Big Rand &
Company
Live at Dingman's Bar
Second Saturday of
Every Month
ALL SNOWMOBILE LINKS BELOW WILL OPEN
INTO A NEW BROWSER WINDOW.
Michigan Safety Course Requirements
Michigan Snowmobile Association
Michigan
There are 6,400 miles of groomed trails in
Michigan. Trail permits are required for all snowmobilers at $25 per
season. For more information, please contact the Michigan Snowmobile
Association at 1-616-361-2285. Helmets are required for everyone. The
unplowed portion of all county roads are open to snowmobiling. In some
northern and UP counties they allow you to ride the plowed shoulder. These
counties have signs at all county lines informing you if they are open.
State roads (denoted with a M) again have the unplowed portion open to
riding but the plowed shoulder is always closed. You may drop onto the
plowed shoulder only to go around an obstruction. Speed limits are (1)
Safe and Reasonable, (2) posted on any road, (3) just fast enough to
maintain forward motion when within 100 feet of any building or fisherman.
Registration Fee: $22 for three years
Questions? Call 231-258-4122
The Perfect Haven For Snowmobilers
DINGMAN'S IS THE PLACE SNOWMOBILER'S. LOCATED ON M-72 BETWEEN GRAYLING AND KALKASKA ON THE PUBLIC TRAILS. HUGE PARKING LOT FOR EASY RIDE-IN & RIDE OUT. NEARBY MARATHON GAS STATION (3/4 mile west of Dingman's).
WHAT NOT TO DO:
DON’T DRINK AND RIDE
DON'T RIDE ALONE
Do not start your sled and take off right away. Let the sled warm up –
this could prevent burning down your engine.
Do not use excessive speed.
SNOWMOBILE SAFETY
- Be sure your snowmobile is in top-notch mechanical condition at the beginning of the winter season and throughout the months of use.
- Familiarize yourself with the snowmobile you are driving by reading in detail the manual accompanying the snowmobile.
- Wear sensible, protective clothing designed for snowmobiling.
- Use a full-size helmet, goggles, or face shield to prevent injuries from twigs, stones, ice chips, and flying debris.
- Avoid wearing long scarves. They may get caught in moving parts of the snowmobile.
- Know the terrain you are going to ride. If unfamiliar to you, ask someone who has traveled over it before.
- Know the weather forecast and especially the ice and snow conditions in the area.
- Always use the buddy system. Never ride alone or unaccompanied.
- Do not pursue domestic or wild animals. No true sports person would stoop to such conduct. If you see a violation of this rule, report it to the nearest law enforcement officer.
- At all times, be sure you have a properly operating lighting system on the snowmobile.
- Drowning is one cause of snowmobile fatalities. When not familiar with the thickness of the ice or water currents, avoid these areas.
- Don't remove the factory installed air box or muffler to install one that makes more noise. This would lessen the performance of your vehicle. The manufacturer is trying hard, for the betterment of the environment, to develop a quieter machine.
LET’S GET READY TO
RIDE:
Make sure there is enough snow cover to ensure your sled is getting enough
lubrication.
Check condition of your snowmobile clothing and ensure you have adequate
accessories for warmth.
Stay on marked or familiar trails.
Obey all trail signs, markers and speed limits.
Know and use correct hand signals.
Learn the language of snowmobile trail signage.
Service your sled for maintenance and repair. Check your belt, track, oil,
grease, change old fuel, ensure tail and headlights are working, place
reflective material on sled for night riding.
Put together a safety kit and store it in the trunk of your sled. You will
need a tow rope, first aid kit, survival food, spark plugs and extra
snowmobile belt.
Plan your snowmobile ride. Tell someone where you’re going so someone
can find you if you’re in trouble.
Obtain a snowmobile trail map of the area that you are riding in.
Learn safe snowmobiling.
Make sure your sled fits you. Can you start and lift the sled on your own?
Is it comfortable? Can you maneuver it easily?
Join a snowmobile club in your area. Clubs sponsor outings, build and
maintain trails and hold safety seminars.
Remember – it’s two-way traffic on all groomed snowmobile trails.
WHAT TO WEAR:
- Always wear an approved snowmobile helmet with face shield with no
cracks in either. Open face and closed face helmets are available Electric
face shields are available and will not fog.
- Wear a balaclava (nylon, fleece or wool), snowmobile gloves, mitts,
pants, jacket or one-piece snowmobile suit, boots and heavy outdoor
socks. Buy the warmest gear available; don’t pinch pennies on snowmobile
clothing and accessories.
- Ensure the back of your jacket has reflective material. This will help
the person following to have visual sight of you at all times at
night. Also, place a reflective decal on the back of your helmet.
Wear a wrist mirror. This is an excellent safety device which enables you
to check behind you without turning your body and causing your sled to swerve.
WHAT NOT TO DO:
DON’T DRINK AND RIDE
DON'T RIDE ALONE
Do not start your sled and take off right away. Let the sled warm up –
this could prevent burning down your engine.
Do not use excessive speed.
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF
YOUR SLED:
Before you attempt any maintenance or repair of your snowmobile, you
should review the owner’s manual and decide just how much mechanical
ability you have. Don’t attempt repairs which you do not understand
completely. You might end up with a pile of parts and now snowmobile. If
repair is beyond your ability, you should have your local snowmobile
dealer take care of it for you. It is important to check your machine
often, but you should not make adjustments which could endanger you and
others when you are riding. Once you make an adjustment on your
snowmobile, remember to check it periodically throughout the season. Out
on a trail, your snowmobile could have a problem which could stop it
completely. For this reason, YOU SHOULD NEVER TRAVEL ALONE.
ICE RESCUE:
If someone goes through the ice, you must act quickly. The longer the
person is in the water, the shorter their chance of survival is. Do not
step on the ice. Tell the person who has fallen in to grab as far up on
the edge as they can, and kick their feet. The kicking will help them stay
afloat. Yell for help and quickly look for something to pull them to
safety – a scarf, jacket, belt, or tree branch. Lie down as close as
safely possible to the open hole and reach with whatever you have. If
other people are around, you can form a human chain. When you get the
person up on the ice, do not stand up. Crawl a number of yards away from
the hole. After you pull someone out, get them warm and dry as soon as
possible and seek medical attention. REMEMBER: Just because the ice is
thick in one spot, does not mean it will be all over. The best rule to
follow is “If you don’t know, don’t go!”
ACCIDENTS GIVE ALL
SNOWMOBILERS A BAD RAP:
Most snowmobiling accidents result from the operator error, overconfidence
or inexperience. The main contributing factors are: alcohol, speed,
darkness, unfamiliar terrain, or ice, and, off-trail riding on roads or
lakes. Snowmobiling requires constant care, caution and attention. DON’T
DRINK AND RIDE. Even small amounts of alcohol can impair your perceptions,
slow your reaction time and limit your ability to control your sled at
that critical moment when your life is in the balance. Moreover,
snowmobiling often takes you to remote areas, miles from help, increasing
your risk of permanent injury or death after an accident. And contrary to
popular opinion, alcohol increases your susceptibility to cold and
hypothermia, thereby reducing your chances of survival if you have to wait
long for help to arrive.