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Polaris hillclimber Rick Ward killed in collision
- He was a multi-time King of the Hill and excelled at sled setup
started by ArcticOhio
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September 7th 2009 at 11:52 AM
[ Modified September 7th 2009 at 12:06 PM
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ArcticOhio
Every Day Is Sunday When Your'e A Dog !
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215 Posts 
Group: Members
Member Since: November 12th 2006
Location: Montville Township, Ohio, USA
Current Sled: Ski-Doo MVZ Formula
2008-2009 Miles: 552
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Some sad news indeed ! The following is reprinted from Snowgoer.com
Sept. 3, 2009
Rick Ward, a longtime Polaris hillclimber, cross-country racer and manager of the company's Western racing program, died September 1 in a motor vehicle accident near his home in Sugar City, Idaho. He was 47.
According to the Madison County Sheriff's Office, Ward was traveling on a motorcycle and collided with a minivan that was going through an intersection from a stop sign.
During his long hillclimbing career, Ward won 18 world championships, countless class titles and numerous King of the Hill honors at events throughout the West. He was not only a successful racer but a mentor and inspiration to many younger racers who admired the way he prepared his sleds, the way he rode and the way he graciously accepted the outcome.
Win or lose – and it was most often “win” – he was a sportsman. He celebrated victory with dignity and was always ready to congratulate competitors, according to a release from Polaris.
“This is a tragic loss of a great friend and an amazingly talented snowmobile racer,” said Polaris Racing Manager Tom Rager, Sr. “He was a tremendous asset to our racing program and he set an outstanding example, particularly for Western racers.”
Ward made his living as a farmer and was a multi-time winner at the Jackson Hole World Championship Hillclimb. He was a fixture in the Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Hillclimb Association circuit. He raced exclusively on Polaris snowmobiles, and in recent years served as the manager of the company’s Western racing program.
As recently as 2007, Ward was still winning titles at Jackson Hole. That year he added to his legendary Jackson Hole resume, winning three classes.
In 2006, Ward won Stock King of the Hill honors at Jackson Hole after winning the Pro Masters Stock and Pro 600 Stock classes.
Ward was talented at building hillclimb sleds, and he had extraordinary riding skills. When flatland-based Polaris racers traveled to the Winter X Games in Colorado or snocross racing at West Yellowstone, Montana, Ward helped them tune their engines to perform at high altitude.
Each year when new Polaris mountain sleds were developed, Ward dissected them to learn how they could best be set up for hillclimbs, and he shared that information with Western Polaris racers.
Survivors include his wife Michelle, two daughters and a son.
Greetings from Montville Township
Ohio's Snow Capital !
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Site Supporter
Group: Site Supporters
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September 7th 2009 at 12:11 PM
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Mad-Boondocker
Only way to take on FEAR is to take it head on
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751 Posts 
Group: Members
Member Since: February 19th 2009
Location: East Otto, NY, USA
Current Sled: 98 Polaris Indy 500 Mod
2008-2009 Miles: 185
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That guy was one of the best hill climbers that ever lived
1998 Polaris Indy 500 chassis with 98 Xc 600 motor
SLP ceramic coated pipe with SLP can
V-force reeds
4 inch pivot riser
Gutted Air Box
EPI clutch kit soon to be installed
Maybe some pro tapers
1998 XC 700 water-cross sled
SLP twin pipes
Some light weight parts
Water-cross mods include taking the parts u do not need
This includes removing the seat replacing gas tank and IFS bars.
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September 7th 2009 at 2:13 PM
[ Modified September 7th 2009 at 2:14 PM
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when i die i hope i am remembered as a kind and big hearted not for anything sled related. my family better be the leading part of the article not a little footnote at the bottom. somewhere near the bottom they can write i was good on sleds or anything mechanical, good farmer loved animals.....
nothing goes like 3 holes!!
Aaen Performance!!!!
High performance engineering
millennium technologies
brtech hoods
price performance
Got Speed Racing
320-629-4889
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September 7th 2009 at 2:25 PM
[ Modified September 7th 2009 at 2:25 PM
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bigrok
Oatty
bigrok is not looking forward to going back to "paradise".
