Snowmobile Hall of Fame
USSA Salutes Snowmobile Hall of Fame 2009 Recipients
This year is very special as two of the four recipients have USSA direct ties, Mike Houle a past Champion USSA Racer and Ken Konop a current USSA Staff Member.
When you are talking Ovals and the top whatever number list, Mike Houle would be on that list. Rising to the top in the 1980’s, onboard Pro-5 prepared sleds, and continuing as one of the best in the 1990’s on various class Ski Doo’s. Mike made his presence known in the Midwest LeMans and Oval circuits. Mike was a racer that you enjoyed watching, Mike piloted his sled with what appeared to be great ease, with the smooth flowing style that was his trademark. Was it his strength? Was it his set up, or both? Mike had the ability to blend expert chassis design, engineering, and driver strength into a winning package. This was evident in the powerful F-III machines Mike rode, and the smooth softly suspended Champ sleds of his later years. Mike was USSA Class Champion in various classes over the years, and Racer of the Year, several times.
Ken Konop has been around USSA for a long time and has had some very emotional times, the most impactful, the loss of Jacque, his wife, in 1974 at a race in eastern Wisconsin. This loss for Ken was a gain for every snowmobile rider and racer. Ken was determined to protect other racers from loss of life or serious injury. After a lot of medical research, and many prototypes, Ken invented the first upper body protection the “Saf-Jac” which has saved many a racer and trail rider.
Ken also served as USSA President in 1975 and was one of the few USSA racers to be invited to all of the “invitational” World Series events and was Class C Champion several times in the 70’s. In later years Ken paired up with Olav Aaen and campaigned Mercury and Yamaha snowmobiles in select Mod classes. Currently you can see Ken as Paddock Marshall at USSA events.
USSA congratulates the other 2009 inductee’s Paul Groth and Donald Finck. All four will be formally inducted into the Snowmobile Hall of Fame (SHOF) during the annual banquet on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009.
