8014-R6_MSA_May2021_MaineSnowmobiler

2022 MSA Hall of Fame Inductees Jim Splan & Marion Pinkham

By: Beth Bowie

Jim Splan Presented by Beth Bowie

Marion Pinkham Presented by Beth Bowie

So the story begins hanging out in the 80’s & 90’s at the Benedicta Bar, yes some great inspirations start this way… This was the start of a friendship and seed for a club. Jim Splan, Mike Duffy, Reid Stanley and Kenny Delano, Brent Kelley and Tom Qualey and a few more were discussing that there wasn’t a real good trail from Sherman Lumber Company to Whetstone Falls. It was the bottleneck for ITS 83. Sno-Rovers groomed up to Whetstone and Bowlin Pond. They had a tucker, the groomer operator told Brent, he was putting in a lot of hours in the woods. It was time to do something about it. The group attended a meeting with Sno Rovers explaining that Benedicta needed that trail to bring in money from the state. Sno-Rovers would have to release the trail, to make it happen and they did. This was the beginning of the BSG. They bought a track truck, then a Bombardier and so it began. Jim and his late wife Carolyn were instrumental in getting the first groomer, securing a loan with their home (more than once). And that small group grew over time to over 125 members today. Jim was the President for over 35 years running and involved in all aspects of the club. The club was so active, progressive dinners, fishing derbies, pig roasts, cruise raffles, poker run, and club rides. Jim was so good at getting the grant monies and knew how to talk to the people in Augusta and still does. Jim helped organize the first Annual Golf Tournament on Ice, even being recognized by ESPN in the early years. Carolyn would tell Jim that they had no time to ride and enjoy their trails. You see, Jim, spent hours on the phone, dealing with emergencies, planning and coordinating for the club. Carolyn was always by Jim’s side, guiding and keeping him on track. Together the Splans kept the BSG going. Within the MSA Jim was one of the founding club news reporters ensuring the club activities were proudly shares with others in the snowmobile community. There were so many wonderful comments and accolades shared about Jim but I would like to share this story shared by his club…. The Bombardier & the Splans

The Bombi that the club had was a late 70’s or 80’s 2 person tracked machine that would wade through snow and a lot of it. Mike Duffy, the trail master at the time, did a majority of the grooming with volunteer fill ins. Mike and his wife Joann needed a break and that particular Saturday. Club President Jim and his wife Carolyn, also a founding member of the Benedicta Snow Gang, decided to fill in and go grooming. Mike had cautioned Jim to keep an eye on the pintle hitch. The pintle hitch hook receiver has what looks like a lobster claw, attaches to the rear the Bombi and hooks into a metal ring, attached to the drag. This hitch had a mind of it’s own. Jim and Carolyn had been grooming for about 2 hours. The hum of the Bombi and the sparkle of the Saturday sun held them both in a bit of trance. Jim looked over at Carolyn and said, “ Boy that drag seems awfully light”. As he glanced over his shoulder the reason became alarmingly clear, There was no drag… As far back as Jimmy could see, there was still no drag. Not having enough room to turn around. Jimmy took the only option available and put the Bombi in reverse. Now, if any of you have ever driven a short track machine with joystick steering, you’ll recognize Jimmy’s dilemma. You “herringbone” or zig zag with each correction. So for over a 1/2 mile, Jimmy and Carolyn zig zagged in reverse to find and rehook into the drag. As the drag came into view, there were 4 sleds, unable to go around or over the drag. The patient sledders had been there for some time. Jumping out of the Bombi and looking a bit sheepish, Jimmy in the most diplomatic way possible looked at the 4 sledders and said, “ Okay, which one of you rotten f+!=’ers unhooked my drag?” Well, don’t just stand there, help me hook this drag back on, so we can all get out of here”. I don’t think Jimmy ever forgot to check that pintle hitch again, even after carefully wrapping wire around it... Please join us in congratulating Jim Splan in being a recipient of the 2021/2022 Hall of Fame! Our next recipient for the 2021/2022 season is one of only four other female recipients of the Hall of Fame that includes Margaret Herrin, Mary Tassinari, Shirley Raymond and Aleta Rioux.

Marion’s contributions to snowmobiling inMaine and theMSAhave been numerous in her over 40 years. She and her late husband Sumner were the founders of the Levant Hungry Holler 76ers Snowmobile Club. After being with them for many years, they founded the Glenburn Lakeside Riders SC in 1997 of which Marion is still an active lifetime member. Marion was one of the organizers of the 10 club informational meetings and the 10 club fundraising Poker Runs in the Eastern Region. For years Marion could be found manning the food booth at the Kenduskeag Stream Races and if you stopped by at the Glenburn Variety Store on a Friday evening in the Fall you were bound to see Marion selling Super Raffle Tickets for her club. Trust us when we say she sells to everyone coming into the store. Marion has chaired numerous monthly fundraising suppers, Hunter’s Breakfasts. She and her family started the Marissa Pinkham Scholarship Fund that the club gives out every year in memory of her granddaughter. In recent years Marion was active in the Glenburn community center being obtained for the Glenburn Snowmobile Club to hold events, suppers and meetings. I have on good authority if you ever attended any of these suppers and had the macaroni and cheese or whoopie pies you were in for a great treat by Marion. Marion over the years has held numerous club leadership positions from secretary to club president and any other position the clubs needed and continues to be the club membership person. As if that was not enough Marion has been an active MSA member and leader. Some of Marion’sMSA accomplishments include:

• Eastern Region VP • MSA Executive VP • MSA Treasurer • MSA President

• MSA Snowmobiler of the Year • Helped coordinate the MSA 50 th Anniversary Cookbook • One of the 50/50 raffle coordinators @ MSA Director Meetings • Behind the scene contributor at all the MSA shows • Past member of the MSA nominating committee In the early years of MSA Marion attended the International Snowmobile congress events around the Northeast and beyond as a representative from Maine. Marion was chosen to represent the MSA in a Way-Out Woman Snowmobile Ride for Charity in 2004. The ride was a cross-country ride with representatives in each state doing a section. Her ride started in Caribou and went across the state ending in Oquissoc where she handed her event sled off to the group riding through New Hampshire. Marion could also be found at many events representing the MSA and talking to other state representatives about why Maine was the best there was and is for snowmobiling. As with many of our previous Hall of Fame recipients snowmobiling in the Pinkham family is truly a family sport. Marion has raised a family to not only appreciate the sport of snowmobiling but also impressed upon them the importance of giving back to the sport and so I expect we will continue to hear the Pinkham name in snowmobiling for years to come…. With that please join us in congratulating Marion Pinkham in being a recipient of the 2021/2022 Hall of Fame!

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