A very big influence to me and im sure many of you, and somone I looked up to for many years has finaly been diagnosed!!!!

Im sure a lot of you have noticed A familiar face missing from snowmobile shows and TV show!

YES im talking about Big john the Host of SNOW TRAX TV!!!

Man this sucks!! he has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's diseases!! how and why I dont know!!!!

He was at my store last spring looking and talking fine, and then in the late summer this crap!!!

I am so sad right now I can tell you, Man this guys was a big part of what I have done and what I am doing today, He is the reason I went to work with SNOWMOBILER TV and then started doing what i am doing,

Lot of pepole dont know.. But we spoke at least once a week, and that man gave me some good advise,

If some one can beat this shitty diseases it will be big john!!

I found out last week from his good friend jeff from the show, he has told me the prees realess is not even out yet!!

GUYS!!! we are his brothers and sisters, PLEASE lets fill this thread Up and forward it to john and hs family,

maybe things will come back for him, or if that don't work we will all bring all of our sleds to the hospital and rev them up out side, LOL!!

JOHN!! I PRAY FOR YOU EVERYDAY!!!! GET BETTER!!!!!

Wow, I am sorry to hear that.
I will be thinking of him.
Good Luck, John

Shame for this to happen to John , great guy definate asset to the world of sledding. John will never hessitate to chat sledding with someone .. no matter where or when, he is a true blue sledhead.

My prayers go out to him and his family and friends.

Stay strong John and know that the snowmobile community is praying for your recovery.

Paul

I met him at a Tim Hortons on the way snowmobiling one weekend...yes, he didn't hesitate to talk to me about sleds...seemed like a really nice guy....all the best to him and his family.

Thats sad to hear, fight fight fight it John.

Tragic news for sure.
Hope all goes well.

Mike

Chatted with him briefly at one of the shows a few years ago. Seems like a great guy and I always enjoyed watching him on the show.

I wondered where he went this season.

All the best to you John - stay strong.

I am going to pin this thread.

RR.

Thanks RR,

keep it going boys!!! I wold like to send this off to him first week of june!!

Very sad news, wishes and prayers go out to John and his family

Best of wishes to you John. Time to beat this thing !

This is unfortunate news to hear.

John is a great ambassador for the sport.

Thoughts and prayers go out to John and his family.

Lou Gehrig's or ALS is a tough one. To learn more about it and how you can help research to fight it, please check out the web site.

http://www.als.ca/default.aspx

It is Lou Gehrig's Disease or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis offically.

I have a friend who's father died from it. Your mind stays perfectly fit, but you lose all control of your body.

A large percentage of people who have it end up committing suicide.

John is a true ambassador to the sport. He deserves better.

Thoughts and prayers to John and his Family.

wow thanks Al I did not know about this thing until now, I could not ask Jeff what Lou Gehrigs was,

All i know is.... in january he was out with the snow traxx crew and he did not remember too much,

Not sure how bad it is now?? But like I said he was here last spring around this time and he was Fine, I would say 100%

And then oct it was starting

Looks like it moves fast!!!

So Fricken sad!!

All I can do for the last few days is think about him,

guys! go home and kiss your wifes girl frinds and kids.

You nevr know what towmorow brings!!

Very sad news indeed, thoughts and prayers go out to John and his family.

Johns been a good friend to me as well as a riding buddy for a number of years. Never selfish and always supportive of everyone advancing the snowmobile sport, he is definately a true spokesmen for the industry. We are all hoping things can turn around and he can get back on his feet and back too what he loves the most.....sledding and providing, I think, the most informative snowmobile television show around. Cheers on you John.

I rode with John and the snowtrax film crew a few years. Very down to earth gentleman and a great ambassador to the sport.

I have met John several times and he is a great guy....he and his crew were involved in the first PET ride in Haliburton as well.

All the best John!!

I am at a loss for words! John is big man with an even bigger heart and a true gentle giant/gentleman who can communicate with anyone from the smallest child looking for an autograph to the old crusty guys who know everything about everything.

He can speak to the masses whether they be newbies or old guys like me. I have never heard one bad thing about John in the decades I have called him friend.

