Check out Vision Wheel’s new 14-inch wheels. A356-T6 aluminum construction provides extra strength and a reversed rim barrel gives the wheels a “deep dish” look.
Lug nuts and lug nut holes are completely covered by the cap and stay nicely protected from dirt and rocks.
The hyper-black finish looks black from one angle and silver from another. Contact your Parts Unlimited or Parts Canada dealer.
By John Arkwright
The opening of duck season wasn’t overwhelming by any stretch of the imagination but we did well on the wood ducks. They’re tasty, especially cooked in the cast iron pan on the wood stove at the camp. Once again, the Canada geese laid a lickin’ on us. I swear they have a trail camera tracking our location.
Brandon won the Good Guy Award. He volunteered (cough) wearing Jim Brogan’s neoprene insulated chest waders to push a string of ponds for ducks. That boy must have sweated off 20 pounds. We didn’t want him to catch cold, but I don’t think he’ll fall for that one again.
We weren’t successful in the moose lottery for an adult but Kirk Gore (our Mad Trapper) and I were confident we could round up a calf.
The forecast was light snow and just below freezing. No need to fire up the oil stove, right? Wrong! I was awakened just before dawn by Kirk as he had been to the outhouse and was covered in snow. That “trace” of snow was eight inches of heavy, wet stuff and the road into camp was littered with downed trees. It took over three hours of cutting and brushing to go the mile and a half to the county road.
Two weeks later when deer season opened the weather had turned around 180 degrees and we were hunting in short sleeves. On the opening day, my nephew, Brandon, was in for the morning hunt.
By 5:30am Brandon was out the door heading to what we call the Rock House. As he was approaching the tree stand he could hear a buck scraping on the poplar trees.
Brandon’s buck finally showed himself and just after daylight, he unloaded on him. Result: buck, 1: Brandon, 0. We ranged it later that day at 100 yards and determined he shot high.
The week remained unseasonably warm. We saw lots of does and fawns but no one was shooting. Excuses galore – too warm was our favorite one. Bottom line was, four days into the hunt and the meat pole was empty.
Brogan told Brandon & Darren not to worry, as his daughter Jaimi (aka: The Deer Slayer) would be in Friday night to give the boys a hunting lesson. This is where it gets good. On Friday, Brandon missed a doe out of the same stand.
We were late getting going on Saturday morning and Jim and Jaimi headed out on their ATVs just after daylight to our dry marsh stand.
Meanwhile, back at the camp, Brandon was sitting in the outhouse with the door open with minimal clothing on, (running shoes, boxers and a tee shirt). He hears a thumping sound, looks up and here goes a buck with his nose to the ground running right past the outhouse.
Brandon jumps up, runs to the cabin and drags Darren out of the camp to go after the buck. About this time they hear a single shot.
Jim Brogan is just coming back to the camp after dropping Jaimi off and sees Darren and Brandon coming back to the camp in non-traditional hunting apparel: Runners, boxers and tee-shirts.
Brandon tells Jim about our official new watch, the outhouse and asks Jim if he heard Jaimi shooting. It turns out, Jaimi had been in the blind less than ten minutes when this nice six point buck paid her a visit – POW! She never even had time to get her book out.
That is less than thirty minutes of hunting in two years with two deer in the book. Jaimi doesn’t say too much but her tee-shirt speaks loudly. It says: “As a matter of fact, I do hunt like a girl!”
Saturday night, at the end of the first week is family night. Our families all come in for a turkey dinner. Mark & Ted Daub, who own a camp near us, showed up in full force.
The girls in their camp were also giving the men a lesson as two out of their three deer were shot by women. It seems like women sure brag a lot when they’re the main contributors to the meat pole. I think we just give the girls the best watches.
The weather co-operated during the second week of deer season. A bit of snow, cool weather and the deer started to move. I had yet to see a deer but late Tuesday afternoon I nailed a nice 6-point buck that was trying to sneak out behind me.
I heard a branch break and as I slowly turned around all I saw was a rack go thru a small opening and then it stopped. It was about a 50-yard shot through about a 6-inch opening in the trees. My 270 Browning Bar flattened that deer like it had been hit by an Exocet.
It was an awesome shot and when Jim and Kirk showed up, I had to do several re-enactments. You’ve gotta love hunting tales.
By Motorhead Mark Lester
Arctic Cat has unquestionably pulled the lid off a boiling pot everyone else missed. It’s called the Mud Pro 700 EFI and we won’t mix any words here. The idea of building an out-of-the-box chocolate ride is genius.
