Blessed with a few inches of fresh snow and a projected high of just 31 degrees, Arctic Cat engineers got an early jump on winter today by laying down some tracks in the ditch outside of the factory.

Piloting just-built 2019 ZR 8000s, Jeff Olson and Wes Selby are spending the day breaking-in some of their test units, gettiing the sleds through Stage One of the procedure (wonderfully ironic in light of yesterday's post) so they're ready for bigger days ahead.

Snowmobile tracks in fresh snow in TRF on Oct. 11...just like that, everything's right in the world!

Thanks to Joey Hallstrom for the sweet pix! Click to see a few more.

A fresh coat of snow blanketed Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls today, bringing smiles to everyone there who loves winter.

No, it's not going to last. And yes, warmer days are ahead.

But it's a beautiful reminder that winter is bearing down upon us.

(Thanks to Rhob for the photo.)

Buy a brand-new Arctic Cat 6000 or 8000 Series snowmobile and on it’s first ride you want to see how much wood is in the fire, right? So you slam the throttle to the handlebar the first chance you get, right?

Right. Which is why you’ll be rewarded with decidedly tame acceleration and top speed. In fact, your buddy on the 3-year-old 600 will blow right past you.

Arctic Cat engineers definitely understand our desire to pin the throttle to the bars. Consequently they programmed all C-TEC2 engines with an automated Break-In Function to protect us (and the engine) from such tendencies, and to ensure the best possible performance and durability for the engine’s lifetime.

Click to read exactly what this Break-In Function entails.

"After racing, nothing goes down as smooth and easy as Old Style Beer. Whether you're racing or a spectator, take a case along to your next race."

That was the message hitting readers of Snow Week magazine waaaaaaaaay back in 1983.

I suspect there are some people who take great offense to these ads. Such as those who drank/drink Busch Light, Zima and Bud Dry.

One thing's for sure: Snowmobilers do it with style.

Serious question: Is there any piece of clothing GREATER than a T-Shirt?

I can't think of one. But I can thing of some T's that are greater than others.

These are some of the Pulitzer and Nobel prize-winning options available from Arctic Cat.

Engineered, tested and proven by the Black Cats team, the new BC Rear Bumper and BC Running Boards are some sweet custom options for many Arctic Cat sleds.

Check 'em out.

A SUPER cool video that shows the highlights of how Arctic Cat snowmobiles are produced, including the St. Cloud Engine Facility and final assembly in Thief River Falls, Minn.

In addition to the new Prowler Pro Crew models, Textron Off Road today announced the addition of a Ranch Edition model to the Prowler Pro line-up for 2019. It's the machine on the right in the above image, and it gets EPS, 14-inch machined aluminum wheels with 27-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires, a premium cut and sewn bench seat, LED accented halogen headlights, a hard top, 4,500-lb. WARN winch, front brush guard and rear bumper. It comes in Atomic Copper.

In the four months since TOR officially unveiled the 2019 Prowler Pro models, they've quietly and smoothly become instant favorites.

Click HERE to read my review of the machines.

Then make the jump to read the latest news on the full line for 2019.

New 2-row, 6-passenger Crew models join the Prowler Pro line-up for 2019, bringing added versatility to a family that started a quiet revolution.

Click for the details on the newest models from Textron Off Road.

When you get the hottest sled in the world and can't wait for snow...

One thing is for sure: the new Arctic Cat M 8000 ALPHA ONE walks on water.

Four years ago the core of Team Arctic's legendary Sno Pro team reuinited for the first time in more than three decades.

Larry Coltom, Dave Thompson, Bob Elsner, Jim Dimmerman, Roger Skime, Bill Ness and Bill Decker gathered, told stories and relived a part of their lives that was as magical as it was magnificent. 

Well, they did it again a few weeks ago...this time in Eagle River, Wisconsin.

And once again Dimmerman takes us there and shares the story with us.

Tucker Hibbert's career on the racetrack and with Arctic Cat is the stuff of legend. On the heels of his announcement to retire from professional snocross racing, several people Arctic Cat offered their reflections on his historic career.

Click to read about it (as well as the announcement that Tucker will be at the New Hampshire grass drags next weekend).

Team Arctic drag racers kicked some bootie at Hay Days earlier this month, winning 10 classes including three of four Stock classes.

Click to see what Cat has to say about it, along with the 33 podium finishers.

So Rad! If you aren't already feeling it, the second edition of Destination Elevation (Backcountry Backyards with the Black Cats) will switch your head into snowmobiling.

Who: DJ Ekre

What: Day 3 of the 2010 USCC I-500 cross-country.

When: January 17, 2010.

Where: One mile from the first fuel stop just outside of Goodridge, Minnesota

One of the best cross-country racers of the era, Ekre was on the cusp of what would have been his first-ever win in the I-500 XC. He led after day one, and again after day two. Heading into the first of two fuel stops on the final day, Ekre’s lead was several minutes. But his date with destiny would soon unravel, in the form of track failure.

In a cruel twist of fate, the Ripsaw track on Ekre’s sled ripped lengthwise in two areas, effectively ending his race at the halfway point of the final day. The same fate befell his teammates Cory Davis, Ryan Simons and Chad Kyllo.

It was a heartbreaking end to Ekre’s I-500, a race that he was never able to claim during an otherwise storied career.

Last winter I got cozy with a 2018 Arctic Cat ZR 8000 Limited.

Smooth...refined...dialed-in...it is exactly what you'd expect from a machine that's seen continuous improvement and upgrades over the past six years.

Click for a reveiw.

This is on my bucket list for the coming winter.

The 2018 edition of Sno Baron's Hay Days extravaganza came in like a '03 Firecat and left like a 9000 turbo. And somewhere in the midst of the high speed whirlwind of horsepower, thousands of snowmobilers paused long enough to soak in a just a bit of the sport's biggest, loudest, rockingest, stinkiest, drinkingest, coolest, craziest and mostest event.

Here's just a sampling of what happened in the first three minutes of the weekend...

Enjoy 60 seconds of backcountry groove with the all-new M 6000 ALPHA ONE.

Want the hard facts, specs and story about it? Click HERE.

I'm telling you, the Annual Snowmobile Hall of Fame (SHOF) induction ceremony and Ride With The Champs (RWTC) weekend in St. Germain, Wis., is an incredible weekend of people, history, stories, riding, laughter and even a few tears.

The inductees for 2019 are: Dick Bahr, Team Goodwin, Jim Kedinger and Todd Wolff.

They along with dozens of past (and future) inductees, as well as a couple hundred fans of the sport, will make St. Germain the epicenter of snowmobile history Feb. 15-16, 2019.

Click to read a brief bio of each, as well as details about the upcoming event.