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20 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tues. January 17, 1984 Sports Trail grooming equipment owned by the Port Perry Snowmobile Club cuts through a winter wonderland early Sunday morning. Grooming is an important part of good snowmobiling, but it costs money. Trail permits are necessary for any snowmobiler to use the trails in Scugog Township and funds from these permits revert back to the club for trail up-keeps and grooming. (See story) Pee Wees win 3-2 then lose by 6-3 Two league games on Sat. netted the Legion Pee Wee A's two points as they defeated Picker- ing Hockey Assoc. 3-2, then dropped a 6-3 loss to Stouffville on home ice at night. Although Port con- trolled the play in Pick- ering's end, only one shot hit the target, a power play goal by Derek Fitzgerald set up by Daryl Leatherdale and Clair Cornish on the point gave the team a 1-0 lead at the 6:47 mark of the opening period. Excellent penalty kill- ing prevented Pickering from crossing the blue line. The second period proved much the same as the first with the only scoring on a power play, Clair Cornish connected from the point with Mike Sorley and Kevin Gibson controlling the play from the corner. Pickering were first to score in the third as they slipped one behind Paul Kett who up to this point had seen little action. A scramble in front of goalie Goreski had a loose puck sliding around the goal mouth which was finally tuck- ed in by Jarett Harman. Pickering not relenting made it 3-2. For the final 58 seconds Port were able to hold onto this slim one goal lead as Pickering elected to go with six attackers. On Sat. night, The Legionaires met a strong Stouffville team, this was a super fast game with few penal ties. Stouffville have some strong shooters which Chris McConnell discovered early in the period when they con- nected for their first goal. They took a 240 lead in the second before Eric Grosvenor lit up the scoreboard with Jarett Harman assisting. Stouffville scored twice more, tak- ing a 4-1 lead into the final period. Clair Cor- nish picking up the puck fromthe opening faceoff let fly with a shot from outside the blueline that hit the top crossbar dropping behind a start- led Luciano who never had a chance on the play. Controlling the play from the blueline and in the corner paid off in the next goal as Kevin Gibson from Jeff Mills had Port within tying reach. Stouffville scoring twice more put the game out of reach in the final minutes of play. Jan. 21st and 22nd, The Legion Pee Wee A's will travel to Brace- bridge for a two day tournament. Trail system opensupa After last season hen most snowmobil- ers just left their machines in the garage, conditions this year are near perfect for this . popular winter sport. The Port Perry Snow- mobile Club, which now has nearly 300 family memberships, main- tains 137 km of trails which cut through bush, swamp and open areas of Scugog Township, and connect with other snowmobile trails which can take the enthusiast to the Haliburton area to the north, as far west as Kincardine and as far east as the province of Quebec. Club members have put a lot of work into clearing and preparing the network of trails and the club has three heavy-duty Alpine machines and sleds which are used con- stantly to groom the trails. And the Club also works hard to improve all aspects of the sport of snowmobiling; from driver education and safety to bolstering relations with the non- snowmobiling public. Club vice-president Dave Ballingall told the Star last week that while the "image problem" has greatly improved in recent years, isolated incidents still take place which unfortunately cast a shadow against the vast majority of snowmobil- ers who are law-abiding and very conscious of the rights of others. "I guess there always will be a few who act like idiots, but it is un- fortunate for the rest of us," he said. To develop the net- work of 137 km of trails, the Port Perry Snow- mobile Club has negot- iated agreements with 50 landowners and the relationship works very well for both parties. For the snowmobilers, it gives them the chance to enjoy their sport and for the landowners, it helps to ensure that snowmobiles: aren't crossing fields any old place, knocking down fences and so on. The Club does not pay any of the landowners for the right to use trails across private property, but each year, the Club holds an appreciation dinner-dance for the landowners. To legally use the trails on private pro- perty in which the Club has an agreement with the owner, a snow- winter wonderland for the snowmobile buffs mobiler must have a Trail Permit. This is a small red sticker which is attached to the wind- shield of the snow- mobile, and allows the owner to use the trails in many parts of Ontario where clubs are part of the trail-funding system. The Port Perry Club has 15 trail wardens who can offer the stickers for sale. They cost $10 for club members and $20 for non-members. The money collected from these stickers is put into a trail-groom- ing fund administered by the Ontario Feder- ation of Snowmobile Clubs, and then re- allocated each year to individual clubs based on the number of trails, the amount of snow grooming equipment "and other factors. This is the second year, the trail-grooming system has been in existence and it seems to be functioning pretty well. Through the agree- ment with the land- owners, the trail wardens have the authority to press charges of trespassing against anyone using the trails without a red sticker. Prominent signs are posted along the trails which warn people they are on pri- vate property and must have the stickers to use the trails. The reasoning is that any snowmobiler whe wants to use the trails should buy a sticker and make a contribution to the up-keep and groom- ing. The grooming equip- ment used by the Port Perry club keeps the trails smooth and pack- ed down, and the cost of running that equipment is nearly $10 per hour. There are currently more than 160 snow- mobile clubs in the pro- vince participating in the trail-grooming and funding program. The Port Perry Snow- mobile Club maintains a modern club house just a couple of miles south of the community, and it's open Wednesday and Friday nights and all day on the weekends. For more information about the Port Perry Club, the trail systems and snowmobiling in general, phone 985-2888 or the club-house 985- 3412 on weekends. The sport of snowmobiling is more popular than ever, especially with the white stuff falling like crazy so far this winter. it's a family affair for Bruce and Gwen Luke and their children. Note the clearly marked sign at left of photo which tells any snowmobiler that trail permits are needed fo use the trails which cross private property.