It makes us wonder how everyone else missed the opportunity to be first to build a lifted, mud tired, geared down, snorkeled factory mud ride.
We’re entirely impressed with the Mud Pro’s execution. Arctic Cat has grafted some top aftermarket mud running accessories onto the Mud Pro at the factory. Don’t get us wrong here, this is not a toy for the faint of heart nor is this an ATV suited for every kind of riding condition.
The Mud Pro is strictly purpose-built for running deep mud and emerging unscathed. Don’t expect it to suit fire road trail riding or family picnic tours. We’re intrigued by the response we get everywhere we ride the “Pro”.
Arriving on it is like showing up in a Corvette, nude. People regularly approach us and want to know what the Mud Pro is all about.
Its killer metallic paint contributes to the eye candy effect while its superb 27-inch wheels and monster-truck ground clearance produce an imposing, if not somewhat overpowering, visual impact on the unwashed masses.
The best part of the Mud Pro story is the amazing sales success it’s enjoying after less than one year in the market.
Arctic Cat claims it’s among the best sellers in its 2009 line-up and is the best selling new model Cat has introduced this year. Clearly, the concept of offering consumers a model that will be taken to its limits, submerged in muck fifteen minutes after it leaves the showroom, might be considered risky turf.
Arctic Cat is among the most brazen OEMs when it comes to taking chances, whether it’s ATVs or the company’s other mainstay product, snowmobiles. We’re bowing deep toward Thief River Falls, Minnesota out of respect for the company’s bold move in this new segment. The spoils of victory often go to those taking the biggest risks.
Here’s another recession era innovative ATV just released at the 2010 Polaris new model intro covered elsewhere in this issue: The all-new Ranger EV (Electric Vehicle). Okay, don’t worry, we’re not going all green here at All-Terrain Vehicle magazine. In fact, when Polaris pulled the sheets off the EV Ranger we were underwhelmed at first look.
However, once we had the opportunity to get behind the wheel and sample it, we went through some kind of weird metamorphosis.
Seriously, all of us at the intro experienced this. Once we drove the EV our minds went wild with possibilities for a totally PC vehicle, environmentally sanctified and more palatable to the enviro masses than anything in the ATV market. The fact is, the Ranger EV can be used where gas powered UTVs will never tread.
Think about this: Inner city ATV trails. Can you imagine a sanctimonious bunny hugger’s reaction to a zero emission SxS? Okay, maybe inner city ATV trails are a stretch but there are thousands of applications for the Ranger EV in places gas power is not and will never be acceptable.
The bottom line on the EV for ATV enthusiasts is performance. Sitting down? It’s entirely acceptable! It can be trail ridden in deep woods and gnarly, rutted terrain with ease. Polaris’ best-in-biz 4-wheel drive system featuring turf/differential mode works exactly the same as gas versions.
The EVs top speed of 25 mph is totally acceptable on virtually everything but wide open fire roads or rail grade. A claimed charge range of up to 50 miles is good for about 90-percent of most riding in our books.
Needless to say, in the current economic situation, this is a gutsy move aimed at an untapped and largely inestimable market. We think Polaris is going to sell a load of these innovative electric vehicles at a time when conventional off-road sales have slowed.
Truly, when the going gets tough, in the ATV industry, the tough have gotten going. Furthermore, we don’t think innovation driven by necessity is over yet. Look for more moves into untapped markets with both ATVs and SxS vehicles.
Press Release –
Robby Gordon took a spin in his No. 007 TORC Polaris-branded, Chevy Silverado race truck last week in Crandon, Wisc., in preparation for the upcoming TORC race Labor Day weekend.
Gordon returns to Crandon on the 20-year anniversary of his first World Championship win in the series, with hopes of capturing the first cup race of the TORC season.
He is still the youngest off-road racer in history to win a World Championship title at Crandon.
Press Release –
After last year’s fantastic season, many were wondering if the Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki/Yoshimura team, led by defending champion Dustin Wimmer (#1) and veteran rider Doug Gust (#55), would be able to put in another championship winning performance in the 2009 AMA Pro Moose Racing/ITP Tires ATV MX Series.
The competition would be as strong – if not stronger – than it was in 2008, and there were some new faces determined to stand at the top step of the podium. But after the final checkered flag of the 2009 season, it was Dustin Wimmer holding his second consecutive championship plate in the air.
