This first bit of randomness is courtesy of my Life Coach, Tom Rowland, who wrote the following about it: “I just saw this sitting near Little Falls, Minn. I think it would have great sales potential if only it had a 600 two-stroke. :)”
If I didn’t know him better, I’d suspect Tom of throwing a little sarcasm at me. Hmmm…
Either way, I think this rig might have the missing ingredient that has prevented widespread sales success for sit-in snowmobile designs like the Raider, Manta, Ski-Doo Elite and perhaps others.
On the other end of the spectrum is this, uh, ice-mobile that WAS rumored to be a 2014 model from one of the major manufacturers until Hans got out of control and landed on the ice wheel.
Speaking of rumors, it’s not true that Arctic Cat is getting into the tractor-pulling market for this year. But for those who interested in buying a sweet ZRT 800-powered unit that looks sort of like an Arctic Cat, call the number above.
Check out a short YouTube video of the tractor.
As long as we’re mixing motorsports, here are a few pix from my favorite snowmobile funny-man and crew, the Webmaster and gang HERE AT F.H.U.C.-S.T.I.C.S.
As Webmaster (aka Rodney Dragan) explains: “This is a poor-quality shot of the Frederick Willys Sno Dart that I used to pull to antique snowmobile meets years ago. If memory serves me correctly, I pulled this to Eveleth, Minnesota, Rogers City, Michigan, and St. Germain, Wis.
“Another time in the spring of 1989, I acquired a nice ’73 Panther for the low-buck price of free. It was a complete rolling chassis minus engine. At the time I had nowhere to go with it, so I gave it to a friend (Wally Rasmussen) who was operating a snowmobile salvage yard west of Fon du lac, Wis. So naturally instead of pulling it behind my pickup, I put it on my Chinese-built Menard’s kit trailer and dragged it behind my motorcycle. If I remember correctly, there were more than a few lookers on the 45 mile trip from Sheboygan to Fon du lac.”
There are many reasons to hold Webmaster at an arm’s-length, but we should celebrate his father’s ability to decorate and old refrigerator.
Photos like this from the PICTURE OF THE DAY are why I get my daily dose of humor from the f.h.u.c.-s.t.i.c.s. crew.
This sweet fleet of Arctic Cat el Tigres belongs to Team Arctic’s Aaron Scheele, who snapped these photos last winter in Thief River Falls during a vintage rendezvous with friend (and Arctic Cat Product Manager) Joey Hallstrom.
The 1970s el Tigres have inspired many cool retro graphics applications, like this sweet example from Monte Steeves, who writes:
“I have ridden Arctic Cat since my father purchased me a Lynx 2000 in 1978. That same year he purchased an El Tigre 6000. Since then we have owned and ridden every top-end Arctic Cat snowmobile made. Of all of them, the one that always turned my head with excitement was the 78 El Tigre 6000. That sound, the speed! It was the first of its kind. The first real Hypersled.
So when I purchased my latest in a long line of Cats I was so happy with it I decided to do something about the look. The 2012’s have a retro kit and I thought it only fair I do one up for the 2010 turbo.
The only way to make the el Tigre stripe fit was to use the 79′ style but I kept the 78′ color scheme. The boys at DACA graphics even made it run through the intake vents. I reprinted the exact 6000 series sticker on the running board and borrowed the pinstripe around the hood from the ‘81 model. I was even going to put “Free Air” next to the intercooler intake but that would not have been true to the 6000 series.”
Awesome!
More awesomeness comes from my favorite builder of sleeper-sleds, John Anderson. When he isn’t operating an engine dyno at Arctic Cat, Anderson collects vintage sleds and builds wicked sleepers LIKE THIS.
Starting with an Arctic Cat Jag AFS, Anderson shoe-horned in a 530cc liquid twin from an EXT. Pumping out 92-hp to the Jag’s short chassis/track, this baby “aims the headlight on the second-story of the house next door if I grab a handfull of throttle!” according to John.
Another guy going for the second story is Michael Baker, shown above busting air in the Snowy Mountains in Centennial, Wyoming.
Besides catching big air, Baker is the Arctic Cat Service Rep for the U.S. East Region.
This sign is on Hwy. 169 near Grand Rapids, Minn., and, even though some knucklehead threw a milkshake at it, it brings a big smile to my face. Because of who it’s in memory of, and because I know Rich. Thanks for keeping CJ’s memory alive, Rich and Shelby!
Okay, just one trivia question for today: Describe the historical significance of the above photo.
Okay, another question: Describe the significance of what Tucker Hibbert is doing in the above shot.
That’s all for today, thanks for reading.
“I have ridden Arctic Cat since my father purchased me a Lynx 2000 in 1978. That same year he purchased an El Tigre 6000. Since then we have owned and ridden every top-end Arctic Cat snowmobile made. Of all of them, the one that always turned my head with excitement was the 78 El Tigre 6000. That sound, the speed! It was the first of its kind. The first real Hypersled.
So when I purchased my latest in a long line of Cats I was so happy with it I decided to do something about the look. The 2012's have a retro kit and I thought it only fair I do one up for the 2010 turbo.
The only way to make the el Tigre stripe fit was to use the 79' style but I kept the 78' color scheme. The boys at DACA graphics even made it run through the intake vents. I reprinted the exact 6000 series sticker on the running board and borrowed the pinstripe around the hood from the ‘81 model. I was even going to put "Free Air" next to the intercooler intake but that would not have been true to the 6000 series.”
1) I believe this is the sled Tucker won in Europe with this past season. A sled that he did not run with his infamous #68 but instead the number 3.
2) tucker has given up snowmobile racing to begin a career in Planking.
Bottom photo is Tucker lyin’ on a lion.
It’s a pleasure to find such raiaintloty in an answer. Welcome to the debate.