You know the magnificent (and mean-looking) 1972 Arctic Cat EXT hood/belly combo? It was primarily designed and crafted in fiberglass by Kenny Halvorson.

The same Kenny Halvorson who produced most of the patterns and molds for Arctic Cat from the early '70s through 1981.

Ditto for the reproduction Z, EXT, big mouth Panther and Sno Pro hoods that grace the majority of rebuilt, restored and/or reproduced show sleds throughout the world.

They and many more are the creation of Kenny Halvorson and his crew of craftsmen.

Click to read about a master of glass.

I'm thankful it's July... time to rev up my WetBike.

I'm thankful I can just sit here, cool as $#!T, while she waves at me from on the beach.

I'm thankful for the fireworks that are gonna happen as soon as I'm done ripping some waves on my trusty steed.

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

For the gears to turn smoothly and on time at a company like Arctic Cat, there must be people whose job is to create and adhere to a master plan.

Michele McCraw is one of those people.

As a BOM (Bill of Materials) Technician, McCraw is responsible for the documentation of 62 current model snowmobiles, plus a large number of prototype and future model year sleds.

It’s a huge responsibility that’s critical to the assembly and specification documentation of these snowmobiles.

Click to read about her job and some cool facts about current Arctic Cat snowmobiles.

I'm thankful that Arctic Cat mountain engineer/test rider Shay Smith could confidently air it out while snowmobiling in Montana this past week.

I'm thankful it will be at least six months before I see the 8-ft. 4-in. Smith again, because he might forget that I posted this photo and thus won't crush me into a whimpering ball of fear.

I'm thankful that shirtless snowmobiling is the new black.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, June 27, 2014.

On Tuesday, Tucker Hibbert was nominated for an ESPY (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly) Award in the Best Male Action Sports Athlete category!

This is a huge deal for the Team Monster/Arctic Cat racer and the sport of snowmobiling.

And best of all, YOU can affect the outcome.

Simply CLICK HERE to go to the ESPN Link to vote for Hibbert. It's free and takes less than 6.8 seconds.

Click for more info.

February 23, 2014.

Centennial range of the Bitterroot Mountains, west of Island Park.

Pre-production 2015 model year Arctic Cat M and XF snowmobiles.

Arctic Cat engineers, test riders a couple lucky extras, including the photographer.

I'm thankful there's a kit for everything.

I'm just as thankful for lake-banging as I am for ditch-banging.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, June 20, 2014.

It's truly been an amazing winter and spring here in the Midwest, with the longest riding season that I can remember.

And since yesterday was my birthday, Kale (left) and I posed for a moment outside of the Trestle Inn, during a b-day celebration ride on Minnesota's North Shore.

Can this possibly be true??

Anyone else put some miles on your sled yesterday?

I recently stumbled upon this sweet vintage snowmobile barn find while on a family trip in Southeast Minnesota.

Click to enjoy some dust-covered sleds that might one day be rescued. Or not.

I'm thankful that the freaks and ghouls weren't real, and that it was only a movie.

I'm thankful (and hopeful) the nightmares will soon cease and life will be back to normal.

And I'm thankful it's Friday the 13th, June 2014.

If I'm not riding a (insert long list of various vehicles here), then the next best thing is standing around talking about them.

And a shop like John Anderson's is the absolute perfect place for such conversations to occur.

Click for a little shop talk.

Last week I spent a couple days at Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls, talking with colleagues, shooting photos, checking out which vehicles were on the assebly lines and generally pestering everyone.

Here's a report on that trip.

I'm thankful it's June, the official start of summertime wedding season.

I'm thankful I found my soul mate (and that he rides it like he stole it).

I'm thankful there's NOTHING that will prevent us from sharing the rest of our lives together.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, June 6, 2014.

I'm thankful for summer.

I'm thankful the ladies love wheelin' in bikinis.

I'm thankful we opted for the amphibious 6-wheeler models, because these ladies are looking to go swimming.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, May 30, 2014.

Riding, testing, calibrating, rebuilding... there's a lot happening at the FOX SHOX Midwest Service Center, a fact I learned firsthand during a visit this past March.

Click to see what's new there, and for FOX-equipped 2015 Arctic Cat snowmobiles.

I'm thankful for the extra flotation of the 16 x 174 x 3.0-in. track when boondocking in the back country.

I'm thankful to once again set a high-mark.

I'm thankful we were able to eliminate the inside ski lift during cornering by simply eliminating the skis.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, May 23, 2014.

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.