Ride Report: New 50-in. Arctic Cat Wildcat Trail

Last week I spent a day railing, thrashing, crawling and otherwise trying to beat the pulp out of the just-announced 50-in. wide 2014 Arctic Cat Wildcat Trail.

The result: I surrender... the Wildcat Trail won my heart and mind.

Click for fifty inches of description.

Building an Iron Dog: Brian Dick's 2013 Arctic Cat Alaskan Race Sled

In the 2013 edition of the Alaska Iron Dog race, Team Arctic’s Brian Dick and Eric Quam paired as a potent team capable of winning the rugged event.

Running a pair of Arctic Cat Sno Pro 600 race sleds with a host of modifications, the duo were running in second place heading into the final few hundred miles of the event, with a shot at the win, when two component failures ended their bid.

What does it take to build a potential race-winning sled for Iron Dog? Scroll the pix to see and read the modifications that Dick and Quam incorporated into their 2013 sleds.

And be sure to read the update on their sled choice for 2014.

TGIF: The Nov. 22, 2013 Edition

I'm thankful that teaching you how to drive the snowmobile has brought us closer together.

I'm thankful we stumbled upon the stashed fuel in the middle of this wilderness.

I'm thankful our preparation for this year's Alaskan Irondog race is going so smoothly.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, November 22, 2013.

November 2013 Trip Report: Two Great Days at Arctic Cat

I spent last Thursday and Friday at my favorite place in the world: Arctic Cat.

Click to see some of the stuff that was going on those two days.

Just Announced for 2014: Arctic Cat Wildcat X Limited

Arctic Cat just announced a new 2014 Wildcat X Limited that combines the X-model performance upgrades with additional limited-edition component spec, including:

*Elka Stage 5 Shocks with high and low speed compression dampening and rebound adjustment;

*Full-aluminum doors

*Sleek molded roof

*True aluminum beadlock wheels

*27-in. ITP Black Water Evolution Tires

Click for more info.

TGIF: The Nov. 15, 2013 Edition

I'm thankful for that "top-of-the-world" feeling I get from being with you.

I'm thankful that, when the snowmobile breaks down, we still have each other.

I'm thankful for the warmth, protection and mysterious confidence that comes from always wearing goggles.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Nov. 15, 2013.

Rising Star: Q&A with Team Arctic XC Racer Zach Herfindahl

Last season, Team Arctic’s Zach Herfindahl burst into the USXC cross-country Pro class like a tornado through a trailer park, upending the status quo en route to four class wins, multiple podium finishes and a cat’s whisker from winning the Pro 600 Championship.

It might have been the most impressive Pro debut in a generation, especially considering he turned 17 halfway through the season!

Click to read what he says about his amazing 2013 season, his background and his goals for 2014.

Mystery Solved?: Larry Coltom and the Sensational 1976 Arctic Cat Sno Pro

From VintageSleds.com:

...“How did it ever get out of Arctic Cat?”

With Larry’s statements, one of the biggest, most important questions about what happened to one of the winningest Cats in SnoPro history was answered...

The 1976 Arctic Cat Sno Pro and Team Arctic's Larry Coltom were an awe-inspiring combination to a generation of snowmobile fans. But what happened to the famed sleds that Coltom and his teammates piloted that Championship-winning season?

CLICK HERE for a jump to VintageSleds.com to read a cool story about one of them.

Tucker Hibbert's 2014 Merchandise Line

Want to style the same swanky threads, cap and infant bib that Tucker wears?

Easy... click to see the line and how to buy.

Part II: Q&A with Brian Dick, Arctic Cat Racer-Engineer

In Part II of the interview with Brian Dick, the Arctic Cat engineer-racer talks about which of the 2014 snowmobiles he'd pick for certain riding conditions, and Roger Skime.

Click for the remainder of this month's interview.

TGIF: The Nov. 8, 2013 Edition

I'm thankful for the wonderful period of early 1970s, when there were no rules for what a snowmobile "should be."

I'm thankful for snowmobile designs that don't require the use of a helmet, allowing for more stylish headwear options.

I'm thankful that no sober person would actually consider driving a Ridgerunner on a ridge.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Nov. 8, 2013.

Part I: Q&A with Brian Dick, Arctic Cat Racer-Engineer

Cut from the same cloth as Kirk Hibbert, Larry Coltom, Roger Skime and many others, Arctic Cat's Brian Dick blends equal parts "racer" and "engineer" in his role as High Performance Product Team Leader.

Click to read Part I of this interview with him, in which he discusses the highs and lows of last race season.

Craigslists-of-the-Week: Already Three Winners for November

With the ramping up of winter comes the much-anticipated increase in entertaining Craigslist snowmobile posting.

This week offers three excellent examples from Arctic Cat owners in the Twin Cities.

Click to enjoy.

"Four Days of Riding, 55 Gallons of Fuel."

“Four days of riding, 55 gallons of fuel.”

Those were the words that accompanied this photo that Tucker Hibbert sent to me this morning, describing only his most recent preseason test session.

Knowing how much more the Monster Energy/Team Arctic racer has already practiced this season compared with previous years, I have a hunch that the season opening ISOC snocross in Duluth, Minn., will be pretty awesome for Arctic Cat fans. 

CLICK HERE to watch Tucker (on Facebook) rip a lap at the practice track he’s been tearing up for the past month.

TGIF: The Nov. 1, 2013 Edition

I'm thankful for the extra flotation provided by today's long-track snowmobiles.

I'm thankful for snowmobile dress code.

I'm thankful for the tireless promotion of snowmobiling by individuals, dealers, clubs and the industry.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, November 1, 2013.

Sled Loading Fail: I Can Relate

This video has gotten some good play in the last week or so (at least 359 of the YouTube hits came from my computer).

While I love laughing hysterically at this guy, I also admit that I've experienced a similar indignity.

The HUGE dent in the back of my old van tells the story of a time when I was loading sleds onto my trailer and forgot to lock the trailer coupler onto the ball. The sight of the trailer tongue pile-driving into the van's rear door still makes me cringe and laugh.

So, a I-can-feel-your-pain nod to everyone out there who's suffered the humiliation of a sled loading fail.

Trick or Treat? That is the Question

Trick or Treat?

Treat!

Happy Halloween!

UPDATED with a few pumpkin pix. Click to see.

North America Too: 2014 Arctic Cat Bearcat 570 XTE

Due to popular demand from North American dealers and customers, Arctic Cat will make the 2014 Bearcat 570 XTE available in the U.S. and Canada.

A cross between a utility and touring machine, the versatile and value-oriented XTE was previously intended only for European markets.

Click to see the specs and a few highlights.

Photo Randomness: October 2013

The accumulation of photos is an ongoing situation here at HQ, to the point that I might soon have to buy my first external hard drive because the Commodore 64 will have reached its capacity.

Until that happens, I'm reprising the monthly Random Photo Essay so that you too can enjoy some of the lesser-seen sights in the world of Arctic Cat.

Click for some randomness.

TGIF: The Oct. 25, 2013 Edition

I'm thankful that snowmobilers come in all stripes.

I'm thankful for rider-forward... triangulated/pyramidal wheel placement... over-the-engine steering and snowmobiles designed specifically for the knees down style of riding that's popular among today's sledders.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, Oct. 25, 2013.