1971 Swinger

Introduced by Sportscraft Industries, Inc of St. Paul, Minnesota, this was not the first mini-sled, but it had a more fully developed marketing platform than most sleds of any size at the time.
A tiny Chrysler two-stroke engine powered it with a speed up to 35mph. Unlike other small sleds, it had a console that covered the moving parts, but the hood was attached to the frame and difficult to remove to work on the motor.
With a transverse leaf spring, ski-tracking and side-to-side stability were poor. Weighing only 175 lbs, it was easy to load 2 in the back of a station wagon and they could be stored standing on their rear bumpers.
Griswold Industries acquired them in 1972 and redesigned the hood with vents and accessibility, added a kill switch and added a JLO 230cc one lunger with a Tillotson carb. Motor, but due to limited distribution and marketing, this was the last year for the Swinger.

On Sept 20, 2019, The Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum was awarded a grant of $12,500 for Operational Support from the State of Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA – ART WORKS). The grant was awarded through the MCACA peer review process and was one of 561 applications to compete for MCACA fiscal year 2019 funding. The grant requires a 1:1 match and helped the museum leverage the $12,500 of support from its annual income and the many donations from supporters. In particular the museum has received grants from the Graymont Community Economic Development Fund and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. It has also received significant donations from the Antique Snowmobile Club of America, The Midwest Vintage Snowmobile Shows, Inc., many snowmobile clubs, several recreational and snowmobile shows, the museum’s internal $1,000.00 Challenge, and many museum members. The grant funds will be applied to museum operating costs. Applicable costs include internal operations, marketing, travel to shows within the State of Michigan and cost of employees. The MCACA peer review process allows for each grant applicant to be competitively considered by a panel of in-state and out-of-state arts and culture professionals. This ensures the taxpayers, who support this project through legislative appropriations, and all other visitors or residents in Michigan will have access to the highest quality arts and cultural experiences. A complete list of grant awards around the state is available by contacting MCACA at (517) 241-4011, or by visiting the MCACA website at www.michigan.gov/arts

Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum
P.O. Box 2
W11660 US-2
Naubinway, MI 49762
Hours: 906 477-6298
Appointment: 906 477 6192

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