TGIF: The Sept. 25, 2015 Edition

I'm thankful I can escape all of life's regular trappings by heading out on a nice, enjoyable ride.

I'm thankful I can stop, look around, smell the roses and really absorb all the beauty around me.

I'm thankful that jack-wagon I call my friend will eventually put away the #$@*% camera and help me get out of this mess.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Sept. 25, 2015.

FOX Shox Unveils Prototype Electronic RAD QS3 Snowmobile Shocks

FOX Shox unveiled a new prototype electronic version of their QS3 shock system at Hay Days this year, effectively ushering in the next era of simplified suspension control.

Tentatively dubbed QS3 RAD,  the new system uses a 12v powered stepper motor controlled by a handlebar-mounted switch, allowing the rider to choose between three valving options in the QS3 shocks while riding.

Touch the button to select the rest of the story.

Q&A with Doug Braswell, Arctic Cat Director of Snowmobile Engineering

Arctic Cat is a company loaded with talented, creative, passionate and hard working engineers. In the Snowmobile department, Doug Braswell is the person whose job is to direct that amazing engineering workforce to produce the best snowmobiles in the world.

The multi-faceted man was gracious enough to answer key questions about his role, how he’s organized the department and some clues to what we can expect for future product.

Click for the engineer's perspective.

TGIF: The Sept. 18, 2015 Edition

I'm thankful there's a wintertime equivalent for those of us who are Born to be Wild.

I'm thankful that no matter if it's one track or two, single ski or more, twist-grip or throttle lever...that we can all just get along as we bang ditches and blast big air.

I'm thankful that what's old is new again.

And I'm thankful that it's Friday, Sept. 18, 2015.

Team Arctic Rips It at 2015 Hay Days Grass Drags

Team Arctic drag racers delivered a crushing blow to the competition at the recent 2015 Hay Days grass drags.

What's your elapsed time to click and see (some) of the winners!?!

Dan Ebert Joins Tucker Hibbert's Team Monster Energy-Arctic Cat-Ram Truck

Tucker Hibbert will have another arrow in his quivver this season: Dan Ebert.

The longtime Arctic Cat racer, engineer and (most recently) crew chief has joined Hibbert's Monster Energy/Arctic Cat/Ram Truck team as a mechanic working alongside crew chief Kirk Hibbert.

Wrench on over to the press release to learn more.

Sweet Giveaways at Sand Sports Super Show this Weekend

For those of you hitting the Sand Sports Super Show this weekend in Costa Mesa, Calif., there's a chance to win a ride shotgun on the SST track with Robby Gordon in the #29 Wildcat X SST Truck

Plus there's a chance to win a SPEED LED Lightbar and SPEED R/C Traxxas Truck.

Simply hit the Arctic Cat display booth at the show, sign up (Friday night only for the Gordon ride) and then cross your fingers.

Good luck!

Guest Commentary: The S.T.I.C.'s Hay Days Perspective

Beer, handlebars, Burger King, brats and more...

...Here's a guest commentary about Hay Days from Rodney Dragan, ringleader of the merry band of snowmobile thugs known the world over as "F.H.U.C.-S.T.I.C.S.".

Click for some clack.

Hay Days 2015: The Sights, Sounds and Smells

The 49th Sno-Baron's Hay Days extravaganza went down this past weekend in near perfect splendor, unleashing the excitement of snowmobiling via wild mix of products, people, racing, swapping and anticipation.

Click for a sample of what could be seen during the weekend.

Sneak Peek! Arctic Cat Single-Ski Snow Vehicle

In what was probably the biggest surprise of the event (and truly a sneak peek), Arctic Cat briefly unveiled a single-ski type snow vehicle at Hay Days this weekend.

It was just a tease, with VERY limited information and a VERY short cameo. The single ski machine appeared for about 1 minute atop the Arctic Cat truck before disappearing.

Click for some pix, limited info and speculation based on my photographic evidence.

