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Prairie Motor Sports under new ownership

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Rod and Manette Hall are the new owners of Prairie Motor Sports in Prairie du Chien. They will be selling and servicing mainly Kawasaki and CFMoto UTVs, ATVs, jet skis and motorcycles. (Photo by Correne Martin)

By Correne Martin

New owners took over Prairie Motor Sports on Jan. 1, and this week, they will officially celebrate with an open house March 15-23. 

Rod and Manette Hall, who also own Rod’s Ride On Powersports in La Crosse, purchased the business on La Pointe Street in Prairie du Chien, from Erich and Meghan Welter, who owned and operated it for 15 years. They will continue selling Kawasaki side-by-sides/UTVs and ATVs but have brought on jet skis and motorcycles as well. They’re also introducing the brand CFMoto locally. This summer, they hope to offer jet ski rentals. They intend to keep the name, Prairie Motor Sports. 

Originally from California, Rod has lived in the Coulee Region for 26 years, been married for 21, and he and Manette have two boys, ages 22 and 20. The Halls have owned the La Crosse establishment for eight years. Rod has worked there for 23 years—making his way from parts and sales on up through the service department and managing every department,  to now owning the enterprise. In addition to Kawasaki and CFMoto, Rod's Ride On Powersports carries the name brands of Polaris, Victory, Slingshot and Suzuki in La Crosse. 

“Erich and I got together a couple years ago and started talking about me getting in and him getting out,” Rod explained. “We started talking more seriously about a year ago. I was nervous because we just bought out my business partner in La Crosse three years ago. It was actually my wife who talked me into it.”

Entering this second market, Rod plans to be in Prairie du Chien pretty much full-time, he said. Manette is the office manager at both locations and will split her time.

“We’re gonna have a lot bigger parts and accessories inventory and have a full-time service department,” Rod said. The Halls expect to add three new positions at the shop, including a second technician and salesman. They’re also excited to offer increasing financing options right in-house “at a very competitive rate,” he said. “We work with 32 banks and credit unions.”

Hours will expand to: Tuesday 8-7, Wednesday through Friday 8-5, Saturday 8-3, Sunday and Monday closed. Visit the website prairiemotorsports.com for photos of the inventory. 

“I wanna be involved and do business locally,” Rod said. “I’m a big believer in supporting local business.”

He added that his main goal is to bring families more fun, unplugged experiences, and less on-screen time. 

“What we offer are things that make you forget your 40-hour work week,” he quipped. “I want to deliver the best experience you’ve ever had in motor sports. I cringe if there’s ever an issue; our main goal is to try to make sure that never happens.”

Prairie Motor Sports also insists on offering its customers training, delivery and a full tank of gas, Rod noted.

“Building this business reenergizes me. I enjoy people. It’s all about building good relationships,” he said.

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