The Northland 300 is a 300 mile, 3-day, charity snowmobile ride, made up of volunteer participants who raise funds to support Special Olympics Minnesota.  The Northland 300 is never cancelled.  The Northland 300 is all about people, snowmobilers, the charity, the towns and the combination therof.  The Northland 300 was built on friendships and the friendships continue to grow each year. Friendships and comaraderie of the riders and the folks we meet at our checkpoints in the towns along the way.
 
The Northland 300 event is planned by and all volunteer Board of Directors for volunteer snowmobile enthusiasts.  The Northland 300 is made possible by its Sponsors and Partners so that all funds go directly to support Special Olympics Minnesota.  Rider donations are achieved through sponsorships, raffle ticket sales, company and general donations.  Activities to raise funds include Road Rallies, golf outings plus other Special Events.

Road and Travel Information!

To all participants traveling from the south:
Avoid Hwy 169 from Virginia to Peyla
From US-53:
Exit for MN-37 E towards Gilbert/Biwabik/Eveleth 
Follow MN-135 N to MN-1 E/MN-169 N (this change will be in Tower, MN)
Continue on MN-1 E/169 N to Ely, MN
Gold Medal Year 
 January 22th, 2020 to January 26th, 2020 
Northland 300..
Destination - Grand Ely Lodge Ely, MN
Northland 300 registration desk is open from 5 pm to 9 am
​Thursday January 23rd - Opening ceremonies is scheduled for 9 am
Friday January 24th - Free Day
Saturday January 25th - Banquet/Raffle 
Sunday January 26th - Farewell to another successful year







Safety Training Highlights:

​​Key Points of Safety/Trail Training was held on December 1, 2019 
  • Communication is key to a successful team
  • Lead Drivers - your tail gunner is your right hand person
  • Everyone is responsible for their actions
  • Snowmobile Code of Ethics are what we stand by
  • Safety is key to a successful Northland 300
  • CPR refresher was given as a video
  • The Northland 300 put together a 'Safety' backpack
  • Each backpack has items in which to use while on the trail 'if' something happens
  • Each team will get 1 backpack to be rotated to wear between all members
  • IF YOU SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING
  • Keep an eye on each other
  • COMMUNICATION COMMUNICATION COMMUNICATION
  • For more information, please contact Mike Richards (Trailmaster), Dave Gerlach (Assistant Trailmaster) or Casey or Helonna Heller (Support Captians). 


​POLE POSITIONS WERE PICKED AT OUR FIRST DRIVERS MEETING. THEY ARE AS FOLLOW: 
  • 1st Team - Green (Lead Driver Mike Richards) 
  • 2nd Team - Yellow (Lead Driver Tarry Trout) 
  • 3rd Team - T2 (Lead Driver Jim Reger) 
  • 4th Team - White (Lead Driver Marc Williams) 
  • 5th Team - White 2 (Lead Driver Kyle Crain)
  • 6th Team - Purple (Lead Driver Jason Reinsch) 
  • 7th Team - Pink (Lead Driver Dave Gerlach) 
  • 8th Team - Blue (Lead Driver Nick Meister)
  • Support is lead by Casey & Lonna Heller
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Special Announcement

​Dear Friend of the Northland 300:

My hope is that you will read this in its entirety as the contents went into effect April 1 and it will affect the 2020 ride and all that our ride entails.

First of all, we now have 8 teams in place instead of 4. This was done not just for a more enjoyable ride, but so that we have room to grow our event. At our first Driver/ Support Meeting you will be asked to sign up for the team that you will ride on. They are as follows:

GREEN – Mike Richards
T2 – Jim Reger
WHITE – Marc Williams
PINK – Dave Gerlach
BLUE- Nick Meister
WHITE 2 – Kyle Crain
YELLOW – Tarry Trout
PURPLE – Jason Reinsch

. NO TEAM WILL GO OUT WITH LESS THAN 5 SLEDS AND NO MORE THAN 10. It is important that you know we are only taking 100 riders this year . SO IF YOU ARE NOT YET REGISTERED, YOU SHOULD DO SO IMMEDIATELY ON THE ENCLOSED FORM.

We will be picking pole positions differently this year. It will be by a drawing so that it is totally the luck of the draw.
2020 is going to be a GOLD MEDAL YEAR. Those of you remember when we did this in the past, we will be looking for the very best team on the ride. Details will be given out at the First Driver/Support Meeting.

We are committed to safety this year so we will be providing First Aid supplies in a backpack to each team, along with each Support Vehicle. Each team, along with our Support Team will be have training this year.

Lastly is a new ruling on Sponsorship money. At the time your sponsorship is turned in, you will be asked the following:
Are you going to take full credit for these funds as you have initiated the funding?
If not, you will be allowed to use only ½ of the amount to go towards pledges for you and others. The names of the participants that this will cover cannot be changed.

​Our sponsorships have become watered down and we can no longer allow this to happen.
 
The Northland 300 is about bringing an awareness to Special Olympics through our fundraising and our safe and responsible snowmobiling. All Lead Drivers and Support will receive training for this so that all will have an equal opportunity to demonstrate these expectations. We will provide the tools and each of you will be asked to demonstrate that you are the very best that is on the trails and on support.
 
I hope that you sign up today so that you are one of the 100 that will be on the 2020 NL300. We look forward to seeing you at Hay Days (Sept. 7-8)or at our First Driver/Support Meeting (Oct.8). If you have any questions, you can contact me or any person on the NL Board of Directors. You each are very important to the success of our ride.
 
 
Friendship in Snowmobiling,
Kathy Karkula
 
Kathy Karkula
(612/840-9660) or karkulak300@outlook.com
 
 

 
 
 

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