Van Strydonk Wins World Championship With Last Lap Pass
January 22, 2012
Just when it seemed the Eagle River World Championship snowmobile race couldn’t get any better, Nick Van Strydonk used a dramatic pass in the last corner to win his first title on the famed Derby Track in Eagle River, Wisconsin. Van Strydonk beat 2010 World Champion Matt Schulz to the waving checkered flag by a ski length. The margin of victory was 0.025 second.
Nick Van Strydonk won his first Eagle River World Championship
. The late move by the 21-year-old from Tomahawk, Wisconsin, came in a 30-lap race that featured an incredible series of twists and turns. At various points during the race, it looked like any one of five drivers could win the race – for most of the event, those five ran within a half-straight of each other.
. Crashes, red flags, restarts and changing track conditions had a major influence on the race, but in the end, Van Strydonk was the deserving winner and will have his name written into immortality when it’s engraved on the Snow Goer Cup.
An Ever-Changing Race
The 49th annual Amsoil World Championship was held on a rough and grooved track under murky skies, with a slight mist in the air. Thousands of people watched in anticipation after the most competitive qualifying process in years – going in, there was no pre-race favorite; instead, most longtime observers agreed that seven of the 12 drivers who qualified for the final were virtually even.
Matt Schulz led until the last couple hundred yards and came up a ski-length short of winning his second title.
. On green, Schulz of nearby Wausau, Wisconsin, launched into the lead on his No. 38 Ski-Doo, with pole sitter Brandon Johnson of Greenbush, Minnesota, snapping at his heels on his Wahl Bros. Polaris. Right behind him was Van Strydonk – the fastest qualifier in time trials, and then Travis MacDonald and defending and four-time champ P.J. Wanderscheid.
Tremblay Claims Entertaining ISOC Canterbury Snocross
January 6, 2012
In one of the most entertaining final races in years, Quebec’s Tim Tremblay overcame a dogfight with three other top competitors to win Friday night’s Pro Open final at the Traxxis-sponsored Canterbury National in Shakopee, Minnesota.
. Before that, however, Tremblay’s main fight this week was with customs agents that almost prevented his appearance at the race – more on that later.
. On an unseasonably warm and windy night, 15 top pros worked their way into the final after two rounds of heat, followed by a last chance qualifier for some competitors.
. The top qualifier was Wisconsin-based Polaris racer Ross Martin, and the season points leader showed his strength right away after the green flag waved, jumping out to an early lead while many sleds traded paint behind him.
. After an initial shuffle, Amsoil Schuering Speed Sports teammates Robbie Malinoski and Darren Mees slotted in at second and third, with Cat racers Dan Ebert and Tucker Hibbert fourth and fifth. Then came Mathieu Morin, Tremblay, Garth Kaufman, recent jump record setter Levi LaVallee and Mike Bauer.
. Four laps into the race, Malinoski started pressuring Martin. The two traded paint a couple of times, with Malinoski running into the back of Martin on one lap, then Martin forcing Malinoski over the burm in the same turn four a lap later. The two ran probably 8 laps never more than 8 sled-lengths apart.
Fresh Powder At Lake Gogebic
January 5, 2012
Better late than never? Well sure – any snowmobile ride is a great day spent outside, even if it happens a solid month after I had originally hoped to be riding.
. On New Year’s Day, instead of sitting at our respective homes watching football , digesting food and grumbling about the mild weather close to Minneapolis, Associate Editor Tom Kaiser and I loaded up sleds, jumped in the truck and pointed it toward Michigan’s U.P. with two brand-spanking-new snowmobiles in the trailer. We experienced some of the worst winter driving conditions I’ve experienced in several years (including one extended stretch of white-out, near zero visibility, where we could feel rumble strips beneath the tires, but couldn’t tell if we were in the center or at either edge of the road). By the time we got to the homey cabin we rented on the western shores of Lake Gogebic, we were each both wired and tir
We were living the dream on the south side of Lake Gogebic.
ed at the same time. Overnight, the wind continued to whip and snow continued to fall – I don’t know if the poorly insulated cabin ever got above 55 degrees.
. Monday morning we were greeted by still powerful winds and what most folks would consider miserable weather. There was a lot of fresh snow, however, so there was no holding back.
. We pulled our 2012 Polaris 600 Rush and Yamaha RS Vector out of the trailer and hit the trails, dropping south on weaving Trail 1, then transitioning on East 100 before catching one of my favorite trails on earth – No. 13 on the east side of Gogebic, and working our way north.
