Pix from the 2015 Country Cat Open House

Last Saturday, roughly 1000 people came to Country Cat in Sauk Centre, Minn., for their annual Arctic Cat Open House event. With temps in the 60s and beautiful sunshine, it was a perfect day for hanging out with old and new friends.

When I say friends, I mean it. Case in point: this motley crew consisting of (L-to-R) Scott Eilertson (Arctic Cat sales rep) and collectors Nancy, Brianna and Tom Ische.

It’s always good to catch up with these guys, lots of laughs about various adventures.

There were a lot of people who came from a LONG way to experience this open house. Tom Steiner drove the 250 miles from Park Falls, Wis. Tom is super active in snowmobiling and a longtime Arctic Cat rider. It was good to chat with him.

I was going to catch up with Team Arctic snocross star Logan Christian, but he was too busy shoving food into his gullet. At least he gave a tour of the big race hauler (and cool swag) to all the other interested people.

Country Cat had all kinds of Arctic Cat toys on display. And WOW were there people there checking out the stuff!

Lots of deals to be had.

The atmosphere inside was buzzing. When you can sit on pretty much every single 2016 Arctic Cat product, plus see/touch/try every available gear or clothing item, it puts you in the mood for snowmobiling and ATV riding.

I’ll let the next handful of pix speak for themselves, as they capture the essence of what anticipation and excitement are all about.

PJ Wanderscheid (green shirt, pointing) was giving tours of the entire Country Cat facility. Here he was giving a little background info on a few of the historic sleds they have on display.

Brothers Mike (L) and Rick Mattson are two Country Cat Open House regulars who I’ve enjoyed talking with over the years. We hatched a plan for a day of riding the Crow Wing River this winter.

Those kinds of conversations are what draws me to events like this.

It wouldn’t be a true Open House event without a free lunch. Helping fill the plates was none other than Mary Lou, the matriarch of the Wanderscheid family.

Some of PJ’s race jackets were on display.

Outside it was new sleds and old, as this even has hosted a vintage show for the past several years.

Here are a few of the Ische family collection.

Five Arctic Cats that span a wonderful decade beginning in the mid-1980s.

It was good chatting with collector Kevin Lehse, who showed me something new about the famed Arctic Cat Model 100: the intentional design that allowed for it to store upright as a space-saving measure.

Cool!

Kevin also had his custom fabricated model Model 100. Yep, a model Model 100.

Vintage Snowmobile Club of America (VSCA) President Mike Meager (L) awards the People’s Choice award to Rob Grover of Grand Rapids, Minn., who brought a honey 1972 Arctic Cat Cheetah with sweet purple accents.

A perfect event for a perfect autumn day.

Thanks for reading.