Snowmobile sales brisk

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Snowmobile sales in the area were so hot this week, it was hard to find sales people with enough time to talk about it.

"It's a circus, a zoo. I've got people backed up here. I'm selling to people in a 100-mile radius," said Larry Conklin, owner of Conklin Auto Inc., an Arctic Cat dealer in Winthrop.

"The phone just keeps on ringing," Conklin said. "We bought a lot of snowmobiles, so we still have about 30 left."

Conklin said used sleds are hard to find, and some dealers are aiding the situation by swapping inventory.

Marv's Sports Center of New Ulm is almost out of new snowmobiles. Accessory sales have also been very good, according to owner Pat Sparlin.

She says many of her customers are "real" snowmobilers willing to drive, even out of state, to find snow.

Mark Retzlaff of Retzlaff's Ace Hardware said Polaris oil, clothing, helmets and trailer sales have been good.

"We just got another 50-gallon drum of oil and a clothing and helmet shipment in," Retzlaff said.

The winter snowfall was a Godsend to some dealers.

According to Dick Forbrook of Dick's Sports Center in Morgan, the recent heavy snowfall was needed for his business to survive.

"I hope it (snow) doesn't melt right way," Forbrook said. "If it does, it better come back quick."

Forbrook said his business has about a dozen new machines left.

Petersen Ski-Doo of Madelia reported it had new 1998 snowmobiles on hand earlier this winter but that they are gone now. All-terrain vehicles with snow blades have also been good sellers. Between 25 and 30 of them were sold this winter.

Davis Sales and Service of Madelia reported over 30 new snowmobiles on hand.