Thunder Chicken snowmobile

[Tecate250]

Has anyone ever raced or seen one of these sleds? They were the sled to first use the wide ski stance. There real name were the Thunder Jets made from Sno*Jet. I want one of these more then any trike. Even a 87 tecate 3.

[toocheaptosmoke]

Those were some sweet sleds.

[Tecate250]

Ever see one? I like the 72 650 my self.

[toocheaptosmoke]

Never saw one in person. I also like the 72's with the low rounded hood and bellypan. the 73's were cool too.

[honda250sx]

I am in the process of restoring one right now. 1971 snojet thunderjet. first year produced. This particular model belonged to Al Unser Sr. It was given to him for winning the 1970 Indy 500. His brother Bobby also recieved one for winning the 1968 Indy 500. There is only one picture of Al and Bobby together on these sleds. It was taken in West Yellowstone in 71. The first 25 thunderjets were trucked up to west yellowstone in a tractor trailer and distributed to dealers. They were build by glastron boat company in an airplane hanger in Texas. At the time snojet was a partner of theres. These sleds used a yamaha sr 433 race engine with tuned pipes. Came equipped with a moon racing aluminum gas tank. Snojet bought the suspension and track from Arctic Cat. Which was a skid and track out of a 1971 arctic cat puma. Any more questions i own 7 thunderjets. 1-71, 2-72 (340,650) 2-73 (440,650) 1-74 (340) 1-75 (440)

[Chevy200s]

great information there, thanks man! wow 7, thats awesome. hope to find one for myself someday

[honda250sx]

[honda250sx]

[honda250sx]

funny that you mention owning one. A rare 71 was recently purchased in the Rochester Area not long ago. Pretty much complete. Went to a very good and fourtunate friend of mine in Minnesota.

[Tecate250]

Those were the prototypes. Man Im drooling on my key board. Not The model I mostly like but mmmmm big blue. Ski doo might have invented them but Sno*jet perfected it. Want to sell one?

[honda250sx]

Prototypes they were not. Full Aught factory racers. The 71's were designed to go racing. After the first full season. They hardly could hold there own. In 72 an independent was brought in to work with Duane Aho the lead designer. His name Jim Adema. The most famous name in snojets racing legacy. Jim was an independent racer and did alot of research and design for a company called Belmont Engineering. Later known as and today, Micro-Belmont. Snojet never had a factory sponsered race team. They relied on independents like Jim to make BIG BLUE. Jim won races everywhere. And by everywhere i mean all over the U.S. His last race, Ironwood Michigan. It was December 14th,1975. Jim was driving for yamaha along with dick trickle. He was now with yamaha because sno-jet in 75' elected to make the 75 thunderjet for production rather than race machines. It was approx. 4:30pm, heavy wet snow was flying. There was a drivers meeting held prior to the event to poll them about running the race in the rapidly approaching darkness. The result, they decided to race. Trickle who was leading the race was followed by Adema, first ever time on a yamaha. Trickle experienced engine failure and begin to slow and stall. Adema tried to avoid the stalled sled but clipped the back end of the chassis. He lost control a few thru the air somewhere around a 100ft. He stood up, and then was hit by Yvon Duhamel. They estimate at around 70mph. A second driver also struck him. He was pronunced dead on arrival to the hospital.

[Tecate250]

Something else huh. Iread all that on snojet.com.
Been going there way longer then here. Is yvon duhamel milgel duhamel(spelling)
honda Super bike race, brother or relative? I seen a short clip about milgel on speed and it had the thunder jet there racing. Did he drive them?

[honda250sx]

Miguel is Yvon's son. Yvon did all the snowmobile racing. Miguel was born in 68. So i doubt he was riding a thunderjet by 4 or 5 years of age. snojet.com. Blake is a good kid. i have dealt with him a little bit. most of his info comes from outsiders like me. I should get a few pics of the other thunderjets and post em.

[Tecate250]

Yes please. Ever see the phantom jet 440? Those look sweet too.
Do you know where there is a video of a thunder jet.

[honda250sx]

Yes. The phantom was actually never produced. They say there are three out there somewhere. I know Jay Carsley from Cove Side polaris has one. I have some personal videos. Look on the net there around. the dvd decades at the derby has some footage of them.