Yamaha Snowmobile Division announced a significant contingency program for qualified racers competing in both regions of United States Cross Country (USCC) race events. “Cross country is one of the most accessible forms of racing available,” said Yamaha Snowmobile Marketing Manager Wade West. “An average snowmobiler can come out to a cross country event and have a very good time competing on the same kinds of terrain he or she rides all season long, and do it with a minimum of setup modifications to their trail sled.”

Yamaha Snowmobile Division applauds this kind of grass roots racing. “We encourage amateur racers to develop their skills in organized events, like USCC’s Yamaha Sport 85 class and gradually move up to the semi-pro and pro ranks,” added West.

Yamaha’s contingency program for the coming 2009-2010 race season is as follows:

Pro Stock/Pro Open class*
Red Lake 500:
1st: $10,000; 2nd: $3,000; 3rd: $1,500
All other USCC/USCC East events:
1st: $3,000; 2nd: $2,000; 3rd: $1,000

Semi-Pro Stock/Semi-Pro Improved class*
Red Lake 500:
1st: $3,000; 2nd: $2,000; 3rd: $1,000
All other USCC/USCC East events:
1st: $1,500; 2nd: $1,000; 3rd: $500

*Contingency will only be paid out for 1 class per rider at each USCC event.

For details on Yamaha’s USCC/USCC East contingency program, contact Jesse Strege at 218-843-5999. For more information about USCC events, visit usccracing.com.

POCATELLO, ID (October 19) - In a move that was unfortunately expected, the Park Service last Thursday released an Environmental Assessment (EA) that allows only 318 snowmobiles daily into Yellowstone this winter. This allocation is not sufficient to provide for a viable winter economy in gateway communities, and many visitors could be denied access.

It should be noted that the Park Service's 2007 decision, following the more robust Environmental Impact Statement process, determined that 540 daily snowmobile entries was an appropriate number. Jack Welch, BlueRibbon Special Projects Consultant, stated, "More people should be allowed in the Park, not less. People will be turned away this winter. This is not because there is a biological or scientific reason to do so; it is because winter visitors are caught in a game of politics and 318 is a convenient number between 0 and 540."

There are a few brighter spots in the EA. The decision does allow 25 snowmobiles per day with no best available technology (BAT) or guiding requirement to travel both directions on the Grassy Lake Road, providing access to the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. This accommodates historical activity for snowmobilers who unload at Flagg Ranch and ride the Grassy Lakes Road to Idaho, Island Park, and even West Yellowstone.

What will happen next? BlueRibbon and its pro-access partners in the snowmobile community will continue to review and work with the Park Service to provide a long term solution for "Winter Use" in Yellowstone. In the meantime, we will review our options on this EA decision. The next step in the process is for the Park Service to create an implementing rule and have it published. That rule would be the governing regulation for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons. Finally, there remains the possibility that a courtroom development could somehow change things. As always, we will continue to post updates at www.saveyellowstonepark.com .

Remember, Yellowstone will open to the 2009-2010 season on December 15th!

Polaris Industries Inc. has received a $2.4 million contract to provide off-road vehicles for the U.S. Army National Guard.

Medina-based Polaris said the National Guard will use Polaris Ranger 800 Crew Side-by-Side vehicles for missions abroad and disaster relief at home. Polaris (NYSE: PII) won the contract in an open competition conducted by the National Guard Bureau.

“This is a big win for Polaris and our defense business,” said Mark McCormick, managing director of Polaris Defense, in a statement. “As an American company, we are committed to providing quality vehicles to the U.S. military and this contract is a great example of our commitment to that goal.”

For the first time in nearly 20 years, there will be no snowmobile show at the Minneapolis Convention Center.   For MnUSA Region 8, that meant the loss of its annual MnUSA Region 8 Snowmobile Swap, an event that is a fundraiser for the west metro clubs and, even of greater importance, the loss of this metro Snowmobile Event.  The clubs in Region 8 decided this was not the time to give up on promoting snowmobiling in its region.  MnUSA Region 8 is proud to announce its own Snowmobile Gear Up & Go Show which will be held October 15-17, 2009, at Brookdale Center just off Hwy 100 just south of Interstate 694.

