At this moment 27 years ago, Team Arctic racers and mechanics were busy puting wrenches and hope into a snowmobile that would ultimately re-aim the trajectory of Team Arctic's race results.

The machine: the 1990 EXT Special. 

By the end of the season (and in the capable hands of growing contingent of Team Arctic racers), the machine would claim wins in the Jeep 500 cross-country, Eagle River World's Championship and dozens of other key races.

It would mark the beginning of a loooooong line of race-focused, limited-built "specials."

And it would launch the success (and fortune) of FOX Shox in the snowmobile arena.

Click to read more about this iconic machine.

It's been 10 years since legendary snowmobile journalist CJ Ramstad and his son J.J. died in a tragic automobile crash.

Today would have been CJ's 72nd birthday. I’m remembering his life by sharing this awesome column he wrote for the Dec. 13, 1975 edition of Snow Week magazine.

It’s a column about subjects dear to his heart: cross-country snowmobile racing; the workingman racer; the independent spirit.

Like much of CJ’s writing, it captures the subject with honesty and insight.

Happy Birthday CJ. And thanks for the gifts you gave us.

When the sun set on this past summer, so too did the career of a truly remarkable snowmobiule racer who has competed for more than 35 consecutive years: Dale Lindbeck.

If you grew up going to races in the Midwest or reading Snow Week magazine, you know Lindbeck as a Team Arctic racer who raced in snocross, ice LeMans, cross-country and watercross, where he’s a 4-time World Champion.

At 57 years old, the married father of one who lives in Chisago City, Minn., will stop chasing checkered flags and start chasing new life experiences.

Dale has been one of my all-time favorite personalities since I started covering this sport as a journalist in 1989, and he was gracious to let me interview him about his career.

Oh man, sometimes it's a story of human greatness that puts everything into perspective.

Five-year-old Sunshine Oelfke, who had been saving to buy a ZR 120 but then gave all her money to buy milk for her classmates, is one such story.

Yesterday Sunshine received a BIG surprise: a brand-new ZR 120, courtesty of Arctic Cat and Textron Specialized Vehicles.

Awesome!

Click to read one really, REALLY cool story.

So far I REALLY like what Ma Nature is giving us for November!

These pix were taken yesterday near Bergland, Mich., where 12 inches of snow brought beauty (and a bit of a mess) to the Gogebic Area Groomers.

Right now there's snow on the ground on a large swath of snowmobile country. It's early, of course, and the probability is that some of this snow will melt before winter begins in earnest.

But so far, the winds of November bring winter!

The annual Arcticwear clothing, parts and accessory catalog is an awesome source for all the newest and coolest snowmobile gear. But because of space limitations, it contains only a fraction of the accessories available through your local Arctic Cat dealer. Which is why Arctic Cat also produces an annual POGA supplemental guide.

This handy piece has it all, including ALL the accessory items that are in the annual color catalog, PLUS a whole bunch of items NOT in that piece. For example:

* Products (with associated info) for non-current Arctic Cat models

* Replacement pieces for past and current products (including the various straps, clip-attachments, buckles, straps, etc... for bags and covers; helmet lenses and hardware

* ZR 200 accessories such as a speedo, track (for racing), wheel kits

* Tools

* High-altitude kits

* The answer to whether or not Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone

In other words, it's seriously worth checking out.

CLICK HERE to download a 10MB PDF of the Catalog.

This is a story about USXC’s Ride-Along class for parents whose kids will compete the 2018 I-500 cross-country race.

Parents who desire to can literally ride behind their kids for the entire 150-mile Day 3 portion from Thief River Falls to Bemidji, Minn., that comprises the Junior class. For those that do, I can pretty much guarantee that you'll have the time of your life.

I know because I unwittingly did something very similar back in 2011, which is captured in the photo above.

Click to read the story of that race, and what it could mean for parents of junior class racers this winter.

This throwback is to 1973 (or 1975, see comments), with Team Arctic's Tom Porter roosting away on his factory EXT Sno Pro sled.

Such a badass photo!

It's a reminder that yes, even 4-plus decades ago, winter could be cruel and the races could be as much moto as they were snow.

The air was brisk and the activity bristling at Arctic Cat last week.

The two days I spent there were a strong reminder that winter is coming, and that the energy here is infectious.

Click to see what was happening.

I'm thankful for the evocative Wildcat, a name that entered Arctic Cat lore for the 1988 model year in the form of a twin-cylinder, twin-pipe, 650cc beast that would ably serve as the company's flagship snowmobile until it was supplanted by the 1993 Thundercat.

