Talking with P.J. Wanderscheid about His World Championship Career

This weekend marks two years since P.J. Wanderscheid graced the famed banked oval track in Eagle River, Wis. After several major injuries mixed with the time constraints that evolved from the family’s growing business, P.J. took the checkered flag on a truly remarkable racing career:

72 Pro wins

4-time Eagle River World Champion (2002, 2003, 2006, 2011)

2003 Snow Week Racer of the Year

3-time 525 Champion (2009, 2010, 2011)

2-time CPTC Canadian Champion (2010, 2011)

2012 TLR CUP Winner

2003 Woody’s Triple Crown Winner

2010 Central Wisconsin Triple Crown Winner

2011 U.S. Nationals winner

17 Pro High Points Championships

No doubt, P.J. is one of the all-time great oval racers. But while he won’t be on the track at this weekend’s World Championship, he’ll be at the track as part of Country Cat’s sponsorship there. And there’s a chance his team’s expertise will one day support another Arctic Cat racer to chase the World Championship title. Here’s what P.J. had to say about his retirement and more.

Donn Eide's 50 Years of Arctic Cat

With 50-plus years of designing and building engines at Arctic Cat, Engine Design Manager Donn Eide has a history and knowledge of the brand that's truly staggering.

Check out this photo of him with his 1965 120 D. What does he have to say about it in comparison to his 2015 XF 6000?

"The 120 D had a longer track than the standard 100 D of it’s time. So even back in 1965 we realized the need for a long track version, just like the XF models of today.

The 120 also had reverse (in a gearcase instead of the reversing the engine). The 120 had a foot operated drum brake vs. the hand operated hydraulic disc of today.

The CVT is still around, but it's been advanced many, many iterations.

The engine went from the 8 HP Kohler to our own Arctic Cat-built 600 twin 2 stroke with DSI. You still pull a rope today to start both.

I recall breaking the dipstick off on the Kohler damaging the camshaft and having to take the engine apart and fix in my dad's basement. Little did I know back then what would define my career for the next 50-plus years!

Not sure if will do complete restore or leave it as it is. Either way, I sure enjoy both machines for what they are."

Tucker Hibbert's 2018 Canterbury Snocross Recap

Canterbury was an especially memorable weekend of 2018 ISOC National snocross racing uber champion Tucker Hibbert.

Christian Brothers Racing Canterbury Recap

The Christian Brothers Racing team threw done more seriously impressive results at the recent ISOC National Snocross at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn.

High-Speed-Cold: Pine Lake USXC Cross-Country Opener

The last weekend of 2017 brought the first USXC cross-country race of the 2018 season, held at its traditional spot on Pine Lake in Gonvick, Minn.

Also known as the Gerald Dyrdahl Memorial Classic, this fine event was once again the showcase for sled speed and handling, racer talent, sled preparation and ridiculously cold temperatures.

Like, it was -750 degrees F, not including the windchill.

I'll spare you the suspense: Team Arctic kicked rear end AGAIN.

Like 17 wins out of 21 possible classes.

Like more than 50% of all the podium positions.

Click to see some winning pix.

Watch ISOC Snocross Live Tonight and Tomorrow

ISOC National Snocross is happening today and tomorrow at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN.

Will Team Arctic continue its unabated dominance? Will Tucker Hibbert win 2,368th Pro final? Will the announcer refer to Tim Tremblay as the "big, strong Canadian" EVERY SINGLE TIME he talks about him?

For the answers to these and other questions, tune in to the free Livestream by clicking on the image above and watch it unfold.

In Times of Bitter Cold...Polar Plunge

A New Year.

Resolutions.

Perhaps a polar plunge?

If so, one brand is ready to rumble.

#EveryDaySledder: A Story of Snowmobiling 31 Consecutive Days

Ever wish you could snowmobile every day?

Me too. So I did it.

Last January I rode at least once every single day.

I called it #EveryDaySledder, and it was one of the coolest experiences I’ve had on a snowmobile.

Click for a fun ride.

U.S. Snow Cover Report

Here's the snow cover over the U.S. and portions of Canada for Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017.

Verdict: The Christmas snow storm that hit the eastcoast on Christmas was a gift from above! Plus there's decent snow in many areas of the Midwest, and lots of deep stuff out west.

CLICK HERE to hit up the NOAA site directly to get more detailed info on specific areas.

Christmas Came Early: First Ride of the Season

Christmas came a few days early for me and a few friends, with each of us hitting pause on the myriad work and life responsibilities during the gnarly prelude to Christmas, to instead enjoy our first ride of the 2017-2018 snowmobile season.

