Just after winning the first USCC cross-country of the season, but before he jetted off to contest the Soo 500 enduro, Brian Dick (L) and his dad, Paul, prepped and shipped two race sleds for the upcoming Alaska Iron Dog race.

Here are some pix of their specially-built race sleds.

All photos courtesy of Joe Lesmiester (thanks Joe!)

I took my annual trip-back-in-time this past weekend.

Yep, Waconia.

Click to see some pix.

After a 14-year absence from the Eagle River World Championships, I revisited this iconic event with the goal of learning something new.

Click to see if I made any progress.

I had the great privilege of reading this beautiful, heartbreaking story about Dante Froese, written by his mother, Carolyn.

She gave me permission to share it with everyone here.

Click to read Dante’s story.

On Sunday, Team Arctic racer (and Arctic Cat engineer) Brian Dick scored the win in Pro 600 at the season-opening USCC cross-country in Pine Lake, Minn.

The win capped a powerful showing by all Team Arctic racers and confirmed that the new Sno Pro 600 race sled is a force to be reckoned with in cross-country.

Click to read the interview.

Champions never stop working.

And once again, Team Arctic legend Brian Nelson has been busy race-prepping a fleet of 1979 Arctic Cat Cross-Country El Tigres for the upcoming USCC I-500.

Click to see his progress.

It's almost the end of 2011, and I have some random photos that I'd like to share.

There's even a very brief quiz.

BONUS PHOTO (as a hint for the quiz) just added!

Click to see.

Where do they go, these snowmobile tracks in the snow?

(Merry Christmas everyone!)

Arctic Cat has a nice Happy Holidays video for all of us.

CLICK HERE to see it.

Here's the snow depth report from NOAA for Friday, Dec. 9, 2011.

I know it's pretty normal for this time of year, but I'm not happy.

C'mon Mother Nature, bring us some snow!

How bad was the race season opener? Why? And what should we expect in the coming months?

I have a few thoughts to share.

Arctic Cat engineer Kevin Thompson has played key roles on iconic sleds ranging from the ZR to the new ProCross/ProClimb. Thoughtful, articulate and able to draw upon a wide-range of experience, Thompson gave some great answers to a bunch of questions I recently asked.

Click to read the interview.

This past weekend, the first snow fell (where I live) this snowmobile season.

Enough to make some tracks.

Click to see.

Just when I start to think that all the great, historic Arctic Cat snowmobiles have already been found, I catch word of another under-your-nose find.

The most recent example comes from Arctic Cat collector Tom Ische, who wrote of a truly awesome King Kat find.

Click to read.

As the 2010 I-500 Champ, snocross title contender, excellent dirt track car racer and a skilled engineer, Team Arctic's Dan Ebert is one of the most versatile racers of his generation.

CLICK HERE to go to an audio interview with Ebert during which he talks about it all.

I'm trying not to be like our local news sources and hype up what usually are dud events, but the medium range forecasts are pointing at a nice snowstorm for parts of the Midwest and Canada.

Like 14-inches by Sunday!

Today (Nov. 14), would have been C.J. Ramstad's 66th birthday, had he not died in a tragic automobile crash with his son, J.J., in May 2007.

There's a strong likelihood that, without him, I would never have become a snowmobile journalist and this Website wouldn't exist.

So as a gift to yourself on C.J.'s birthday, please click to read a wonderful column that he penned for the Dec. 1982 issue of Snowmobile Magazine.

Two days ago, at a gas station in the town where I live, I had a short conversation with a guy who was genuinely stumped about two things: Why did I switch from my 2011 F8 to a 2012 F1100 4-stroke; and if I was going to get a new sled, why not an F800 or F1100 Turbo?

Well, if you’re that guy and happened to read this, here’s a more thoughtful answer than what I said that day at the pumps.

When building his 1978 Arctic Cat El Tigre for the upcoming vintage racing season, Shane Gerwing appeared to have several options for his handlebar set-up.

But really, there was only one choice.

Here's a few photos of what's going on at Arctic Cat on this November day in 2011.