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.
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.
Sled Racer Gets Hall O’ Fame Recognition
May 31, 2011
It’s not often that “one of us” from the snowmobiling world gets mainstream recognition from a community hall of fame, so when it does, it’s cause for celebration.
Therefore, let’s all give three loud cheers (or at least publical recognition) for the accomplishments of former oval and ice drag racer Gord MacDonald. Last week, MacDonald was inducted in the Cape Breton Sport Heritage Hall of Fame in his native Nova Scotia.
An article in the Cape Breton Post brushes over the edge of some of MacDonald’s accomplishments racing sleds. [Read more]
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.
Over The River & Through The Woods
January 5, 2011
I was really feeling the holiday spirit this year, and it likely had something to do with the heaps of snow dropped on the Upper Midwest during December. While I grew up in northern Wisconsin’s snowy Northwoods, I’ve lived in Minneapolis for the last 10 years. I have never seen so much snow up here, and it wasn’t even Christmas!
I decided there was only one way to handle this turn of events; I cleared my schedule, took some vacation time between the holidays and loaded up a pair of snowmobiles for an extended holiday with friends and family in northern Wisconsin — and I was hoping to rack up as many trail miles as possible.
Driving up from the Twin Cities, the snow levels lessened as the miles added up. My hometown of Park Falls, Wisconsin, had about half the snow of my yard in Minneapolis. It was unusual, but the ditches were full and it looked like trail conditions were close to ideal.
Pulling in to my parents’ house out in the country, I played with the dogs while unloading the trailer and planning my upcoming riding. The goal? Revisiting the snowmobile trips of my childhood.
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.
Maki Becomes World Champ, Times Two
July 21, 2010
2010 World Champions
When I think of the Grantsburg World Championship Watercross Race, I think of my most favorite weekend of the year, blazing hot sun, delicious lemonade and the street dances that I love so much. After this years 34th Annual World Championship Race I’ve added one more thing, or should I say person, to that list. Chad Maki.
McCurdy, Jr. Ends Bad Luck Streak in Ely, Minnesota Watercross
July 2, 2010
The International Watercross Associations race in Ely, Minnesota over the weekend of June 26, 2010 marked the end of a bad luck streak for one driver and may have started the beginning of a good one for many more.
IWA Kicks-Off 2010 Season
June 9, 2010
The International Watercross Association kicked off their 2010 race season June 6-7 in Moose Lake, MN. The Moose Lake Grand Prix debuted two new sponsors, new drivers and some of the fastest racing you’ll see on water.
Ski-Doo unveils new 2011 race sled
April 16, 2010
In a surprise announcement, Ski-Doo today released details on its 2011 race sled — a full five months earlier than normal. We’ll let you know more as we learn more, but for now, here’s the press release:
Valcourt, Quebec: April 15, 2010 – BRP is introducing the 2011 Ski-Doo MXZx 600RS earlier than past years to make it clear the machine has significant changes to benefit its racers. The two biggest changes are the addition of more horsepower to the engine and a completely new rear suspension.
Despite the success seen on the 2010 race sled – like Tim Tremblay taking the ISOC Pro Stock National Sno-Cross series title, Lee Butler winning Pro Stock in CSRA, plus multiple wins and championships in Semi-Pro and Sport classes across all venues – the Engineering team in Valcourt has stepped up with big time improvements for 2011. “In racing you never stop developing your product, and because winning is part of our heritage at BRP, you can expect that we would continue to improve the MXZ race sled to be much better than last year” stated Denis Morin Vice President of Engineering for BRP. “The changes will provide better starts and more speed along with a very controlled ride tailored specifically for race conditions.”
The MXZx 600RS engine will come with new cylinders and a new combustion chamber shape to significantly improve power at all RPM’s. Racers will see better acceleration, stronger mid range response and more top end power as a result of these changes – which leads directly to better holeshots and better pull out of the turns. The clutch calibration has changed substantially to make sure the extra power is delivered to the track, along with quick back shifting and instant throttle response.
The rear suspension is completely new this year – dubbed PCX – this new skid frame is intended for race use only. The PCX features a stronger re-designed coupling system, new shock motion ratio geometry and the built in durability a racer demands. In addition to taking the big hits of jumps and bumps, the PCX will deliver better cornering and better holeshots by controlling the chassis pitch more thoroughly throughout the travel, along with improving the sled’s cross country capability.