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READER RIDES – PAIR OF TIGRES

Mods, Customs and Restorations are some of my favorite things, and many following ArcticInsider are seriously talented in those arenas. If you have something falling into that category, and it has some tie to the Arctic Cat brand, please send me a few photos and a description, and Ill run them as a Reader Rides feature. (arcticinsider@gmail.com)

This one is from Richard Buresh who has a sweet pair of 78-based El Tigres.

“I guess you could say I have the same weakness as Aaron Scheele for the 78 El Tigre – The 5000 was my very first snowmobile I bought myself. 

While Aaron’s custom El Tigre’s are what dreams are made of, I’d love to see a write up on his fleet of 1978 custom Cats. (HERE’S ONE) As a side note, I recently retired from the same company Aaron works at. We were at different locations and departments, but would meet every once in a while, and it was always fun talking to him.

Photo: ArcticInsider – Richard and I have crossed paths and didn’t even know it…he’s pictured somewhere in this group photo taken at the 2015 Waconia Ride-In. A group of El Tigre lovers gathered by Aaron Scheele and photographed by John Sandberg. Im (Kale) third from left in the back.

I got the bug to get into vintage snowmobiles after reading articles about them on ArcticInsider. Roughly ten years ago, I purchased two non-running El Tigre’s and a standalone 5000 free air engine. After a lot of disassembly and assembly, I had a running free air 5000 that I took to the Waconia trail ride and was a ton of fun. Every year I would add to it –  at the 2015 Waconia Ride-In (Feature year of Arctic Cat / Polaris), it had Wilwood brakes, 121 track, ZR skid and modern clutches. I was fortunate enough to be in the photograph of all the El Tigres in Aaron Scheele’s group on the lake.  

EL TIGRE 6000

My El Tigre 6000 has the following mods done to it: ZR skid, SLP plastic ski conversion, Wilwood brakes, Modern clutches, ETT tunnel, Modified power frame for track, 1.375-inch Cobra track and 530cc liquid-cooled engine with oil injection.

Richard on his 6000 during a recent ride around his farm to enjoy the fresh snowfall.

This one is really fun to ride especially through swamps and fields. The combination of the Cobra track and light chassis makes it feel like a lightweight (short) mountain sled. 

Another photo of Richard on his 6000 at the 2020 Midwest Ride-In at ERX Motorpark. A Ride-In I encourage all of you to attend no matter what year snowmobile you have. This is a top-notch event the whole family will enjoy.

EL TIGRE 5000

The independent front suspension 5000 was an involved undertaking. I had an extra free air hood, seat, tank and console, but envisioned something more custom. 

Richard mated 78 Tigre parts to a 2002 donor chassis with 570-fan power.

The best handling Arctic Cat sit down chassis I could think of was the aluminum AWS 5 and the largest fan-cooled engine Cat made was the 570, so that is what I started with last winter and went through all the swaps this fall for parts. 

Tearing it all down and building it back up, I married the 1978 parts to those on the 2002, which is basically a 570Z with updated gas shock and TSL suspension and titanium springs from a 2001 ZR800 I had. The engine needed work as it had no spark, needed new stator, and fitting the large gauges in the old console to clear the tank was an interesting hurdle. Those parts were on/off several times and the tach cable ended up routing through the airbox to make it fit.

With our recent snow, Ive gotten this one out for some test rides and look forward to bringing to the Midwest Ride-In at ERX in January.

Richard’s pair of clean 78 El Tigre “sleepers” side-by-side.

Thanks for the reply and keeping ArcticInsider going.” 

Have a great day, 

Richard

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4 COMMENTS

  1. Hey I know that guy! RIchard has been on a cat since we were kids growing up in Northwestern MN! We baled hay for many years together and rode the same bus to school as kids since we were about 3 miles apart. love your Cats! everyone have a good Christmas!

  2. Hi Dave , ya it has been a few years (decades) since we rode the bus together. Kale thanks for doing the article and in the Waconia picture I am third person from the right. And hope you all have a great Christmas also.

  3. Sweet unique machine. I too, just grew up down the road from Richard. My dad rode the same bus with Dave, and Richard, I am sure.

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