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.

It's the 1970s. Your a kid...part of the baby-boomer generation. Chances are, the prospect of riding a minibike was as powerful as any desire you'd yet experienced, although puberty might soon deliver some next-level desires.

The only desire that matched that of minibikes/dirt bikes, was the desire for snowmobiles.

Click to read more.

Today marks the first of what will be a semi-regular feature here that I'm calling "My Favorite Sled."

To make it work, I'll need your help and submissions (click on the Contact Us link at the bottom of this page).

Today's story is from Wisconsin's favorite son, Rodney Dragan, and his 100-105 MPH 1991 Arctic Cat Pantera.

It's a great story of machine that's been ridden hard and put away wet.

Click and enjoy.

I'm thankful that the family that plays together dresses in matching Arcticwear together, stays together.

I'm thankful for that form-fit style that can only be achieved by tucking my snow pants into my boots.

I'm thankful that one-piece snowmobile suits never go out of style.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Aug. 11, 2017.

This week, Arctic Cat began building 2018 model year Arctic Cat ZR 200 and Yamaha Sno-Scoot 200 snowmobiles.

The milestone was reason for celebration, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and group photo to mark the historic occasion.

Historic? Definitely!

I'm not being hyperbolic when I say that these Cat-designed sleds are the most important snowmobiles of the year, and perhaps the most important snowmobiles of the decade.

Click to read a bit more and to see some more pix.

I'm thankful for Steve Houle, one of the most badass racers/tuners/engineers and personalities I've ever met.

I'm thankful his H82LUZ mindset made him a nationally ranked racer on 3-wheels long before he became a snowmobile racing hall-of-famer.

I'm thankful Steve's company, Speedwerx, might in some small, tiny way, be influenced by the outstanding holeshots he usually got on three wheels.

I'm thankful for the next few days of relative tranquility (because once he catches wind that I posted this video, the payback could be hell).

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Aug. 4, 2017 (aka: #44 on a 3-Wheeler Day)!

Last week, Arctic Cat legend Roger Skime was presented a very special gift on behalf of everyone at Arctic Cat: a 2017 Arctic Cat ZR 6000 RS (Roger Skime).

Serial number 01.

The ceremony took place at Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls, Minn., during a pause in the day where all employees came outside and paid their respects to the man who was so instrumental in the existence of the brand.

Only a couple hundred of these special snowmobiles were built prior to last season, in honor of the man himself. It's fitting and cool that Roger now has the very first one. Know Roger, it will take everything in his power NOT to ride the sled, because Roger wants to ride every sled. Really.

But I have a feeling that this machine will remain unridden, which is ironic when you think about it.

Congratulations to Roger and the Skime family. Likewise, congrats to the other lucky few who own RS Edition models.

Click to see the full-sized photos.

Interested in spending a few hours hanging out with Tucker Hibbert and a pile of like-minded people, all the while raising money for Make-A-Wish Minnesota? 

Join the gang on Aug. 5, 2017, at Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis.

Just like last year, a donation of $20 or more confirms your spot on Team 68 and reserves your limited edition t-shirt. Every dollar raised by the team will go directly to Make-A-Wish Minnesota. The crew raised more than $10,000 last year...holy awesomeness!

To join Team 68, CLICK HERE and click the blue “JOIN TEAM” button. If you’re unable to attend the event, you can still join the team (and your Team 68 shirt gets mailed to you).

See you there!

Summer... graduations, weddings and Sunday evening trips for ice cream.

Oh, summer is also a good time to think about snowmobiling.

So let's all eat cake and celebrate the ride.

I'm thankful that vintage snowmobilers are so dang horny.

I'm thankful the buck stops here.

I'm thankful for Bambi, Bullwinkle and Rudolph.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, June 30, 2017

The 1971 Arctic Cat King Kat 800...one of the original musclesleds!

Powered by the 800 Kawasaki four-banger, this and the 800 3-cylinder Hirth version were the biggest and gnarliest Arctic Cats of that year, and that era.

Only 124 of these babies were produced. They are among the most sought-after snowmobiles to this day.

This King Kat is owned by the Ische family of Glencoe, Minn., who allowed my to photograph it for the 50th Anniversary of Arctic Cat book that we produced in 2011.

To this day, and to my eyes, there is nothing that screams "BADASS!" on a snowmobile with quite the same authority as four cylinders sticking out of a hood.

Once upon a time, there was a generation of youth who read comic books. There were all sorts of comic books, from Marvel super-hero stuff to satirical MAD magazine to car-culture stuff like CARtoons. And pretty much everything in between.

This generation of youth read (and sometimes purchased) these comics at drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores, bookstores and even comics stores.

If you were a snowmobiler WAY back then, your heart absolutely RACED on those rare occasions when a comic book featured your favorite sport. It was kind of like hitting the jackpot.

Funny now, looking back on a few examples of these comics from the early 1970s. The writers surely identified the subtle nuance of what the snowmobile experience was like back then: that sleds were often a bit unreliable.

I love that in our modern age, we can make a few clicks to watch video or see images of every single aspect of snowmobiling that exists today. Snowmobiling is literally at our fingertips. We're damn lucky.

But there's a part of me that appreciates (and wishes for) the simplicity of yesteryear. Of Archie, Dennis the Menace, Scooby Doo and snowmobiles that were tough to keep running a whole day.

Click to see a few more comics.

Roger Skime turns 74 years old today.

To celebrate this day and the immeasurable impact Roger has had on the world, snowmobiling, Arctic Cat and so many individuals, I'd like to share a story written about him a few years ago by his granddaughter Kylie Lehrer.

It's an awesome story that truly captures Roger's essence.

Thanks to Kylie for sharing this remarkable insight into the man who's made so many meaningful and impactful tracks.

And Happy Birthday, Roger!

Click to read read more.