Tom Anderson

"We have seen attendance increases each month over our 18 months of operation and are happy to be able to open up another section for snowmobilers to visit," says Tom Anderson, WSHQ president.

Located just 200 feet north of the famed Eagle River Derby Track, the WSHQ facility sits alongside a major highway and close to a major snowmobile trail.

Explains Anderson, "Our original concept was to provide more exposure for the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame, but we soon learned many other snowmobile organizations would benefit from having a physical presence to showcase their agendas and programs.
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"The concept of having several groups under one roof gives snowmobilers more to see and learn about our sport's beginnings as they wander about our multi-faceted facility," Anderson says.

According to Anderson, many visitors remark about how this or that particular sled was what they grew up on, or that it was their first ride and they wished they had kept it. Or, some see themselves in one or more of the over 200 Derby action photos of the past 45 years of World Championship racing.
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"Currently we are occupying 6,250 square feet of space with another 1,250 square feet currently under development that will house more Derby history," says Anderson.
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"Having seven different snowmobile organizations under one roof creates a super attraction for sledders to visit," explained Anderson.

"Our goal is to showcase both the people and the machines that have taken our sport from its infancy to the present," said Tom Anderson, president of the new organization.

Tom Anderson, Promoter and Journalist, is from Madison, Wisconsin.He became interested in snowmobiles around 1971 and started his publishing career from the basement of his home with a magazine called "The Hummer" and continued as the Publisher through 1986 and Editor through 1992.In 1983, Tom ventured into producing Snow Shows called Leisure Feature's, "Snowmobile USA Shows", along with ATV shows in the spring.Tom was instrumental in lobbying for a portion of the gas tax dollars for the state snowmobile program, increasing registration fees, and improving trespassing laws all of which helped the development and maintenance of Wisconsin's trail system, and responsible snowmobile legislation.Tom has served on numerous industry organizations, including the International Snowmobile Media Council, American Council of Snowmobile Associations, and the Blue Ribbon Coalition.He was instrumental in the formation of Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs and was an active member from 1975 to 1985.He has been promoting the sport at the local, state, national, and international levels for many years.He has received numerous awards for his involvement in snowmobiling including induction into the Iron Dog Brigade.Tom's entire family has always been with him in his efforts to promote our great sport.

Some key speakers in the audience included Clark Collins, BlueRibbon Executive Director, Harold Case, President of the American Council of Snowmobile Association (ACSA), Tom Anderson, from the Iron Dog Brigade, and myself, Chairman of the ACSA/BlueRibbon Legal Action Task Force.

Tom Anderson, WSHQ president and the human engine that propelled the WSHQ from dream to reality, feels that Eagle River's significance in the history of snowmobiling makes this location a natural venue. Eagle River draws thousands of snowmobilers for the Derby every year, and the Derby Track hosts other significant snowmobile events each year. In the fall, the annual ‘Reunion' brings in vintage sled aficionados from around the midwest. The Derby track plays host to a major snocross-racing event. Of course, due to the excellent snowmobile trail system in the Vilas County area, Eagle River, already a major summer tourist draw, became a well-known destination for snowmobilers.

Anderson says his group, which includes former Ski-Doo vice-president Russ Davis, among others, had negotiated for more than two years on a number of sites in the Eagle River area.
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WSHQ president Tom Anderson, right, chats with WSHQ director Larry Koch at the Eagle River location shortly after it was purchased and undergoing renovation.
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Anderson says the idea of a centralized snowmobile headquarters has been a long, difficult process to coordinate. The goal was to create a space that would encompass a museum with adequate space for vintage displays; a hall of fame to showcase snowmobiling's legends; and still have office space available for snowmobile related groups like antique clubs and state snowmobile groups. He sees the WSHQ as a ‘town hall' for snowmobile group meetings. But, he realized that all the preliminary planning would make implementation a bit easier once the group secured a building.
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According to Anderson, there's still another 9,000 square feet available for future growth.
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"The displays of sleds will be constantly evolving as we continue to work on making this facility the showcase of snowmobile history," says Anderson. He notes that he and the WSHQ have received strong support and assistance from snowmobilers all across the snowbelt.

Portraits of snowmobiling legends overlook a fleet of historic snowmobiles. In addition to being an enthusiast, Anderson has spent a career in snowmobiling as publisher of a regional snowmobile magazine and as the innovator of a series of snowmobile shows held annually in the upper midwest, including the Detroit and Chicago areas.

Some key speakers in the audience included Clark Collins, BlueRibbon Executive Director, Harold Case, President of the American Council of Snowmobile Association (ACSA), Tom Anderson, from the Iron Dog Brigade, and myself, Chairman of the ACSA/BlueRibbon Legal Action Task Force.