too many and trying to catch up to the guy in front and hit a ditch. The second time was sober but I was trying to stay ahead of the sled behind me and had to bail out at a road crossing.
Each time the cause was under my control. The first time it was alcohol & the second was speed. After the first time I made a promise to myself & family NOT to drink while riding. After the second time I made a promise to myself & family NOT to ride to fast for conditions.
This also led me to come up with a few "real" world snowmobile safety rules:
1. Remember that you're not the only idiot on the trail.
2. Don't try to keep up with the guy in front of you. His sled's bigger & he's a better rider.
3. Don't let the guy behind you push you to go faster. His sled's bigger & he's a better rider.
4. See rule # 1.
Each time the cause was under my control. The first time it was alcohol & the second was speed. After the first time I made a promise to myself & family NOT to drink while riding. After the second time I made a promise to myself & family NOT to ride to fast for conditions.
This also led me to come up with a few "real" world snowmobile safety rules:
1. Remember that you're not the only idiot on the trail.
2. Don't try to keep up with the guy in front of you. His sled's bigger & he's a better rider.
3. Don't let the guy behind you push you to go faster. His sled's bigger & he's a better rider.
4. See rule # 1.
I was side swiped by a drunk while riding near Conover. My sled was totalled, bruised some ribs, broke some toes and fingers. It happend at 10:30 in the morning. My Dad was hit in the middle of a lake by a phazer. T boned him and he just about lost his leg, 8 month in a wheel chair. I took some time off and a friend convinced my to try riding in the UP, well I have been off trail ever since..... I will only ride trails to get to the sweet spots and that is it. I ride out West about 20-30 days a year and love it. My first off trail was in 2001 and I bought a RMK before that trip was over. I will drink when the sled is parked and the Bar is in walking distance.