The season began on March 7th and started off just as it had the year before, with Dustin Wimmer on top. Wimmer, aboard his trusted QuadRacer R450, stormed to the overall win at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California. Teammate Doug Gust, however, had a much more difficult time. After a first-turn pileup, Gust managed to finish the day in 8th overall.
Round two of the series landed in Pell City, Alabama, home of Mill Creek Raceway, on March 20th. Wimmer, proving early on that he was going to be the man to beat, decimated the field in both motos, going 1-1 for the overall victory. Gust, however, was once again the victim of a first-turn incident, but the veteran rider rode hard to secure a respectable 6th overall.
On April 4th, the Ballance Moto X track in Bowling Green, Kentucky played host to round three of the series. Wimmer appeared to be an early favorite by setting blazing fast lap times in practice and qualifying, but the defending champ couldn’t find his rhythm. He secured his third straight podium finished of the season, however, with a 3-3 finish, good enough for third overall. Gust had a problematic weekend, as he was only able to finish tenth overall.
April 17th saw Dustin Wimmer return to the top step of the podium at the Birch Creek Motorsports Facility in Danville, Virginia. After two drawn out battles, Wimmer claimed his third win of the season with 2-1 moto scores. Gust put in a strong come from behind ride and finished the weekend seventh overall.
Wimmer’s championship hopes seemed to suffer serious blow on May 2nd. It was round five of the series at the Sunset Ridge Motocross Park in Walnut, Illinois, and the series points leader was sitting at home, nursing a dislocated shoulder. Doug Gust took over for his teammate, though, putting the Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki/Yoshimura QuadRacer R450 on the podium with 4 – 6 moto finishes for third overall.
In a display of heart and determination to win a second title, Dustin Wimmer surprised everyone when he showed up to race at Steel City on May 23rd in Delmont, Pennsylvania. Though he hadn’t been able to train and his stamina was low, the Pennsylvania native put in two gritty rides to finish 8th overall, but most importantly, kept himself alive in the championship hunt. Gust put in a consistent top five finish with fourth overall.
Round seven took place at the daunting Unadilla circuit in New Berlin, New York. Wimmer, still riding with an injured shoulder, put in two safe and steady rides to secure 6th place overall, keeping himself close to the top of the points standings. Teammate Gust rode two great races and finished a fantastic second place.
June 27th marked Dustin Wimmer’s return to the podium at Muddy Creek Raceway in Blountville, Tennessee. Though he was recovering from shoulder surgery, Wimmer wasn’t about to let that hold him back. After an eleventh place start in the first moto, he cut through the field with unmatched speed, taking the win on the last lap. In the second moto, he made it look easy, checking out at the front on his way to a crushing 1-1 performance. Gust, meanwhile, backed up his podium finishes from the previous races and second place overall.
The Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki/Yoshimura duo weren’t about to stop their display of dominance when the series hit Pleasure Valley Raceway in Armagh, Pennsylvania on July 17th. Wimmer added two more moto victories and another first overall to his tally, while Gust followed the defending champ home to another second overall.
Wimmer was relentless at Red Bud Track N Trail in Buchanan, Michigan, site of the penultimate round on August 1st. The competition was fierce and Wimmer was under intense pressure in both motos, but he never cracked, riding off to another stunning 1-1 overall victory. It was another top five overall for Doug Gust, as well, with the veteran rider taking fourth overall.
It was now August 15th and the series was at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. Wimmer needed only five points in the first moto to put an exclamation point on his incredible season. As the gate dropped, he would not be denied. Riding safely and consistently, the defending champion became a two-time champion, finishing the first moto in fourth. He finished the day fourth overall, one spot ahead of his teammate Doug Gust. As well as winning the 2009 AMA ATV Motocross title, Wimmer, as well as Gust, catapulted Suzuki to their second straight manufacturers title.
The final standings for the 2009 AMA ATV Motocross Series:
1. Dustin Wimmer, Champion, Team Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki/Yoshimura
2. Joe Byrd
3. Chad Wienen
4. Doug Gust, Team Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki/Yoshimura
5. Josh Creamer
Congratulations also go out to Yoshimura-sponsored amateur riders that finished in the top three in their class, including Bobby Ross and Chase Snapp, finishing second and third in the Pro-Am Production class.
