For 33 years, the Grantsburg, Wisconsin, World Championship Snowmobile Watercross has punctuated the summer. Once a novelty, snowmobile watercross has grown into a competitive sport. For years, the World Championship Watercross has been a stop on the International Watercross Association (IWA) schedule – and 2009 was no different. Leading up to the Grantsburg race, Chad Maki, the son of 12-time World Champion Mark Maki, and Andy Busse had traded victories in the Pro Open Oval classes.

Heading into the Grantsburg contest, if the trade-off of wins continued, it was Busse’s turn to take the victory in Pro Open Oval. He did. Busse beat two-time Pro Open Watercross World Champ Howie Steenberg, who finished second, and 2008 Mod Drag points champ Jeff Fischer.

In Pro Stock Ovals. Busse and Maki battled again for the top spot. This time, Maki prevailed. Busse finished second, while Daryl Ortlieb of Boonville, New York, finished third. Maki also took the win in the East-West Challenge.

In Semi-Pro Open Ovals action, Kyle Carpenter took the win, with Greg Metz in second and David Fischer in third. In Semi-Pro Stock Ovals, Dan Dombrowsky of Wausau, Wisconsin, finished first. Ole Baillargeon was second and Jason Meskill took third.

In the three Drag classes, there were three winners. In 600 Drags, Ryan Keith took first. Rachel Vorwerk was second and Mike Chlan finished third. In 800 Drags, David Fischer took the top spot with Dombrowsky in second and Charlie Fleck in third. In the Mod Drags class, Jerry Rinker of Pennsylvania blasted to a win, while Jeff Fischer took second and Old Forge, New York’s Loren Ward took third.
 

33rd Annual World Championship Snowmobile Watercross
Grantsburg, Wisconsin
July 17-19, 2009
600 Drags: 1. Ryan Keith (Pol); 2. Rachel Vorwerk (Doo); 3. Mike Chlan (Pol)
800 Drags: 1. David Fischer (Doo); 2. Dan Dombrowsky (Yam); 3. Charlie Fleck (Doo)
Mod Drags: 1. Jerry Rinker (Doo); 2. Jeff Fischer (Yam); 3. Loren Ward (Doo)
Semi-Pro Stock: 1. Dan Dombrowsky (Yam); 2. Ole Baillargeon (Pol); 3. Jason Meskill (Pol)
Semi-Pro Open: 1. Kyle Carpenter (Pol); 2. Greg Metz (Pol); 3. David Fischer (Doo)
Pro Stock: 1. Chad Maki (Doo); 2. Andy Busse (Doo); 3. Daryl Ortlieb (Pol)
Pro Open: 1. Andy Busse (Doo); 2. Howard Steenberg (Doo); 3. Jeff Fischer (Yam)
Camoplast East-West Challenge: 1. Chad Maki (Doo)

MEDINA, MN (July 29, 2009) – Polaris Racing, proven to be the best snocross race team in the circuit, continues to get better. Polaris is proud to announce the alliance between Hentges Racing and Judnick Motorsports teams, along with the signing of Pro racers Robbie Malinoski and Andrew Johnstad by Scheuring Speed Sports.

“These moves strengthen the Polaris racing program and position us to maintain our winning momentum heading into next winter,” said Polaris Racing Manager Tom Rager, Sr. “The alliance between Hentges and Judnick should improve both teams, and the Scheuring team has signed two racers with bright futures.”

Hentges & Judnick Team Up
The Hentges and Judnick teams, whose racers have dominated Pro-class points titles in recent seasons, have announced they will share research and development, component manufacturing and in-season technical in an effort to continue to stay on top and over deliver this upcoming season.

“We have formed an alliance where we’re independent teams under one roof – Polaris Racing – and we’re committed to putting Team Polaris on the podium week in and week out,” said Scott Judnick, co-owner with his wife Colleen of Judnick Motorsports. “We feel that sharing technical information will give us the edge to do that.”

Nate Hentges, co-owner of Hentges Racing, called the alliance “a win-win all around. We’ve been working side by side with them for a while now. This will basically be a technical alliance to help advance our Open sleds for the greatest performance. This will result in a huge savings from the R&D standpoint, especially for dyno time. Instead of each of us working in different directions on motor packages, we’ll have one dyno session that hopefully with save a tremendous amount right away.”

