INNOVATION
One Smart Idea
Smart car snowmobiles are turning
plenty of heads
By Jim Timlick
Jeff Humphries and Perry White draw plenty of curi-ous
stares any time they pull up in their vehicles.
Of course, such curiosity is understandable as soon
as you catch a glimpse of the winter rides the two
Newfoundlanders commonly use for weekend getaways to
cottage country.
Humphries and White are the proud owners of what have
come to be known as Smart car snowmobiles. The snowmo-biles
are regular Smart cars which have been converted to
off-road winter vehicles that are ideal for getting around on
groomed snow trails. The rear wheels of the cars have been
replaced with a set of tracks while skis have been installed in
place of front tires.
White’s Smart car was already fully decked-out when he
purchased it from a mechanic in Alberta where he was work-ing
at the time. He had it shipped to Newfoundland and Lab-rador
when he returned to his home province to retire about
three years ago. Humphries was so impressed when he saw
White’s vehicle he purchased his own Smart car and convert-ed
it himself about a year ago. The friends figure they, along
with another acquaintance in Valleyfield, N.L., own the only
three vehicles of their kind in the province.
Not surprisingly, these unique creations draw lots of atten-tion
wherever Humphries and White go.
“Oh yeah, wherever you go there’s always someone taking
pictures or video of the car,” White said. “A lot of them flag
you down to ask you about the car.
“I’ve had more pictures taken and more people wanting to
go for rides and wanting to drive it than I can remember. It’s a
real head-turner. Everywhere you go there’s someone asking
you questions.”
One of the most common questions the pair gets is how
much work went into converting the vehicles. Humphries
says the conversion is surprisingly simple. After removing
PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY JEFF HUMPHRIES AND PERRY WHITE
snowopsmag.com | SnowOps 11
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