Of the many interesting displays at the Arctic Cat 50th celebration, one that kept catching my eye was the prototype engine display produced by the engineering department.

Click to see and read about it.

The Arctic Cat 50th Anniversary Celebration was even better than I'd hoped for.

Click to see some pix and read one man's thoughts.

Amazing stuff here in TRF!

Here's a quick report from Friday at the Arctic Cat 50th Celebration.

Click to see some pix.

A busy day at Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls, today. It's staggering the stuff I saw today, and it's not all here yet!

Click to see some pix.

Of course I'm just a bit biased, but I think you're going to like the just-released "50 Years of the Cat" book.

It's a pictorial journey through the past 50 years of Arctic Cat that I wrote with the help of many great people. It's on sale this weekend at the 50th party, and soon at Cat dealerships.

Click for more info.

Our favorite freestyler checks in with a Wednesday Pre-50th Report from Thief River Falls.

Click for some pix.

Who is this capped crusader, and why is he prepping historic sleds (and decades of race gear) to display at the 50th?

Captain America?

Corporal Crunch?

Bobby Flame checks in with some photos of what's movin' and shakin' in TRF as Arctic Cat people prepare for the 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Click to see what his wandering eye uncovered.

An ATV or Prowler might be best way to motor around TRF during the 50th Anniversary Celebration. It will be legal with a special permit.

Click to read.

What happens when a screamin' drunk guy zooms through a residential neighborhood at 60 mph on a snowmobile, in the summer, at 10 pm?

THIS is EXACTLY what happens.

One of the people responsible for the upcoming 50th Anniversary Celebration (and countless other events) talks about what to expect for next week, how it will be different from Cat Fest, and tells a good story about Roger Skime.

Click to read the interview Mr.-Many-Hats, Gary Nelson.

Two collections you'll get to see at the Arctic Cat 50th Anniversary Celebration are those of Ken & Becky Kranz, and of Wayne & Cindy Kuster.

Click to see some pix.

Instead of Brian Nelson standing by this rideable replica of his 1978 El Tigre Cross-Country I-500 winner, it could be YOU.

Nelson just completed this outstanding build and donated it to a special Snowmobile Hall of Fame raffle.

Click to read more.

Boss Cat I, II and III are among the three most iconic snowmobiles in Arctic Cat history. Thanks to the considerable effort (and expense) of the Warning family, all three will be together at the Arctic Cat 50th Anniversary.

Click to see/read more.

(Thanks to Vintagesleds.com and BossCatLegacy.com for the photos).

If you're planning on firing up a heater or two at the 50th, I suggest you do so with an appropriate flame source.

Click to see a few options.

(Thanks to Tom Rowland and Tom Ische for letting me shoot pix of their stuff.)

Arctic Cat has been busy creating a special 50th Anniversary DVD in time for the party, interviewing key people from the past 50 years.

The documentary-like DVD will include archival race footage and images, a look inside the Arctic Cat factory and great stories from people like the legend shown here.

Click to see some of the people whose stories will color the DVD, and perhaps win a sweet decal pack.

Jeff Johnson and his family have an amazing collection of Arctic Cat machines -- some of which will be on display at the Arctic Cat 50th Celebration -- and an amazing shop that they're displayed in.

Click to see a couple.

I'm not sure what I love more: The utterly cool style of the Arctic Cat minibikes, or that one of the model names was Ramrod.

Ramrod!?!

They HAD to have laughed (a lot) about that one while sipping cocktails at the Legion after-hours, circa 1972.

Click to see/read more.

With a few clicks, you can help this famous snocrosser win the 2011 Best Male Action Sport ESPY Award.

Click to read how.

Wherever you live and whatever flag you salute, here's to your independence!

(And if you're like me, be safe when you drive to a neighboring state to purchase the good fireworks.)