117.391-MPH World Speed Record for Scott Kostman's Arctic Cat XF 800

Team Arctic's Scott Kostman set an NSSR World Speed Record of 117.391 MPH in 1000 feet on his Arctic Cat XF 800 recently in Forest Lake, MN.

Congrats to Scott!

2015 USXC-Briggs & Stratton Triple Crown Finale

Next weekend marks the third and final round of the 2015 USXC-Briggs and Stratton Triple Crown series.

Held in conjunction with the USXC Thief River Falls 300 cross-country, the Briggs Triple Crown is aimed at youth who compete in XC with 120-class snowmobiles equipped with the Briggs 206 engine. Great racing and great prizes await the participating 206-class racers.

Click for more info.

TGIF: The Feb. 20, 2015 Edition

I'm thankful that Mother Nature continues to dump snow on the unsuspecting citizens of New England and mid-Atlantic region.

I'm thankful for the 24-hp on tap for utility linemen tasked with restoring power in the wake of these storms.

I'm thankful that when the job is complete, we can swap the repair equipment for the wife and kids and really enjoy ourselves this weekend.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Feb. 20, 2015.

Finding Winter: Two Days, 200 Miles and One Tired Kid

If you're from the Midwest, then I don't need to remind you that this winter has been pretty dismal. By mid-February, my son Cal and I had ridden together exactly twice.

Sheesh! So much for our favorite pastime...

If winter wasn't going to find us this season, then we needed to find it. So Cal and I loaded up the trailer and headed for Minnesota's North Shore, where we found ample snow, amazing trails and two days of fun.

Click to read.

Snowmobile Hall of Fame Weekend 2015

The Annual Snowmobile Hall of Fame/Ride With The Champs weekend took place recently in St. Germain, Wis., where racers, riders, collectors and inductees gathered to celebrate the sport of snowmobiling.

Click for a hall-of-fame-like story about the weekend.

How to Empty a Watering Hole (30 Years Later)

Grizzled old-timers like myself remember with great fondness a series of classic Arctic Cat advertisements in the mid-1980s that evoked the spirit of snowmobiling in a way that very few ads did before or since.

“How to Empty a Watering Hole” was one such classic.

Last month was the 30th Anniversary of that great ad. To celebrate (and raise money for charity) many of the original cast gathered to recreate the original.

Click to read the story and buy your own version of the poster.

News Bites 2.14.15: The Highs and Lows of Snowmobiling

Available next year at Hay Days: “I Bang Snow Banks” t-shirts.

In this thief’s version of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, the lovely Joshua Vossen allegedly stole a van, Volvo, Arctic Cat snowmobile and a truck in his efforts to flee. Apparently the Volvo stint left no lasting impression.

What happens when 1,044 snowmobilers gather for a ride? A possible Guinness World Record. I wonder if the 1,044th rider gave the “I’m-last-in-line” hand sign?

The Guinness ride might have had another participant IF he hadn’t burned his sled piece-by-piece in an effort to stay warm. #firecat

Do officers sit around and laugh once the dust settles from an incident like this? I hope so. 

A truly frightening avalanche that appears to end well for this sledder.

TGIF (the 13th) in Feb. 2015

I'm thankful that the most truly terrifying moments while snowmobiling happen to OTHER people.

I'm thankful for the containment provided by snowmobile bibs when the $#!T gets scared out of you.

And I'm thankful that it's Friday the 13th, Feb. 2015.

(Click to see larger versions of the above images.)

The Interview: Soo 500-Winning Team of Brian Dick & Wes Selby

This past weekend, Arctic Cat engineer-racers Brian Dick and Wes Selby teamed up with Christian Brothers Racing to win the 47th Annual Soo 500 International Enduro in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

They were joined by Arctic Cat's Cadarette Racing in second, with Christian Brothers/Arctic Cat finishing eighth.

Here's an in-depth interview with Brian and Wes from just after they'd arrived home from their whirlwind week at the Soo.

Team Arctic Wins the Soo 500 and Snocross Races in NY

Team Arctic's Brian Dick, Wes Selby and a team of supporters won the 47th Soo International 500 Enduro this past weekend, while Team Arctic's snocross team scored five wins at the NY round of ISOC National sx.

Click for the Team Arctic press release.

Team Arctic Shoots 'Em Down in Deadwood and Park Rapids

Last weekend was pretty historic for Team Arctic's snocross and cross-country teams.

Both won more classes, more podiums and more frustration by the competition than any other brand.

Click for the official Team Arctic press release.

Hibbert's Historic 100th: The Video Recap

Tucker Hibbert notched his 100th Pro national snocross win this past weekend in Deadwood, SD, with a remarkable come-from-behind effort that raised the proverbial roof and added to his legend.

Here's the team's video recap of their historic weekend.

