Skimming A Snowmobile Over Water

Hundreds of splendidly restored vehicles with their proud owners showed up for the special Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show held last Sunday at Gardner’s field. The loud muffler contest was won easily by Frank Armon who came from Rochester with his 1970 red Opel GT.

Among the entertainment features of the show was Ken Nitz from Troy demonstrating the sport of skimming his snowmobile across an open pond. Nitz made about a dozen passes over the pond and carried daredevil passengers on several of them. Then, fortunately without a passenger, he caught water in the clutch causing the belt to spin and the snowmobile sank in 15 feet of frigid water. Nitz dove down once to attach a cable but the cable slipped off. So Nitz gritted his teeth and went back in, dove down and reattached the cable so it could be pulled out.

Nitz said he’s been doing this sort of thing for about ten years. Has done it up at Lake George and Schroon Lake. This is the first time he ever sank a snowmobile. “Crap happens. No biggie!” he said as, clad in a blue blanket someone offered him, he set about pumping water out of his motor.

Ken Nitz’ snowmobile being pulled out of the pond. (David Flint photo)