I wonder what's going on at Arctic Cat this summer?

After several conversation with people from Arctic Cat during the past couple days, more information has come to light about the company's the shift to build its own engines.

Click to read.

Are you sitting down?

Arctic Cat today announced that it has entered into an agreement to transition its snowmobile engine manufacturing from Suzuki Motor Corporation.

Arctic Cat will begin manufacturing some of its own snowmobile engines in St. Cloud, Minn., after the 2014 model year.

Click to read the release.

Stupid knees!

While practicing motocross for his first appearance at the Summer X Games, Tucker Hibbert hyper-extended his right knee. As a result, he must forgo his racing schedule this summer and focus instead on healing.

Click to read his press release.

I recently came across this photo that I shot at Waconia Vintage Hullabaloo in 2006. It strikes me now like it did then...how two Arctic Cats, separated by nearly 30 years, can look so similar.

And so good.

I drove through Wausau, Wis., yesterday. It was a beautiful summer afternoon.

And it reminded me of the time I passed through last winter...

Are you a Minnesotan who want to provide input on how your tax dollars are spent for trails, parks and the environment?

Learn how by clicking to read a letter from Terry Hutchinson, MN United Snowmobilers Assoc. Director at Large and Chairman of the MnUSA Trails Committee.

The news is as shocking to write now as it was when I first heard about it: On Thursday, May 20, 2010, Rocky Cutsforth (42) of Cohasset, Minn., died from injuries sustained in an ATV accident near Nemo, South Dakota.

I've been doing research for a project I'm working on, during which I came across this advertisement for a 1973 Arctic Cat Kitty Cat ad. And I can't stop thinking about it.

Click to see it larger.

Doesn't ride like a wet fig... the Ski-Doo guys get real nervous when they hear it... smooth as a babies ass... and it'll hit 120 mph before you can even look down at the gauge.

Goodness, I love craigslist! Click to see today's gem.

Sign of the times? Smart leadership? Giving the people what they really want?

Or...

...does this represent everything that wrong with American manufacturing? And is this the beginning of the end?

Now that everything old is new again, I'd like to see a return to cool drawings like this one of a Z racer (piloted by Charlie Loften, I believe).

 Arctic Cat just released their first wave of 2011 Prowlers and ATVs. The big news here is the expansion of Electronic Power Steering (EPS), and a more work-oriented HDX Prowler with a bench seat and a flat-bed-capable rear box.

Click to read what's new on these models.

For the first time ever, Tucker Hibbert will compete at the Summer X Games. Not in trapping. Not in mountain biking. Not in Hot Stuff pizza eating.

He's going to X Games for his other love, motocross. Click to read his press release.

A swing to a (slight) profit for 2010... decreased inventories... increased market share in both ATV and Snowmobile markets... zero short- or long-term debt... and a new ATV model coming shortly.

The painful expense-cutting in response to the weakened recreational vehicle market has resulted in a decidedly upbeat fiscal 2010 report. Light appears at the end of the tunnel.

Click to read.

Wondering why the price of Arctic Cat Cross-Country Cats has reached the stratosphere in recent months.

Blame the guy in this photo.

Click to learn why.

Unlike most other industries, Arctic Cat manufactures a vast majority of its products in the U.S. After 18 years as the guy in charge of that production, Ron Ray is stepping down.

One of the most passionate, hardest-working people I've had the pleasure to know, Ray leaves a legacy of quality, care and genuine human goodness.

Filling his massive shoes is Paul Fisher.

Click to read the press release.

Ross Spoonland of Pine River, North Dakota, purchased a 2010 Arctic Cat Z1 Turbo EXT in late November. His first ride on it was during the last week of December. His last ride... the first week of March 2010.

In-between, Ross notched 7,250 miles, including one 658-mile day on Feb 26 (read THIS STORY about it from the Grand Forks Herald).

Logging more miles in 10 weeks than many "hardcore" riders log in 5 years is pretty impressive, so I asked him a few questions.

Click to read his answers.

Check out this promo video from the Snowmobile Hall of Fame. Lots to see at the SHOF, including Brian Nelson's 1978 I-500 winning Cross-Country Cat (click to see).

When hitting the Duluth Spirit Snocross National, be sure to eat at Pizza Luce, the official post-race meal of ArcticInsider, SledRacer and Action Graphics.