I was at Arctic Cat a few days ago, doing some research and gathering info for some stories I’m working on.
Sun dogs barking at the break of dawn.
Every season gives its unique feel to the company. In the spring , there’s a typical buzz that comes with warmer temps and the shedding of jackets. In the summer, I’m always pumped to see ATVs ripping around the Arctic Cat test track. Summer also has a certain “relaxed” feel at Cat.
When fall starts announcing itself, I detect an uptick in intensity. People start working double-time on projects whose deadlines are soon-to-come. Of course, there’s always talk of hunting and what speculation surrounds the first, upcoming races.
The first peek at winter brings a special magic to the company who has produced snowmobiles for nearly 50 years. Tracks in the ditch outside of the plant speak to many possibilities. The air is electric with anticipation. And hope.
Last week saw a good 10-inches of fresh snow and the wonders of winter in full-swing. Snow was piled high in the parking lot.
Two sleds had been ridden into work this day. One was this ZR580.
The other, a 1981 el tigre. Both brought a smile to my face.
The billboard commemorating the 1 Millionth Arctic Cat snowmobile seemed to blend with the accumulated snow, as if the rider were real. Cool.
Inside, 2011 Arctic Cat F8 EXTs were rolling off the assembly line. The warm hum of machinery, tools and people reverberated through the building. This process of producing has an energy that always invigorates me. Whenever I see the sleds and ATVs on their respective lines, I know that somewhere there awaits a rider who will experience incredible joy when they take delivery of their toy.
Those anticipations and connections are what have made this company so important to me, and perhaps to you. There might be an exception or two, but everyone that I know at Arctic Cat understands PERFECTLY what it is to love a snowmobile or an ATV.
Most of these people grew up dreaming of these machines, and have the same passion that all of us share.
Here, snowmobile product manager Joey Hallstrom shows a drawing he created as a kid. That’s a lifetime of loving snowmobiles for Hallstrom, and for hundreds of others who work here.
For now, that’s all the photos I have that I can share. I’ll be back in TRF in the next 10 days, and I’ll get some more photos then.
it is always fun to get a peak inside the factory..thanks
You know… AC hasen’t come out with an early release sled for quite sometime… 2007 Jaguar? There must be something in the pre-production 2012 stuff just bust’in to get out of the factory…. Something with a new 2012 EPA compliant mote… It’s that time of year. Just say’in…
“Photos that I have that I can share.”
Definitely something big going on…the anticipation is killing me!
I have photos of Kdub, but they are incriminating and if I share them, I’m SOL. Then again, so is he…
I had pizza with Joey at SnowShoot last year, and wow, talk about Cat passion! (The stories he told were just amazing!)
I love the shots of the employee sleds at the plant, especially the vintage Tigre! The folks at TFR live and breathe the products they make!
I have been on two tours of the factory and the last one was during the VSCA
Vintage Nationals in May of 2009, the production line was not running and Joey Hallstrom gave the tour. He took us off the beating path and to areas not normally on tour. With out the head phones one could ask questions as we walked along, very cool tour.
I haven’t been on a factory tour since I was about 7 or 8 yrs old…. I’d be up for a tour. How about an Arctic Insider tour group?
I heard there is a very cool 2012 “Show Sled” on the line right now, did you see it?
Nice to see a bunch of snow on the ground in TRF. Just a little over a month until the I-500!
Show sled on the line? Looks to me from the story that they were building F8 EXTs.
Thanks again for the stories and photos. Cool to see pics of my model (F8 EXT) sled on the build line. Heading to the arrowhead this weekend to get my 1st ride on it!!
Keep up the good work John!!
hate to say it but I just put a bunch of miles on a 2011 pro r 800 and cat better get to work…haven’t had that much fun on a snowmobile since my 03 f7 sno pro days!!!as much as I love my 2008 f1000 sno pro it was refreshing tget back on a sled with spirit and comfort and power….
At the end of the build season, before the assembly line is done for the season, AC will build their production prototypes for next year so they can fully evaluate a production built sled. Its hard to get a tour when they have these on the line and I’m not surprised that John didn’t comment ’cause Kdub is bigger than John….
Flintstone… so you didnt notice the HP? Or lack there of?
Arctic Cat “Share our Passion”… the pictures speak for themselves.
I “heard” the same thing as BRAD above… something a bit more “angular” with “distinctive headlights” ….. promo-run 2012 for magazines,etc to ride ? Protype for further testing ? Teaser run …for “show only”..with NO GO ? Early Build ?? I like the last one personally……
The “all I can share” comment obviously means there is more going on ……
ryan teach
I notice that my 03 f7 will out accelerate and consistently pull better top end speeds then my F10 ever could…
you lose the passion at the bar when your new ride isn’t up to par
A “bar”, plus a snowmobile is a good place to lose more than your passion. So you didnt notice the HP that has doomed the 800 Polaris motors?
Todd Wangen has an Arrow Head!!!!
Acceleration pulls better