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HomeFeaturesHappy New Year 2015 (And Thanks For a Great 2014)

Happy New Year 2015 (And Thanks For a Great 2014)

Happy for snow.

I didn’t have the time the past few days to put together the New Year’s post I intended, so this will just have to be short and sweet.

For me personally, 2014 was a pretty great year. Last winter was one for the record books here in the Midwest, and I snowmobiled pretty much a couple times a week from Jan. through March. I watched a ton of races, including my son’s. I experienced a magnificent Wildcat ride near Bryce Canyon. I enjoyed many days working with and documenting the wonderful people at Arctic Cat. I laughed my way through many road trips and got to spend time with some legends. Above all, my wife, kids and I have the tremendous fortune of being healthy.

I know… I’m damn lucky. 

This place… this little site where I get to share some pictures and stories… continues to bring me great joy and satisfaction. Sometimes all my other work piles up and I’m not able to post here as frequently or as in-depth as I’d like, and sometimes I simply run out of gumption, but mostly the whole scenario here is pure fun. For sure the two best parts are getting to tell stories about people who I admire and respect, and interacting with those of you who comment on stories.

I have always thought of this place as a cozy two-car garage with a workbench, a couple of sleds, a wheeler and all the associated gear used to enjoy those sports. The truck and car are parked outside while all of us sitting inside, sharing a beverage and telling stories.

I like that image and it’s the place that I put my head when I write most of the stories here.

For what it’s worth, our little two-car garage hosted 1 Million BS sessions from quarter-million different people last year. Mind-boggling!

I appreciate every single one of you who have sat down with me in this garage and listened to a story or two. Too often the interwebz seems polluted with nastiness, name-calling and disrespect. We’ve always maintained a dialogue here where you express yourselves with respect and thoughtfulness, even when your sentiment was rooted in anger or disappointment. Thank you.

And thank you to the sponsors you see on the top and right side of this garage. Without them, this site doesn’t happen. If you appreciate this garage and want to express it monetarily, please consider the fine establishments whose logos you see on the walls of this place.

There are many more adventures waiting for us here, many more stories to share. The fridge is still full.

I hope the very best for you and the people you love this coming year.

Happy New Year.

-John

 

Sandberg with fixed A-Arm on El Tigre.

Celebrating my birthday with Bobby "Kale" Flame

Coltom, Sandberg & Dimmerman.

The one loser at Hay Days.

Sandberg hits a tree. Tree dies.

Jolene Bute and Sandberg

Tucker, Sandberg & Kirk

John and Cal Sandberg.

Sandberg snowmobile trail.

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34 COMMENTS

  1. Have enjoyed AC insider now for several years! Thanks John for all you do!!! Need a hardcore Sno-Dance for the new year!!! My two sleds are sitting in my garage ready to roll!!! Happy New Year!!

  2. Looking good John ! Happy New Year to you and yours. I’d love to stop by the “garage” for a cold one some day. Better yet after a great day riding !! Hope we can get out together again sometime this season !
    P.S. I love Arctic Insider and check it out daily. Keep up the good work ! 😉

  3. Happy New Year to you & your family John.

    Thank you for your many wonderful posts this past year !!
    You make all of your articles interesting but for me the gathering of the legends stood out.

    I trust we Arctic Insider fans will have many more to enjoy in’15.
    Also here’s to a great 2015 for Tucker, your son , & the rest of Team Arctic.

    Wayne Tweten

  4. Happy New Year John and to your family, and a Happy New Year to all the Arctic Insider Family ! Can’t wait to see what you have in store for us this year John ! The photo of you and Calvin says it all! How about some night when we are all sitting in the garage sharing those 5 gal pails for chairs that we come up with a shirt/sweatshirt design for the Arctic Insider folks, any thoughts? How about an official Arctic Insider hat? Not enough snow here in Northern Maine to take my first ride of the season, Santa brought rain on Christmas day and took it all away! Happy New Year again everyone and best wishes for a great 2015 Arctic Insider year!

  5. You’ve got a great site here John, I read it often. I never grow tired of reading your postings, or the postings of all of your readers. Until I get more adept at sharing recipes or crafts on Pinterest, this is the garage I’ll be hanging out in. Happy New Year to all my fellow Arctic Cat enthusiasts, I hope to see you on the trail!

  6. Happy New Year !

    I enjoy your site and all the information you provide. Keep up the great work John, I look forwaed to reading your site everyday.

    Take Care and have a safe New Year to you aand your family.

    Jeff Cervoni

  7. I love your site John. I always check in…

    …after I check my four weather/snow forecasts that is 🙂

    Best of luck and a Happy New Year to all who love Arctic Cat.

