Due to popular demand from North American dealers and customers, Arctic Cat will make the 2014 Bearcat 570 XTE available in the U.S. and Canada.

A cross between a utility and touring machine, the versatile and value-oriented XTE was previously intended only for European markets.

Click to see the specs and a few highlights.

The accumulation of photos is an ongoing situation here at HQ, to the point that I might soon have to buy my first external hard drive because the Commodore 64 will have reached its capacity.

Until that happens, I'm reprising the monthly Random Photo Essay so that you too can enjoy some of the lesser-seen sights in the world of Arctic Cat.

Click for some randomness.

I'm thankful that snowmobilers come in all stripes.

I'm thankful for rider-forward... triangulated/pyramidal wheel placement... over-the-engine steering and snowmobiles designed specifically for the knees down style of riding that's popular among today's sledders.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Oct. 25, 2013.

Today Arctic Cat reported its 2nd QTR Fiscal 2014 results. In a nutshell:

*Net sales rose to $238.5 million, up from $229.0 million in prior-year quarter;

*Sales driven by snowmobiles and side-by-sides;

*North American retail sales increased 17 percent versus year-ago quarter;

*Operating profit was $36.3 million versus $38.8 million in the year-ago quarter.

Click to read the full report.

There was a nice dusting of snow in Thief River Falls, Minn., this morning, adding the perfect highlights to the sign that hangs at Arctic Cat.

Thanks to Mandi Hibbert for capturing and sending the image.

No doubt, the coolest aspect of producing ArcticInsider is meeting people who have a passion for Arctic Cat. I never anticipated it when I launched this place four years ago, but this website often works as an electronic introduction to great people that I probably would not have met otherwise.

Scott Watters is one such person I've met this past year, both via the site and in-person. He lives on the northeast side of the Twin Cities, where he restores, rides and takes great pride in a fleet of sweet Arctic Cats.

Click to see them.

I'm thankful the inventive spirit is alive and well in Shop/Industrial Arts classes at high schools throughout the world.

I'm thankful for the natural transition from bicycles to snowmobiles.

I'm even thankful for the answers to questions that nobody has asked.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Oct. 18, 2013.

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.

Check out the new vid from Arctic Cat highlighting the just-released M6000 Sno Pro.

Seeing powder puts a smile on my face! So does seeing Rob Kincaid getting worked-up, even if he is just acting.

Saturday marked what has become an Annual gathering of Arctic Cat fans at the Zedshed, a barn-turned-Arctic-Cat-museum on the outskirts of New Richmond, Wis.

Amazing sleds, fantastic people and conversations about all-things Arctic Cat... it was the best place in the world that I could be on a cold, blustery day in October.

Click to read about it.

I'm thankful that on Feb. 7, 1982, then-40-year-old Marv Jorgenson essentially straddled a 250 hp, 1325-cc Kawasaki motorcycle engine and pulled the trigger.

I'm thankful that, instead of blowing Marv to the moon, this snowmobile rocketed down the 1/4-mile ice straight in Rice Lake, Wis., to record a new snowmobile world speed record of 142.6 mph.

I'm thankful that some people have truly monstrous kahunas.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Oct. 11, 2013.

The Briggs & Stratton 206 spec-engine racing program for 120-class sleds proved highly successful last season, with circuits and racers embracing the low-cost, easy-to-use "performance" engine.

To illustrate the simplicity of installing a Briggs 206 engine in an Arctic Cat 120, the company produced this 10-minute video. If you're a parent of a 120-class racer (or a soon-to-be-one), it's definitely worth watching.

"All the bells and whistles that man has yet devised to fit a snowmobile, converge in appropriate reality in this machine."

Yes, that's just one of the juicy bits you'll hear when you click on the media player below and listen to the 1-min. radio ad for the 1980 Arctic Cat Pantera and Trail Cat.

Click the link to see a couple more images.

This weekend I joined about 500-700 enthusiasts at the Country Cat Open House in Sauk Centre, Minn., to usher in the season.

Man, do I love an Open House, especially one that includes all the right ingredients: conversation, deals, movies, pork sandwiches, kids and plenty of seat time.

Click to see what I'm talking about.

I'm thankful for getting a tee time tomorrow afternoon.

I'm thankful that, no matter how much I stink at playing golf, I'm going to kick the crap out of everyone else when it comes to getting around the course.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, October 4, 2013.

Brian Espeseth retired earlier this year from a long, illustrious career at Arctic Cat dating back to 1975. Espo is truly one of the all-time greats, a real legend.

Awhile back I interviewed him. And like typical conversations with Espo, he started talking and telling stories while completely ignoring what had been my general outline.

So instead of running a typical interview, I'll post a few of his stories, including this one about how he sold 13 of the prototype 1982 Arctic Cats.

Team Arctic's Rob Kincaid and David McClure got their first snowmobile ride of the 2013-2014 season in September.

SEPTEMBER!

Enjoy this sweet video of their adventure.

The first Yamaha SR Vipers have been assembled at Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls, Minn.

Today Arctic Cat sent a press release detailing the celebration.

Click to read.

I'm thankful for the Shriners, whose grace and life-giving mission have made the world a better place.

Gee whiz, I'm thankful for Ski Whiz.

And I'm thankful its Friday, Sept. 27, 2013.

Racer, freestyler, hill climber, back country rider and now... mechanic on the Tucker Hibbert's Monster Energy/Arctic Cat team!

Garth Kaufman has had a cool career path.

Click to read the press release.