Winter used to be a time when the snow fell and families in colder parts of the country would get out their sleds and go down the neighborhood hills for hours at a time. With the emergence of technology, video games, and the convenience of activities inside the home, sledding became something of the past. Here at The Retro Racer, our dream every winter season is to bring the good old days of sledding back to families everywhere!
History Behind the 1971 Sno-Toboggan
Confer Plastics founder Ray Confer helped design the first blow-molded sled for Louis Marx and Company while working at Airlock Plastics. In 1973, Ray decided to open Confer Plastics, and Marx stayed on with him to produce thousands of sleds for the public.
A Piece of Toy History: Marx and Its Legacy
Louis Marx and Company was a toy company in business since 1919 that produced famous toys like the Rock’em Sock’em Robots and Big Wheel tricycles. Ray Confer produced the famous Sno-Toboggan for Marx and Company for years until Marx was liquidated in 1979.
Ray decided to shift gears during that time to get into the pool and spa industry, and the outdoor furniture industry, which sidelined the sleds. This also resulted in the mold design to be lost and scrapped by Marx’s creditors during the bankruptcy.
The Retro Racer Makes a Comeback
Many families kept their Sno-Toboggan for generations and shared them with their kids and grandkids throughout the 80s and 90s. In the 2000s, Confer Plastics received several requests to start manufacturing the blow-molded plastic sleds again after some social media buzz and word of mouth. Unfortunately, the answer was always the same: the mold no longer exists.
It wasn’t until 2023, Confer Plastics’ 50th anniversary that we decided to bring back products from the past, including the infamous Sno-Toboggan sled.
As Seen in the News
Back in 2023, WXXI (Rochester NPR affiliate) had done a story on our relaunch of the Retro Racer sled and interviewed our President Bob Confer, the grandson of Confer Plastics’ founder Ray.
Sharing the Memory with a New Generation
In snowy weather, there is only so much you can do when it comes to outdoor activities. Not everyone is on the slopes snowboarding and skiing, which means other ways of fun need to be found outdoors with kids. With the Retro Racer, parents and children can bond and get outside during the winter season.
Safety Reminders When Using The Retro Racer
Outdoor sporting activities always come with safety reminders, especially for children and their parents. When riding a retro racer sled from Confer Plastics, it’s important to practice safe sledding:
· No steering or brakes
· Use in an open area/hill
· Remember to wear helmets and snow goggles
· Have adult supervision
Choose The Retro Racer Sled this Winter
With new technology, AI, and more kids turning to the internet and video games, parents are wondering how they can minimize the time spent online for their children. Winter is a cold season with snow and more time spent indoors, but it doesn’t have to be. It can be a special time for parents to relive some of their childhood experience sledding in the winter with their children.
Grab your Retro Racer Sled today before the snow starts to fall!