Here’s a great response to an abrasive and misinformed email to Motorhead Mark about Supertrax and Ski-Doo.

Motorhead’s replies are in bold…

I’ve been following Supertrax for the last few seasons and quite frankly am getting quite disgusted with it. I think you should change your name from Supertrax magazine to “SKI-DOO” magazine. Supertrax is bar none the most biased magazine on the market, towards Ski-Doo.

Funny thing, the last email I opened said we were biased to Yamaha, the one before that was Polaris. I guess we’re missing out with Arctic Cat. I’ll try and be more biased toward them in the future – just so you’ll think we’re fair.

It’s pretty bad that every time I flip screens in this website the background is a Ski-Doo wallpaper.

Being as how this is a business, we actually sell that background to Ski-Doo for money – do you think we would do that because we’re Ski-Doo freaks? What time zone do you live in? Central Prehistoric?

I also notice that every time I open one of your magazines the first 3 pages are ALWAYS Ski-Doo ads.

Strange. I’ll talk to our ad sales guys about this…Maybe Ski-Doo PAID for better positioning? Hello!

…and upon reading your mag, you never have anything bad to say about Ski-Doo.

Not true, I’ve been called up to answer for stuff I’ve said negative about Ski-Doo many times. However, right now they’re #1 in the market and it’s not solely because they bought background wallpaper on our website.

Pay attention here, this will hurt – Ski-Doo is making great sleds and the rest of the industry – in one way or another -is attempting to emulate its success by integrating things like rider forward ergo’s, lightweight and low emission motors. Like I said, truth hurts.

…and now that I have rode every sled on the market, I’d take Ski-Doo last over all of them.

I assume you’re a member of the international snowmobile press? You’d better be because if you’ve already ridden all the new ones and you’re not in the media, I know a lot of people at high levels who are gonna be ticked off! Give me a break – you’ve ridden an 800 Cleanfire Polaris? A Nytro? A Renegade 600 XP?

…especially now with the XP,

How many miles did you log on an XP? We put over 1600 kms on ours – it’s still here.

I almost destroyed a chaincase on one last march on one of the pre prods, it had all kinds of spider cracks though out it and was leaking oi, which is not a good thing when you consider that the chaincase is a huge staple in the rigidity of that sled.

Ours didn’t, but having said that – the limited build 800 XP’s last year were just that – pre-production models. They were used as test mules for exposing the market to the new chassis and to validate reliability before going to full production.

By the way, how do you “almost destroy” a chaincase? It’s been my experience this is either a destroyed or not-destroyed issue.

Further more, the weights on the new Doo’s, are absolutely out to lunch. Maybe zero out the scale the way it should be zeroed and I bet they’d be closer.

So what brand are you psychotically loyal too? The new SD XP is as light and lighter than promised. You can’t change that and neither can I. Ski-Doo delivered on their promise of a 50-pound reduction across the board and the TNT is less than 400 pounds dry. You’re wrong.

Pretty bad when they wouldn’t let me sit on the sled on the scales at Snow Shoot! Open your eyes!

So you were at Snow Shoot in Grand Lake? My eyes are open.

Motorhead Mark

Press Release –

The 2nd annual OFSC Go Snowmobiling Show will take place September 26 – 28, 2008 at the Toronto Congress Centre. This announcement follows the successful launch of the new show last weekend, attended by hundreds of families and couples, and hosted by the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) in association with Canadian National Sportsmen’s Shows. Check out show photos at www.snowmobileshow.ca.

The OFSC Go Snowmobiling Show showcased the snowmobiling lifestyle to thousands of snowmobilers and those interested in trying snowmobiling. The upscale celebration stripped way all the clutter to focus on providing the key information participants need to get started and to plan their season.

“We are very proud of this first-year effort to deliver the Greater Toronto Area’s only pure snowmobiling show dedicated to recreational family snowmobiling,” said Paul Shaughnessy, OFSC executive director. “The OFSC is committed to building our show over the next several years to play a major role in attracting new participants and growing our industry.”

