Chautauqua County Snowmomobiles

'Winter road trip'  OBSERVER File Photo by Patrick Fanelli Snowmobiles line up during the fourth annual Ride-In event in February organized by the Chautauqua County Snowmobile Federation.     12/2/2007 - An overview of snowmobiling for beginners By   JESSE SHERWOOD OBSERVER Staff Writer Snow is starting to fly and for most people, that might mean rough road conditions and the approach of the holidays. But for some, it brings to mind snowmobile season. Snowmobiling is a unique sport and activity limited to places like Western New York where snow is usually plentiful. "It's one thing I love about winter. It's really something fun to do that gets you outdoors in the winter time," said Hanover resident Christopher Raczka, who has been snowmobiling since he was a child. Yet for those who have never engaged in this winter amusement like Raczka, but wish to start, here is a brief guide to getting started. Buying and maintaining a snowmobile The fist thing a would-be snowmobiler must do is buy a machine, often called "sleds" by seasoned riders. Dave Packler, the shop foreman at Gowanda StarCraft, which offers Arctic Cat and Yamaha snowmobiles, said the first consideration should be size and skill of the rider. "There's a lot of different sizes. For younger kids, you'd want to go with the smallest models, like 120s. But a lot depends on your experience with riding," he said. The sizes Packler referred to — such as 120 — are the cc, or cubic centimeters of the engine. The bigger the number, the bigger the engine. Packler said that there are two types of engines that also come into play when deciding on what kind of sled to buy. "I would suggest for people just starting to snowmobile that they get a fan-cooled engine. They're a little cheaper and they are usually a little smaller," he related. "But, for more experienced riders, you could go with a liquid cooled sled because they have better performance and are often bigger." Unlike other types of recreational motor-sport vehicles, such as ATVs and dirt bikes, Packler said snowmobiles are usually easier to maintain. "Most snowmobiles are virtually maintenance free. You can get a couple thousand miles out of them with just basic maintenance like lubing," he said. But, Packler said that beginners and experienced riders alike should check their snowmobiles out at least once a year. "I would recommend taking it to a shop once a year before the season starts for general maintenance, unless you know how to do some of that stuff yourself, like changing the oil in a four-stroke engine," he said, referring to the two types of engines, two-stroke and four-stroke. Two-stroke engines, like those also in ATVs and dirt bikes, do not need oil changes since they run on a gas-oil mix. Four-strokes, which are like car engines, run on gas alone and need oil changes. There is one thing that novice sled riders often do wrong, Packler said. "The biggest thing is during the early season when there's still water and mud around, that stuff gets up in the suspension and can freeze it up. So try to keep them somewhere where they can thaw out," he recommended. To learn more about snowmobiles and order a buyer's guide, go to the American Snowmobiler magazine Web site at www.amsnow.com. Trails and clubs There are more than 11,000 miles of trail systems in New York state, so once you have a sled, there are plenty of places to go. Rick Engasser, the groomer coordinator for the Cherry Creek Sno-Goers Club, is one of the many who maintain local trails. The Clarence native, who comes to Chautauqua County to snowmobile, said that the grooming of trails begins when the season starts. "The trails typically open on Dec. 18, if there is adequate snow. We need around a foot to start grooming and riding," he said. Engasser said that there is some work that goes on all year, such as clearing and grating trails and building bridges where necessary. Signs must also be put up in the trails to help the riders once the season gets into full swing. During the winter, though, Engasser and his fellow groomers use grooming tractors, which he said have tracks to make them maneuver better in the snow. "The groomer pulls a drag behind it that packs down the snow and makes the snow on the trails harder so they are easier to ride on," he said. Before hitting the trails, there are formalities that must be taken care of, just as when getting a new car on the road. Snowmobiles have to be registered and insured. Snowmobiles may be registered at the local Department of Transportation, where there are proper forms. However, those who join a local snowmobile club, like the one Engasser is a part of, can receive a discount on registration. There are many snowmobile clubs available to riders all over Chautauqua County, and all welcome new members. Besides the discount on registration, there are also many other benefits to being in a club, such as having experienced people to begin riding with. To find out more about the clubs, visit the New York State Snowmobile Association's listing of Chautauqua County clubs at www.nyssnowassoc.org/clubs/chautauqua.htm. The experience Whether you choose to join a club, you still must have your sled registered and insured to ride legally. And once that is done, you can get out on the trails and start experienceing the joy this winter activity has to offer. Raczka, who has also been an avid ATV rider for most of his life, said that snowmobiling is different than other forms of motor-sports. "I think it's a little different because it's cold out. You're riding around all bundled up with the chilly wind all around you and gliding on the snow. It's really a great feeling," he said. When talking about the longer trips on the area trails, Raczka said that it feels almost like taking a trip. "I mean, you're out there all day and sometimes all night. The trails go all over the county, and into other counties. And there's resturants, bars and stores on the trail, so it's almost like a winter road trip. Except in this case, I guess you'd call it a trail trip," he related. The proximity of trails to places of business is indeed helpful for long rides. And business owners often welcome the extra customers. Rob Daniels, the owner of the House of Jack — a beer, liquor and food store in Bemus Point — said that he sees a definite increase in patrons during the snowmobile season. "Our business picks up during the season. We get a lot more clientele coming in from all over — the long distance riders from Allegheny, Cherry Creek, Cassadaga and stuff," Daniels said. Raczka said that having the businesses around the trail was particularly interesting when he was younger. "Well, before I was 16 and could drive, it was really cool being able to drive around on the trails and go places," he said. "It was almost like I was a grownup driving around in a car." Daniels said that the increase in business always depends on snow. "We're right by the trail, so if we get snow, we get sleds," he said. "If we get sleds, we get customers." Raczka said that snowfall is sometimes the only thing that can be challenging. "If it doesn't snow enough, you can't ride. But if there's enough snow this winter, I'll be out there. And if there's enough snow, I recommend to anyone that hasn't tried it to get a sled and hit the trails. It really is a great time." Comments on this article may be sent to trzepka@observertoday.com.   For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com