A key resource the teams will share is the experience and expertise of Tim Bender, a former racer whose success has put him in the Hall of Fame. Bender is a long-time Team Manager for Hentges Racing who will now oversee technical development for both teams.

“He’s in charge of our sleds and the Hentges sleds,” Scott Judnick said.

“Tim is obviously one of the key pieces of this alliance,” Hentges said. “He has built all our motors and done all of our R&D work,” and now both teams will benefit from Bender’s know-how.

The teams share a racing facility in Wausau, Wisconsin.

Malinoski & Johnstad Join Scheuring Speed Sports
Scheuring Speed Sports Owner Steve Scheuring announced the signing of Pro racers Robbie Malinoski and Andrew Johnstad for the upcoming season.

“This is a very exciting time for Scheuring Speed Sports and our sponsors,” the owner said. “Robbie has multiple championships in both Pro and Semi-Pro and will be in the hunt for the championships this year on our 2010 Polaris IQ® snocross sleds.

“Andrew Johnstad has also won multiple championships in Semi-Pro and cut his teeth in the Pro ranks last year. Watch for great results from Andrew this season and don’t be surprised if he makes a run for the championship as well.”

In his first season as a Pro-class racer, Johnstad finished 12th in Super Stock points last winter and 14th in Pro Open.

“I’m excited to be part of one of the premier teams on the circuit and look forward to an incredible season,” Malinoski said.

Johnstad said joining the team “is an incredible opportunity for me with the resources Steve has available. And working with Robbie will be a great adventure as well.”

Among the Scheuring team’s major sponsors are Amsoil, Makita and the U.S. Air Force. The team is based in Aurora, Minnesota.

Intent to reduce his workload and focus more on his family, Ole Tweet announced that he will step down from his position as General Manager, ATV Division. The change marks a watershed moment for a man and company whose success and contributions to the powersports industry have been seamlessly intertwined for four decades.

Tweet’s career at Arctic Cat began in 1977 and reflects his considerable engineering and marketing skills, with titles that include Head of Engineering (1978 to 1981), Vice President of Marketing (1983 to 1992); Vice President of New Product Development (1992 to 2008) and most recently as General Manager of ATV.

The list of Tweet’s contributions would fill several pages, but several significant highlights deserve mention. Chief among them was Tweet’s key role in resurrecting Arctic Cat in 1983 following the bankruptcy and liquidation of Arctic Enterprises in 1981.

As the reborn company worked to reestablish itself in the snowmobile industry, Tweet spearheaded marketing efforts that contributed to the company’s monumental growth, including a build-to-order program that matched production with demand; close-to-the-customer communications via dealer newsletters and Cat’s Pride Club/magazine; and memorable advertising campaigns that tapped into the brand’s passionate, loyal customer base and the company’s pioneering technology.

When Arctic Cat moved into the personal watercraft and All-Terrain Vehicle markets in the 1990s, Tweet guided the development and management of its Tigershark, ATV and Prowler products divisions.

Tweet also represented the company’s involvement in various industry associations and governance efforts, working tirelessly on efforts to support responsible riding as well as battling outside efforts to reduce riders’ rights and access to public lands. In recognition of these and other contributions, Tweet was inducted into the Snowmobile Hall of Fame in 2004.

“Ole has the brain of an engineer with the heart and instinct of a marketing professional,” said Chris Twomey, chairman and chief executive officer of Arctic Cat. “That unique perspective and an unstoppable work ethic are the ingredients of his greatness.”

While Tweet is stepping down from his role as GM of the ATV division, he isn’t stepping away from Arctic Cat. He will continue an active role representing Arctic Cat in industry associations and corporate governance.

“I’ve enjoyed a great career, working alongside remarkable people, to help grow an incredible Minnesota-based company,” said Tweet. “I’m ready to throttle back my workload and responsibility to focus more on my family. But I’m not walking away from Arctic Cat, and the company will progress forward with strong leadership and innovative talent.”

Following Tweet’s announcement, Arctic Cat President and Chief Operating Officer Claude Jordan will take over as interim GM of the ATV division.