Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/523095
SNOWMOBILE Highlands Yamaha among dealer exhibitors BY KATE SWANSON ASSISTANT EDITOR Dedication is driving more than 700 miles to exhibit in a trade show — Highlands Yamaha is dedicated. For the past several years, Highlands Yamaha has made the journey from just outside Chicago to Syracuse, N.Y., to participate in the Northeast's premier snowmobile event. "It's been a great experience. There are quite a few people, and it's a really good show for us," said Laurene Mozen, office manager at High- lands Yamaha. "We wouldn't come all the way from Chicago if it wasn't." The Big East Powersports Show, hosted by Powersports Business parent company EPG Media & Specialty Information, is set this year to run Oct. 2-4 at the OnCenter, and Highlands Yamaha promises to be there. Over the years, the dealership has perfected the transport of all of its merchandise. "We have two 24-foot enclosed trailers that we bring [for transporta- tion]," said Mozen. Highlands Yamaha has sold quite well at past shows and looks forward to another year of consumer purchases and promoting its brand. "[Our main goal is] to sell and to get our name out there. We hope to sell every- thing and not have anything to bring back," said Mozen. "There's a lot of people that have bought from us at the show." While the goal is to sell, Highlands also builds up its consumer awareness. Mozen says that the dealership often receives phone calls during the season from people who want to buy what they saw at the Big East show. Highlands' website is also very popular among its buyers, even before its participa- tion in the show. Planning ahead for October, Highlands' out- look is positive. While the dealership plans to offer some special promotions just for the show, Mozen says often custom- ers are surprised by their "everyday great prices." Dealers who are inter- ested in exhibiting along- side Highlands Yamaha at the 22nd Annual Big East Powersports Show can contact Mark Rosacker, national account man- ager for Powersports Business and sales direc- tor for the Big East show. Rosacker can be reached at 763/383-4433 or email mrosacker@snowgoer- com. Learn more about the show at www.bigeast- powersportsshow.com. The Big East Power- sports Show and Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Expo are both produced by EPG Media & Spe- cialty Information, a Minnesota-based media company that publishes Snow Goer, Rider, Thunder Press, Powersports Business, Boating Industry, Cheers, Stateways, Beverage Dynamics, Fuel Oil News, Landscape & Irrigation, Arbor Age, Sports Turf and Outdoor Power Equipment magazines and those brands' related websites, digital products and shows and events within their markets. PSB On the road to the Big East Powersports Show again 38 • June 15, 2015 • Powersports Business www.PowersportsBusiness.com Highlands Yamaha has sold quite well at past Big East Shows and looks forward to another year of purchasing and promoting its brand. Camoplast Solideal's Plattsburgh. N.Y., facility was recently spotlighted on the "Made in Clinton County" program, which airs on the Mountain Lake PBS station. The series highlights promising and successful businesses in Clinton County. It also helps connect these businesses with prospective employees looking for work in the area. The segment, which focuses on the facil- ity's leadership and expertise in ATV and snowmobile track production, also features an interview with Plattsburgh plant manager Lawrence McGinn. "The institutions and organizations in Clinton County have pro- grams that support manufacturing. This is very important to us," McGinn noted. MN DNR RELEASES PROPOSAL TO PAVE SNOWMOBILE TRAIL FOR SUMMER USE The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Parks and Trails Division seeks public comments on a draft management plan amendment for Itasca State Park. The DNR is proposing to pave two segments of snowmobile trail for summer bicycling and walking, which would improve safety and enhance the experience of park visitors. One trail segment parallels Wilderness Drive from the Headwaters of the Mississippi area to where the one-way section of the road begins, offering an alternative to bicycling on the two-way road. The second trail segment connects to a future spur of the Heartland State Trail, which will extend from Itasca State Park to Park Rapids. The trail segments will continue to be groomed as snowmobile trails during the winter. Itasca State Park was established in 1891 to preserve old growth red and white pine forests and to protect the land surrounding the Headwaters of the Mississippi River. Today, the park supports a diverse commu- nity of plants and wildlife and offers visitors a variety of recreation opportunities. Facilities include two campgrounds, two group cen- ters, one group campsite, numerous cabins and lodges, a swimming beach, a picnic area, a visitor center with year-round interpretive programs and trails for hiking, biking, cross- country skiing and snowmobiling. SKI-DOO INGLES PERFORMANCE TEAM LOOKS FORWARD TO 'WELL-DESERVED REST' Ingles Performance, one of the Northeast's top snowmobile race teams, earned a second straight Pro Snocross championship, riding Ski-Doo MXZ snowmobiles. Racer Danny Poirier notched his second straight and fifth career East Coast Snocross Pro Open title March 29. It capped a season full of great races, highlighted by a clean sweep of the Pro and Pro Lite classes at the Louiseville, Qué- bec, event. Poirier, 35, of St. Theo- dore, Québec, won 14 of 17 finals on the northeastern regional circuit. Had it not been for an injury to teammate Mathieu Morin during round two in Schagh- ticoke, N.Y., the team might have achieved its goal of going 1-2 in year-end points. Morin, who won a final in Bangor, Maine, before his injury, is expected to return for the 2015-16 campaign. Poirier wasn't the only Ingles Perfor- mance rider to enjoy a strong 2015 season. Vermont native Leo Patenaude ran strong in the Sport class on the ISOC national series against stiff competition. "Although we suffered more than our fair share of injuries this season, we still managed to win races and another Pro title," team co-owner and manager Robin Ingles said. "Danny continues to ride fast and smooth, and we're just so proud of him. I think Leo progressed a lot this season, so when he and Hunter get back to 100 percent physically next winter, we'll see what they can really accomplish. A newcomer to the Ingles umbrella this winter was Joe Bishop, a former motocross racer with a newly discovered talent on snow. Bishop was impressive all season, hit- ting the podium a few times against some pretty seasoned competitors. Look for him to advance and turn heads in snocross in the coming years. "We put together a great team of ath- letes for the 2014-15 season; they just didn't all get to race every event," Ingles added. "Those who stayed healthy all win- ter carried the Ingles and Ski-Doo brands to new heights. Mike and I are thankful for the wins and title; we know the work and commitment it takes to succeed in this sport. We hope the guys heal up quickly and get some well-deserved rest this sum- mer." PSB DIGEST Camoplast's track manufacturing facility showcased on PBS Ingles Performance, one of the Northeast's top snowmobile race teams, earned a second straight Pro Snocross championship, riding Ski-Doo MXZ snowmobiles.