Saturday, April 19, 2014

ARCTCO'S NUMBER ONE CAT

August 1, 1983 - Arctco Celebrates As Number One Cat Rolls Off The Line
Full throttle would best describe the excitement at Arctco on August 1, the assembly line was humming along right on schedule and the first 1984 Panther was wrapped in ribbon and ready for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
   State and local officials joined the Artco workers and board members for the ceremony.  Well wishers numbered 300 including distributors, dealers, stockholders, representatives of  state snowmobile associations, vendors and consumers.
   The entire event was recorded by TV, radio, newspapers and the snowmobile press.

Friday, April 18, 2014

ROLL-O-FLEX IS LIQUIDATED

Regina, Sask. - Press Release - May, 1974
The assests of Roll-O-Flex, Ltd., manufacturer's of Roll-O-Flex and Wild-One snowmobiles, has been liquidated.
   According to the court as receiver on behalf of secured creditors, the company had proposed a payment of 20% of its debts in January. However, when it couldn't make that first payment, the creditors committee decided to liquidate the assets and held an auction at The Regina plant April 19th.  Formal application for bankruptcy will be made shortly.
   The entire inventory, including 1,100 snowmobiles, were sold to various buyers at the auction and pre-sale.negotiation.
   Roll-O-Flex was founded in 1969 and produced 2,600 snowmobiles for the 1973 and 74 seasion.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

1986 SKI-DOO FORMULA SP

October 1985 - Ad:  The Formula SP is light in just the right places - light as a cloud on snow, lightweight, light, bright white, and most imortantly light in price. As a matter of fact, the only thing that's not light about it is the power.
   The full instrumentation Formula SP outwits moguls on its dual rate shock rear suspension with eight inches of travel.  It negotiates trails on a 16 1/2 inch track propelled by 462.8 cm of liquid-cooled Rotary Valve Rotax might.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

THE INAUGURAL SNOWMOBILE HILLCROSS

The Inaugural Lead-Deadwood Hillcross snowmobile races were set for Saturday, April 12, 2014.  It was held at Ski Mystic at Deer Mountain near Lead, South Dakota, within the Black Hills of South Dakota.
   The event was fun filled and a combination snocross and hill climb for snowmobile racers.  Contestants raced as a class on a course that begin at the bottom of  a mountain, through a section of jumps, twists and turns followed by a steep incline for the last third of the course to the finish line at the top of Racer's Cliff.
   Classes were set for amateur and pro level riders, including 600cc, 800cc and open classes for stock, improved and modified sleds.  There was also a womens class as well.  A $2,000. purse was offered in the pro classes with prizes also in the amateur classes.
   This is something that hasn't been done in this area before.  The event was challenging and fun, and could lead to something big.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

MINNESOTA CUP DRAG RACES

HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 13, 1981 - All of Minnesota's snowmobile enthusiasts were either in Blaine, Minnesota for The Sno-Barons Hay Day Grass Drags - or in Jordan for The Northwest Trails, 5th Annual Carnival Picnic!
   With a crowd count of over 5,000, the 15th annual Hay Day Race began behind Wyatt Brothers in Blaine with a parade of beauties, of Queens from varies communities - all riding in open convertibles.
   A traveling trophy (total high points for the day) went home with Larry Faist, Freeport, Ill.  Fastest time of the day was awarded to Perry Schlueter, Dakota, Ill.

Monday, April 14, 2014

1977 PROFESSIONAL RACING PREVIEW

December 1976 - Arctic Cats Preview
In 1976, Team Arctic was out there kicking it and taking names. And it it intends to do the same in 1977 with the stable of veterans - Larry Colton, Dave Thompson and Bob Elsner.  In 1976 the crew was so successful that it captured an amazing 50 per cent of the top three places of every event they entered.  They'll do it again in 1977 on those liquid cooled, Spirit-powered black beauties. Independent Cat Racers will be glad to know that Charlie Lofton will again be out there at the track with the driver support van.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

RUPP COMPLETE '76 MODEL TEST

April 1975 - Mansfield, Ohio - To complete the new line of 1976 Rupp snowmobiles, Rupp Industries has recently completed an independent, cooperative testing program in conjunction with a group of snowmobile racers and engineers.  Throughout the program, the company tested modifications planned for the new line of snowmobiles with regard to quality control data, durability, suspensions and drive systems.
   Engineering of liquid cooled engines received particular emphasis during the testing.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

BIGGER CARBS FOR MORE PERFORMANCE

September 1988 - Bigger Carbs, Carb Kits Are TheNext Step Up.
While pipes are usually considered the first stage of performance products for an engine, carburetors are  often souped up next.  "Bigger carbs, especially flat slide carbs, would probably be next," Aaen said. "They'll give you better acceleration, pick up and fuel mileage."
   Performance shops will either overbore the carbs that came on a sled after you send them in, or they'll sell you bigger carbs or a carb kit you can install to make your engine more of a fire breather.
   Again, as with tuned pipes or mod work like cylinder porting, the shops will give the customer as much information as possible when selling him carbs.
   "We cover as much stuff with them on the phone as we can, and once they get the products, they get alot of information on installation and tuning.

Friday, April 11, 2014

THE NEW 1985 ARCTIC CAT COUGAR

The AFS Cat is the first major design Introduction from "The New Arcric Cat"...and it was a surefooted knockout.
  Among key designs for the Cougar was the front- mounted engine.  They moved the motor off the tunnel, shifting the weight down and forward to create snowmobiling's first major handling improvement. With this improvement, it was natural to expect to see an Arctic Cat in the center ring of snowmobiles.
   Amoung the standard features, it has a 500cc fan cooled twin engine, 5700 RPM ahift, oil minjection and mechanical disc brakes.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

THE NEW 1975 POLARIS TX SERIES

May 1974 - Polaris Ad
The most popular high performance sled on the market today! Designed for the experienced, discerning snowmobiler who knows what he wants in quality and performance.
   Four race-bred TX models are available for 1975:  with 250cc, 335cc, and 432cc with free-air SuperStar engines, and the 500cc three cylinder free-air SuperStar engine.