The Boonville Snow Festival Ice Oval Racing has been re-scheduled to February 25th & 26th.

Adirondack Cup Trophies

 

The Boonville Snow Festival is proud to announce that they will also have an Adirondack Cup trophy for the East Coast Snocross (ECS). The ECS Adirondack Cup race will be the last race of the day on Sunday, January 29 at approximately 3 p.m and will be the Open 600 Class. 

Pictured are the coveted Adirondack Cup trophies, on the ice oval in front of the Boonville grandstand, for the Northern New York Snowsled Racers, the Eastern Pro Tour Circuit and the East Coast Snocross. 

(Photo by Joanna Moore)

 

 

 

 

Ron Bourgeois Chosen as Torchlight Parade Grand Marshall

Ron Bourgeois has been chosen as this year’s Grand Marshall for the Snowmobile Torchlight Parade.

Ron grew up on East Road in Boonville. In 1959, his dad, Carl “CJ” Bourgeois, became one of the first snowmobile dealers in the Northeast.

After enjoying the annual snow festivals that began in Boonville around 1963, Bourgeois began to see a larger opportunity and role for snowmobile racing in Boonville. Ron approached the Chamber of Commerce in 1965 with the idea of creating a “big race” that would draw more racers and spectators. How? Rebrand the races in Boonville as the New York State Championship.

With enormous help from his wife Mary Ann and a long list of friends, local business people, and individuals involved in other racing disciplines, Ron worked to transform the Boonville races into the New York State Championship of Snowmobile Racing, drawing large crowds and top racers.

 A few years in, Ron was approached by the newly formed United States Snowmobile Association in Wisconsin and was invited to fly there for a meeting. As a result, Ron formed the Eastern Division of the USSA, bringing sanctioned snowmobile racing to the Northeast for the first time.

The result of Ron’s efforts and the efforts of many early race contributors were years of excitement, pride, and media attention for our small snow-covered town. In addition to hosting celebrities, including Billy Carter, Miss New York, and the Disney characters, The USSA eventually brought their World Series of Snowmobile Racing to Boonville along with annual factory speed runs at the Boonville Airport. In addition, Ron spearheaded USSA efforts in New York State to improve legislation for recreational snowmobilers. 

Ron also co-owned and operated The Cat Shack snowmobile dealership in Boonville in the 1970s. 

Today, Ron is 74, and divides his time between his home in the Albany area and his family home in White Lake.

 

Majestic Fireworks Display Over Erwin Park - Saturday, February 25th

The Boonville Snow Festival is proud to announce that the Majestic Fireworks display has been moved back to its original location over Erwin Park. Also changed this year is the day of the fireworks. The fireworks have always taken place on the Friday of Snow Festival weekend, at the conclusion of the Snowmobile Torchlight Parade. This year, the fireworks will take place on Saturday at 7 p.m. This will be the sixth year that Majestic Fireworks of Clinton have put on such a magnificent display in Boonville.

 

 

Snow Festival Collector Items Available Both Weekends

There will be many Snow Festival collectibles for purchase in the Kiwanis building during the spectacular Snow Festival Ice Oval weekend on February 25-26. 

Collectible items include: t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, head bands, and special label Boonville Snow Festival Saranac Root Beer. Visit the Boonville Snow Festival booth inside the Kiwanis building.

 

Saranac Brewery to Release 2012 Boonville Snow Festival Root Beer Label

The F.X. Matt Brewery has announced its support of the 2012 Boonville Snow Festival. For the past three years, the Saranac Brewery hasdesigned a souvenir Saranac Root Beer label for the Boonville Snow Festival. This year, the Brewery has decided to design a fourth edition for this year’s event. The label will display the festivals 6th annual logo. Limited Edition Boonville Snow Festival Root Beer will be sold at the Snow Festival per bottle or six-pack. 

All proceeds will go to preserving the Boonville Snow Festival and Adirondack Snowmobile Racing. “Snowmobiling is a popular winter activity in the Central New York area, and we are happy to support it,” says Fred Matt. “This event is a great way to bring visitors to our area and support our community.” The root beer will be available both weekends of the Boonville SnowFestival.