The show will include snowmobile dealers, vendors along with the MnUSA Region 8 Snowmobile Swap.  The “Snowmobile Swap” is a place for dealers and individuals to have Region 8 sell their new or used, non-current clothing and parts and accessories at very good prices.  Region 8 takes a commission on sales and puts money back into local trails.

Save the date and stop in and check it out.  Bring a canned good for the local food shelf.  Vendors welcome.  For more information, go to Gear Up and Go.

Vintage racing is fast closing in on its contemporary counterparts and matching the entry numbers of current snocross and ice oval competitors. For the last seven years, the venerable machines of yesterday have started the season with their own weekend of Classic Vintage Racing at the Derby Track. (Jan. 8th -10th) Each year The Vintage World Champion is awarded the sparkling American Eagle Trophy at the end of the festivities. Last year Tony Pettinelli Jr from Rome NY. won the trophy, and this year it’s up for grabs again!

This style of racing has come a long way from its first appearance in 1991 at the Derby and in 2008 a leading snowmobile publication recognized the event’s prominence calling it the ‘Snowmobile Event of the Year.’ The machines are meticulously restored, engines are tuned and reliable, and the racers themselves look sharp in leathers from several eras and contemporary race gear. The closeness of the competition is highly reminiscent of the “good old days.”

Recently the term “Classic” was put in front of “Vintage” thereby making this the Classic Vintage Weekend at the Derby and it lives up to that term. The iron you’ll see on the ice oval is superbly restored and in many cases hand-built. Fans will recognize popular racers still circling the ice, including World Champions Jacques Villeneuve and Chuck Decker. But there are dozens of serious race teams that work tirelessly from their impressive race haulers to get their sleds in tip-top condition, and the races are always exciting

No other race facility treats drivers better than the Derby. The trophies are the biggest, the winners take home more money, and racers even get to take home their commemorative checkered flags.

If you’re looking to save on advanced super tickets, reserve your indoor Hot Seats or park your motor home track side, call the Derby track office at 715-479-4424 or visit www.derbytrack.com for more information.

Following the Classic Vintage weekend, the “original” world championship weekend gets underway, January 14-17, 2010. The famed Eagle River Derby will be forty-seven years old in January, and it just keeps getting better with age. The Derby’s beginning in 1964 was inspired by a drive to create a tourist draw and an impetus to the then slow and economically deprived winter season. Ten Eagle River businessmen, each anted up $1,000 to give their community a leg up on the rest of the snow bound states. They were successful beyond their own expectations.

Today’s “Derby” is recognized around the world as the biggest and grandest snowmobile race, anywhere. When the 2010 Derby opens its gates, fans will be treated to a plethora of winter motorized action. While the Derby is best known for presentation of premier ice oval racing, it has also given spectators other variations of snowmobile competition.

When the 2010 version opens its gate, it will be for a ten-day “show.” Opening weekend, January 8th thru January 10th, will get everything started with three days of “old time” racing as classic and vintage sleds once again test driver’s talents and machine superiority. Mid-week (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) is a chance for race fans to get out on the snocross course themselves, visit with incoming race teams and even get in some trail riding. Thursday (January 14) Championship racing starts in earnest, with World Championship time trails followed by oval and snocross qualifying. The excitement peaks during the Parts Unlimited Friday Night Thunder, undisputedly the best show in snowmobile racing. There’s Mini 120 races, Sweet Sixteen pole position Qualifying and the Ultimax Pro Snocross Open. Get there early for the spectacular fireworks opening at 7:00 p.m. sharp.

The tempo does not slow on Saturday as the all-important Championship qualifying takes the stage. Sunday is the climax to the intense competition of the preceding days. IT’S CHAMPIONSHIP DAY! This is the day that everyone comes for—both racers and fans alike. Don’t miss the grandest “old” race in all of snowmobiling.

