ARCTIC CAT'S NEW IDEAS

January, 1975 - THIS YEAR WHEN ARCTIC CAT HITS THE TRACK, Their Cats will be full of new ideas and innovations.  And they'll get worked over by some of the most demanding drivers we know:  Larry Colton, Dave Thompson and Bob Elsner.
   As they push their Cats to the limit, our ideas get pushed to the limit, too.  Only the best survive.
   So watch Team Arctic closely this season, Because with all these ideas and innovations they've got - every time they hit the track, you're bound to come up with a winner

THE 1974 SCORPION SNOWMOBILES

    --   AUTUMN 1973  --

From Scorpion - Ten new acts guaranteed to steal the spotlight ! 

PARA-RAIL SUSPENSION
   Combines the best bogeys and slides.
QUIET POWER
   Meets low lever noise requirements.
ROCKWELL ENGINES
   Developed especially for Scorpion 
TOTALLY NEW FOR 1974
   1974 Scorpion stinger
    

ABOUT MYSELF

I would like to tell you a little more about myself.  As I've illustrated in my profile within this blog, my life has been centered around snowmobiles which includes the present time.  I was a Rupp dealer from 1969 thru it's death in 1978.  In 1980, I, along with some help made an attempt to bring Rupp Industries back into existence.  "GO HERE", To read all about this attempt.  In 1984, I moved to South Dakota and went on to expand my snowmobile parts and accessories operation by the name of SnoCat Shack and later was renamed Sport Shack, because of a legal matter.  I sold Sport Shack in 1996 and started a company by the name of Battery Shack and sold over 14,000 batteries in 10 years. "CLICK HERE", To learn more about this business.

NEW ENGINES

Snowmobile Magazine - November 1973
Kioritz Corporation of America announced new North America Marketing plans for its line of two cylinder, two-cycle gasoline engines currently used primarily by recreational vehicle manufacturers.
   Until the present time, the Kioritz engines have been sold through U.S. and Canadian distribution channels by Canadian Curtis Wright, Limited, Mississauga, Ontario, under the "CCW" emblem.
   Under the new plan, the line of engines will be sold thru the same distribution channel directly by Kioritz and with Kioritz marketing.
   At present, only the the 290 and 440 c.c. models are being marketed in North America due to there popularity as power plants for recreational vehicles.

THE 1985 KITTY CAT

Snowmobile Magazine - September/October 1984
Thief River Falls, Minnesota - Rounding out the 1985 Cat lineup is The Kitty Cat, the pint-sized snowmobile designed for kids. It's small, it's light and it's safe. But mostly, it's just plain fun.
   The small 60cc fan-cooled engine has a governor to keep top speed to a safe minimum. Reflective stripping surrounds the sled for maximum 360 degree visibility even at night.  This year's version features a windshield and the entire machine is built tough throughout to take all the abuse your youngsters can give it.

RUPP FILES CHAPTER 11

Snowmobile Dealer Magazine - March 1976
Mansfield, Ohio - Rupp Industries, Inc. has filed for protection under Chapter 11 of The Federal Bankruptcy Act.  Under chapter 11, the company continues to operate, but has court protection against creditor lawsuits while it tries to work out a plan for paying its debts.
   Rupp said it toke the action after its senior lenders filed a foreclosure action on the companies manufacturing plant in Mansfield, and toke "certain steps" toward obtaining judgement for the balance due them on Rupp's term notes.
   According to Rupp, discussions with the lenders failed to yield agreement on a plan of reorganization.  Rupp said it is now operating as a debtor in possession under Federal statues, and added that it was advised that its lenders are still willing to discuss a voluntary reorganization with the company.
   "CLICK HERE" to read all about Rupp's success and demise and why it should still be in existence !

DEERE UNVEILS NEW MACHINE

Snowmobile Dealer Magazine press release - January 1974
Moline, Illinois - John Deere has introduced a new high-performance, limited production snowmobile, the 295/S, powered by a special twin-cylinder engine rated by the company at more than 40 horse power.
   The machine features dual Mikuni slide-valve carburetors, capacitor discharge igmnition, John Deere's precision torque sensing, variable speed clutch system and tuned exhaust.  John Deere slide-suspension with three-piece, 15-inch grauser bar track is standard, as are aluminum skis with carbide wear rods.
   Additional features are complete instrumentation, shock absorbers, kill switch, energy-absorbing seat and handlebar crash pad.
   The new 295/S, John Deere's high performance snowmobile qualifies as a stock machine under the St. Paul Winter Carnival rules for the St. Paul to Winnipeg International 500 Race.

HULINGS NABS EAGLE

Snowmobile Magazine Press Release - January 1983
There were several grand experiments at Eagle River this year. Perhaps the most publicized was lengthening the Word's Championship final from 15 to 25 laps. Could sprint drivers go 25 laps and would the sleds last? You Bet. Only one of the 10 finalists failed to make the 25 laps. The checkered went to Brad Hulings with his Ski Doo, who also won in 1981.
   The other great experiment at Eagle River this year was a snocross program. What made this race work at Eagle was that there was snow to build a course with.  In exciting finals, Jim Wergin won the stock class on a Yamaha SR-V and Todd Elmer won the open class on a Polaris Indy.
   About 20,000 showed up to watch the racing action, which was about twice as many as a year ago.  The windchill was 100 degrees warmer this year compared to 1982.

THE NEW 1976 YAMAHA GS 340

Snowmobile Magazine Ad - December 1975
The All New GS 340 Reflects Yamaha Engineering Leadership - For the first time ever, Yamaha has put a powerful twin cylinder engine on a mid-sized chassis to give you amazing new performance Like its brother, The Enduro Motorcycle.  The exciting new GS 340 is a machine you can depend on.
     With wider skis to put more surface on the powder, the GS 340 gives you greater flotation, tighter cornering and easier handling.  The machine is built to take you where you want to go and bring you back.
     The GS 340's new mono-shock, (which we pioneered in motorcycles) allows the new slide rail suspension system to flex, and the new comfort designed seat gives you more cushioning. It's the perfect first machine or companion to one of the many fine Yamaha snowmobiles.
     Put one on the snow, you'll see what we mean. It's the best snowmobile buy on the market.  When You Know How They're Built, You'll Buy A Yamaha.

1971 RUPP MAGNUMS

 
 In 1971 and 1972 Rupp Industries had
its banner years with over 31,000 snowmobiles manufactured
and sold in 1971,  and over 40,000 sleds manufactured and sold in 1972.

Pictured on the right side of this page, you will see the complete line of the 1971 Rupp Magnum sleds.  The 400, 440, 600 and 800 Magnums.

I was a Rupp dealer in those days, in which I sold one of each of The 400 Magnum, 440 Magnum and a 800 Magnum.  These were beautiful sleds and hard to beat at the races.

On a spring-slushy day at the local fairgrounds, I
remember the 800 Magnum racing against four other
sleds.  This sled was a half a lap ahead of the other four
at the end of the race. As the crowd was cheering and the   driver cracked the throttle in front of the Grandstand, at
the final lap, there was a fishtail of slush about ten or fifteen
feet high.




The 400 and 440 had a twin cylinder high performance fan cooled Rupp/Tohatsu engines, the 600 had a three cylinder Free Air Rupp/Tohatsu engine and the 800 had a three cylinder Free Air Hirth engine.
All the 1971 Magnums had a slide suspension.

"CLICK HERE" TO LEARN ALL ABOUT RUPP'S HAY DAY AND
DOWNFALL.