I'm thankful for the Arctic Cat Prowler (1990-1995, RIP).

I'm thankful for the nearly 4 decades of Suzuki engine power in Arctic Cat snowmobiles, and the strong connection that existed between the two companies.

I'm thankful for those dedicated few who couldn't say goodbye to either the Prowler or Suzuki power.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Aug. 31, 2018.

Now begins the time of year when Arctic Cat shares news and a tighter focus on some of the cool new stuff that's available for the coming snow season with the lowliest bottom-feeders on the planet (aka: guys who publish websites and magazines).

Also right here and right now, is the Arctic Cat Modular Helmet with Electric Shield.

It's a popular skid lid for a whole bunch of riders, and for good reason.

Click to read them.

Now begins the time of year when Arctic Cat shares news and a tighter focus on some of the cool new stuff that's available for the coming snow season with the lowliest bottom-feeders on the planet (aka: guys who publish websites and magazines).

Right here, right now, is the Interchanger 3-in-1 Jacket.

Click for a quickie.

Check out the scorching-fast 1/4-mile runs by Team Arctic's Glenn Hall (far lane, on the ProCross 9000 Turbo) and Matt Ernst (near lane, Twin Spar 9000 turbo) in the Pro Stock Snowmobile final at the NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., last weekend.

Ernst actually had the quicker run -- a 8.242 second burner compared to Hall's 8.273 blast -- but it was Hall's nearly instant .104 reaction time that delivered the VERY close victory.

Both ran 155-plus MPH, and both looked smooth as silk cruising down BIR's tarmac.

Congrats to both!

Textron Off Road Factory Race Team’s Ray Bulloch and co-pilot Kaleb Myers delivered a mossive win the Pro UTV NA Class the Desert’s Vegas-to Reno-race this past weekend.

The 1-day, 531-mile race is considered one of the toughest and most prestigious of the BITD Series events.

Bulloch piloted the nearly-stock, naturally aspirated No. 1835 Wildcat XX to an absolutely crushing win 11 hours and 26 minutes, nearly 18 minutes faster than the second place UTV. 

The win was a true testament to the durability of the Wildcat XX and its racers, who only stopped for a belt, tire change and fuel while leaving nothing but dust for a class full of custom-built vehicles.

Congratulations to the team for proving the new Wildcat XX is truly the best in the desert.

Here's the First Wave of 2019 Side-by-Side models from Textron Off Road, with at least one more wave to come at a later date.

These new models join the recently released Prowler Pro and the earlier Wildcat XX models.

Click to check out what's new.

Today Textron Off Road (TOR) released information on several ATVs and UTVs for the 2019 model year. In its information sent to media, TOR called it a "First Wave Launch" which suggests additional wave(s).

For ATVs, the big news for wave one is a new Alterra™ 570 ATV; a very-updated 700 engine/transmission in many of the Alterra 700 models; and a reprisal of several models that saw limited visibility over the past year.

Click to read the details of the ATVs. 

What does an old forklift, Roger Skime, Edgar Hetten, David Johnson, Arctic Cat and Polaris have to do with one another?

More than I would have ever imagined.

Click to read a story about the origins of Arctic Cat, the founders of Polaris and the little known history of no ordinary forklift.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

I'm thankful for bygone eras and the bunnies who played them.

I'm thankful that snowmobile companies steered clear of #scandal and paid no #hushmoney.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Aug. 3, 2018.

Tucker Hibbert might have retired from professional snocross, but he hasn't stopped trying to make a difference in peoples' lives.

This Saturday, he's hoping fans, friends and family will join him at the 2018 Walk for Wishes^® Twin Cities event in order to raise money for Make-A-Wish^® Minnesota to help grant the wishes of children with critical illnesses.

Join Team 68 in person, or in spirit. Click for some primo info.

It looked a lot like Catfest at the Pennington County Fair in Thief River Falls, last week. There were Team Arctic racers, vintage sleds, new sleds and wheelers. And people. Lot's of people!