. This was true “riding in a postcard” conditions. The trails were neon white with all of the fresh snow (maybe 8 new inches?) and every single branch and every tree held some of the powder as well. It seemed like life couldn’t get any better by the time we worked our way up to the north side of the lake for a late breakfast in Bergland with about 45 miles under our drive belts.
. Soon we were proven wrong, however. Kaiser had never been to the Lake Of The Clouds lookout in the Porcupines, so I said, “Follow me, I know the way.” We quickly cleared the greater Bergland area and hooked up with Trail 102 for some of the best Upper Midwestern trail riding I’d done in awhile. The tracks indicated that just two sleds had beaten us to the fresh powder on this trail, which I’d say easily topped 10 inches. With attacked it with spirit, but rarely needed to use the brake. You see, the riders before us appeared to cut to the inside of every corner (which is scary – I’m glad we didn’t meet them!), but it left a lot of powder still on the trail on the outside of left turns. Letting the sled drift out there, snow literally came over the hood in many turns and notably slowed the sleds – it was a blast.
. The groomer beat us to the high-speed, super-wide Trail 11, and we made fast time north. Snow started getting more thin as we got close to Lake Superior, however.
Lake Superior on a blustery winter day
. When the famed lake the Native Americans called Kitchi-Gummi came into focus, it was thrilling. Huge white-capped waves rose, fell and crashed on the shoreline while near hurricane-force winds tugged at our jackets. We took it in for a few minutes, then took the climb up to the always-spectacular Lake Of The Clouds overlook. With snow falling and low clouds, we couldn’t see as far as usual, but the big rocky cliffs were still beautiful, as were
t
he lake and river far below.
. After fueling up in White Pine, we headed back toward Gogebic. Back at the truck by mid afternoon, it was time to load up and head for home. In all, we burned 133 miles on each of the sleds, about 600 miles on the
tow vehicle and made it home 28 hours after we left. To non-enthusiasts, that may seem like a lot of hours in the truck for one day of riding, but it was worth every mile.
Even on a cloudy day, Lake Of The Clouds doesn't disappoint.
. If you haven’t gotten out riding yet this year, take a serious look at a map and find the nearest snow – you’ll be happy you did.
Hibbert Wins Sunday ISOC Final
December 11, 2011
Tucker Hibbert apparently didn’t want to leave any questions unanswered on Sunday afternoon in Michigan.
. After starting slowly and staging dramatic charges in both finals in rounds 1 and 2 in Duluth, Minnesota, last weekend, and then giving up the lead due to a mechanical problem Saturday in round 3 in Michigan, Hibbert got the early lead and absolutely checked out in Sunday’s Pro Open final at the ISOC Amsoil Championship Series Blackjack National.
. With the victory, the winningest driver in snocross history has slotted himself firmly in second place in the season point and, more importantly, served notice to all who may have thought his run was over with a dominating performance.
. Hibbert won both of his heat races on his Monster Energy/Speedwerx/Stud Boy Arctic Cat and went into the final as the No. 1 qualifier. That allowed him to choose his starting position in the final, and he didn’t waste the opportunity. He was one of a pack of sleds that launched into the first kink, but then his sled power surged ahead and climbed the hill much faster than his competition. Coming down the hill the first time, he already had a 5-sled-length lead on points leader Ross Martin’s Dupont-backed Polaris, with Tim Tremblay third on his Warnert Ski-Doo, Emil Ohman fourth on another Ski-Doo and then Robbie Malinoski and his Polaris fifth. [Read more]
The Evolving State of Powersports Design
August 24, 2011
For me, suspension performance, acceleration, engine character (sound, vibration, harshness) and driver comfort are the most important qualities in a new off-road vehicle, but I’ve got to admit: I’m a sucker for good design. Sometimes it’s the little things like the type of headlight bulb used, a textured material in just the right place or a pleasing selection of color choices that accentuates a machine’s lines.
2012 Snowmobile Sneak Peek Tour Info: See The New Iron For Yourself!
March 22, 2011
Would you like to see the exotic new Arctic Cat chassis in person? Want to grab a glance at Polaris’ trend-setting Switchback Adventure? Do you need to touch Ski-Doo’s new rMotion skid frame to fully grasp how it functions? Maybe you want proof that power steering really did make its way deeper into Yamaha’s lineup?