  8. John:

    You have the best job out there and yes you are my hero!!! Keep up the great work we all love your stories and yes you Kick Butt my friend!!
    Happy New Year!!! The Cat Kid:-)!!!!

  9. Great site John. Nice to be able to come to a site where almost everyone appreciates the topic and what you do. I think the Interns need a raise. 🙂

  10. Happy New Year to you as well John. I have been riding Cat since 1978, my blood has ran green ever since!! I do know, and I am sure many others that frequent this site know, how much time and effort it does take to make arctic insider happen…….. and we ALL do appreciate it more than you will know. I hit the site everyday as I just love the articles and videos of the vintage stuff!! It is by far, the COOLEST Cat site out there, and may I dare say snowmobiling site out there!!!!!! So again THANK YOU AND KEEP IT COMING!!!!!!!!!

  11. Happy New Year John … to you, your family, and this “family” that enjoy your “garage” !! I like that analogy too… I think it is very fitting here. I check in daily, read what’s new, and add to conversations when I can. I fully enjoy all the articles, race reports, interviews, and TGIF posts you share with us. Can’t wait to read even more for 2015 !!

  12. John: Thanks for all you do on the great site. I look forward to it every day and congratulate you on all of those great articles you have given us over the years.
    Happy New Year and best of luck to Calvin in the races. I will be looking for him in Park Rapids, (if we get any snow)

  13. Dave M. mentions Interns ???? When I hear the word intern, my mind immediately paints a picture of Billy Clinton in his oval office ! John, you dawg, so that’s were all your enthusiasm and inspiration comes from !! Now I know why I’ve never been invited to ArcticInsiders corporate office…

    YOU made 2014 a great year for this insider.. I wish you and your family all the best for 2015. Jim

  14. John….First off, Happy New Year to you and your family. May it be prosperous and in good health !!!

    As for this site, John it’s a pleasure and a joy to read and share with other koolaid drinking Arctic fans…I say we have a little “Arctic Insider ” member reunion sometime…Would be a great joy to put faces to the names of the folks that participate on this forum…Thanks again for everything John !!!

    Donn from the great state of Oregon….” Oregon is…what America Was “

  15. Donn, great idea about a get together in John’s garage! Glad to see and read that there are Arctic Insiders from all over the map! Hey John, do you have the ability to add our faces to our names in the website, that way everyone could send our post office mug shots in and tie the face to the names.
    Hey Jim, how about we Arctic Insiders send you some questions to ask John in an interview about him. Since you have displayed some really great writing skills in the reunion story, you could write the story. Of course the interview would have to held at the “corporate headquarters office” this would be an easy way to gain access to the “corporate office” and while there you could sneak some photo’s to publish for us Insiders. Is everyone on board with this idea? Have a great everyone!

  16. Thank you Mr. Sandberg for continuing to put out a BA product. Thank you for not allowing this website to turn into a bunch of swearing and hate like most other forums! All the regular posters here are hardcore AC guys and are respectful and usually have awesome stories and info to add to your story. The racers my dad idolized and tells me about posting on here is awesome! I love this site! I would love to see more on all the forms of racing from the 90’s and early 2000’s, but this site isn’t just about me! Keep up the great work everyone!

    Happy New Year everyone and make it a safe one! Pray to the snow gods!

  17. I rode cats back in the 90s. Got a new one every year for a while and would put 8 to 10000 miles a season on. Now my wife and I ride our touring harley in the warmer months. One of our favourite destinations is trf. Stop by rv sports to have a quick visit with the boys, stop at the black cat for lunch and of course visit the plant to see what is new. The passion in that town is infectious – I always have the need for more.

  18. Do not blame anyone la!I also lost 40,000 doallr on this stock.To be honest, nobody can tell the future, so be responsible to yourself.Since Mr. Market didn’t ask us to buy 945 but we follow his suggestion without any in depth consideration, we deserve to lost money. It’s just like somebody on the street who ask you to buy some magical medicnes that can cure any cancers. Believe it or not? You need to judge it by yourself that’s the spirit of Science.Also. there is a golden rule in the stock market: “There is no free lunch!”Why not blame yourselfas we trust someone whom we do not know very much!

  19. Do not blame anyone la!I also lost 40,000 doallr on this stock.To be honest, nobody can tell the future, so be responsible to yourself.Since Mr. Market didn’t ask us to buy 945 but we follow his suggestion without any in depth consideration, we deserve to lost money. It’s just like somebody on the street who ask you to buy some magical medicnes that can cure any cancers. Believe it or not? You need to judge it by yourself that’s the spirit of Science.Also. there is a golden rule in the stock market: “There is no free lunch!”Why not blame yourselfas we trust someone whom we do not know very much!

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