Arctic Cat’s 50th Anniversary Celebration is July 29-30, 2011, in Thief River Falls, Minn. It’s gonna be huge!
Based on conversations I’ve had with some of the people who are organizing the event, here are some things to know:
1. There will be tours of the Arctic Cat factory on BOTH Friday and Saturday.
2. A welcome reception will also take place on Friday afternoon. I am hoping to sing my own rendition of Springsteen’s Born to Run, accompanied by Bobby Flame.
3. Interested in bringing your favorite Arctic Cat stuff to display? Awesome! Arctic Cat wants you, and is currently securing both indoor and outdoor locations for EVERYONE to display. From vintage sleds to Silverline boats, Scorpion stuff, bicycles, lawn mowers, ATVs, Wet Bikes, modern sleds, memorabilia… we want to see it all, whether it’s old or new.
Remember, this event is a celebration of the Arctic Cat brand over the past 50 years.
4. There is talk of an ATV/Prowler demo track where people can experience the latest wheelers, and where Bobby Flame will perform aerobatic (real word, look it up) maneuvers.
5. Kids stuff & giveaways. (These are two separate things…kids stuff, AND giveaways. Although if my kids are acting-up, I might combine.)
The 50th will be very family-friendly, so bring the kids.
6. Pit Row: Look for a dedicated area where anyone and everyone with a truck/tailer hauler can park and display. I have a feelinig this area will look like an Arctic Cat-only “race pits” spanning 1970-2011.
7. Looking to swap some stuff? Me too. So it’s a good thing plans are in the works for an Arctic Cat-only swap meet.
8. Special 50th Anniversary clothing and memorabilia will be on sale throughout the weekend.
9. Music/entertainment will also be part of the weekend. Nothing too big-name here, as the emphasis for this entire weekend is on people, rather than national entertainment.
I’m hoping that my rousing version of Born to Run will be met with enthusiastic cheers, and that I’ll be asked for encore on Saturday night. At this point, I’m thinking Honky Tonk Woman by the Stones.
10. The most massive Team Arctic Racer autograph session the world has ever seen, will take place during the weekend, with racers spanning the company’s entire 50-year history.
Look for more updates on the 50th here in the coming weeks. And if you have a song request for me to sing, please indicate.
I for one cannot WAIT for this event!
Wouldn’t miss it now that I know there will be some terrific entertainment. Didn’t know you were a singing sensation!!!
John, if anyone is interested, my dad would be willing to share his 2007 650 TRV with 30,000 miles as a testament to the durability of their products. He has been a lifelong AC owner dating back to the 60’s. Countless sleds he has owned over the years. I remember as a kid being amazed at all the trophies he won racing for AC as well. He has some great stories that is for sure.
We went to the plant a couple summers ago and ended up talking to Roger Skime, Ted Bettin (sp?) and a couple others. THey were amazed at his ATV because it literally looked like it had a few hundred miles not 20,000 as he did at that time.
If you want to share a name or pass it along to your contacts, you probably can figure out how to contact me. 🙂
Bob: I would love to do a duet with you. Maybe Sinatra’s “My Way?”
Captain: Arctic Cat (and all the people who are coming to the 50th) would love to see that machine. I hope he/you bring it, along with anything else you want to display.
Arctic Cat is making this an open-invitation to everyone.
Maybe we could get stompin Tom to sing the snowmobile song…
I sure hope that there will be tours of the factory on Saturday as well. We are coming all the way from PA and won’t get there till later Friday afternoon. Wonder how late tours on Friday will run anyhow?
No wonder my new sled is so much $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
man i hope i can go!! what days do you think will be the biggest?? like stuff wise? or can you go whatever day and see the same things?
I sure hope the BOSS CATS make it to this event.
I’ll be there with LACAT, Best Western poolside, stumbling distance from the Black Cat LOL
Factory tours will be on Friday AND Saturday.
Wife and I will be there.Its our 22nd anniversary on the 29th. At the Americainn thur – sun. Bringing the Prowler hope to do some trail riding while we are there.
Hey Dirk,
I think I’ll bring my Prowler too, possibly join you for a short ride? Maybe some minimum maintenance roads are around trf, or something. Wont really be looking to get in a mud pit up to my headlights, but would be great to do a bit of cruising. I think the city of trf has UTV-friendly regulations.
If anybody is looking for rooms, you might want to check the 7 Clans Casino. Its just 7 miles south of TRF on Hwy 59. It has an amazing Water Park for the kids.
****
I plan on being there. Will bring the Cat Girl too.
Tom
We will look you up when we get there. Where are you staying.
Awesome can’t wait I want all the autographs I can get
I just want to say that i’ve been around cats my whole life.im fortunate enough to have grown up the son of an awesome engineer(David Beito),and have logged many many thousands of miles throughout the years and i cant wait to bring my own son to the factory tour and the rest of the events this weekend.It,s important to me to pass on to him the pure enjoyment of a product that has been such a huge part of my life.
Thank you for the sensible ciqritue. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research about this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I’m very glad to see such great information being shared freely out there.
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