If you've been experiencing varying engine runability with your Blast, CLICK to learn how to tune it for twelve cents...

Backcountry (and some trail) riders looking to swap the stock Arctic Cat hand controls with something that's less bulky and less likely to shred in the event of a HOLY CRAPETH moment might appreciate the Handlebar Control Kit from Speedwerx.

Engineered for 8000/6000 Series machines, the kit replaces the stock controls with momentary buttons for the engine stop and electronic reverse switches on the handlebars, with rocker switches for the hand/thumb warmers and the high/low beam on the dash. A heavy-duty aluminum throttle block is also included.

The kit comes with an OEM-quality, pre-wired handlebar wire harness for a no-hassle plug and play installation. Plus it saves .45lbs over the stock set-up!

Interested? Speedwerx sold the first run of inventory, but you can pre-order for the next round and be ready to rip this winter.

"Before I even clicked off a mile, I (_____fill_in_the_blank____) to my sled," are words that live in infamy with a group of my snowmobile friends.

But as much as we joke about it, there actually are a few things I do to a new sled before I take that first ride.

And with enough snow on the ground here in the Twin Cities area, here are some pix of the process before I take my first ride this afternoon.

Question: How has D&D Racing cleaned up the grass drag Improved Stock Turbo class all season long with their 2014 Arctic Cat XF1100 Turbo, consistently hitting 500-foot 4.5-something E.T.’s and top speeds in the mid 110s?

Answer: With a fairly limited build sheet of bolt-on parts.

Click to see the list.