Show attendees and exhibitors complimented the OFSC on delivering a classy, comfortable and welcoming show that portrayed snowmobiling in a very positive and appealing way. As one exhibitor commented: “This is the kind of show that attracts affluent the baby boomers, families, cottagers and other up market, high quality consumers who traditionally don’t go to the other powersports show.”

“The OFSC is very grateful to the exhibitors who supported the home team for organized snowmobiling in Ontario by coming to our first show and demonstrating their support of our clubs and volunteers,” said OFSC President Bruce Robinson.

Many attendees were especially pleased at how easy it was to shop and compare all the 2008 models in the huge snowmobile mall that anchored the show with the impressive corporate booths of Arctic Cat, Polaris, Ski-Doo and Yahama. One attendee was heard to remark that because everything was so easy to find, this show didn’t waste his time trying to sort through unwanted, non-snowmobile distractions.

“As first year shows go, the OFSC Go Snowmobiling Show came off very well and met our expectations. Plans are already underway to take it to the next level in September, 2008,” said Denise Hayward, show manager. “We invite those companies who want to be part of the Go Snowmobiling movement to reserve your place now for next year’s show.”

Starting this Friday, Sept 28 and running through Sunday Sept 30, the new Go Snowmobiling Show opens its doors at the Toronto Congress Centre on Dixon Road at Highway 401.

This fresh and new look at snowmobiling ushers in a much needed change in the snow show business in Ontario.

The Go Snowmobiling Show is sponsored and run by the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile clubs and is the only show featuring all four snowmobile manufacturers displaying all the 2008 sleds. Don’t miss it!

Come by the Supertrax booth (#313) and shake hands with Mark and Kent Lester and the rest of the crew. Ask your technical questions face-to-face or just say hello. Also get a great “show only” subscription rate!

Also, fill out your entry card to win a brand-spanking new 2009 Polaris Shift! (click here for details)

Parking is free and it’s an easy location to get to: Toronto Congress Centre, 650 Dixon Road, Toronto, just across from the International Plaza Hotel.

For more maps, information and admission specials click on this link: snowmobileshow.ca.

Press Release –

Firefly Energy Inc. (www.fireflyenergy.com), the Peoria Illinois-based company developing an innovative carbon-graphite foam lead acid battery for commercial and military applications, said today it was named a co-winner in the energy category in 2007’s The Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Awards. Los Alamos National Laboratory was the category’s other co-winner.

The seventh annual awards competition recognizes technological breakthroughs by individuals, companies and organizations around the world in a wide range of disciplines including medicine, energy, software, hardware, the Internet, broadcasting, the environment and other categories.

In his overview, Michael Totty, a news editor for The Journal Report in San Francisco, said Firefly Energy won for developing a “power supply that replaces the heavy lead plates in vehicle batteries with a carbon-graphite foam. The result is smaller and lighter, yet can deliver as much power as more advanced and more costly technologies.”

Ed Williams, CEO of Firefly Energy, said: “It is truly a unique honor to be selected out of 800 companies as one of the co-winners of this award, and from such a prestigious sponsor as Dow Jones and Company’s The Wall Street Journal. Winning the Journal’s 2007 award is a clear reflection on the talents and ingenuity of our team and their impassioned focus on introducing greater energy storage performance, at lower costs, with greener battery technology.”

Kurt Kelley, the inventor of Firefly’s graphite foam battery technology, added that removing corrosive heavy lead grids and replacing them with graphite foam helps unleash the innate power of lead acid chemistry. “Our battery technology can rival other advanced chemistries in performance, take advantage of an existing manufacturing base, and addresses environmental concerns through the significant reduction of lead content resulting from the use of carbon-graphite foam,” he said.

