Publisher C.J. Ramstad died with his son

The father owned and edited snowmobiling and off- roading magazines. They were killed in an accident Sunday.

By Ben Cohen, Star Tribune

Last update: May 8, 2007 - 9:49 PM

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.

He was working on his fifth book -- the story of Ralph Plaisted's journey by snowmobile to the North Pole -- when he died.

Ramstad had covered snowmobiling around the globe, from as near as the Twin Cities and as far away as Russia.

King said he brought creativity to the sport. It was his idea, in the 1980s, that the Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association gather for its winter meeting by snowmobile, not car or truck.

Ramstad received numerous honors, including being inducted into the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame in St. Germain, Wis.

Pat Bourgeois, marketing manager of Polaris Industries of Medina, said that Ramstad served as a spokesman for off-roaders and snowmobilers, "not just in Minnesota, but globally."

J.J. Ramstad

Ramstad's son, John (J.J.) of Deephaven, was a talented guitarist, said Bourgeois.

J.J. Ramstad was a junior at the Mainstreet School of Performing Arts in Hopkins, where he was a school leader who did well in class, Bourgeois said.

Father and son enjoyed music and off-road sports together.

"He, like his father, learned very young how to live life at that full level and just be your own person," said Bourgeois.

Clifford Ramstad is survived by his wife, Karla of Deephaven, a daughter, Marly of Deephaven, and brothers Robbie of Minnetonka and Andy of Minneapolis.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Westwood Community Church, 3121 Westwood Drive, Chanhassen.

Ben Cohen • bcohen@startribune.com

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