There's something about decals and patches that has always fascinated me (and amped-up my enthusiasm).
As a kid, whenever I'd read Snow Goer, Snowmobile Times and SnowSports magazines, I'd spend as much time staring at the patches on the LeMans oil ad as I did on the stories about racing.
Anyone here a Sled Nut, or a member of the Pop-a-Top Snowmobile Club? That's what I thought.
Lately I've been working on a 50th Anniversary of Arctic Cat book. To help me add some cool visual treats to some of the pages, Joey Hallstrom let me scan his amazing collection of various decals and patches.
Some of these decals are still pretty common, even today. But some aren't (or at least I've never seen them). I found this decal interesting proof that neither Blair Morgan nor Tucker Hibbert "invented" the stand-up-style of snowmobiling/racing.
Do any of you vintage guys still prefer Autolite plugs for your old Cat?
Personally, I swear by Champion plugs, mainly because of the classic logo.
Just as I swear by Kelsey-Hayes brakes on all my 1979 El Tigre Cross-Country race sleds. To heck with Wilwood!
Not really snowmobile related, but I'd have to say this is one of the all-time classic logos/decals, at least in my youth.
Don't tell Joey, but I've selectively "lost" a few of his decals. It's possible they might someday turn up in my own collection.
I'll never forget kissing Ethyl (and kissing 4th Grade goodbye) by the bike racks at Brookside Elementary School, the day school let out.
But as much as I loved the additive power of ethyl to my precious gasoline, it never compared with my love for Arctic Cats.
In all seriousness, there was/is something wonderful, almost folksy, about the '70s-era decals and patches.
And I always the love the Cat-was-here theme items. I'm certain it was stuff like this that helped capture our imaginations and make us fans.
Thanks for reading.