I'm thankful that when the camera came out, an open-face-helmet clad Hollywood Hallstrom hucked this first Wildcat off some badass cornices, a show of force that hinted at its capability as well as the pilot's.

I'm thankful for the wild ride that's occurred in the nearly 30 years since.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Oct. 6, 2017.

Arctic Cat has a long, wonderful history of producing beautiful beasts that reflect the brand's go-for-it attitude.

One such example is this stunning 1970 Panther 793 that's part of the Ische family collection.

Packing the sound and fury of a open-piped Hirth 793 triple, this magnificent Panther was one of just 94 produced for the 1970 model year.

I can almost feel the thunder, see the tremor and gasp at the bloody ears of those few owners who fired-up these beasts!

Click for a few more delicious pix.

I have seen the future of snowmobiling.

It’s a 7-year-old kid from Toronto, a 10-year-old from Old Forge, and a yet-unborn child from Grand Forks.

And it's a 200cc, mid-sized machine that will be ably ridden on trails and every condition that winter offers.

Click to read why the Arctic Cat ZR 200 is the ArcticInsider 2018 Snowmobile of the Year.

Four months ago, John Collins, vice president of the consumer business for Textron Specialized Vehicles, talked with us here about Textron's purchase of Arctic Cat.

In terms of what Arctic Cat would look like under Textron ownership, that first interview offered only a few broad-brush strokes, and less specific detail.

Now that we’re nearly six months into the new Arctic Cat and Textron Off Road, Collins (above right, shown talking with Arctic Cat legend Roger Skime) offers new insight into the integration; what they’ve learned about Arctic Cat and its loyal customers; the just-released model line of ATVs and side-by-sides; and more.

You name it, and it was at Hay Days: snowmobiles, racers, races, ATVs, legends, fans, winter, summer, mud, food, greatness, grossness, old car tires and more.

It is an amalgamation of nearly everything that touches any aspect of snowmobiling, with just enough weirdness.

Because...Hay Days.

Click for a pictorial tribute to a mere slice of what went down at the 2017 edition.

Team Arctic's Tucker Hibbert and Logan Christian will head into stock-class snocross battle this season on an all-new 2018 ZR 6000R SX race sled that they spent considerable time and testing this past spring.

Here's a snipit of Tucker and Logan doing a lap on prototypes of the machine.

"It’s a night-and-day improvement.” — Tucker Hibbert

"It’s substantially better everywhere on the track.” — Logan Christian

Click to read MORE of what they say about the big changes to the track, front suspension and rider ergo's.

Despite winning the 2017 I-500 cross-country, Iron Dog and USXC championship, the ZR 6000R XC getting more than just bold new graphics for 2018.

There's a new seat, new TEAM driven clutch with tubular driven shaft, FOX QS3R shock, new TEAM Rapid Response II drive clutch, new Ripsaw track and more.

Click for some cross-country deliciousness (and all the details).

In case you were wondering how serious Arctic Cat is about winning in stock class snocross racing this season, the all-new 2018 ZR 6000R SX race sled has 350 new parts compared to last season, including:

* 20 lbs. lighter

* New 136-in. track

* A heavily updated ARS front suspension with taller spindles and new geometry

* A heavily revised C-TEC2 6000 EFI engine with new cylinders and exhaust valve configuration

* Lightwight, no-slosh 3-gal. fuel tank

* All-new lightweight and ergo-friendly seat design

* New TEAM driven clutch and tubular driven shaft

* And a WHOLE bunch more.

Double-jump over to the main story to learn all the details.

For a measly $600, why WOULDN'T you buy this custom Arctic Cat Prowler?!?

The handlebar and 10-plus-10-in. riser combo alone is easily worth $300. And the True Timber camo paint job would fetch $100 at any art fair.

True, the seat does scrub some off the overall value. But on sled like this, there ain't no sittin'.

Click here to see the original craigslist ad. Seller would probably deliver to Haydizzle this weekend.

Hurry, because I'm interested.

I'm thankful for when the three-martini lunch fueled the creative fire of advertising agencys' copywriters.

I'm thankful I wasn't the only young kid who, in the early 1970s, just barely detected the subtle sexual innuendo of Kawasaki's advertisement touting the big jugs on the Arctic Cat EXT.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Sept. 1, 2017.

There's camo, and then there's CAMO!

The new Arcticwear Sno Camo is an example of the latter...a jacket that can and will be seen.

Click to learn a little more about the latest threads from Arcticwear.