Proof that Zach Herfindahl is One of the World's Fastest XC Racers

There's been a lot of tough talk HERE on my Facebook page, regarding a short video segment I posted about Zach Herfindahl being one of the fastest ditch racers in the world.

Here's a little edit that puts an exclamation point on my sentiment.

All shot last weekend in Warroad, Minn., where Zach won both Pro Stock and Pro Open classes en route to championship titles in both classes.

SWEET riding, Zach!

Team Arctic Proves the Real Meaning of "Terrain Domination"

Team Arctic finished off the 2015 USXC cross-country season with 14 class wins, 39 podiums and 15 class championships.

And the hillclimb crew delivered a 5-win performance at White Pine.

Click to read the team press release.

Explained: Inside Arctic Cat's New TEAM Clutches

With the news that Arctic Cat is going to TEAM clutches for most of its 2016 snowmobile model line comes the question: What is it about these clutches that are an improvement over the Cat drive and driven assemblies?

Shift over to the story and find out.

2015 TRF 300 Cross-Country Recap

In the absence of the USXC I-500 this year due to snow, last weekend's two-day Seven Clans Casino/Thief River Falls 300 gave us the challenge and drama of long distance cross-country racing.

Click to see pix of the class winners, along with a short recap of the Pro Stock class storyline.

Team Arctic Sees Checkers at TRF 300 XC and Michigan Snocross

With the USXC and ISOC race seasons winding down, Team Arctic cross-country and snocross racer proved they still win more.

Click to press release from this past weekend's beating.

Explained: Arctic Cat's 2016 WR3 Snowmobile Transmission

The new WR3 Easy Shift transmission that comes on select Bearcat and Pantera models will make a huge improvement in overall utility applications for owners who need it.

Shift into gear to read more.

Making Sense of the 2016 Arctic Cat Snowmobile Packages

Arctic Cat rider walks into a bar.

Bartender says, “You have a nice package.”

Cat rider blushes, then replies, “Thanks. It’s the El Tigre package.”

To help you make sense of all this talk of various 2016 Arctic Cat snowmobile packages, I’ve put together this handy reference guide.

Click for the whole package.

Arctic Cat Acquires Motorfist

In a move that company officials describe as "An example of our strategy to grow through small, bolt-on acquisitions,” Arctic Cat has acquired Motorfist, makers (and sellers) of high performance technical riding gear.

Click for a fist-pump of information.

12 Things to Know About the 2016 Arctic Cat Snowmobiles

Arctic Cat was BUSY this past year!

For 2016 the company introduced new models; heavily revised its mountain sleds; switched to TEAM clutches on most of its models; added a new 4-stroke engine; offers new quick-adjust FOX shocks; and more.

Click to read the 12 things you need to know, with more in-depth stories to follow in the coming days.

TGIF: The Feb. 27, 2015 Edition

I'm thankful for the hell-bent era of snowmobile speed records, when manufacturers went to great lengths to achieve top speed.

I'm thankful for the company marketing efforts that actually tried to tie machines like this to the actual consumer sleds.

I'm thankful we can all joke around about big Johnsons (and how they motivate some people to go bigger and faster).

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Feb. 27, 2015.

Team Arctic Takes 2015 Triple Crown and Chicago Snocross

Wins at the MIRA Triple Crown of enduro as well as the Chicago ISOC snocross highlighted Team Arctic's performance last weekend.

Click for the official press release.

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.