1972 Thunder Jet 650

This project has spanned about 7 years or so now, and while I'm not 100% done, I have raced the sled and its pretty much complete! Alright, so its a 72 650 Tjet. Ok, so it's not really a 1972. Originally it was a 72 650, but those tunnels weren't built very strong. I'm guessing the original tunnel was trashed, so all the 72 650 parts were then mounted on a 74 tunnel. There are also some aftermarket parts. ARBE skis, handle bars, suspension, aluminum spindles and I had to add a Wahl throttle block.

I've since found a proper 72 gas tank, and will hopefully have the seat re-done very soon. For the future, I need a new track, want to go to a digital tach, give it a nicer paint job and hopefully just keep tuning the sled for racing.

Here are a couple shots of the sled racing at the 2011 Moose Jaw Vintage Drags.

And a shot coming off the line at the 2011 Earl Grey Vintage Drags.

Here are a couple videos of the first day with my sled on the snow. Prior to that, it was only run on a stand in my garage. It was incredibly exciting that first time I hit the throttle. The sled actually almost threw me off, I really wasn't expecting it to be that strong. It was a huge adrenaline rush, and it still scares me...

Here's a HD video from the races at Earl Grey 2011. I snoozed on the lights a bit, and the guy on the Moto-Ski barely beat me, it was really close!

This was taken back around 2006. I had it together for shows. What you can't tell is that I still didn't have a proper jackshaft, or the secondary, no throttle lever either. Still needed a proper gas tank, new track, gears, and probably a whole whack of other parts. Still, it was good enough to show!

Fiberglass is reproduction, more information contact Mark Vollbreecht or click here for more information.

All the pieces sort of mocked together.

 

Here are the photos I first received of the sled. I was really taking a chance buying this, I mean just look at it! I really didn't have any info on the sled either.