Press Release –
Can-Am Rider John Natalie Takes Third At Loretta Lynn’s ATV National
Team Warnert Racing / Can-Am DS 450 EFI ATV racer John Natalie felt strong going into the final race of the 2009 AMA ITP/Moose Racing ATV National Motocross Championship Series Presented by Parts Unlimited.
Battling hard in the Tennessee heat and humidity, Natalie rode his DS 450 to a third overall finish putting him on the podium to finish the season with 3-4 moto finishes at the famed Loretta Lynn motocross track.
“What a way to finish the season, John’s been working very hard this year and he definitely deserved this podium finish,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Racing Manager for Can-Am ATVs at BRP. “With this final motocross race of the season, I would like to take time to thank all of our fans, our Can-Am X-Team racers and our partner teams, Warnert Racing and Motoworks. Without everyone involved week after week none of this would be possible. We continue to thank everyone involved at all levels for a successful season!”
In the Pro ranks, three Can-Am DS 450 racers placed in the top 10 for the championship. Natalie, along with teammate Cody Miller and Team Motoworks / Can-Am rider Jeremy Lawson, all finished in the top 10 in 2009. Can-Am finished the 2009 season with three overall podiums.
“It felt really good to finish the season on the podium and I think next season we are in line for a championship,” comments Natalie. “I plan to take about a week off and get right back to training and riding. Since I had to have surgery on my shoulder last season I didn’t get to train as hard as I wanted to, but next year will be different!”
In amateur racing action at Loretta Lynn’s, Cole Henry of Petersburg, VA took second in the 450 A class and third in the Four-Stroke A class aboard his DS 450. He won motos in both classes during the weekend.
Henry finishes the season in second for the Four-Stroke A championship with two overall wins on the season. Angela Adkins, of Charles City, VA ended the season second overall with three overall wins in the Woman’s class championship on her DS 450.
For more information on Can-Am racing, our 2009 contingency program and amateur DS 450 support program, please visit www.can-amxteam.com.
Press Release –
TRIC track kits are now available for Grizzly 700 and Grizzly 550 exclusively through Yamaha dealers across Canada.
The TRIC kits feature a special gear ratio for each Grizzly application and the latest design in aggressive track patterns from Camoplast to maximize traction and floatation in both snow and mud.
The front pods incorporate Camoplast’s ‘Flextrack’ technology to reduce steering effort and aid in both off-camber and deep powder performance.
The suspension frame is based on the proven Camoplast Tatou 4S design and features maintenance free sealed cartridge bearing suspension wheels. The TRIC system also offers a wide range of adjustment for the track approach angle, and steering axis which enables Grizzly ATV’s to optimize track performance and handling in practically any condition.
This is especially important when the transition is between snow and dirt.
Some additional features found in the TRIC track system are:
• The industries largest rear track footprint at 2507mm x 318mm combined with the all new 1.188 lug for outstanding traction and deep snow floatation
• A rugged, lightweight carbon steel frame that eliminates flex and distortion under maximum loads.
• Both front and rear frames pivot vertically for optimum handling on uneven terrain
• Significant reduction in splatter and spray resulting from the front Flextrack design
• Internal, involute track drive offers superior durability in any condition
• Increased ground clearance (+3inches) and in board mounted torque arms to reduce drag and snags.
There is also an all new TRIC quick release plow system with an exclusive extension bracket designed to complement the TRIC track system. The new TRIC plow features a one-hand disconnect mechanism, a foot released angle plate and a 54 x 18 inch blade made of eleven gauge, reinforced steel.
All together, a Yamaha Grizzly EPS ATV outfitted with TRIC tracks and plow is the ultimate weapon to ward off the worst a Canadian winter can throw at you.
Press Release –
Team Rockstar / Makita / Suzuki / Yoshimura’s Dustin Wimmer clinched the 2009 Championship in the first moto of the last round of the 2009 ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship.
The defending champion’s fourth place overall secured his second crown in front of cheering fans at Loretta Lynn’s MX track in Hurricane Mills, TN.
Wimmer came into this final round 45 points ahead of the competition after a season that was full of drama. Wimmer had held a commanding early lead only to become sidelined with a shoulder injury a third of the way through the season.
Even with sitting out one race and painfully making his way around the track for the next two rounds, Wimmer was finally healthy enough to take six moto wins in a row and regain many of his lost points. He finished first in six of the eleven rounds for a total of 419 points.
Teammate Doug Gust ended the year just 17 points shy of third place. The veteran racer had a consistent year with four podium finishes.