Arctic Cat Unveils SVX 450 Single-Ski Snowmobile

The biggest news over the weekend was Arctic Cat's unveiling of what it's calling an SVX 450 Snow Vehicle.

It's a single-ski snowmobile built for back-country riding, with the potential for other types of riding in the future.

Check this out, and look for additional updates here!

Unveiled: 2016 Arctic Cat ZR6000 R XC & SX Race Sleds

UPDATED on 9-15-15 with more detailed information on several items for each sled.

Arctic Cat unveiled its 2016 snocross and cross-country race sleds at Hay Days this past weekend, each getting a host of updates.

New exhaust system... new brakes... new track... new cool stuff!

Race on over to a full description of each sled.

TGIF: The Sept. 11, 2015 Edition

I'm thankful it's the day before Hay Days (although it's actually the day that most swappers make deals).

I'm thankful so many from the wide world of snowmobiling are descending upon North Branch, Minnesota, bristling with expectation of what they'll see, find, sell and hear at 49th annual start of winter.

I'm thankful we can all pause for a moment today and say a prayer for the many thousands who suffer sadness, loss, heartbreak and more on Sept. 11.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Sept. 11, 2015.

Offroad Adventure: Racing Bacon in Hog Heaven

Ever see a pig race?

Me either, until a recent Friday in Leader, Minn., when a pack of bacon was ripping laps around a track in front of a few hundred screaming fans. 

Among the screamers were myself, my son Cal and our friend Pat Bourgeois of ATV World/OSM Magazine.

Click to see some divine swine.

Arctic Cat Moving Headquarters from Plymouth to Minneapolis

Arctic Cat announced today that it's moving its corporate headquarters to Minneapolis from its current location in Plymouth, Minn., in order to accelerate and accommodate growth.

Cat anticipates that it will begin occupying the new headquarters in the summer of 2016.

Over time, approximately 150 to 200 personnel will be housed in the new location. Arctic Cat’s facilities in Thief River Falls and St. Cloud, Minn., will remain vibrant manufacturing sites, with overall employment levels staying the same.

Click for added info.

TGIF: The 2016 Labor Day Weekend Edition

I'm thankful for the men and women who produce the coolest damn machines in the whole world, whether it's 1975 or 2015!

I'm thankful that, in the U.S. and Canada, it's Labor Day weekend.

(I'm thankful that, in the past 10 years or so, it's seemingly become a 4-day weekend for most poeople, because nobody who's supposed to be at work today is returning my emails or phone calls.)

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Sept. 4, 2015.

This Weekend: Vintage & Mid-School Arctic Cat Auction

Arctic Cat vintage (and mid-school) collectors have a treat in store for them this weekend near Eagle River, Wis.

There, an estate auction for George Siebens, a 20-year Arctic Cat dealer from Illinois will take place in which many cool, old Arctic Cat snowmobiles, parts, clothing and assorted stuff will go home to the highest bidders.

Brand new, never-started Jags; 634 Hirth Panthers (with Montana pipes!); Trail Cats; Kitty Cats and more will find new homes, perhaps yours?

Click for more info and pix.

Time Flies: Drifting Into Autumn

It's Labor Day weekend here in the States, which marks the unofficial beginning of autumn. Man, does time drift by quickly!

To celebrate, here are a few sweet shots of 2016 Cats doing their own bit of drifting.

Enjoy.

Princeton 2015: (My) First Swap of the Season

Nothing signals the end of summer and the beginning of autumn quite like a snowmobile swap meet.

For me and several thousand others, the annual Swap/Outlaw Drags in Princeton, Minn., served up all the great reminders that our favorite season is only a few months away.

Click to see some pictures of this year's event.

New from Arctic Cat ATV & UTV for 2016

Moments ago, Arctic Cat unveiled its first wave of 2016 ATV and ROV/side-by-side models at its annual dealer show.

There are seven all-new Special Edition models, powered-up Wildcat Sport models and full line of SPEED High-Performance Accessories co-developed by Robby Gordon.

Click for the highlights and some pictures.