"I Owned the Backcountry": Arctic Cat SVX 450 Ride Report

Two weeks ago I OWNED a piece of the backcountry for the first time in my riding career.

When I say "owned" I mean I carved, climbed and threaded my way through the trees and sidehills like I was an amalgamation of Brett Turcotte, Dave McClure and Rob Kincaid, only better looking.

The difference between this day in the trees and any other time I've ridden in the backcountry over the past 15 years?

This time I was on the Arctic Cat SVX 450 snow bike.

Click to read more.

It's Official: Textron Owns Arctic Cat

It's official: Textron has acquired more than 50 percent of Arctic Cat's outstanding stock shares, which means that it downs the 55-year old brand.

After the merger, which is expected to occur today, Arctic Cat will be an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Textron, Arctic Cat’s shares will cease to be traded on the NASDAQ.

What this MEANS in terms of the product we love, the dealers we buy from and the brand's path forward is TBD. I expect more news on those big questions to come sooner rather than later.

Click to read the official financial release.

Q&A with 2017 Iron Dog Champs Cory Davis and Ryan Simons

Last weekend, Team Arctic racers Cory Davis (Right, 28, from Soldotna, AK) and Ryan Simons (34, Camrose, Alberta) won the 2017 Iron Dog cross-country race, a seven-day 2,100-mile romp across the Alaskan wilderness that goes from Anchorage-Nome-Fairbanks.

It was a huge win for the duo, each of whom is a talented and accomplished terrain racer in all forms of competition.

They were kind enough to tell their story of this year’s race, including their perspective on the disqualification of another team.

Tucker's 2017 Michigan Recap: Mt. UNPleasant (for the competition)

On Saturday night in Mt. Pleasant, Mich., Team Monster/Arctic Cat snocrosser Tucker Hibbert stamped his usual style of authority on snocross.

Watch it.

New & Improved: 2018 Arcticwear & Accessory Catalog

In addition to announcing its 2018 line of snowmobiles (and a few future dirt products) this past week, Arctic Cat also unveiled its 2018 Arcticwear & Accessories catalog.

Not only is it loaded with all the newest gear, it's redesigned to be easier to use, including an Index; Pro Tips from engineers and athletes; more technical specs; and an accessory locator.

Catalogs are arriving at your local Arctic Cat dealer now and in the next few days.

Court Rules in Arctic Cat's Favor in Patent Lawsuit with BRP

Well, the court of law in Canada has ruled in favor of Arctic Cat in the patent litigation brought by BRP regarding the chassis of Cat snowmobiles built from the Twin Spar in 2007 through the ProCross and ProClimb in 2015.

Apparently Ski-Doo did NOT invent the pyramid. Or something like that.

Either way, great news for Arctic Cat and justice. And, as was predicted years ago, the real winners were the lawyers with the billable hours.

Click to read more.

The 11 Things to Know about the 2018 Arctic Cat Snowmobile Line

Arctic Cat just took the wraps off of its 2018 line of snowmobiles, and there's a WHOLE BUNCH of new stuff.

Here are the 11 key things to know about it.

Click into next year.

Ride With the Champs and Hall of Fame Weekend 2017

The Snowmobile Hall of Fame held its annual Ride With The Champs (RWTC) and Induction ceremony last weekend in St. Germain, Wis., bringing together legendary snowmobile racers and fans to celebrate snowmobile racing, culture, riding, machines and the four inductees for 2017.

Click to read about it.

Just Released: 2017 Arctic Cat Wildcat Sport & Trail SE Models

Cue AC/DC...

Arctic Cat just released two new blacked-out Special Edition 2017 Wildcat Sport SE EPS and Wildcat Trail SE EPS, each featuring a handful of SE-only accessories to set them apart from all other Wildcats.

Click to go dark.

SHOF Hunter Houle Memorial New Building Fund

This past week the Snowmobile Hall of Fame announced the Hunter Houle Memorial New Building Fund.

Conceived by Steve & Charlene, it's a way for people to help fund the construction of a new museum at the SHOF in St. Germain, Wis., while memorializing their son, Hunter, who died this past January.