Wimmer was thrilled with the win. “This was quite a year,” Wimmer reflected. “I had some bad luck getting hurt and it took everything to get back those points. Luckily, I’ve got a great team and a great quad. We really worked hard for this championship and I feel really great. Today, I had a lot of adrenalin going so I had to work at just riding smart and safe.”
Team Manager Kory Ellis was proud of Wimmer’s accomplishment. “Dustin coming back from a serious shoulder injury was a brave thing,” Ellis said. “For him to come back and dominate racing and win the title was just incredible. My hat is off to Dustin, the team and to Suzuki for making such a great quad — the QuadRacer R450.”
Yoshimura’s Brant Russell was equally pleased with the results. “That was an amazing performance on the part of Dustin and the whole team. It was a great series all year and at any race any one of six or seven riders could take the win. The AMA and Racer Productions did a great job with the series and we can’t wait to come back next year.”
Press Release –
Pelchat Takes Championship Aboard A Can-Am DS 450
Can-Am X-Team Racer, Richard Pelchat, took the Canada Cup ATV Championship in convincing fashion as he took the holeshot in both moto races in the final round of the championship series aboard his DS 450 EFI ATV.
The final round of the championship was held near Parry Sound, Ontario, where Pelchat led both races from start to finish to take the weekend overall.
“Richard Pelchat has worked hard all this season and it certainly paid off for him at Parry Sound,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Racing Manager for Can-Am ATVs at BRP. “With this Canadian championship, Pelchat is our top DS 450 racer in Canada; we look forward to future results from this dedicated racer. This is a very important championship for everyone at BRP, we are proud to have Pelchat on a Can-Am ATV.”
Pelchat followed up his championship with a strong sixth overall at the penultimate round of the 2009 ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship at Red Bud Track and Trail in Michigan.
“I’m proud to bring home the cup for Can-am,” says Pelchat. “Canadians all grow up dreaming of winning the Stanley Cup for a professional hockey team; I guess the name of the championship fits us perfectly! The people behind the series were really nice and I am sure that it will continue to grow in the future.”
Pelchat and the rest of the Can-Am X-Team motocross racers will contest the final round of the AMA ATV Motocross Championship on August 15 and 16 at Loretta Lynn’s in Tennessee. For more information on Can-Am racing, our 2009 contingency program and amateur DS 450 support program, please visit www.can-amxteam.com.
Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), a privately-held company, is a world leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of motorised recreational vehicles. Its portfolio of brands and products includes: Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft and sport boats, Evinrude and Johnson outboard engines, direct injection technologies such as E-TEC, Can-Am all-terrain vehicles and roadsters, as well as Rotax engines and karts. With manufacturing facilities on three continents, BRP products are distributed in more than 80 countries.
Press Release –
Defending Series Champion Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Dustin Wimmer is in perfect position to take home his second championship in a row after this weekend’s Loretta Lynn MX, held at the Loretta Lynn Dude Ranch in Hurricane Mills. This is the final round of racing for the 2009 Series.
Wimmer has a 45 point lead over his biggest competition this season, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Chad Wienen. Wienen took over Wimmer’s lead when Wimmer sat out at the Sunset Ridge MX, after being injured in practice prior to the race.
While Wimmer suffered through two rounds, Wienen recovered from his rough start to the season. The two traded positions in the points, until Wimmer launched a comeback at the Muddy Creek National. Wimmer has gone 1-1 in each round since, blowing by Wienen and essentially taking the championship in hand.
A battle for second is brewing behind Wimmer, as Wienen is only six points ahead of Honda Legend Joe Byrd. Doug Gust, who is seven points behind Byrd is thrown into the mix as well, making it an exciting battle as Wimmer sails toward the championship.
Behind them, a dedicated pack of riders seeks to grab top 10 spots. Josh Upperman and Josh Creamer take fifth and sixth places respectively. Creamer took home a win in round six but has been unable to get on the podium until the RedBud MX, where he placed second.
John Natalie, Jeremy Lawson, Cody Miller and Thomas Brown round out the top 10 as the ranks head to the final round of the series.
The pro class will feature two 20-minute races on Sunday, taking place at noon and 3 p.m., with the combined scores of both races determining the overall winner.
The pro riders will run as part of a full schedule of amateur racing, including classes for Youth, Women and veteran riders. Amateurs will practice on Friday and race on Saturday and Sunday. Pros will practice on Saturday and race on Sunday.
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