TGIF: The April 27, 2018 Edition

I'm thankful for the pursuit of speed and beauty queens.

I'm thankful for plowed ice and roll bars.

I'm especially thankful for ear plugs.

And I'm thankful it's Friday, April 27, 2018.

Is it the End or the Beginning?

I've been thinking a lot about my less-than-what-I'd-hoped-for winter of snowmobiling. For a bunch of reasons, I didn't get to ride as much as I normally do (and nowhere near as much as I'd hoped).

The last pile of snow melted in my yard today. I'm looking at a spring, summer and fall filled with all kinds of cool stuff. I should be thrilled.

But I'm feeling the tug of disappointment that winter's over. No more snowmobiling for 7 months or so.

The good news is that those 7 months will pass fast (which is also the bad news).

A couple snowmobile projects will keep the fire flickering in the meantime. And there are a whole bunch of people and places I'm going to visit before I start wearing the jackets that I just put away last weekend.

One snowmobile season ends and, in a way, another is just beginning.

Baja Bound: Ride Over Everything Giveaway

You (yes, YOU) can win Baja this year. As in an all-expenses-paid trip to Baja; rides aboard the new Wildcat XX along portions of the Baja 1000 race course; great viewing of the famed race; and some story time with off-road race legend Robby Gordon.

And more!

Click for the details, then go win Baja.

Jumpin' Jag: Last Launch of the Season

That time I misjudged my speed as I hit the ditch approach on the ol' Jag. #Advil #LarryWho?

History & His Story: The Les Pinz Collection

A few weeks ago some friends and I spent the day near Isle, Minn., with Les Pinz, a snowmobile historian, racer, statesman and all-around great guy.

In addition to throwing down some of our last snowmobile tracks of the season, we spent a BIG part of the day absorbing his incredible collection of vintage snowmobiles, memorabilia and related items.

It's a mind-boggling collection.

Come and see for yourself.

Arctic Cat Spring Guarantee Deadline is TODAY

Spring flowers are just around the corner, so act fast:

Today is the LAST DAY to to Spring Guarantee your new 2019 Arctic Cat snowmobile and get the best deals of the season.

Wildcat XX or Bell Helicopter? Ultimate Chase Vehicle

What's the best way to show off a Bell Helicopter?

Chase it through the desert with a Wildcat XX in hot pursuit.

Each is a pinnacle of performance. Both are badass machines.

Q&A with Team Arctic Race Manager Mike Kloety

By all accounts, Team Arctic delivered a record-breaking performance during the 2018 snowmobile racing season.

As Team Arctic Racing Manager, Mike Kloety is the person who oversees the enormous support system for the entire Arctic Cat racing program. He's also the first person to tell you that he's one of many, many people who helps make it possible.

Hear what Kloety has to say about the incredible season, the ZR 6000R race sled, snocross rules and the health of the sport.

Go-Karts & Laughter: Hunter Houle Memorial Foundation Fundraiser

The 2nd Annual Hunter Houle Memorial Foundation fundraiser is set for Saturday, April 28 in the Twin Cities.

On tap that day: Indoor go-kart racing on an awesome track (where you and I will show Tucker Hibbert and Zach Herfindahl why they’re LUCKY we don’t race them on a weekly basis!); great people; incredible auction items; a new-this-year banquet dinner option; and raising funds for a great organization.

This event is a BLAST! Plus it's a great place to meet oodles of famous snowmobile racers, all of whom have promised to let me with the go-kart races.

It's also a great fundraiser whose proceeds will go to help people in need.

Click for more info.

Stock Wildcat XX vs. Stock RZR 1000

Curious how a stock Wildcat XX compared to a stock RZR 1000, the guys at Speedwerx lined 'em up and let 'em rip.

While it's nice to see the Wildcat XX come out the winner here, on beautiful blacktop, the real place to run them side-by-side is over gnarly stuff. There the difference is even bigger.

Click on the Speedwerx ad at the side of my page for info on how to make a Wildcat XX go even FASTER!

We Want YOU (to Apply for the 2019 Team Arctic Race Team)

Attention all potential Team Arctic racers: We want YOU to send in your race application for the 2018-2019 race season!

Yep, you could join the long line of legendary Team Arctic race teams for cross-country, snocross, hillclimb, drag, enduro, oval and more.

The VERY same team that last year opened up the biggest can of whoopass in the history of the universe.

The Race Program enables you to buy the whoopassingest sleds, parts and clothing at racer-only pricing; gives you the inside line to the latest set-up information; and means that I'll eat all the good food in your trailer during the races I attend.

May 31 is the deadline to apply.

Click HERE to download a copy of the 2019 Team Arctic Race Application.

Last Snowmobile Ride of 2018 (Or Maybe Not??)

Every year in a snowmobiler's life, the riding season eventually comes to an end. Spring does its thing, the snow melts and life turns a corner towards the stuff we do in the non-winter months.

Last Friday was (or appeared to be) that day for myself and a handful of friends, all of whom played hooky from work/life to spend a day in North Central Minnesota, experiencing a cafe breakfast, an incredible collection of snowmobiles and memorabilia, and riding the last remnants of winter 2018.

Come and take a ride with us.

Uber, Tesla and the Future of Self-Driving Snowmobiles

I have seen the future of snowmobiling and it might make you and I obsolete.

When Uber, Google, Tesla and other companies began testing driverless cars a few years ago, powersports industry insiders correctly speculated that it wouldn’t take long before snowmobile manufacturers took an interest in the emerging technology.

That day has come. The question is, are you ready for it?

Click for some insight into the self-driving snowmobiles.

Team Arctic Rewrites Race History in Snocross & Cross-Country

2018 will go down in history as one of the all-time greatest seasons for a single brand. Fortunately for us, the brand is Team Arctic.

Riding on a wave of tremendous talent, great teams/support and a pair of snowmobiles that are at the top of the game, Team Arctic put its stamp on ISOC snocross and USXC cross-country with wins, podiums and championship titles with utter domination.

Like taking more than 60 percent of all the class wins during the season; 50 percent of all podium positions and 75 percent of all championship high-point titles.

Want more? Click to read about it.

Inside the Arctic Cat 8000 C-TEC2 Engine

Rev up your own internal combustion with this short video explaining the Arctic Cat C-TEC2 8000 engine with DSI.

No Contest: Turbo Polaris vs. ALPHA ONE

This is about as hot-diggity as it gets. Rob Kincaid and Dave McClure face off a Polaris 800 RMK with 7 lbs. of turbo boost against a bone-stock Arctic Cat M 8000 ALPHA ONE.

The verdict: the ALPHA ONE's remarkable traction advantage makes added horsepower a bit...irrelevant.

Boom!

Tucker Hibbert's 2018 Lake Geneva Snocross Recap

See the all-time greatest snocrosser win his umteenth Pro class and championship title. It all went down last weekend at the ISOC national in Lake Geneva, Wis.

2019 Arctic Cat ZR Technology Explained

Hear and see Arctic Cat engineers Brian Dick and Troy Halvorson talk about the technology inherent in the 2019 line of Arctic Cat ZR models.

2019 Arctic Cat iACT Suspension: See the Future

The future of instant suspension adjustment is now. See what Arctic Cat's iACT system is all about.

Video Love: 2019 Arctic Cat ALPHA ONE

The most innovative snowmobile of 2019 (and perhaps the past decade) is worthy of this video love.