may 6th 2007

Clifford (C.J.) Ramstad, who edited, owned and published snowmobile and ATV magazines, died along with his 17-year-old son, John (J.J.) Ramstad, in a two-car crash Sunday in Carver County. Clifford Ramstad of Deephaven was 61. A former advertising copywriter, Ramstad became involved in snowmobiling when he got the Arctic Cat account in the late 1960s.

When he died, he owned, published or edited a half dozen snowmobile and off-road sports publications such as Minnesota Snowmobiling Magazine, SuperTrax and All Terrain Magazine.

"Snowmobiling was just his heart and soul. And he loved the people in the sport so much," said Judy King, a former head of publications for the Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association in Brooklyn Park. "He was an advocate for the sport. He knew anything that was going on," King said.

Ramstad testified before the Legislature. He collected antique sleds and promoted vintage clubs. He also had an extensive photo collection of the sport, which he shared on the website www.snowpod.com.