Or maybe, just maybe, you’re looking for a way to extend your passion after a snowy winter, and hanging out with other snowmobilers while checking out fresh iron seems like a better way than staring out the window and watching the spring rains?
Whether you choose one of these excuses or make one of your own, the spring snowmobile tours featuring the 2012 snowmobiles from the four major manufacturers are in full swing, with trucks full of new sleds and fancy displays crisscrossing the country.
Remembering Edgar: Another Insiders View
March 11, 2011
A lot has been written and said about Edgar Hetteen in the wake of his passing. The “grandfather of snowmobiling” started both Arctic Cat and Polaris, and for that he is fondly remembered, but many people don’t recall the role he played in lifting the entire snowmobile industry, not just those two companies.
This reminder is offered by Richard Harrison, the founder of Trail-A-Sled and thus Scorpion Snowmobiles. It was forwarded to me by his son, Randy. It’s worth the read:
Edgar, thank you!
The recent passing of snowmobile icon Edgar Hetteen caused me to pause and reflect upon his contributions not just to snowmobiling in general, but to Trail-A-Sled, Inc. specifically.
In 1959, Glen Gutzman, my father and I started a fiberglass fabrication business, specializing in motorized air-sleds. We named it Trail-A-Sled. By the early 1960’s, Trail-A-Sled had a significant business relationship with Polaris Industries. We fabricated numerous fiberglass parts and had entered into a joint marketing agreement for our two-passenger air-sled design.
In this 2008 image, Edgar Hetteen (right) is joined by Scorpion co-founder Richard Harrison (left) and Dave Guenther (center) of the Antique Snowmobile Club of America.
Consequently, on numerous trips to Roseau I grew to know Edgar’s brother Allan quite well. By this time, Edgar had moved on to Thief River Falls, doing Lord knows what at the time. In the years that followed however, it became apparent that Edgar’s Arctic Cats were a substantive force in the burgeoning snowmobile industry.
As Trail-A-Sled itself entered the snowmobile craze, both Polaris Industries and Arctic Cat became rivals, but we shared a common bond, together building an entirely new industry. It was a bumpy ride and the future success, which is now so obvious, was at that juncture far from certain.
For Trail-A-Sled, our lowest moment came in November of 1967 when our flagship manufacturing facility was lost to a resin-fueled inferno that overnight, seemingly ruined our dreams forever. We at Trail-A-Sled and the community of Crosby, Minnesota were devastated. We’d lost everything, our books and records, parts and inventory, carburetors – the entire assembly line. It was the height of the manufacturing season and even if we could restart production, we lacked the critical assembly components to build a sled worth buying.
However, in that moment, aid came from the most unusual of quarters. Despite being rivals, and depleting his own inventory, Edgar hurriedly provided us with a 500-piece shipment of highly valued Tillotson carburetors. At the time, Tillotsons in any number were nearly impossible to come-by. With his aid, and others, we were within days able to fashion a make-shift assembly line and begin slowly turning-out Scorpions once again – with Arctic Cat supplied carburetors of all things!
At a time when a rival was on the ropes, Edgar was there for us, just like he was for so many others in this business.
In the years that followed, snowmobiling was good to us at Trail-A-Sled. We were proud that our Scorpion product line was competing head-to-head with the likes of Polaris Industries and Arctic Cat but there was always a common bond between us, and that was of love for the sport and the need to nurture it beyond its infancy to a sustainable, accepted mode of winter-time transportation and fun. This included the appropriate trails, regulations, and community and governmental support. In this, Edgar was our common champion, our figurehead. His tireless advocacy of snowmobiling benefited everyone, not just Arctic Cat.
I left the snowmobile business in 1970 and through the years lost touch with Edgar, and many of those early pioneers. However, in recent years I’ve become involved with the wonderful people leading the antique and vintage snowmobile renewal and through this association, was grateful to once again shake Edgar’s hand on several occasions. I learned of the Christian faith we share, his generosity, and the unwavering love of his beloved Hannah.
I was also able, some 40 years hence, to once again thank him for those Tillotsons. I regret now that we didn’t spend more time reminiscing about those wonderful days. Something tells me that in due time, we’ll get a second chance.
- Richard E. Harrison, co-founder Trail-A-Sled, Inc., Scorpion Snowmobiles
Pioneer, Inventor and Ambassador Edgar Hetteen Passes
February 14, 2011
Historians will remember Edgar Hetteen as the man who started Polaris and Arctic Cat and made historic journeys to prove the capabilities of the snowmobile. Those who knew him well will remember his sharp mind, determined nature, passion for snowmobiling and amazing story-telling abilities.