John: Joan and I are thinking of you, praying for your speedy recovery and looking forward to doo'n some bench racing at the fall show.

All the best my friend.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to John and his family. I spoke with him a few times at the TO snowmobile shows, always happy to talk about the sled business.
Good luck to you!
Ryan

I too was one of the fortunate ones to speak with John on a weekly basis, he is one of the most down to earth and likable guys I have ever met, a true ambassador for our sport!

As Slider mentioned above PET was lucky enough to be featured on both Snowtrax and Dirttrax back in 2006 and the entire PET Family is deeply saddened by this news.

I truly hope the "Big Guy" is able to beat this, John from my family to yours we are thinking of you....
Steve

Keep Positive John!

Strength is in the mind, courage is in the heart

I always valued my time when in his presence, a true snowmobile media giant. We have worked together on video shoots for Ontario. Always a pleasure to learn from you and glad to have shared the making of television for snowmobilers.

Peace on the Trails
Video Mike
SnowTrails TV.

I met John the first time many years ago in Elk Lake, Ontario. Every time we bumped into him at an event, he always took time chat. Stand up guy and as stated, a true ambassador to our sport.

Here is a shot of John doing some filming in Cochrane....

The first year SnowTrax aired I phoned their number and John answered. I recognized the voice immediately. We talked about what I thought of the show, what was planned for upcoming shows and what I'd like to see on the show etc. It was like talking to an old friend. Real classy guy and what has been said previously, a real ambassador to the sport of snowmobiling. My thoughts and prayers go out to John and his family. We are all pulling for you my friend.

Thoughts and prayers are with you.

Keep us posted.

It sounds like John is every bit the great person in private that he seems to be in the public eye.

Thats a rare thing these days ..We need more truly caring people like him in the world.

My prayers are with you John...Get well!!

I first met John in the early '90s when they were just starting to expand Raceline to the snowmobiling industry. My first thoughts were - a likeable giant of a man with matching ambition and enthusiasm. Over the next two decades, my thoughts still ring true. John and his crew went on to deliver a first class snowmobile show that always portrayed the sport in a positive manner.

John - we have shared a few drinks and much talk over the years including those times at Sportsman's, conventions and shows and it has always been a pleasure. I know in my heart that if anyone can beat the odds on this one, it has to be the likeable giant with all that ambition and enthusiasm that we all know. I know that you have many more episodes to shoot. Our prayers and hopes go with you all the way.

i llove all your shows you are always happy and fun to watch. iknow you will beat this thing and we all will be dancing like the smileyfaces!!! get well our sleddin family in alliston sends our best to you. look forward to watching more of your shows.

very sorry to hear that! hope for the best!

So sorry to hear the news. We wish you and the family our best wishes and prayers.

Here is the official Press Release:
*********************
PRESS RELEASE PDF FILE

***************
PROMARK MOTORSPORT MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT. May 8, 2008

-For Immediate release:
Burlington Ontario: Promark Motorsport International Incorporated, parent company for The Raceline Radio Network Inc., Snow Trax Television Inc., and Dirt Trax Television Inc., today
announced an update on the health of company President and CEO John Massingberd.
Massingberd has been diagnosed with ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, more commonly known as “Lou Gehrig’s disease”.
James Shields, CMA and Corporate Accountant for Promark, and now acting CEO, will continue to work closely with John’s brother Paul Massingberd and current staff in charge of producing all three broadcast properties.
“We are all shocked and deeply saddened by this news, as I know John’s many friends and associates are. We are now working with John’s family and his physicians to make him as comfortable as possible with best possible quality of life. Rest assured however, even though
John has lost most of his communicative capabilities, his spirit that built this company is as vital as ever! As I have stated previously, we have an exceptional team in place that will continue to manage all aspects of the day to day operations of this company.”, Jim Shields stated.

Plans are being drawn up for a tribute open house for John Massingberd at the Promark offices in Burlington Ontario. A date, time and further details will be announced in the very near future.
In the meantime, we sincerely appreciate your thoughts, prayers and concerns.