Join the Club and Wear the Pride: 2018 Cat's Pride Club Kit

Cat's Pride Club is the oldest snowmobile brand club in the world. I'm also pretty sure it's the largest snowmobile club in the world too.

The value of these kits is pretty awesome. It's also awesome to have club gear going back 25 years... jackets, hats, drinking glasses, decals, Pride magazines, pins, and more... all fun reminder of years gone by.

Check out this year's kit (and wear the pride if it suits you).

Part IV: (Not All) Snowmobiles Are Too Expensive

I want to thank everyone who's read, considered and/or commented on the stories in the "Snowmobiles Are Too Expensive" series. It's been an interesting ride parsing out fact, fiction and the price we pay for the stuff in our lives.

This is the last of four parts: the conclusion.

Let me know if you agree.

Crossing the Mighty Mac: 2nd Annual Event a Success

On Saturday, dozens of snowmobilers crossed the Mackinac Bridge, the legendary suspension bridge spanning the Straits of Mackinac (splitting the waters of the Great Lakes Michigan and Huron) that connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of the U.S. state of Michigan.

This has got to be one of the more memorable 5-mile snowmobile rides anywhere!

Opened in 1957, the 26,372-foot (5-mile) bridge is commonly referred to as the"Big Mac" and "Mighty Mac. It's the world's 19th-longest main span and the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere, and it's wonderfully iconic bridge in the Great Lakes region.

Organized by the awesome Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum in Naubinway, Mich., Saturday's event was the second annual and an homage to the original snowmobile crossing of 50 years ago. Jim Langley, 80, was this year's Grand Marshall. He was one of the two original riders to cross the Mac 50 years ago, and he rode his restored 1966 Polaris during this year's event.

Click to see a few more pix and details.

That's All She Wrote!: Tucker Hibbert's 2017-18 Jackson Snocross Recap

Team Monster/Arctic Cat's Tucker Hibbert did the double again, this time at the second stop of the 2017-2018 ISOC National snocross tour in Jackson Hole, Wyo.

Youth and Entry-Level Model ATVs Return for 2018 from Textron Off Road

Textron Off Road just released their 2018 Youth and Entry Level model ATVs.

Rebadged from their previous iterations, these premium-quality models do for youth EXACTLY the same thing that new, big machines do for adults: They make 'em want to ride!

The great news is that they're already shipped to Textron Off Road dealers, waiting for (stationary) showroom rides.

Click to read the dirt about the Alterra 90, DVX 90, Alterra 150 and Alterra 300.

ExtraDomination? DoubleDomination? Something AMAZING Happened at the Jackson Snocross

When Team Arctic snocrossers aboard the incredible ZR 6000R SX race sled grabbed 14 out of 20 class wins and 25 out of 60 podium places at the ISOC National opener in Duluth, I thought they'd reached the top of what was likely to happen.

Boy was I wrong.

And they proved it at the second stop of the season, in Jackson Hole, Wyo., with 15 of 19 class wins and 35 out of 57 podium spots (including a sweep of the podium in six classes)!

Click to read the press release.

Pyramid Scheme: Jury Rules in Favor of Arctic Cat over BRP

Remember that lawsuit that BRP brought against Arctic Cat over chassis design and rider position (the same lawsuit that had a ruling in favor of Arctic Cat by a Canadian court last February)?

There was a ruling by a Minnesota jury last week in favor of Arctic Cat.

Click to read the story from Law360.com.

Hibbert Family Roots Grow Deep in the West

Want insight into Kirk and Tucker Hibbert? You'll find it in this genuine look at where their family has its roots in Alta, Wyo./Driggs, Idaho.

Definitely worth watching.

Part III: Snowmobiles Are Too Expensive! (Just Like My Phone)

Do we enjoy the same earning power today that we did in 1994?

If snowmobiles are too expensive, what does that say about our smartphones, internet and cable television?

These are some questions that are worth answering, which is what I try here in Part III of the series, Snowmobiles Are Too Expensive.

Click for a dose of my family's reality.

Watch ISOC Snocross Live Dec. 8-9 From Jackson, Wyo.

ISOC National Snocross returns this Friday-Saturday, Dec. 8-9, at Jackson, Wyo.

Will Team Arctic deliver another stunning performance like they did two weeks ago at Duluth?

Tune in to the free Livestream by clicking on the image above and watch it unfold.