The “history of SLED-Works” as I remember it, started on the drive home from the September SD slope trip in 2002. David and I were driving in his van, talking about future projects. This was a common topic after a good flying weekend. We thought it would be fun to work together on some of these gliders. This led to tongue-in-cheek brainstorming for a name or organization for our combined efforts. It started with ideas for a coat of arms. David wanted to work in the “sled” idea from his boss (as you described it). I liked the concept as it had a self-deprecating air which countered the passion and energy we sometimes put into these models. This later was exemplified by the phrase “Tam Iniquas Casus” which is a loose Latin translation of “As Unequaled as it is Unnecessary”. This phrase is right on: “Sled is at his core a good guy. He tries hard, he is an optimist, he doesn’t always succeed but is undaunted by his setbacks.”
On that drive we identified that SLED was an acronym of our initials. A few days after the trip I worked a little more on a logo. The attached picture is a first draft from my white board. Adding wings to a sled; that’s it! Dave took it from here and drew up the official version. Later he had Paul Johnson make Sled stickers. David was great about passing these out and including everyone who was interested as a “Sled”. The cartoons followed and the Sled attitude started to take hold among the soaring group. Phrases appeared such as “Sled-like” and “Sled-worthy”. David put together a website to share some projects and promote the regional Sled-Works Aerotow event. He did trademark the winged sled logo for us. I like to think that David lives on through the Sled persona he cultivated and exuded.
There are so many stories that come to mind of how Sled-Works, the logo and the attitude has unfurled. We made a flag and wind indicator. It appears on at least six T-shirts and a few hats in my collection. I gave a few stickers to a friend of mine who is a commercial pilot. He liked the story of it and put a few stickers on his flight bag and said he would put it in a place for all to see when they enter the airliner he flies. We have certainly had fun with it!
Larry Sorenson