For further information or to answer any questions you may have:

Snow Trax/Dirt Trax: Jeff Steenbakkers: 613-227-7223 jeff@dirttraxtv.com

Executive Assistant: Wendy Taylor: 905-332-7223 Ext.1 wendy@snowtraxtv.com

Sales and Marketing: Vern Putzer: 905-332-7223 Ext. 5 vern@snowtraxtv.com

Raceline Radio Network: Erik Tomas: 905-892-0411 erik@raceline.ca

CEO: James Shields: 905-648-8839 james-shields@cogeco.ca

I was always running into him at spoiled when he was picking up sleds for the show and always had a great time chatting with him. At the same time where I was doing alot of work , the guy from the company and I used to go on smoke breaks all the time and the topic went to sleds, he says , you may know my nieghbor John, he does a show. I said Everybody knows John, next day he comes walking in with hats and stuff and says John wants to have these. Next time I saw him at spoiled I was wearing the hat, he does a double take and says where'd you get the hat, I told him " Well either you gave it to me or your nieghbor stole it" He was on the floor man, a totally standup guy. And I don't say that about many these days. Cheers John

Very unfortunate news indeed. Our prayers to him and his family. A true sledder through and through!

He's in my thoughts and prayers.

That sucks to hear that news

John has many friends that will help him through this

WOW,

I'm shocked. Why do such things happen to great people?

John is a great guy and will always be in my book.

I met John a few times over the years and does not deserve this at all, no ne does. As mentioned, he is THE ambassador of this sport and others and showed us each week.

I had an Uncle die from ALS when I was a kid and thought by now there would be a cure.

This will definatly be a charity I will be contributing to real soon.

Our thoughts are with John's family and his Snowtrax family.

You can beat it John.

Tim & Mimi

thoughts and prayers sent.......never got the chance to meet him.feel like i missed out,of knowing a great guy.

Very sad news, My wishes and prayers go out to John and his family...

The whole sledding community is behind you through this John, stay strong Buddy!!!!

I missed that show SNOWTRAX GET BETTER SOON BIG JOHN, we all miss you and hope you get better. We all know you can pull through, your a tough guy and best of luck to you.

John is one of the most incredible men I have ever known, he has a heart of GOLD!!!

John stood by us and helped us get PET off the ground in the early days, and never left our side all the way through.

He is the most caring and loving individual....our thoughts, prayers and best wishes are with You, Kitty, Your Family and the rest of the amazing Snow Trax, Dirt Trax and Race Line Crew.

John made us feel like family, like we were part of the team and although he is an incredible ambassadore to the sport he is also a truly superb human being.

Get Well Soon John, I am still waiting for you to set me up on my date with Ed!!!

XOXO

Edwina

(Sherri)

I am a loyal follower of Snowtrax and missed seeing John on the air this year. I hope John that you beat this. All the best.

Oh man. I haven't checked into this site since the end of march. John is and always will be a great ambassador for our sport which we all love as much as he does. So lets all keep our heads high, rubber side down and sled for him. I met John for the first time in person in 2007 and you are all correct. He is a super nice guy whom talks to anyone at anytime and any place. John, I hope you can beat this, stay strong man and pass on your wisdom. You are great for the sport and we appreciate all your input (never bias). I have enjoyed sledding in many different areas which I probably wouldn't have if it wasn't for your honest input. We're thinking of you and praying for you. We wish you and your family well. Hope to see you again real soon buddy.

This really sucks. I kind of wondered why he wasn't on the show this winter, but was still on the website.

We met up w/ John & some other sledders (Kap Sno-Rovers) during dinner @ the Casey's in Kap a couple of years ago. They didn't have dinner in front of them yet (or were finished) & didn't mind chatting w/ us about our trip & what they were up to.

Wow, that too bad. I don't think i have missed to many episods of Snow Trax. If i couldn't see it that day, the VCR was set and taped every show. That such a shame, such a great guy. I hope he pulls through. My prayers are with him.

Shouldn't happen to such a nice guy. I'm saddened by the news. My thoguths are with you big John!

I have had the good fortune to sled with Big John on a couple occasions and swing a drink with him as well. He used to live locally near us here.

Larger than life in stature and heart. Fun guy to sled with, rides like the wind and share's the love of sledding right up there with anyone.
Hardcoresledder personified!

Good luck John, all the best to you and your family.
I hope you kick the crap out of this!