Today marks the first of what will be a semi-regular feature here that I'm calling "My Favorite Sled."

To make it work, I'll need your help and submissions (click on the Contact Us link at the bottom of this page).

Today's story is from Wisconsin's favorite son, Rodney Dragan, and his 100-105 MPH 1991 Arctic Cat Pantera.

It's a great story of machine that's been ridden hard and put away wet.

Click and enjoy.

Today Textron Off Road took the wraps off its 2018 model line of ATVs and SxS machines, including the new:

Wildcat X

Wildcat 4X

Wildcat Sport

Wildcat Trail

Stampede

Stampede 4X

Prowler 500

Alterra VLX 700, Alterra TBX 700, Alterra 500 and Alterra MudPro 700.

Click to see the summary of these machines, with more detailed info to come shortly.

Today Textron Off Road unveiled its 2018 line of ATVs and Side-by-Sides, including the model families: Alterra, Wildcat, Prowler and Stampede.

The company clarified which models will constitute its new line, as well as which models will remain while inventories last.

As I look at the announcement, it looks like 2018 is a transition year for the company, which makes perfect sense considering the monumental process of bringing Arctic Cat into the Textron family.

Click to read the official release from Textron Off Road.

2018 marks the first model year of Textron Off Road that incorporates Arctic Cat into its family.

Here's a short video that captures the spirit of the new family.

Today Textron Off Road unveiled its 2018 line of ATVs and Side-by-Sides, including the model families: Alterra, Wildcat, Prowler and Stampede.

The company clarified which models will constitute its new line, as well as which models will remain while inventories last.

As I look at the announcement, it looks like 2018 is a transition year for the company, which makes perfect sense considering the monumental process of bringing Arctic Cat into the Textron family.

Click to read the official release from Textron Off Road.

I'm thankful that the family that plays together dresses in matching Arcticwear together, stays together.

I'm thankful for that form-fit style that can only be achieved by tucking my snow pants into my boots.

I'm thankful that one-piece snowmobile suits never go out of style.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Aug. 11, 2017.

This week, Arctic Cat began building 2018 model year Arctic Cat ZR 200 and Yamaha Sno-Scoot 200 snowmobiles.

The milestone was reason for celebration, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and group photo to mark the historic occasion.

Historic? Definitely!

I'm not being hyperbolic when I say that these Cat-designed sleds are the most important snowmobiles of the year, and perhaps the most important snowmobiles of the decade.

Click to read a bit more and to see some more pix.

I'm thankful for Steve Houle, one of the most badass racers/tuners/engineers and personalities I've ever met.

I'm thankful his H82LUZ mindset made him a nationally ranked racer on 3-wheels long before he became a snowmobile racing hall-of-famer.

I'm thankful Steve's company, Speedwerx, might in some small, tiny way, be influenced by the outstanding holeshots he usually got on three wheels.

I'm thankful for the next few days of relative tranquility (because once he catches wind that I posted this video, the payback could be hell).

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Aug. 4, 2017 (aka: #44 on a 3-Wheeler Day)!

Last week, Arctic Cat legend Roger Skime was presented a very special gift on behalf of everyone at Arctic Cat: a 2017 Arctic Cat ZR 6000 RS (Roger Skime).

Serial number 01.

The ceremony took place at Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls, Minn., during a pause in the day where all employees came outside and paid their respects to the man who was so instrumental in the existence of the brand.

Only a couple hundred of these special snowmobiles were built prior to last season, in honor of the man himself. It's fitting and cool that Roger now has the very first one. Know Roger, it will take everything in his power NOT to ride the sled, because Roger wants to ride every sled. Really.

But I have a feeling that this machine will remain unridden, which is ironic when you think about it.

Congratulations to Roger and the Skime family. Likewise, congrats to the other lucky few who own RS Edition models.

Click to see the full-sized photos.

I've experienced the parental years of going snowmobiling with kids who are either too young to ride on their own or (in the case of my daughter), not interested in riding by herself.

Some families opt for dedicated 2-up riding sleds, such as the various Pantera models. Other families opt to "tough it out" using their regular, one-up machines.

These days there's a much more elegant solution for most recent-model Arctic Cats that doesn't require a dedicated 2-up machine, in the form of a 2-up Seat Kit.

Click to read a few virtues and details.

Interested in spending a few hours hanging out with Tucker Hibbert and a pile of like-minded people, all the while raising money for Make-A-Wish Minnesota? 

Join the gang on Aug. 5, 2017, at Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis.

Just like last year, a donation of $20 or more confirms your spot on Team 68 and reserves your limited edition t-shirt. Every dollar raised by the team will go directly to Make-A-Wish Minnesota. The crew raised more than $10,000 last year...holy awesomeness!

