West Yellowstone, 1978

After the accident that claimed Jerry Bunke, Polaris pulled the plug on the most effective factory race team in motorsports. So the team packed up and headed to West Yellowstone for the last race of the season in the United States. They brought the sleds and let some of the best independent guys drive them. But the crew and drivers from Polaris just watched the races and celebrated Jerry’s life – as well as what they knew was the end of a very good thing.

These amazing pictures are from Greg Marier, who worked with the team in those years. He got them directly from Steve Thorsen’s private stash.

Brad Hulings
Arctic Cat’s Davey Thompson cutting a rug.
Brad Hulings and new friend.
Polaris mechanic and truck driver Glen Bode.
Team Arctic mechanic Del Wahl.
Greg Hedlund and Glen Bode
Smiling Jim Bernat
Jim Hedlund
Greg Hedlund and Glen Bode.
Leroy Lindblad and Steve Thorsen.
Steve Thorsen and Lisa Biddescombe
Team Arctic’s Jim Dimmerman.
Jim Bernat and Steve Thorsen… just a couple of World Champions hanging out!
Dean Schwartzwalter, Larry Rugland, Steve Thorsen and Glen Bode.
Larry Rugland in disguise with a Team Arctic jacket.
David Karpik, Wes Pesek and Dean Schwartzwalter.

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The passion, triumph, dominance and tragedy of one of the most successful
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