Will Arctic Cat debut a new F-Chassis based racing platform this year? We’re not sure at this writing, but we suspect Arctic Cat will be content to race its current 13.5 Firecat based Sno-Pro until the end of the 2007 racing season.
With the move to 600cc stock racers inevitable for 2008, we think Cat’s highly developed, reliable and competitive 440 Sno-Pro will stay in place until a new 600cc powered F-chassis appears for the 2008 season.
We’ve been asking ourselves this question a lot lately in light of the introduction of more 4-stroke sleds.
Everyone around the Supertrax office gets positively horny at the sound of the 3-cylinder Vector and the 4-cylinder Apex. In fact, we’re prepared to give the title, “National Anthem of Snowmobiling”, formerly held by the legendary XLT, to the Yamaha Apex.
The sound is addictive and produces unlimited goose bumps at 10,800 RPM. Add to these two orchestral sleds the symphonic melody produced by the new Phazer at full whack and it appears Yamaha is winning hearts with pleasing noises.
Participate in our current poll on snowmobile auditory experience. Let us know what you think and how the sound of a snowmobile affects you. We’ll pass on the results to the manufacturers and let them hear (cough) your thoughts.
Scroll down the page to vote.
Our last poll asked you which 2007 snowmobile would you buy this year. Out of almost 700 votes, the results were as follows:
32.40% – Yamaha Phazer (221 votes)
25.22% – Ski-Doo MX-Z X-RS (172 votes)
18.48% – Polaris Dragon (126 votes)
16.42% – Arctic Cat F-1000 (112 votes)
06.74% – Arctic Cat Jaguar (46 votes)
00.73% – Ski-Doo Legend 4-Stroke (5 votes)
Scrol down the page and take part in our “Auditory Survey” as promised in the pages of Supertrax.
Question:
What noise factors would make you choose NOT to buy a specific snowmobile?
Press Release –
Cyphernetix / ODD LABS Media Group announced the launch of the NEW Hi-Performance Engineering website, online at www.hiperf.com. Many within the Snowmobile and ATV Industry are well aware of the products and services offered by Hi-Performance Engineering, but may have over looked its website. That won’t be the case any more…
Cyphernetix / ODD Labs has developed a new graphical interface for the Hi-Performance website with a unique blend of style and practical elements. It looks good and is easy to use. The site features a dynamic contrast of colors and graphics, and easy navigation and entry to some other Hi-Performance features that were already in place – such as its online catalog for Snowmobile and ATV Parts.
The website was designed out of a necessity to convey the appropriate image for the company. Many companies fail to see this importance and the connection between a company image and its reputation. All would agree that reputation has an invariable impact on sales! With the redevelopment of the Hi-Performance Engineering website, Rod Murray – President of Cyphernetix and ODD Labs Media Group – beleives that it is a positive step for a very positive company, “In our dealings with Hi-Performance management and staff, we’ve been overwhelmed with the companies solid commitment to all of those with whom they do business. We feel that our design for the NEW Hi-Performance Engineering website will better represent their professionalism to the masses”.
Cyphernetix has made a name for itself as a superior quality web and graphics provider that has impressed many within the Snowmobile and ATV Industry. Cyphernetix been involved in the development Supertrax International (www.supertraxmag.com), All-Terrain Vehicle Magazine (www.atvmag.com), Superclamp.net (www.superclamp.net), Snowmobiler.com (www.snowmobiler.com), and now the NEW Hi-Performance Engineering website (www.hiperf.com). For more information on Cyphernetix, and its ongoing transformation to ODD Labs Media Group, online at CYPHERNETIX.COM.
BRP shocked the ATV industry when it announced it would be moving all ATV production to its Mexican based watercraft facility over the next year.
The question buzzing about the snowmobile industry is inescapable. Will BRP move sled assembly to Mexico? While we think the question deserves asking, we need to look at what makes sense.
First of all, manufacturing of snowmobile parts from all four manufacturers has been taking place offshore for years. We do know from discussions with OEMs who build both ATVs and sleds that ATVs are more expensive to manufacture than snowmobiles.
Retail pricing in the ATV market is fiercely competitive and thus requires intense cost control to maintain profitability. It doesn’t mean snowmobilers are less discriminate about sled pricing; it means ATV profit margins dictate strict attention to production costs. Don’t expect to see any sleds built in Mexico in the near future.
Press Release –
Russ Ebert takes over the reigns in maintaining and building the premier race team in the snowmobile industry. With over four decades of experience in racing and developing snowmobiles, Team Arctic racers will benefit immediately from his knowledge, experience and hands-on involvement.