Save on advanced super tickets. Reserve your indoor Hot Seats or park your motor home track side. Call the Derby track office at 715-479-4424 or go online at www.derbytrack.com for more information.

MEDINA, MN (Oct. 8, 2009) – Darin Gould, a longtime Polaris snowmobile hillclimber and past winner of a King of the Hill title at the Jackson Hole World Championships has been named as Race Coordinator for the Hillclimb Program by Polaris Racing Manager Tom Rager, Sr.

Gould succeeds longtime coordinator Rick Ward, who died from injuries sustained in a traffic accident on September 1.

“Darin will be the coach for our hillclimbers, especially helping the younger ones, and he’ll be our communicator, making sure everyone in the hillclimb program has the setup information they need to succeed,” Rager said. “He’s our eyes on the ground out West and will look after our best interests to ensure Polaris is as successful as possible. It’s a very, very important role in our racing program.”

Gould, 47, started racing cross-country in the early 1970s, and he began competing in snowmobile hillclimbs in 1988. He estimates he won 14 class titles at the Jackson Hole World Championship Snowmobile Hillclimb, the sport’s premier event, and he won the Improved Stock King of the Hill title in 2000. In recent winters he supported the hillclimb effort of his son Ryan, 23, and competed only at Jackson Hole. He said he looks forward to the challenge of serving as the Western Race Coordinator.

“Nobody will ever replace Rick, but I feel good going into this and as soon as we get snow, we’ll be on the sleds to get a baseline about setup and what our guys need to do to succeed,” Gould said. “My job will be to communicate to all of the guys the information Polaris gets from its R&D [research and development] and what other [aftermarket sources] come up with. I need to make sure everybody on the team has everything possible so they can win and that everybody gets the same information.”

Gould said the testing on early snow will generate information about how to optimize the performance of the 2010 Polaris models the hillclimbers will be riding.

“The sleds are pretty good right out of the box, but there’s always room for a little improvement,” he said, noting that the test team will focus on suspension setups. “During the season, we’ll keep the Polaris hillclimbers organized, we’ll be at all the races and we’ll have some parts there to support them. All the key guys will be back on Polaris and they’re fired up.”

Gould said Ward was instrumental to the long-term Polaris hillclimb support because of his technical expertise and his interest in mentoring young racers.

“We’re all going to miss Rick, there’s no doubt,” Gould said. “In my eyes, he’s probably one of the most intelligent guys I’ve ever met in terms of knowing a snowmobile and how to make it work, especially in terms of suspension. Plus, one thing Rick had going for him was that while he was still interested in taking part in racing, he wanted to see the young kids step up and take over. He wanted to hand them everything he could in terms of information to help them win. I’m kind of the same way – been there done that – and I want to see Polaris do very well.”

Lifelong Friends, Long-time Teammates
It is impossible to overstate the special nature of the friendship between Ward and Gould. They met when they were kindergartners, Gould said, and their houses are less than a half-mile apart. They were long-time racing teammates and each was the best man at the other’s wedding.

“It was more than just a friendship, it was more like a brother-friendship thing,” Gould said. “Rick was a good guy. He set an example for a lot of people. He wanted to see young racers succeed.”

Ward was one of the all-time greats in hillclimbing, yet he was humble and preferred to talk about other racers.

"He was a quiet kid," Gould said. "When he would win at Jackson Hole and get up to get his trophy and speak, he would talk about other people and how great they had done or how much they had helped." Rager said of Ward and Gould, "They were best friends for life, teammates and close friends since day one. It was almost like two peas in a pod." Rager sees a lot of the same leadership characteristics in Gould that he saw in Ward. "Darin no longer races, so he�ll be the coach and make sure the communication flows to all the racers, "Rager said. �He�s the communicator between this department and the hillclimbers."

There are very few trails named after people in Minne-sota, but, starting this winter, Duluth will be home to one more.
 
