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{{Infobox adult biography
| name = Jim Adema
| name = Jim Adema
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| caption = Jim Adema standing in the mud
| caption = Jim Adema standing in the mud
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|1975|12|14|1942|1|29}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1975|12|14|1942|1|29}}
| death_place = [[Ironwood, Michigan]]
| death_place = [[Ironwood, Michigan]]
| death_cause = Snowmobile Accident
| death_cause = Snowmobile accident
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| known_for = Snowmobile racing
| known_for = Snowmobile racing
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'''Jim Adema'''<ref name="James (Jim, Jimmie) Adema">{{citeweb|url=http://www.geni.com/people/James-Jim-Jimmie-Adema/6000000011516339287|title=James (Jim, Jimmie) Adema|publisher=GENi|accessdate=2015-03-20}}</ref> was a snowmobile racing star during the first half of the 1970s. He was inducted into the Snowmobile Hall of Fame in 1988.<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.snowmobilehalloffame.com/adema.htm|title=James Adema bio|publisher=Snowmobile Hall of Fame|accessdate=2015-03-20}}</ref> An independent oval race driver, Adema won a record setting number of races from 1970 to 1975, all while riding on one of his modified [[Sno-Jet]]s, each of which were ThunderJets models.
'''Jim Adema'''<ref name="James (Jim, Jimmie) Adema">{{cite web|url=http://www.geni.com/people/James-Jim-Jimmie-Adema/6000000011516339287|title=James (Jim, Jimmie) Adema|publisher=GENi|accessdate=2015-03-20}}</ref> was a [[snowmobile]] racing star during the first half of the 1970s. He was inducted into the Snowmobile Hall of Fame in 1988.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snowmobilehalloffame.com/adema.htm|title=James Adema bio|publisher=Snowmobile Hall of Fame|accessdate=2015-03-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924103053/http://www.snowmobilehalloffame.com/adema.htm|archive-date=2015-09-24|url-status=dead}}</ref> An independent oval race driver, Adema won a record setting number of races from 1970 to 1975, all while riding on one of his modified [[Sno-Jet]]s, each of which were [[Sno-Jet#The Thunderjet|ThunderJet]] models.


Collaborating with Sno-Jet's Advanced Research Team in 1970, Adema tested and advised on how to improve the new ThunderJet racer which, at the time, was unstable and not competitive. His effort helped the design team develop the 1972 oval track racing sled that was initially mocked. Its flat silhouette was dubbed 'roadkill' or 'ThunderChicken'. After several winning races where Jim hung to the inside of the track while others were wasting in the banks, he started a trend later adopted by many competitors.
Collaborating with [[Sno-Jet]]'s Advanced Research Team in 1970, Adema tested and advised on how to improve the new ThunderJet racer which, at the time, was unstable and not competitive. His effort helped the design team develop the 1972 oval track racing sled, which was initially met with poor reception. Its flat [[silhouette]] was mockingly dubbed "roadkill" or "ThunderChicken". After winning several races in which he hung to the inside of the track while others were wasting in the [[banked turn|banks]], he started a [[fad|trend]] later adopted by many competitors.


Capable of winning in all classes, thanks to major improvements in traction and handling, he personally won the Kawartha Cup in 1972. His company Belmont Engineering introduced many features to the sport in the then fast-changing technology known by manufacturers: lightweight alloys, tungsten studs and runners, tapered tunnel for snow clearance, extra low centre of gravity and offset engine placement, ergonomic steering and several safety features like twin density foam seats that prevented high G force impact on a racer's spine when a bump was hit at high speed.
Adema won the Kawartha Cup in 1972. His company Belmont Engineering introduced many technological features to the sport, including lightweight [[alloy]]s, [[tungsten]] studs and runners, tapered tunnel for snow clearance, extra low centre of gravity and offset engine placement, and [[Human factors and ergonomics|ergonomic]] steering and several safety features like twin density foam seats that prevented high [[g-force]] impact on a racer's [[human vertebral column|spine]] when a bump was hit at high speed.