Firefly Energy is currently applying the first version of its battery technology in several commercial and military markets. The company’s battery technology may also serve emerging applications such as hybrid electric vehicles, which historically haven’t been served effectively by traditional lead acid batteries due to heavy weight and poor cycle life.

Firefly Energy’s “3D” carbon-graphite foam lead acid battery, the first of several innovations from the company’s technology portfolio for lead acid batteries, uses a three dimensional high surface area foam material that unleashes the high power potential of lead acid chemistry which was impossible to achieve in the past.

The technology not only reduces the lead content– making the batteries smaller and lighter–but also enables faster, deeper and more reliable discharges and recharges, significantly extends the battery life, is more environmentally friendly and, is less expensive than lithium and nickel battery chemistries.

The carbon-graphite foam also enables a much cooler overall battery performance – a key feature considering that the corrosion rate of lead doubles for every 15 degrees the temperature rises above 70-degrees Fahrenheit.

Examples of end-use applications of the Firefly Energy technology include lawn and garden care equipment, commercial and military vehicles, and uninterruptible power supplies.

Press Release –

Winter’s arrived early in Toronto! The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) presents the OFSC Go Snowmobiling Show .

It’s a completely new snowmobiling experience for families and recreational riders, and the only fall event in Ontario where all the manufacturers will feature their 2008 models direct from the factories.

Under one roof, the OFSC brings the major snowmobile manufacturers – Arctic Cat, Polaris, Ski-Doo and Yamaha – together with snowmobile enthusiasts for an amazing event.

OFSC Go Snowmobiling Show
Toronto Congress Centre
650 Dixon Road, Toronto
Friday, September 28th to Sunday, September 30th
Friday: Noon – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Admission
Adults: $12.00
Juniors (Ages 6 to 15): $7.00
Seniors (60+): $7.00
Children (under six years): Free when accompanied by an adult
Family Pass (two adults and two juniors): $28.00

In addition to the four manufacturers in a giant snowmobile mall, retailers will highlight the latest gear and accessories at great pre-season prices.

Snowmobile clubs and associations will be well represented bringing the largest presence ever to a Toronto-area snowmobile show.

There will be something for everyone interested in the snowmobile lifestyle, including major tour operators and lodges offering visitors a choice of all the best places to stay.

Those without a snowmobile can find out where to rent a sled and even book a guided tour across some of the most spectacular terrain in Ontario. The OFSC Go Snowmobiling Show is the only Toronto show where snowmobilers may purchase the 2008 Ontario Snowmobile Trail Permit .

The Lucas Oil Sled Test Track will feature demo rides on new 2008 Yamaha snowmobiles. The sleds are slightly modified to run on pavement, so riders will get to experience the thrill of snowmobiling without the snow.

In the Open Trail Theatre , the OFSC will host a series of leading edge seminars and presentations, plus a fast-paced fashion show.

* The Ice, Fire and Fashion Show is an exciting and entertaining showcase of 2008 snowmobile gear and apparel.
* The ICEMAN Cometh. John Blaicher, one of Canada’s leading water and snowmobile safety experts, will jump into a giant tub filled with 750 lbs of ice and 250 gallons of water. John will take the plunge to demonstrate how to rescue yourself or others from a sudden immersion in frigid water.
* Go Snowmobiling 101 will focus on need-to-know information to get started in snowmobiling, including rules and regulations, where to rent, where to ride, how to dress and who to call.
* Traveling Light is a timely seminar conducted by the OFSC with information for snowmobilers on how to minimize their impact on the environment.
* Keeping Your Precious Cargo Right Side Up when Towing a Trailer is a not-to-miss session that addresses tire safety, the pre-departure safety checklist, and how to select and hook up a tow vehicle.
* Ken Avann of the Canadian Snowcross Racing Association (CSRA) will share with snowmobilers The Right Time and Right Place to Race!

Up-to-the-minute information including the Open Trail Theatre seminar schedule is at snowmobileshow.ca.