From: Rick Halvorson

From the Idaho Statesmen, article can be found at:
http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/daily/20011031/LocalSports/178735.shtml
Idaho Steelheads; Hockey fans -- and Charlie Brown --
are fascinated by the ice-resurfacing machines whose
inventor grew up in Idaho
By Chadd Cripe
Chris Butler / The Idaho Statesman
Idaho Steelheads fans can celebrate special occasions
with a ride on the Zamboni during intermissions.
THE MAN
Frank J. Zamboni Jr. was Utah-born, but Idaho-grown.
The famed inventor of the world's most popular
ice-resurfacing machines was born Jan. 16, 1901, in
Eureka, Utah.

His family moved to Lava Hot Springs, just southeast
of Pocatello, a year later. Zamboni attended nine
years of school before dropping out at age 15 to help
his father with the family farm.

The Zambonis moved again in 1920, this time to a
suburb of Los Angeles. Frank earned three patents as
an electrician before starting an ice-manufacturing
business with his brother Lawrence in 1927.

In 1939, they sold the ice business to build an ice
rink.

Frank received a patent for the ice surface, which was
unusually smooth, but it took 90 minutes to resurface
the rink. He began experimenting with machines in 1942
and could resurface the rink in 10 minutes by the
summer of 1949.

Frank J. Zamboni and Co. sold its first ice resurfacer
for $5,000 in 1950. The company turned out its 7,000th
machine last year. It has plants in Paramount, Calif.,
and Brantford, Ontario, and a branch office in Zurich,
Switzerland.

Zamboni also created AstroTurf machines that vacuum
water, remove white lines and roll up fields. He
earned his 15th and final patent in 1983 for an edger
that trims the ice along the dasher boards. It
attaches to the Zamboni resurfacer.

Zamboni, who died in 1988, was inducted into the U.S.
Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2000.

HOW IT WORKS

The Zamboni shaves 1/64th of an inch of ice with a
blade. A horizontal screw gathers the shavings and a
vertical screw carries them into the snow tank at the
front of the machine.

Water flows to a squeegee-like device that washes and
smooths the surface. The dirty water is vacuumed,
filtered and returned to its tank.

Clean water is spread across the ice with a towel. It
freezes to create a fresh layer of ice.

The shavings are dumped into a pit underneath the
stands at the Bank of America Centre. Hot water sprays
into the pit, which has three drains, to melt away the
snow.

Zambonis are powered by propane, natural gas or
electricity.

THE SURFACE

The Bank of America Centre ice sheet is built by
flooding the 200-foot-by-85-foot concrete arena floor
with a hose.

This is frozen to create 1/16-inch of ice and painted
white twice.

Another layer of ice, just 1/32-inch thick, is created
and painted with all the lines, circles and logos that
fans see each night.

More water is poured into the rink to make the ice
1-inch thick for hockey games.

A refrigeration system keeps the surface temperature
at 14 degrees for Idaho Steelheads games and
practices.

ALBONI NO MORE

The Steelheads' Zamboni is painted like a shopping
cart with an Albertson's logo on the hood. For the
past four years, it was known as the Alboni.

But the Albertson's contract has expired and the
Steelheads are shopping for another sponsor. Expect a
new paint job soon.

The Steelheads' propane-powered Zamboni takes the ice
at about 6:40 p.m. each game night and 10 minutes
before the end of each intermission. It also
resurfaces the ice after the game.

The Model 500 machine cost $52,000.

THE DRIVER

Rich Phillips, the director of arena operations,
usually drives the Zamboni during games. Two of his
employees, Jason Williamson and Travis Turner, also
perform the duty.

WANNA TAKE A RIDE?

The Steelheads welcome guest riders who are
celebrating a special occasion. Just contact Catie
Stroh at 383-0080 or talk to an usher at the game.

Saturday night, newlyweds Dana Slyter and Tobias Clary
took a postgame ride around the rink on the
toilet-papered, can-dragging Zamboni. They were
married earlier in the day at The Grove Hotel. Slyter
is an employee at the Sport Zone restaurant that
overlooks the arena.

Last year, the Steelheads raffled off rides as a
fund-raiser for an ill employee. They offered people
the choice of riding or driving.

"Everyone wants to ride it," Phillips said. "Not too
many people want to drive it."

One winner did, so Phillips trained him and let him
resurface the ice during an intermission. He missed a
few spots.

"So do I, sometimes," Phillips admitted.

The team is looking into a sponsorship program for
Zamboni rides. The machine has its own song, titled
"Zamboni," and seems to fascinate people.

"We think it's a pretty entertaining and exciting
thing for people to do," said Bill Waller, president
of Diamond Sports. "It's such an odd opportunity for
people and there's this mystique about Zambonis."

FUN FACTS

 The top speed of a Zamboni is 9 mph.

 Zamboni references appeared in more than 50
"Peanuts" comic strips and the Charlie Brown special,
"She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown." Charlie Brown
once said: "There are three things in life that people
like to stare at: a flowing stream, a crackling fire
and a Zamboni clearing the ice."

 Zamboni machines made their Olympic debut in 1960.
The Salt Lake Olympics next year will use seven
Zambonis to resurface hockey, figure-skating and
speed-skating venues.

 Go to www.zamboni.com for more information on the
man, the company and his machine. The pro shop offers
toys, models, shirts, hats, photos, golf balls and
other Zamboni merchandise. NHL fans can buy a vinyl
Zambuddy replica of their favorite team's Zamboni for
$4.99, or a 7-inch model for $145.






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