Lack of snow and the [[OPEC]] oil crisis affected the entire industry. Adema switched to [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]] and was beginning another chapter of his career when an accident in swirling snow dust at the season opener on December 14, 1975, ended his life while racing in the motorsport he helped develop. <ref name="Jim Adema"> {{citeweb|url=http://www.mmshof.org/inductees/jim-adema/|title=Jim Adema|publisher=Michigan Motor Sports Hall Site|accessdate=2015-03-20}}</ref>
Adema later switched to [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]], after [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries|Kawasaki Corporation]] purchased Sno Jet.<ref name="Jim Adema">{{cite web|url=http://www.mmshof.org/inductees/jim-adema/|title=Jim Adema|publisher=Michigan Motor Sports Hall Site|accessdate=2015-03-20}}</ref>


==Death==
==Death==
On December 14, 1975 at Ironwood, MI, during a race in wet snow with rapidly approaching darkness, Jim Adema clipped the vehicle of fellow racer [[Dick Trickle]] and lost control, throwing him off an estimated 100 feet. Adema got back up but [[Yvon Duhamel]], unable to avoid a collision, struck Adema at a speed of 70 mph. A second machine, driven by Joe Wolfe also struck Adema.
On December 14, 1975 at [[Ironwood, Michigan]], during a race in wet snow late in the evening, Adema clipped the vehicle of fellow racer [[Dick Trickle]] and lost control, throwing him off an estimated 100 [[foot (unit)|feet]]. Adema got back up but [[Yvon Duhamel]], unable to avoid a collision, struck him at a speed of 70 [[miles per hour|mph]]. A second machine driven by Joe Wolfe also struck Adema. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Memorial Hospital in [[Ashland, Wisconsin]], marking the first professional snowmobile racing fatality in the sport's history.

A few hours later, Adema was announced dead on arrival at Memorial Hospital in Ashland, Wisconsin. Marking the first professional snowmobile racing fatality in the sport's history.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
*Dancz, Richard. [http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7e9OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KEwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3874%2C6523621 "Memorial for Jim Adema"], ''[[Ludington Daily News]]'', Ludington, December 24, 1975. Retrieved on 15 March 2015.
*Dancz, Richard. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7e9OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KEwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3874%2C6523621 "Memorial for Jim Adema"], ''[[Ludington Daily News]]'', Ludington, December 24, 1975. Retrieved on 15 March 2015.


{{Authority control}}
{{Persondata
| NAME = Adema, Jim
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American snowmobile racer
| DATE OF BIRTH = January 29, 1942
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| DATE OF DEATH = December 14, 1975
| PLACE OF DEATH = Ironwood, MI, USA
}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Adema, Jim}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adema, Jim}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:1975 deaths]]
[[Category:1975 deaths]]
[[Category:Snowmobile racing]]
[[Category:Snowmobile racers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Grand Rapids, Michigan]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Grand Rapids, Michigan]]

Latest revision as of 22:11, 30 June 2023

Jim Adema
BornJanuary 29, 1942
Grand Rapids, Michigan
DiedDecember 14, 1975(1975-12-14) (aged 33)
Ironwood, Michigan
Cause of deathSnowmobile accident
Known forSnowmobile racing

Jim Adema[1] was a snowmobile racing star during the first half of the 1970s. He was inducted into the Snowmobile Hall of Fame in 1988.[2] An independent oval race driver, Adema won a record setting number of races from 1970 to 1975, all while riding on one of his modified Sno-Jets, each of which were ThunderJet models.

Collaborating with Sno-Jet's Advanced Research Team in 1970, Adema tested and advised on how to improve the new ThunderJet racer which, at the time, was unstable and not competitive. His effort helped the design team develop the 1972 oval track racing sled, which was initially met with poor reception. Its flat silhouette was mockingly dubbed "roadkill" or "ThunderChicken". After winning several races in which he hung to the inside of the track while others were wasting in the banks, he started a trend later adopted by many competitors.

Adema won the Kawartha Cup in 1972. His company Belmont Engineering introduced many technological features to the sport, including lightweight alloys, tungsten studs and runners, tapered tunnel for snow clearance, extra low centre of gravity and offset engine placement, and ergonomic steering and several safety features like twin density foam seats that prevented high g-force impact on a racer's spine when a bump was hit at high speed.

Adema later switched to Yamaha, after Kawasaki Corporation purchased Sno Jet.[3]

Death

[edit]

On December 14, 1975 at Ironwood, Michigan, during a race in wet snow late in the evening, Adema clipped the vehicle of fellow racer Dick Trickle and lost control, throwing him off an estimated 100 feet. Adema got back up but Yvon Duhamel, unable to avoid a collision, struck him at a speed of 70 mph. A second machine driven by Joe Wolfe also struck Adema. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Memorial Hospital in Ashland, Wisconsin, marking the first professional snowmobile racing fatality in the sport's history.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "James (Jim, Jimmie) Adema". GENi. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
  2. ^ "James Adema bio". Snowmobile Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
  3. ^ "Jim Adema". Michigan Motor Sports Hall Site. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
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