THE SNOWMOBILE TURNS 45 ON JUNE 19

THE SNOWMOBILE TURNS 45 ON JUNE 19

ROSEAU, Minnesota (Wireless Flash) -- June may be a bizarre time to be celebrating snowmobiles, but next Saturday (June 19), the snowmobile will turn 45. On June 19, 1954, the modern gas-powered snowmobile was invented in Roseau, Minnesota, by Edgar and Allan Hetteen and David Johnson, the founders of Polaris industries. The three men constructed the icy auto because they enjoyed hunting in the snow and needed an easier way to get around. The first snowmobiles sold for $450 with a top speed of about 4 miles per hour. Today's snowmobiles sell for $4000 up and reach speeds over 100 m.p.h. Co-inventor Johnson admits it was difficult convincing consumers that it's actually fun to drive around in the snow -- but once the clothing industry started making better winter clothing, snowmobiles became hot.

CONTACT: David Johnson, ***; Arrange with Allison Resner (Press Contact); Minneapolis, MN; (612) 832-5000, ext. 513