I'm thankful for the extra flotation provided by today's long-track snowmobiles.

I'm thankful for snowmobile dress code.

I'm thankful for the tireless promotion of snowmobiling by individuals, dealers, clubs and the industry.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, November 1, 2013.

Trick or Treat?

Treat!

Happy Halloween!

UPDATED with a few pumpkin pix. Click to see.

The accumulation of photos is an ongoing situation here at HQ, to the point that I might soon have to buy my first external hard drive because the Commodore 64 will have reached its capacity.

Until that happens, I'm reprising the monthly Random Photo Essay so that you too can enjoy some of the lesser-seen sights in the world of Arctic Cat.

Click for some randomness.

I'm thankful that snowmobilers come in all stripes.

I'm thankful for rider-forward... triangulated/pyramidal wheel placement... over-the-engine steering and snowmobiles designed specifically for the knees down style of riding that's popular among today's sledders.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Oct. 25, 2013.

There was a nice dusting of snow in Thief River Falls, Minn., this morning, adding the perfect highlights to the sign that hangs at Arctic Cat.

Thanks to Mandi Hibbert for capturing and sending the image.

No doubt, the coolest aspect of producing ArcticInsider is meeting people who have a passion for Arctic Cat. I never anticipated it when I launched this place four years ago, but this website often works as an electronic introduction to great people that I probably would not have met otherwise.

Scott Watters is one such person I've met this past year, both via the site and in-person. He lives on the northeast side of the Twin Cities, where he restores, rides and takes great pride in a fleet of sweet Arctic Cats.

Click to see them.

I'm thankful the inventive spirit is alive and well in Shop/Industrial Arts classes at high schools throughout the world.

I'm thankful for the natural transition from bicycles to snowmobiles.

I'm even thankful for the answers to questions that nobody has asked.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Oct. 18, 2013.

Saturday marked what has become an Annual gathering of Arctic Cat fans at the Zedshed, a barn-turned-Arctic-Cat-museum on the outskirts of New Richmond, Wis.

Amazing sleds, fantastic people and conversations about all-things Arctic Cat... it was the best place in the world that I could be on a cold, blustery day in October.

Click to read about it.

I'm thankful that on Feb. 7, 1982, then-40-year-old Marv Jorgenson essentially straddled a 250 hp, 1325-cc Kawasaki motorcycle engine and pulled the trigger.

I'm thankful that, instead of blowing Marv to the moon, this snowmobile rocketed down the 1/4-mile ice straight in Rice Lake, Wis., to record a new snowmobile world speed record of 142.6 mph.

I'm thankful that some people have truly monstrous kahunas.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Oct. 11, 2013.

"All the bells and whistles that man has yet devised to fit a snowmobile, converge in appropriate reality in this machine."

Yes, that's just one of the juicy bits you'll hear when you click on the media player below and listen to the 1-min. radio ad for the 1980 Arctic Cat Pantera and Trail Cat.

Click the link to see a couple more images.

This weekend I joined about 500-700 enthusiasts at the Country Cat Open House in Sauk Centre, Minn., to usher in the season.

Man, do I love an Open House, especially one that includes all the right ingredients: conversation, deals, movies, pork sandwiches, kids and plenty of seat time.

Click to see what I'm talking about.

I'm thankful for getting a tee time tomorrow afternoon.

I'm thankful that, no matter how much I stink at playing golf, I'm going to kick the crap out of everyone else when it comes to getting around the course.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, October 4, 2013.

Brian Espeseth retired earlier this year from a long, illustrious career at Arctic Cat dating back to 1975. Espo is truly one of the all-time greats, a real legend.

Awhile back I interviewed him. And like typical conversations with Espo, he started talking and telling stories while completely ignoring what had been my general outline.

So instead of running a typical interview, I'll post a few of his stories, including this one about how he sold 13 of the prototype 1982 Arctic Cats.

I'm thankful for the Shriners, whose grace and life-giving mission have made the world a better place.

Gee whiz, I'm thankful for Ski Whiz.

And I'm thankful its Friday, Sept. 27, 2013.

I'm thankful for the vast array of snowmobile outerwear items available today.

I'm thankful for mountains, cats and bunnies.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Sept. 20, 2013.

Not a month goes by without someone telling me they know of some old snowmobiles sitting in a barn somewhere.

There's always more to these trips than what first meets the eye.

Click to read more.

I'm thankful that, back in 1923, the Sno Baron's experimented hosting a snowmobile event that included drag racing.

I'm thankful that both Harley and Davidson competed in the Outlaw class.

I'm thankful they tweaked the event by moving it from March to September.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Sept. 13, 2013.

(Also thankful that Minnesota Rob captured the moment with his first-gen Kodak Brownie camera.)

When it comes to sights, smells and entertainment, the Sno Baron's Hay Days always delivers.

Click to get a taste of snowmobiling's version of the State Fair.

In addition to releasing the consumer 2014 ZR 6000 RR and M6000 Sno Pro sleds at Hay Days, Arctic Cat also had on display the XC racing version of the ZR6000 R Sno Pro.

Yes, the race sled (I know, the naming makes it a bit confusing).

Click to see the specifications and updates to both the SX and XC 2014 race sleds.

The big news from Arctic Cat at Hay Days is the just-announced 2014 ZR 6000 RR and M6000 Sno Pro.

Both sleds feature the new C-TEC2 599cc Arctic Cat engine with Dual-Stage Induction.

Click to read the specifics of these two machines.