For more information about the F.X. Matt Brewing Company, please visit www.Saranac.com.

 

 

Bring a Canned Good to Boonville Snow Festival Events in January & February

The Boonville Snow Festival will be accepting canned goods during the 2012 Snow Festival to donate to Matthew’s Place Ministries Food Pantry located on Main Street in Boonville. Anyone attending the festival can bring a canned good or donate $1 towards the local food pantry and you will then be entered to win prizes. All monies and canned goods will go directly to the Matthew’s Place food pantry.

 

 

Boonville Snow Festival Remembers Grand Marshals Who Have Passed On - In Memory of Andrew Seelman & Shine Reese

The Boonville Snow Festival committee takes great pride in selecting a Grand Marshal for its Boonville Snow Festival weekend. The person honored with the title is someone who is a snowmobile enthusiast and has made an impact within the community involving the sport of snowmobiling. Two of the individuals chosen for this great honor have passed away. Andrew Seelman, who was the 2009 Grand Marshall and Clifford “Shine” Reese, the 2008 Grand Marshal.


Seelman, 86, of Sunset Avenue, affectionately known as “Andy,” passed away on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. A native of Sunset Corners, in the Town of Lewis, he was born on July 28, 1924, a son of Andrew C. and Effie Goodhines Seelman. He grew up on Mohawk Hill on the Duppert Road, attended Constableville High School, and during his senior year of high school Mr. Seelman enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in the 1197th Combat Engineers Unit in the European Theater of WWII. Upon returning from the war, Mr. Seelman was employed as a truck driver for Rallston Purena Feed Co. in Boonville. In 1952, Mr. Seelman founded the Boonville Vending Machine Co., a business that he operated throughout the North Country until he retired in 1990. In the late 1960s, Mr. Seelman was a co-founder of the Lost Trail Snowmobile Club of Boonville. An avid snowmobiler, he was a member of the club, and through the years he logged thousands of miles of snowmobile trail riding. Andy was an avid fisherman, and enjoyed fishing for lake trout and bass on his many trips to Lake Placid, Stillwater Reservoir, and Lake George.He was of the Catholic faith, a charter member of Boonville Elks Lodge BPOE #2158, Harland J. Hennessey Post VFW and Charles J. Love Post American Legion, both of Boonville. He was a former member of the Boonville Fire Company. 

Reese, 89, of the Moose River Road, Port Leyden, passed away on December 14, 2010. In 1965 Shine bought his first snowmobile, a Ski-Doo single cylinder, and in 1966 started racing his sled called “Old Yeller.” He raced in Old Forge (Grand Prix), Copenhagen (Tri County Championship), Camden, Osceola (Tug Hill Classic), Newport, and Boonville. He won many races and tons of trophies, including one he won for being the oldest driver, as he was in his mid-40s. In 1970, Shine bought his first free-air sled, another Ski-Doo. Shine and his oldest son, Kenny Reese, raced until the mid-1970s. They raced cross-country, oval, drag races, and the Tug Hill Obstacle. Shine and Bill Robins rebuilt all the motors, and did all the modifications to the sleds and engines. Although he never walked away as the champion of the Boonville races, he did take several second and third-place finishes. On December 23, 1975 he was united in marriage to Gladys Poore. Shine worked at Lallys, Lyonsdale Mill, Georgia Pacific, Agway, and a bus driver for Port Leyden School. He built and ran Cold Brook campsites for 35 years on Moose River Road. He was an avid snowmobile racer, loved bowling, playing horse shoes, skiing, skating, and dancing. The Boonville Snow Festival has, and will continue to, honor both of these men as pioneers in the sport of snowmobiling and as the original “Warriors of Winter.”

 

 

 

Boonville Snow Festival II, Inc.

P.O. Box 233
222 Schuyler Street
Boonville, New York 13309

315-942-6666