What's Catfest? It was a once-every-five-years celebration of everything Arctic Cat that occurred in TRF beginning in the late 1980s and through the 1990s.

By pairing with the Pennington County Fair (itself one of the most vibrant county fairs in Minnesota). the five day event had lots of added attraction.

I was lucky to spend an afternoon there. Click to see some pix.

The International Snowmobile Hall of Fame in Eagle River, Wis., recently announced its 2018 inductees and special award winners:

Dave Guenther, Volunteer, Breezy Point, MN

Curt Kennedy, Volunteer, Salt Lake City, Utah

Bobby Unser, Inventor, Albuquerque, NM

Stan Slack, Volunteer, Nova Scotia, Canada

Tim Haberberger, Groomer of the Year, Alpine, Wyo.

Cumberland Snowmobile Club, Nova Scotia

Bill Schumann, Volunteer, Manitowish Waters, Wis.

Congrats to all! Click to read about their accomplishments and dedication to the sport of snowmobiling.

One of the things I've always loved about Arctic Cat is the brand's brazen spirit to build some of the fastest snowmobiles, and then to celebrate it.

From Boss Cat to Thundercat, there's a long and powerful history of fast, badass snowmobiles and to-the-point advertising that talked about it.

Here are some of my favorites.

A week ago I had the chance to spend a day experiencing the all-new Prowler Pro utility side-by-side from Textron Off Road (TOR)

The occasion was a media event at a massive hunting ranch in California, where TOR provided a half-dozen Prowler Pros to ride, photograph and use to hunt pigs. Yes, pig hunting.

For 12 hours I rode passenger, drove and occasionally shot... photographs... of the new machine.

Click to read my six categories of feedback on the machine.

It's only a couple weeks until the Pennington County Fair in Thief River Falls, Minn., and the new-this-year Arctic Cat Village display.

More than two dozen beautiful vintage Arctic Cat snowmobiles will be on display, along with oodles of great memorabilia.

There will be plant tours and live bands.

New Arctic Cat snowmobiles and TOR side-by-sides and ATVs will be on display.

And there will be the great vibe that happens at one of the coolest county fairs anywhere.

It all happens July 18-22.

Click for a few more details.

I'm thankful for the space age, the new rage and the competitive stage.

I'm thankful for companies that don't just talk the talk, but that also walk the walk and TRULY deliver.

I'm thankful the dork in the red helmet rides with his eyes closed, because he's missing this right-hand turn.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, June 29, 2018.

After posting the pic of Nancy Kerrigan decked-out in Arctic Cat leather last week, I started thinking about some of the famous celebrities who have been associated with Arctic Cat over the years.

Click to see a few of them.

I'm thankful for the protective quality of leather and it's ability to withstand repeated knee-beatings with a baton.

I'm thankful I can escape the drama and intrigue of Olympic life and just go out for a rip with my buds.

I'm thankful the Pantera has a 2-up seat for riding with my friends (not Tonya).

And I, Nancy Kerrigan, am thankful it's Friday, June 22, 2018.

January, 2010. WOBLE Ride to Waconia, Minn.

Tired of the umpteenth sled-breaks-down-entire-group-stops-for-20-minutes-while-Pat-diagnoses-poor-sled-maintenance, Pete channels his inner Cory Davis and throws down a MONSTER WHIP on his Arctic Cat Puma.

At least it feels like a whip to Pete. And anything that feels like a whip on a vintage sled ALSO feels monstrous.

The massive crowd of 3 cheers wildly while the media captures the insanity for worldwide distribution.

Fame and fortune are only a few hundred thousand Likes away.

Nobody questions why Pete sends it on a vintage Cat while wearing a vintage Polaris one-piece suit.

Pat fixes his sled for the umpteenth time, the group reassembles and everyone rallies onto the lake in Waconia.

The planet keeps spinning, the universe keeps expanding and nobody yet knows anything about Larry or his Enticer.

Strange days indeed.