2015 USXC Park Rapids XC: Selby Gets His First

The 2015 Park Rapids, Minn., cross-country marked the fourth race in the USXC season. And like all the cross-country races this season, it served up drama, thrills and a nail-biter finish.

When the dust settled, Team Arctic's Wes Selby scored his career-first Pro Stock win! Plus Arctic Cat won 13 of 19 classes, making it another great weekend for Team Green.

Click for the story.

News Bits 2-4-15: You Can't Make this Stuff Up

Want to be the biggest Bad @$$! In New England? Read THIS CRAIGSLIST POST, buy the wicked sled and enjoy the title of BAMF.

Who HASN’T wanted to take a snowmobile for a rip around a ski hill?!? Unlike most of us, THIS guy actually did it.

How mad is Peter Packard for getting called out by local media for his snowmobile fail? I’ve done similar maneuvers my whole life. Fortunately they weren’t documented on the local news.

Let me get this straight: a drag racer fails to navigate a turn and crashes into a tree. Somewhere IN THIS STORY is a joke, because the guy himself provided the punch line.

Wolf (almost) bites person. Officer drives snowmobile over wolf, killing it.

Why is it that snowmobilers simply deal with other users, without complaining? But when other recreationalists have to deal with snowmobilers, they try to get snowmobiling banned

Snow Report: Who's Riding?

Recent storms have dropped enough snow in certain areas to open up the first riding opportunities of the season. And the regions where snow has been on the ground are maintaining it.

The above map (from NOAA) of snow cover tells the story.

I'm headed to northern Wisconsin this weekend for my first significant riding of the season.

Are YOU going riding this weekend?

TGIF: The Jan. 30, 2015 Edition

I'm thankful for the wind-in-my-hair freedom of riding my snowmobile.

I'm thankful that loud pipes save lives.

I would be thankful to hear a word that describes the front chassis design.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Jan. 30, 2015.

Caught My Eye: Four Key Statements from Cat's 3rd QTR 2015 Financials

Today Arctic Cat reported 3rd quarter 2015 fiscal results, including net sales of $193.7 million with net earnings of $7.5 million. This compares to $225.8/$12.1 million in the prior-year quarter.

In other words, sales are down.

The company lowered its full-year outlook and is “resetting [its] strategic priorities to deliver improved long-term performance.

Financial experts can decipher the numbers and report HERE.

The four statements that caught my eye on this report are below.  

Said company CEO/President Chris Metz:

* “I can say with confidence that we will seek to spur growth through additional OEM partnerships and small bolt-on acquisitions that enable us to quickly expand our expertise and capabilities, and drive even faster product innovation.

* “My short time here has reinforced my belief that Arctic Cat is an iconic brand in a growing industry, with significant potential to improve its top- and bottom-line results.”

* The company also continued to increase investment in research and development to ensure a strong pipeline of new products and technologies.

* In early February, Arctic Cat plans to introduce a new Prowler ROV for the 2016 model year.

Brad Pake: The Career Interview with 1990s Team Arctic Racing Legend

When terrain racing exploded in popularity in the mid-1990s, Team Arctic's Brad Pake emerged as one of the very best at both cross-country and snocross.

In a remarkable four-year stretch that ranks among the all-time greatest, the calm and quiet farmer from Felton, Minn., claimed two I-500 cross-country wins; one ISOC and one FANS Championship; the 1996 Snow Week Racer of the Year award; wins at nearly every major cross-country  and a pile of snocross victories.

This interview about his career, his family and his friendly rivalries with friend Kirk Hibbert was a long time coming, but I think it's worth the wait.

Join the 20th Annual Arctic Blast in TRF

Fans of (Minnesota Vikings) NFL football, Arctic Cat and snowmobiling are invited to the 20th Annual Arctic Blast Snowmobile Rally, Feb. 6-8 in Thief River Falls, MN.

Participants will enjoy meeting former and current Vikings players; a snowmobile ride; Arctic Cat factory tours; flag-football with the Vikings; a rocking concert featuring Hairball; and more.

Pre-Registration is $20 while day-of registration is $30. Pre-registrations must be received online by MIDNIGHT, February 1, 2015. All-pre-registrations will be eligible to win a pair of 2015 Minnesota Vikings Season tickets.

Proceeds from your registration will benefit the Vikings Children’s Fund.

Click HERE to launch the Arctic Blast Website for more information.

Green is Gold at 2015 X Games

Team Arctic racers/crews enjoyed a pretty amazing string of success at the ESPN X Games last weekend.

Cat-mounted racers struck gold intwo of the six events: Tucker Hibbert won his 100th consecutive gold in snocross (or close to it); and Ryan Simons won Hillcross

In addition, Cory Davis jumped into Silver in Long Jump AND had enough Speed & Style to capture Bronze.

Congrats to these guys and all the Team Arctic racers who flew the colors at the sport's highest profile event!