To join Team 68, CLICK HERE and click the blue “JOIN TEAM” button. If you’re unable to attend the event, you can still join the team (and your Team 68 shirt gets mailed to you).

See you there!

Summer... graduations, weddings and Sunday evening trips for ice cream.

Oh, summer is also a good time to think about snowmobiling.

So let's all eat cake and celebrate the ride.

Team Arctic straightline racer Glenn Hall just set another record, this time ProMod class in 1/8-mile asphalt  bike/sled class aboard the Stilson Racing/Hypersports Arctic Cat 9000-Series Turbo:

0.167 seconds:            REACTION TIME

1.140 seconds:            60-FT ELAPSED TIME

3.216 seconds             330-FT ELAPSED TIME

5.041 seconds             1/8-MILE ELAPSED TIME

133.09 MPH               1/8-MILE SPEED

Glenn and the team delivered this outstanding result this past weekend at the Grand Bend Motorplex in Grand Bend, Ontario.

it's a reflection of the team's expertise as well as the incredible power-to-weight advantage of an Arctic Cat Turbo.

Congrats to the Stilson Racing/Hypersports team!

The mother ship is strong, stable and profitable.

Textron Inc. today reported second quarter 2017 income from continuing operations of $0.57 per share or $0.60 per share of adjusted income from continuing operations, compared to $0.66 per share in the second quarter of 2016. During this year’s second quarter, the company recorded $13 million of pre-tax special charges ($0.03 per share, after-tax).

Revenues in the quarter were $3.6 billion, up 2.6 percent from the second quarter of 2016. Textron segment profit in the quarter was $295 million, down $33 million from the second quarter of 2016.

“Revenues were up in the quarter primarily driven by the Arctic Cat acquisition,” said Textron Chairman and CEO Scott C. Donnelly. “We saw strong performance at Bell and were encouraged by the continued strengthening in commercial helicopter demand.”

Click for the full release.

It's mid-July, which means the lakes are just starting to thaw in northern Minnesota. Time to swap the heavily insulated Arcticwear gear with something a little more summer-like.

Arcticwear has some new utility jackets for the 2018 season that might be exactly what you're looking for now and in future months.

Click to check 'em out.

If first impressions are truly meaningful, then the hour-or-so test drive I had on a couple Stampede side-by-side models (as well as a Recoil iS electric vehicle) are a good omen for the future of Arctic Cat dealers and riders.

The ride took place this spring at Country Cat, who has been a Stampede dealer for the last year.

Far from being a definitive test, this was more of an introductory session with a couple machines. Not comprehensive, rather, an introduction of sorts.

Click to read a few observations.

I'm thankful that vintage snowmobilers are so dang horny.

I'm thankful the buck stops here.

I'm thankful for Bambi, Bullwinkle and Rudolph.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, June 30, 2017

The 1971 Arctic Cat King Kat 800...one of the original musclesleds!

Powered by the 800 Kawasaki four-banger, this and the 800 3-cylinder Hirth version were the biggest and gnarliest Arctic Cats of that year, and that era.

Only 124 of these babies were produced. They are among the most sought-after snowmobiles to this day.

This King Kat is owned by the Ische family of Glencoe, Minn., who allowed my to photograph it for the 50th Anniversary of Arctic Cat book that we produced in 2011.

To this day, and to my eyes, there is nothing that screams "BADASS!" on a snowmobile with quite the same authority as four cylinders sticking out of a hood.

It's going to be fun seeing owners customize the new ZR 200 youth snowmobile, whether it's for little Johnny/Jilly or for their adult selves.

Arctic Cat is first out of the gate with a host of new gear that covers the spectrum from style to comfort and control.

Make the jump to see some of what's available.

A lot of hype has been made this week on the ol' socialable medias about the supposedly first-ever front flip on a snowmobile at the recent Nitro Circus show in San Diego.

It's NOT the first front flip. For starters, Heath Frisby did it at the X Games in 2012.

And I have personally done a snowmobile front flip at least 20 times in my career. A couple were even multiple-flips. Most of them occurred during various snowmobile races, usually in a whooped-out section of ditch. Granted, each one was unintentional; probably more of a somersault/cartwheel; and a complete surprise, but that shouldn't matter when the history books are being written.

While there is no video documentation of my flips (too bad, because I guarantee they're more entertaining than the recent Nitro Circus maneuver), I still have some shredded windshield plastic and twisted handlebars to prove it.

Gotta give the Nitro gang credit though, they're smart enough to charge money for this stuff.