Robert Bonev, Vice President Sales and Marketing states “Russ is one of the most experienced and well respected members in the snowmobile racing community and will be a huge asset to Arctic Cat.
It is our intention to not only dominate in snocross but also increase our involvement in all forms of racing from hill climb to ovals and drag racing and Russ will be instrumental to that end.”
Not only is Russ a longtime veteran of Snowmobile Racing – with Crew Chief responsibilities for Tucker Hibbert, but Russ also has a long history with NASCAR – being on the team with Dick Trickle throughout the 1980’s and early 1990’s.
Ebert will spend the first few months at his new post shoring up contracts for next years race season. Russ’s first objective will be more training for Team Arctic racers and mechanics during the off season.
But don’t let all that desk time fool you, Ebert states, “I’m a hands-on guy and will still be knee deep in development working with the SnoPro team because that kind of work is also my passion.” When asked what his philosophy for Team Arctic will be, Ebert says simply “We race to win, anything else is a waste of time.”
Polaris had a few issues with the Classic FST when it hit the snow in December. A few FSTs made it into the hands of consumers with a starter problem.
Almost all Polaris turbos had the remedy applied before arriving at the selling dealer prior to delivery and it was evidenced on only a handful of units in the field built and delivered early.
After this issue was pretty much under control, a reverse gear problem surfaced requiring the sleds electro-mechanical chain case system to be disconnected and temporarily locked in forward only. This work was performed by dealers. Owners who neglected to have this service performed ultimately ended up walking home – not good.
The fix is coming from Polaris and the reverse system will be restored to 100% reliability.
Press Release –
Team Polaris Racing followed up their dominating season of a year ago, with another one for the record books.
Armed with the durable, smooth-handling Polaris IQ® race sled, Polaris pilots nabbed more Pro podium finishes that any other brand competing on the 2005-2006 WPSA snocross circuit.
Polaris racers also won two WPSA individual honors and finished second in both Pro classes.
Not to be outdone, Polaris racers in cross-country racing won more U.S. Cross-Country (USCC) Pro events than racers on any other brand, and in the high-profile ESPN Winter X Games, Polaris racers earned silver and bronze medals.
“We’d like to have won the WPSA Pro titles, but we’re pleased with our progress, our depth and the outstanding performance of the IQ Chassis,” said Polaris Racing Manager Tom Rager, Sr. “Ross Martin continues to develop into a strong racer and we think he’s got a very bright future. Dennis Eckstrom, Levi LaVallee, TJ Gulla and Mike Schultz all had strong seasons as well, and we feel we have a great foundation to build on so we can shoot for the points titles next winter.”
Polaris racers on Polaris IQ sleds earned 40% of all the Pro-class podium spots available during the 2005-2006 World PowerSports Association (WPSA) season.
Their strong showing included seven Pro victories and sweeps of the top three Pro Open spots at two events.
Your Mom will hate it. If that isn’t a strong enough endorsement of the new Phazer, we don’t know what is. With one glance, you know loud and clear Yamaha has targeted its newest model at Gen Y buyers.
Its front end chops off abruptly ahead of the windshield leaving A-frames, tie rods and sway bar naked to the elements. For protection there’s an ATV style nerf bar at the front and a hood the size of your helmet’s peak.
At the rear the pencil thin motocross style seat is jacked above the tunnel and… what’s this? The tunnel stamping has giant slots cut into its top so you’re looking directly at the top of the track through it. The hooker handlebars and tall riser are home to an IPOD style digital instrument cluster the size of a pack of Winstons.
If looks alone can intimidate, the Phazer’s styling corps can be credited with creating a sled with the nastiest, most raw boned aura of any snowmobile ever mass produced.
It’s agile, athletic and threatening at the same time…like Lance Armstrong wielding a battle axe.
Read all about the 2007 Yamaha Phazer in Volume 17, Number 4 of Supertrax International – available on newstands now!
Press Release –
Jesse Strege crashed during a Yamaha snow cross test in Eagle River, WI, where Jesse suffered a broken back.
They did surgery on Tuesday March 21st and put two titanium rods into Jesse’s vertebrate. The doctors removed some bone chips and ground them up to use as a cement to hold the screws in. It was a 6 hour surgery and Jesse will have a long road to recover.
Jesse was able to take a few steps today. This is very encouraging and the specialist is optimistic that he will have a full recovery. He will be in the brace for at least 3 months.
Jesse’s family has set up a web-site so you can send a get well message and get his latest recovery information. This web-site is www.caringbridge.com. Log on, go to “visit caringbridge site.” The site name is jessestrege and it will take you to his home page.
Please wish him and his family your best wishes.
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