Edgar Hetteen on one of the first Polaris snowmobiles.
Hetteen died on Saturday, February 12, 2011, in a nursing home in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, at the age of 90.
Hetteen’s trail to greatness in the snowmobile industry began in 1944, when he opened his first business – called Hetteen Hoist and Derrick – after returning from World War II. It was a company based on invention – starting with a hoist used to place electrical pole and followed up with sprayers, choppers and other farm equipment. The company’s name would change to Polaris in the mid 1950s.
Though Hetteen is often credited with inventing the Polaris snowmobile at roughly the same time that J. Armand Bombardier was working up his Ski-Doo line, the company’s first sled was actually pieced together by business partner David Johnson while Hetteen was out of town in January of 1956. Edgar’s response? “Anger isn’t the proper word to describe my emotions, but I certainly was miffed at my longtime friend,” Hetteen was quoted as saying years later. “Why was David wasting his time like this? Our factory builds farm equipment.”
But soon Edgar and his brother Allan Hetteen were hooked, and worked to improve the original Sno Traveler. And, in 1960, he embarked on a 1,200-mile, cross-Alaskan adventure to document the cross-snow capabilities of the machines. But, to hear Edgar tell the story, instead of being accepted as a conquering hero upon his return, the Polaris board of directors questioned why the company president went on such a junket. The dispute led Hetteen to leave the company that summer, and eventually to start Arctic Cat down the road in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, in 1961. He would sell Arctic Cat to Lowell Swenson in 1965.
This image of Edgar was taken when he was inducted into the International Snowmobile Hall Of Fame.
“For all of the success, a funny thing was happening to me,” he wrote in his 1998 autobiography, Breaking Trail. “As a company prospers, an entrepreneur has to transform and grow with it in stature and knowledge and sophistication. I didn’t particularly like that. As I examine my past, I was much happier when we were struggling and things were rough than when we started to boom and I had to wear a suit to board of directors meetings.”
Big East Blog: A Friday Night Madhouse!
October 1, 2010
A sure sign of brisk sales… we were 90 minutes into the 17th annual Big East Snowmobile Show here in Syracuse, New York, when we ran out of one-dollar bills. We thought starting out with a cool 50 would be a good, but our special rate here at the show is an odd number, and everybody is paying with larger bills!
The lineup to enter the show
The show has begun, and the pace is brisk. Some folks have stopped by the booth with compliments – others with complaints, but that all goes with the territory.
So who’s here this year as far as vendors? Well, you’ve got the big four manufacturers, obviously. If you want to see all of the 2011 sleds in one place, this is it. The ski industry is very well represented here this year – including the pioneer (USI), a strong local challenger (Curve Industries), a longtime player whose primary focus is other performance parts (Starting Line Products) and a complete newcomer (Split Rail).
There are a lot of performance guys here as well. Rich Daly from Dyno Port and Bender Racing stopped by our booth with some stories of his recent racing exploits, while one of the principals of the aforementioned Starting Line Products had a bit of trouble getting here – including an unscheduled night in a rough neighborhood in New York City. He’s here now – along with a couple of really hot sleds in their booth. Bikeman Performance came all the way from Wisconsin with some hot items as well – and we’re not just talking about Dani Medin – the model in Snow Goer’s SpeedGear department this year!
Klim debutted a brand new, high-end booth at Syracuse today.
The early talk among the vendors is all about Klim. The premium outerwear giant has a monstrous, high-end booth designed by a company out of Las Vegas. The booth was put together for the first time ever for this show, and it looks better than the Polaris booth here.
Check back often this weekend – we’ll have updates frequently, including information on new products we spy here at the show. And, if you’re in the area, c’mon over to the OnCenter – it’s a really good time!
IWA Returns to Hill City, and Wins my Heart
August 4, 2010
The first thing I learned about journalism is that it is the responsibility of the author to report on topics in an unbiased manner. In the few years that I have been reporting on snowmobile races, I have lived by that principle and for the most part, kept my opinions out of my stories. That being said it has come time that I make an exception to that rule in saying that watercross is by and far one of the most spectacular yet underrated forms of snowmobile racing. I’ve spent the entire season with the International Watercross Association but it wasn’t until the race at the Quadna Resort in Hill City, Minnesota that I completely realized how fantastic both the sport of watercross racing and its community truly is.