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The recently posted article about the first-ever Iron-Ball ride got some people asking “what’s that big loop in the photo?”
Iron Ball riders Greg Moe and Michael Dapper posed for photos at the mid-point of their 1,000-mile ride at Roseau, Minnesota, birthplace of Polaris and home to the Polaris Experience Center. In front of the Experience Center building is the Polaris Snowmobile Thrill Team Loop from 2004, the 50th anniversary of Victory’s parent company.
As part of the Polaris 50th Anniversary Celebration, Polaris engineers created a modern version of the famous loop and a new Thrill Team performed at celebrations in Roseau and Falcon Heights, Minnesota.
The original Polaris Thrill team performed in early 1969 and in the winter of 1969-1970. The idea was hatched by Ted Otto, the company’s public relations man at the time. He felt Polaris could put on shows of daring, ala the Joie Chitwood Show (which was performed in cars), at snowmobile races and festivals.
Members of the Polaris Thrill team made ramp to ramp jumps, crashed through burning walls – with Otto laid out on the hood of the sled so it looked like his helmeted head broke through the wooden wall – did barrel rolls and, the highlight of every show, ran the loop.
Larry “The Looper” Rugland was the most seasoned loop rider, and his courage cannot be overstated, not only because it takes daring to go upside down, but because the construction of the original loop was so suspect. The loop built for the 2004 celebrations was created using modern engineering tools such as computer analysis software that showed the builders where the greatest stress would be.
When Rugland rode into the loop, the entire structure, which was actually seven sections of track hooked together, would flex and shift. But he made it through safely every time and became a crowd-pleasing figure in Polaris history.
Rugland was on hand for the 2004 celebrations and Thrill Team performances, but did not ride. One veteran who did, though, was Roger Dick, a member of those late-‘60s teams. He ran the modern loop on a vintage sled and made it every time.
Riding a modern Polaris Fusion snowmobile through the loop in 2004 was Cory Wimpfheimer, a Polaris employee who completed his loop runs with power to spare. An ATV rider also ran the loop at the 2004 performances. The ATV was fitted with bumpers that extended around the front three-quarters of the machine so the tires wouldn’t make contact with the edges of the loop track.
The 2004 loop is installed permanently in front of the Experience Center in Roseau, and it’s got a sled and ATV affixed upside down to the top of the track.
The Polaris Thrill Team. Left to right: Dennis Olsen, Ted Otto, Allen Kasprovich, Loren Miller and loop runner Roger Dick. Otto’s sled has crash bars to break through the flaming wall, and Kasprovich’s sled has a cage that allowed him to run one ski up a ramp, then go into a barrel roll.
Dennis Olsen soars over some vintage Detroit iron.
Cory Wimpfheimer is at the top of the loop during a 2004 performance in Roseau, Minnesota.
Cory Wimpfheimer is nearing the end of his run through the loop during a 2004 performance in Roseau, Minnesota.
Today the 2004 loop is in front of the Polaris Experience Center in Roseau, Minnesota, where Iron Ball riders Greg Moe (left) and Michael Dapper posed for a photo.
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