Product Spotlight: Flip-Up Poly Windshield for Arctic Cat Prowler & HDX

There's no denying the added comfort a windshield offers on side-by-sides. If you're skeptical, think about the last car you bought that didn't have a windshield.

Arctic Cat offers all kinds of windshield options for its various sport and utility side-by-sides.

Here is the Flip-Up Polycarbonate option for Prowler and HDX models. Click for more info.

Product Spotlight: In-Cab Storage Bags for Wildcat Sport & Trails

It is the human condition to fill to capacity whatever storage space we have. If you need proof, look at your garage.

Fortunately, there are ways to increase the storage capacity of certain things, such as the Wildcat Sport or Trail.

Yep, there are several handy storage solutions available from Arctic Cat. Click to see them.

Product Spotlight: SpeedRack Alterra ATV Backrest from Arctic Cat

I used to think backrests were kind of corny. You know...like old-people's gear that looks goofy and suggests slowly riding through the world.

Maybe because I'm older than I was 20 years ago (Duh!) or because I've actually ridden with backrests on ATVs and snowmobiles, I no longer think of them as corny. Yes, they still look goofy to me, but you can't argue with the comfort.

Arctic Cat has a new SpeedRack Backrest for its Alterra ATV models. Click for more info.

The Halloween Blizzard of 1991

On this day WAY back in 1991, a low-pressure system carried precipitation from the Gulf of Mexico straight up the midsection of the country, where it collided with a massive, cold high pressure system from the north.

Three days later, upwards of 30-40 inches of snow had blanketed a large swath of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Dubbed the Halloween Blizzard (10 inches of snow fell that night), it was a watershed weather event that paralyzed cities and certainly caused a lot of hardship for some, yet gave snowmobilers the greatest candy of any Halloween ever.

Friends and I snowmobiled all over the Twin Cities (on major roads, highways and even freeways) for two days until the plows finally got on top of the situation. I know of people who did laps around the Metrodome in Minneapolis. It was incredible.

Click for some swiped photos of that storm.

Passion (Parked) at Arctic Cat Today

Nothing unusual going on here in the parking lot today at Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls.

Just the same, good ol' passion that's been burning bright since 1962.

TGIF: The October 28, 2016 Get-'em-Running Edition

I'm thankful that, when it was time to park the sleds for the summer, Elmer was careful to take care of his precious fleet.

I'm thankful that vintage top deck systems are dang cool and badass (just like vintage snowmobiles).

I'm thankful that all these sleds will "run on spray," and that they'll be ripping along nicely just as soon as the snow flies.

And I'm thankful that I rose from my slumber on this, Friday October 28, 2016.

Arctic Cat Renews Support of FFA

Last week Arctic Cat announced its renewal partnership with the National FFA Organization (FFA), an organization it first partnered with last year.

The goal is to assist a great organization in helping young people to develop their potential for leadership, personal greowth and career success through agriculture education.

Since agriculture is foundational to this country, I believe FFA is a dang important organization. Thus I'm pleased that Cat is helping the cause.

Click for the press release.

THIS Fast!

How fast is the new Arctic Cat Thundercat?

This fast.

Billet Goodness: Customization with Substance & Style

When it comes to customization, billet aluminum has a substantive, enduring appeal.

That was the inspiration behind an array of new billet snowmobile accessories for 2017.

Click for the down-low.

205 Horsepower: Stock ZR 9000 Turbo on D&D Dyno

Recently, D&D Racing out of Lowville, NY, uncrated a 2017 Arctic Cat ZR 9000 Cross Country with the new 9000 Series Turbo, put it on their dyno and let 'er rip.

The result: 205 horsepower and 127 ft.-lbs. of torque.

I'm just sayin'...

Yummy!

Brian Fandel's 1542-Mile 14-Day ATV Adventure

Last month, Brian Fandel embarked upon a 14-day, 1,542-mile ATV adventure from his home in Thief River Falls to northern Michigan, and back on a 2017 Arctic Cat Alterra TRV.