Updated Tuesday at 11:59 AM
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1543 Posts 
Group: Members
Member Since: February 23rd 2006
Location: Kailua, HI, USA
Current Sled: NONE!! :(
2008-2009 Miles: 73
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Quote originally posted by madcow
when i die i hope i am remembered as a kind and big hearted not for anything sled related. my family better be the leading part of the article not a little footnote at the bottom. somewhere near the bottom they can write i was good on sleds or anything mechanical, good farmer loved animals.....
I agree 100%. Snowmobiling is nothing compared to my family.
I need big jugs on my sled, cuz my girl doesn't.
2007 Dodge Ram 2500
~5.9L CUMMINS TURBO DIESEL, auto, quad cab, short box, B&W gooseneck hitch, silencer ring MIA, torque tube baffles MIA, Smarty Jr POD, Aero Turbine 4040XL, ISSPRO gauges (boost, trans temp & EGT).....Wish list: 18"x9" XD Spy wheels, 33" tires, Smarty Sr, AFE Intake
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September 7th 2009 at 6:57 PM
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arcticcatmatt
Spleen Splitter
arcticcatmatt leaving after work for 3 days of shotgun season back home!
Updated Yesterday at 12:16 PM
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14007 Posts 
Group: Moderators
Member Since: November 25th 2001
Location: Berkshire, NY, USA
Current Sled: 96/97 ZRT 600
2008-2009 Miles: 450
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Quote originally posted by madcow
when i die i hope i am remembered as a kind and big hearted not for anything sled related. my family better be the leading part of the article not a little footnote at the bottom. somewhere near the bottom they can write i was good on sleds or anything mechanical, good farmer loved animals.....
I was just about to say that as I was thinking the same thing while reading it.
RIP to a fellow motorcyclist and sled head.
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September 7th 2009 at 11:05 PM
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XLT96rider
Other sports play once a week, but this sport is with us every day.
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942 Posts
Group: Members
Member Since: January 7th 2009
Location: Wausau, Wisconsin, USA
Current Sled: 1996 Polaris XLT Special
2008-2009 Miles: 1000+
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^^^No kidding, they make it seem like his family was nothing....how sad.
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September 8th 2009 at 6:05 AM
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ArcticOhio
Every Day Is Sunday When Your'e A Dog !
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215 Posts
Group: Members
Member Since: November 12th 2006
Location: Montville Township, Ohio, USA
Current Sled: Ski-Doo MVZ Formula
2008-2009 Miles: 552
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This article is from snogoer so obviously it would focus on his involvement in the sport. Snowmobiling was this mans passion and life's work, I am sure he would like to be remembered for that. It also says how generous with his time and knowledge he was, as well as how gracious he was, in victory and defeat. I am sure his obituary and eulogy will be much more personal. If it was not for his involvement in snowmobiling, must of us would never have heard of him. I know I would be happy to be remembered by others both in my profession and those touched by it. My family won't need to be mentioned in an article to remember me, which is good, because I doubt any of us will achieve the notoriety of Rick Ward. It saddens me that the only comment some can make on loosing someone who gave so much to our sport is to complain about his obituary.
Ride In Peace Bro !
Greetings from Montville Township
Ohio's Snow Capital !
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September 8th 2009 at 12:53 PM
[ Modified September 8th 2009 at 12:53 PM
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RMK-KING
The Fabricator Moderator
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9123 Posts
Group: Moderators
Member Since: October 3rd 2002
Location: Center and Roseglen, ND, USA
Current Sled: 09 RMK 700 & 06 IQr 600
2008-2009 Miles: 550
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Its a snowmobile site,its expected that they are going to talk about the snowmobile side of him. I am sure the one in the paper will be different.
Sad news for a great Polaris Rider. RIP Rick,bet he is high marking all the way up to heaven.
Current Line Up
-09 RMK Assault
-06 IQ R 600HO
-01 ProX 600
-95 XCR 600
Days get shorter,snow gets deeper,life gets better.
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