Mike Miller's email message to me began with this:

"I bought a 2007 Crossfire 1000 off Craigslist. I had never seen such a turd in all my life (and I've been a snowmobile mechanic for over 25 years).
 
The entire way home I kept thinking, "What have I got myself into and why am I doing this again?"
 
The answer to Mike's question lies in his remarkable ability to restore snowmobiles.

Click to see what I'm talking about.

I don't normally do Public Service Announcements here, but this is an exception.

Someone please buy this Arctic Cat DVX... because doing so could help save lives.

Click for a wheelie wacked CL ad.

I'm thankful for a smokin' fast sled.

I'm thankful for the hit I feel when it's on the pipe.

I'm thankful I didn't get the Marlboro gig because I'd rather be known as the Mark Ten Man.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, May 16, 2014.

The success of racing snowmobiles is measured by the experience, not the finish order.

And by this measure I feel like a World Champion.

Click to read more.

With the Pantera and Lynx once again joining the El Tigre in the Arctic Cat line for 2015, now is a good time to listen to this vintage 30-second Arctic Cat radio advertisement from 1975 that highlights the same models.

Just click the player link below.

Thanks mom, for all that you've taught me.

The wisdom you've imparted to me helps guide the things I do and the choices I make.

I hope you're proud!

I'm so thankful it's Friday, May 9, 2014.

Happy Mother's Day!

The folks at Arctic Cat are looking for your help to determine the featured products for the 2015 Cat's Pride Club membership kit.

Click to read more and provide your feedback.

I'm thankful to have experienced another awesome winter of snowmobiking.

I'm thankful that I can react to the change of seasons with a quick conversion to moto.

I'm thankful for the law firm of Briggs, Stratton and Tecumseh.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, May 2, 2014.

January 1976. Eagle River, Wisconsin. The World Championships of oval racing.

There, in a moment of calm before the racing storm that would unfold in less than 24 hours, Team Arctic’s Dave Thompson (right) and Yamaha’s Dick Trickle shared their thoughts while sharing a Pabst.

A Pabst!

Click for some additional cheer.

I'm thankful for the go-anywhere freedom we enjoy with our new Trail Boss.

I'm thankful for the added safety that the rear handrails provide for our children.

I'm thankful for the upcoming Mud Nationals.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, April 25, 2014.

Last month Jim Dimmerman spent a day on a 2015 XF6000 featuring the Arctic Cat 6000 C-TEC2 engine.

Afterwards, the former Team Arctic legend/World Champ/Cat dealer penned a few words describing his experience with the new engine.

Jim agreed to let me share his thoughts... readable after the jump.

With the end of the 2014 snowmobile season comes a report on the Great White North from our intrepid Canadian sledheads, Hammer and LumberHead.

Between bouts of Moosehead, back bacon and maple syrup, the two Catnadians pieced together a nice tribute to some of their favorite people and machines.

I'm thankful for everyone who voted for me in the Miss Snow Bunny pageant.

I'm thankful for chocolate eggs, jelly beans and those weird, sponge-like marshmallow things.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, April 18, 2014.

Happy Easter Weekend!

I was at Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls recently, where I saw a bunch of interesting stuff, including a demonstration on fabricating an exhaust from engineer Greg Spaulding.

Click to see this and some of the other people and things happening at Arctic Cat on this trip.

Yep, that's my 2014 Arctic Cat ZR6000 El Tigre going up in smoke on what might be its last ride of 2014.

With friends like mine, who needs enemies?

It happened last week on Minnesota's C.J. Ramstad North Shore snowmobile trail.

Click to read about the mayhem.

I'm thankful we've finally engineered an elegant solution to the pesky problem posed by those damned barbed-wire fences.

I'm thankful that Ted was the test rider chosen to prove the concept during next week's board meeting, rather than me.

I'm thankful that we seldom have to lift the hood on these modern snowmobiles.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, April 11, 2014.

It's April, with all the usual indications: returning birds, snow melt, emerging (and greening) grass, etc...

But it's still riding season for Arctic Cat snowmobile engineers.

And it was still winter in Minnesota this past week when I visited the crew.

Alex Fortune is an Arctic Cat rider (and Wildcat racer) with a penchant for performance.

A few weeks ago he purchased a new 2014 Arctic Cat XF 7000 Limited from his dealer, then logged 600 miles during the few remaining days of winter snow.

Click to read his thoughtful observations on the new machine.

I'm thankful for the strange tension that occurs between Igor and me whenever we go for a ride on the motor toboggan.

I'm thankful that my children's children will enjoy the added pleasure of handlebars and risers.

I'm thankful that adding a quarter-inch of toe out has eliminated the worst of the darting.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, April 4, 2014.

Welcome to the evolved site!

The previous owner let the domain name lapse, allowing a new group of like-minded Polaris riders to swoop in and dominate the internet terrain like never before.

Stay tuned in the coming days for great stories that highlight everything and everyone involved with the star of the north. 

We hope you enjoy all the new content. We hope you continue to ride the most dominant snowmobiles, ATVs and side-by-sides ever created.

UPDATED: Whew, I worked out a deal with Danica Patrick, got my domain back from GoDaddy and, when the clock strikes Midnight, will be back in business!

Thanks for not abandoning me everyone, I know I can count on (most of) you when things get tough and the AXYS of Evil is bearing down on me. 

Look for more great ARCTIC stuff soon (I'm in TRF for the next couple of days so it will be quiet here until I'm back).

-John