For an extra measure of sportiness, he did the trip alone.

Fandel, who is an NVH engineer at Arctic Cat, rode nine of the 14 days, logging 251 miles on the longest leg and 67 miles on the shortest. Impressively, there were four days that exceeded 200 miles.

Click to see how he did it.

Road Rally: Thundercat Drift with Glenn Hall

Riding a new 2017 Arctic Cat ZR 9000 Thundercat, Glenn Hall behaves in a way that I've ALWAYS wanted to behave myself!

#onthegas

Product Spotlight: Team Arctic Hibbert Jacket from Arctic Cat

Let's fact it, Tucker Hibbert himself might look kinda...well...goofy*.

But the sweet threads he wears while shredding the snocross circuit are cool as can be.

Likewise, so is the Team Arctic Hibbert jacket available to us mortals for 2017.

Click for the details.

*Just kidding Tucker, you look more like Pluto

Product Spotlight: KICKER/SSV Works Audio Package from Arctic Cat

It's a proven fact that music improves the experience of 87 percent of all the things we do in life.

Which is why any owner of a Wildcat X or Wildcat 1000 might me interested in the sweet new KICKER/SSV Sound System from Arctic Cat.

Pumped up kicks? Heck Yes!

Click for some sound bites.

Thank You David Johnson (and may you rest in peace).

David Johnson died this past Saturday at age 93.

Johnson was one of three founders of Polaris Industries of Roseau, Minn., along with brothers-in-law Edgar and Allen Hetteen.

Johnson is widely credited as the one who build the first Polaris snowmobile in 1955.

He was a humble, gracious man who left indelible tracks for the company and the sport of snowmobiling.

The world is a better place today because of David Johnson.

Buy a New Cat, Ride Free In Canada

As if the sleds themselves weren't already incentive enough...riders who buy a new/unused 2013-2017 Arctic Cat Snowmobile from an authorized Arctic Cat dealership from Oct. 1-Nov. 30, 2016, will be reimbursed for the cost of a 2017 Canadian Trail Permit.

It's a sweet way to support the Canadian trail system and buyers of Arctic Cat snowmobiles.

Click for more details.

Arctic Cat Black Cats Backcountry Pro & Pro Lite Riders

Last month at Hay Days, Arctic Cat first announced thier pro Black Cats Backcountry team of Rob Kincaid, David McClure, Cory Davis and Brett Turcotte (all pictured above).

Today they've added six more riders to the pro lite roster: Luke Nokelby, Cooper Street, Morgan Gamache, Jordan Nieters, Levi Johnson and Taylor Meuwissen.

Welcome to the team, guys!

Click for more details.

Instant Braap! Dylan Roes Delivers Turbo Greatness (and Victory)

Last week, Dylan Roes of D&D/Clark Racing made history by winning the Saturday Night Pro Mod Shootout at Excell Raceway in Bouckeville, NY,  with his Arctic Cat Improved Stock 9000 Series Turbo. It was the first time a 4-stroke sled won the overall against Pro Mod 2-strokes!

Dylan's wins didn't stop there. He also captured the Improved Stock Turbo and Open Mod finals with the same sled!

Click for other top Arctic Cat D&D race winners at Excell.

Joel Renberg: Swedish Watercross Champ

Watercross isn't just a sweet sport for U.S. champs like Dale Lindbeck...it's also an export that's grown huge across the pond.

For example, check out the sweet sled and results of Team Arctic’s Swedish watercross champion Joel Renberg.

The Race Adventures of Jeremy and Alex: Crandon

Any who's ever taken a green flag knows that racing has it's ups and downs.

Wildcat racer/tuner Alex Fortune checks in with a great recap of the 2016 TORC off-road race in Crandon, Wis., where he and Speedwerx teammate Jeremy Houle experienced the highs and lows of tough off-road competition.

Click for the download.