The first one, which you're probably already familiar with, is the Willard Munger State Trail. Named after the Minnesota state legislator from Duluth, it starts near the Willard Munger Inn and travels southwest to Hinckley. With a length of 63 miles, it is one of the longest paved trails in the world. Nicknamed “Mr. Environment,” Munger served 43 years in the Minnesota Legislature before his death in 1999.

Munger devoted his life to trail development and environmental protection while sponsoring or advocating almost every piece of Minnesota legislation related to natural resources over a half-century. Long before “green” became a topic of conversation, Munger was a passionate environmentalist who made Minnesota a better place.

Munger will get some company when the existing North Shore State Trail becomes the C.J. Ramstad Memorial/North Shore State Trail this winter.

Ramstad, the former owner, publisher and editor of numerous snowmobile and off-road sports publications and a motorized recreation advocate, died in 2007 along with his son J.J. in an automobile accident. In a promotional piece for Explore Minnesota, he listed the North Shore Trail among his favorites, calling it a “treasure” of the Arrowhead region. The North Shore State Trail stretches 143 miles between Duluth and Grand Marais. It is known for its dramatic elevation changes, tree-lined twisty path and wildlife.

The name change was initiated by local resident Greg Sorenson, who serves as a regional director of the Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association; legislative promotion by Rep. David Dill; and buy-in from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Legislation to amend the trail name was submitted and approved in the 2009 session.
 
The official name change occurred Aug. 1, and DNR literature will reflect the change this winter.

The North Shore Trail was the obvious choice when determining the appropriate path to carry Ramstad's name. In addition to being a favorite trail, it's also a multi-use motorized recreation trail primarily on public lands, which also fit well with Ramstad's passions.
 
“Naming trails after someone is not something the DNR generally encourages,” said Ron Potter, the department's policy and program manager for parks and trails.
 
Potter said there was no opposition to rename the trail, but pointed out that one condition of the name change is that it be at no cost to the DNR. New trail signs will be paid for by private individuals and groups. (Sorenson envisions larger informational signs at popular trailheads.)

“C.J. Ramstad is an icon in the snowmobile world and it's no mystery that the North Shore State Trail is a major snowmobile trail,” said Potter, who sees the new name not just as an honor to Ramstad but also a way to help local businesses market the trail. “What better name to have on a trail than C.J. Ramstad? Anyone who knows anything about snowmobiling has heard of C.J.”
 
Through the years, no one knew the snowmobile industry like Ramstad. Whether it was clubs, associations, political officials, tourism interests, OEM's race teams or even competitors, everyone called C.J. for his opinion. He was also a big part of helping Visit Duluth create snowmobiling's greatest race week, the AMSOIL Duluth National Snocross at Spirit Mountain.

“This was just a natural thing to do in his honor,” Dill said. “C.J. is one of those people who will not be replaced. There will be many people that do the work that he did, but his infectious personality, his passion for what he did —that he lived every day and every minute to fulfill — is undeniable, irrefutable and irreplaceable.”

All of the snowmobile industries best, newest and most unique products available from one source.  Huge in stock inventory and same day shipping.  Free freight on most orders over $100.  Free 2010 catalog available now at www.hiperf.com, or 1-800-451-5268 ($3 postage to Canada)

Tucker Hibbert's race sled rolls off the assembly line in Thief River Falls as the competition season lurks just months away.

For the past several years, Kirk Hibbert, the father of perhaps the most talented active snocross racer on the planet as well as former racing great and current Arctic Cat engineer himself, has made a point of selecting the production Sno Pro 600 race sled whose serial number ends with 68, for his son Tucker. With the 2010 Sno Pro models on the production line right now at Arctic Cat, there was a concerted effort to mark the occasion. A sign was made and attached to the sled, indicating the hope (and pride) the company feels for its most decorated racer. Then, knowing that Kirk and Tucker will powder-coat (in black) all of the green-painted production parts, each person on the assembly line signed their name to the green  parts, to wish them the best of luck this coming season.

The National snocross season kicks-off Thanksgiving weekend, November 27-29, 2009 in Duluth, Minnesota. For more information direct your browser to www.visitduluth.com/snocross