A-1 Swap Meet & Show Youth Achievement Award

The Youth Achievement Award Winner for 2007
Zachary Gross from Davison, Michigan.

Here is Zachary's Entry:

My age is 19 and I was born on 8-8-88. I would like to be considered for the Award because I am always trying to come up with new ideas of making things for the snowmobiles. With the Award I can further my education and create new products to patent and further the sport of snowmobiling.

Hi I'm Zachary Gross and I would like to be considered for the A-1 Youth Achievement Award. I started snowmobiling when I was about 3 or 4 years old when my Dad bought me an Arctic Cat Kitty Cat snowmobile. He couldn't keep me off of it and that started my love of snowmobiles and dirt bikes. I have rebuilt a few project sleds with my Dad when I was younger and as I got older I started buying my own. A couple of years back, I wanted a Arctic Cat zrt in the worst way. I found one, but it needed a lot of work. Someone caught it on fire and melted everything on the sled that was plastic. I ended up purchasing the sled and found some snowmobile salvage yards that had some zrts they were parting out. After 3 months of working on itl after school and on weekends, I finally had a working, showroom condition 1996 Arctic Cat zrt. I ran it for one winter and decided to sell it and look for something that wasn't so hard on gas. The neighbor kid down the road bought the sled and has been running it ever since.

This year my project sled has been an '85 Manta twin track snowmobile purlchased from Al's Snowmobile out on the east coast. The previous owner had used it for racing, which had left it in sad shape. A few of the many things that need work on this sled were a makeshift rollover system (*which was removed as soon as I got it), modified the hood for racing exhaust, and an engine department and cockpit left out for dead. I have found another hood and installed a 2003 Arctic Cat Pantera 550 touring engine in it. With the newer engine installed this thing is wicked fast. Hopefully by this winter I will have made new jackshafts and a modified Arctic Cat chain case with reverse installed so moving this in dead end trails won't be so tiring. The restoration of the sled is close to being done, but still a work in progress. I will be bringing the Manta along this weekend to show it.

Right now, I am attending Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan for an associate degree in Mechanical Operations Technology, which is an applied science. I am currently on the Dean's list in the upper 10 percent holding a 3.875 GPA. Also, I am a fourth generation farmer. Look forward to seeing you this weekend.
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Zachary submitted pics of the two sleds he restored. He was given a trophy and a certificate for the $500.00 Savings Bond contributed by UEMSI Motorwerks.

Many thanks goes to Dana and Jannis Wiltse for the Special Trophy thats in the memory and decication to
Jason Wiltse and Eddie Barlow.

We want to thank Rick Dresang from UEMSI - WI. for contributing a $500.00 Savings Bond (to be used for specialized schooling and/or college for the winner this year).
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We have had many individuals and businesses come forward to contribute to the 2008 Youth Achievement Award. They are as follows:

Frank Sadlon - Engineered Graphics - WI.
Nikki Lange - Oscar Mayer - WI.
Coca Cola - WI.
Nord-Ride Motorsports - MI.
Jim & Marlene Musselman (Woody's)
International Eng. - MI
Mike and Judy Meagher - VSCA - MN.
The Warning Family - IL.
Ron Sheppard - Ontario, Canada
Jim Hilmerson RV and Marine - MN.
Terry Bashoor - B & B Small Engine - Ohio
Steve and Sherry Landon - The Winning Edge - MI.

Contributions towards the A-1 2008 Youth Achievement Award program will accumulate throughout the year and again be presented to the winner/winners at the A-1 2008 Event on Friday night, November 7, 2008.
Contact Diane Miller at A-1 if interested in donating to this great program for the youth.