48 Hours Later: Thoughts on Textron's Purchase of Arctic Cat

It’s been 48 hours since we learned the news that Textron has agreed to buy Arctic Cat for $247 million.

I've had dozens of conversations with people from across the Arctic Cat spectrum.

Amidst the uncertainty that comes with an announcement like this, there runs a deep and powerful optimism.

Click to read my humble thoughts and opinions.

Arctic Cat to Be Acquired by Textron in $247 Million Cash Transaction

Arctic Cat  to Be Acquired by Textron in $247 Million All-Cash Transaction

*Delivers substantial all-cash premium to Arctic Cat shareholders;

*Textron committed to continued, long-term growth of Arctic Cat;

*Combined businesses better positioned to be powersports industry leader

Click to read the financial release.

New Arctic Cat C-TEC2 8000 Engine with DSI

Learn more about the new Arctic Cat C-TEC2 8000 engine.

Just Released: 2018 M 8000 Sno Pro Early Release with C-TEC2 Engine

Yeehaw!

Arctic Cat took the wraps off a pair of 2018 M 8000 Sno Pro models today, each featuring the new C-TEC2 800 2-stroke engine and new extra-narrow Next-Gen bodywork.

Available in 153- or 162-in. track lengths, the two Early Release models will be at dealerships next week.

For now, here's the full-skinny on these extra-skinny models.

Just Released: 2018 ZR 8000 Sno Pro Early Release with C-TEC2 Engine

2018 is coming early for Arctic Cat fans, in the form of the all-new early-release ZR 8000 Sno Pro 129/137 featuring the all-new Arctic Cat C-TEC2 800 engine with DSI.

Along with the early release M 8000 Sno Pro, the new machines will be at Arctic Cat dealerships beginning Feb. 1, 2017. See, demo ride and buy it then!

For now, click to ready all the details of the new ZR 8000 early release.

Everything You Wanted to know about the Arctic Cat C-TEC2 8000 Engine

The wait is over! Arctic Cat has an all-new 8000-series C-TEC2 800 2-stroke engine for 2018. Arctic Cat is saying it's for the 160-hp class, and that it has more power than the Suzuki engine that it's replacing.

I've ridden this new engine several times over the past couple of seasons and I'm pumped to report that it's excellent. Three words to describe the new engine: Powerful, crisp & refined.

Grab a big ol' handful of interweb throttle to read all of the details.

Watch and Listen to Tucker's X Games Prep

Man I love listening to a Pro Open sled, especially when it's being ripped around a track by the fastest snocrosser in the world.

Win #124: Tucker Hibbert's 2017 Deadwood Recap

Tucker Hibbert claimed his 124th national snocross win in the Pro class this past weekend in Deadwood, South Dakota. Here are the video highlights.

Ross Spoonland's 334-Mile Thursday

Periodically I hear from Ross Spoonland, the uber Arctic Cat snowmobiler who consistently racks up more miles than anyone I know, and whose knack for documenting his travels is second to none.

Last Thursday Ross had another one of his big adventures, logging a whopping 334 miles on a big loop that took him from his home in Park River, ND, to Thief River Falls and back home.

Click to see some really cool pix from his adventure, as well as hearing his set-up for such rides.

Observations on the 2017 Cross-Country Race Season So Far

We're two races into the 2017 USXC race season, and already Team Arctic has shown tremendous strength. If I were a marketing guru, I might even say they've been dominating the terrain.

Click to see what I'm talking about.

Pennsylvania Thunder: The Legend Lives On

Here's a great story about a legendary Arctic Cat from Pennsylvania that was located and saved from the scrap yard, written by Arctic Cat aficionado Glen Mallory.

Tucker Hibbert's 2017 Canterbury Recap

Enjoy this recap video of Team 68's 2017 Canterbury snocross weekend.

NOHRSC Snow Depth Report for Jan. 16, 2017

There's great snow over much of North America. For more detailed analysis of your area, hit the NOHRSC website.

Hunter's Story (In the Words of His Mom and Dad)

At the Wednesday funeral service for his son Hunter, Steve Houle shared with a packed church his family's thoughts and story about Hunter's life.

Click to read parents’ words about their son.

See You Later, Hunter

Click to read about the Hunter Houle that I see.

Visitation and Funeral Information for Hunter Houle

Last Friday, while getting his sled and himself ready for this weekend’s USXC race on Pine Lake in Gonvick, Minn., 18-year-old Hunter Houle suffered a crash on his snowmobile and died a short time later.

For friends and acquaintances that want to celebrate his life and share their love with Hunter’s brothers Lucas, Jeremy and Larry, sister Jenna, his dad Steve and his mom Charlene, there will be a visitation on Tuesday, Jan. 10 from 4-8pm at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Forest Lake, Minn.

As well, Hunter’s funeral is from 10-11am on Wed., Jan. 11, also at Hosanna (9300 Scandia Trail N, Forest Lake, MN 55025).

I have some thoughts I’m going to share about Hunter here on ArcticInsider, but I’m not ready yet.

A Day at Skime Ranch

This past week I was part of a group that spent a day at Skime Ranch, the nearly 4,000-acre cattle farm in Skime, Minn. (yes, seriously) owned by Arctic Cat legend Roger Skime and his wife Bernice.

It was a day of watching Roger be Roger. It was perfect.

Click to see a few pix from the day.

Hello 2017!

Oh man, 2017 started out better than I could imagine, with a 140 mile snowmobile ride on Minnesota's North Shore State Trail with friends.

Either this is going to be the best year ever, or it's all downhill from here?

Regardless, winter is alive and well in Minnesota's arrowhead region. Click to see for yourself.

Q&A with Team Arctic's Zach Herfindahl

Since he burst onto the cross-country scene a handful of years ago, Zach Herfindahl of Eagle River, Wis., has been a veritable juggernaut of speed and success, notching wins at most venues and claiming multiple USXC championship titles along the way.

At the ripe old age of...(wait for it)...20, Zach heads into the 2017 season poised for continued success. This year he paused his college career in order to concentrate on racing full-time. He’s fitter, smarter and presumably faster than ever.

I chatted with the reigning Pro Stock champ about the season, his new Arctic Cat ZR 6000R XC race sled and what he eats for dinner with housemate Logan Christian.

Click to read the interview.

TGIF: The Dec. 30, 2016

I'm thankful for the outstanding riding experiences of the past year.

I'm thankful we've made it through the detours, trail closures and rough patches.

I'm thankful we can still hang onto the handlebars while going WFO into the new year.

And I'm thankful it's the last Friday of 2016.