Click to learn more.

March 4 Sneak Peek: See the 2018 Arctic Cat Snowmobiles

See, touch and ride (if you're a kid) the 2018 line of Arctic Cat snowmobiles on Saturday, March 4 at ERX in Elk River, Minn.

This is the first chance to see all the new sleds.

Plus there will be free youth demo rides; vintage Arctic Cat sleds on display; free Cat winter beanie giveaways; the Arctic Cat 360 Virtual Reality Experience; and more.

Click for more info.

Ultimate Race Experience Sweepstakes with Tucker Hibbert

Fan of Tucker Hibbert?...CHECK

Like free gear?...CHECK!

Interested in hanging out with him at 2018 Canterbury race?...CHECK!

Signed-up* for the Ultimate Race Experience Sweepstakes?...Well, are you?

*(Full disclosure: I signed up using every family member's name and various aliases.)

The Winnipeg Returned: Tales from the 2017 I-500 Cross-Country

The 2017 USXC Winnipeg-to-TRF-to-Bemidji I-500 returned this past weekend, with a new generation of racers writing their names in a new chapter of this magnificent race.

Bitter cold, rough ditches, river, trail...it delivered three grueling days of competition that more than lived up to its legend.

Click to read the story.

SnoWest Rings Out the 2018 M 8000 Sno Pro

Another sweet vid of the M 8000 Early Release getting its groove on, this time via the SnoWest Magazine gang.

Black Cat McClure on the 2018 Arctic Cat M 8000 Sno Pro Early Release

Check out this sweet video of Black Cat David McClure threading the trees on the new 2018 Arctic Cat M 8000 Sno Pro with the C-TEC2 8000 DSI engine.

Winnipeg I-500: The Grand-Daddy Cross-Country Begins

At 10am Wednesday morning, Feb. 7, 82 brave men and women will begin leaving the starting line on the outskirts of Winnipeg to embark on the 2017 USXC I-500.

It is the most fabled cross-country race in the world; its origins going back to 1966 when a few dozen pioneers rumbled out of this same town on their way to St. Paul, Minn.

There’s something special and magical about snowmobile racers barreling down a ditchline, chasing the snow dust in front of them while they chase the dream of making it to the finish line.

Click to see a few pix of this magic (as well as the starting list for this year’s race). And join me in wishing ALL I-500 competitors the very best of luck.

Team Arctic Kicks Some Fanny at TRF 300 and RMSHA Opener

Team Arctic has been kicking fanny in recent weeks, as evidenced by the results from the USXC TRF 300 and RMSHA hillclimb opener.

Click to read the official team press release.

Q&A with Scott Eilertson

This past month, Scott Eilertson closed a chapter on an 18-year career as a district sales manager for Arctic Cat. Outgoing, passionate about Arctic Cat and always smiling, Scott had been a welcome presence at motorsports events for more than 30 years.

He chatted with me about his amazing career that included jumping snowmobiles with Evel Knievel, riding to Moscow and helping to save a young girl’s life.

Click to read the interview.

Arctic Cat at the Soo International 500 Enduro

This weekend marks the 49th running of the Soo International 500 enduro in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Team Arctic racers are there in full force, with a fleet of mod ZR 6000R race sleds powered by Speedwerx-built Arctic Cat C-TEC2 EFI engines.

Will this be the third year that Cat wins this big one?

Click to see some Cat race sleds in the pits.

Next Gen: Mini I-50 Cross-Country Feb. 4-5

Next week, when a hundred plus cross-country racers from all over North America come to NW Minnesota for a crack at the famed I-500, it will be yet another great chapter in a tradition that goes back to the 1960s.

Likewise, on the weekend of Feb. 4-5, the DMC group will once again hold their "Mini I-500" for 120- and 206-class racers (as well as Transition, Junior, Sport and Vintage), helping foster the next generation of I-500 racers.

This year the Mini is actually going to be an I-50. Yep, a 50-mile XC.

Click for more info.