HOLESHOTS
▶ The owners of Minnesota-based Straightline Performance are expanding their portfolio once again . Jason & Denise Houle announced over the summer the purchase of Altec Products , an automotive aftermarket company . This comes a few short years after they purchase RSI Racing .
Polaris Unveils XCR , RMK Throwbacks
A tribute to the original “ Red Rocket ” and another throwback design conjuring memories of an historic mountain sled were unveiled by Polaris at the Hay Days Grass Drag and Swap Meet event in September . There were the final two of three 70th Anniversary Edition snowmobiles .
The new 2025 Polaris Patriot 9R Indy XCR 70th Anniversary Edition features a classy , throwback design reflecting the original 1997 Polaris 440 Indy XCR . It was the first sled to feature a Polaris-built two-stroke engine , so it stands out to Polaris historians .
It was also very popular with racers and race fans , who remember the machine in the hands of Corey Davidson , Greg Hyde , Nathan Titus and other heroic racers at the time .
Meanwhile , the Polaris Patriot 9R RMK Khaos 70th Anniversary Edition has paint and graphics that pay homage to the 1998 Polaris 700 RMK , a legendary model of its own .
As you can tell by the names , both of these new machines plus the Patriot 9R Switchback Assault 70th Anniversary Edition unveiled in August feature the Polaris 9R big bore engine .
At the intro , Polaris Snowmobile Product Manager Nels Eide noted that various graphics companies in recent year have been doing interesting throwback wraps , but these 70th Anniversary sleds are most
definitely not mere wraps .
“ These are all three-stage-paint and high-end-finish vehicles ,” Eide said . “ On the Switchback Assault , it ’ s our standard black base with actual white crystal [ coloration ] on top and then clear coat . The Indy XCR is Indy Red Pearl , and so it ’ s our traditional Indy red with the pearl finish on top .”
For the 9R RMK Khaos , Eide said Polaris officials had to dig up a paint chip from the 1998 RMK model and have it color matched . The sleds also come with upgraded bumpers and in some cases handguards that are normally accessories .
With its 70-year history , why did Polaris hone in on the 1990s for its throwbacks ?
“ When we think about our core customers who are Snow Checking sleds every year , they are often 45- to 55-year-old dudes ,” Eide said . “ These are the sleds that they either had when they were 25 years old , or that they really wanted and they were instead riding old junk !”
Polaris Snow VP and GM Jenny Nack said , “ The influence of the ’ 90s era is strong in pop culture , and this nostalgia is also resonating with the snowmobiling community . We can ’ t wait to see these iconic sleds on the snow this winter .”
▶ The USSA oval racing circuit
unveiled its 2024-25 schedule , and it includes a return to Ironwood , Michigan , among other stops . The trip to Ironwood , though , is particularly notable because the Gogebic County Fairgrounds where the annual event is held had a massive fire almost exactly one year ago . We ’ re glad to see the locals were able to get the historic Ironwood Olympus event back on its feet .
▶ We lost a member of our
extended family when Ted Perkins of Webster , New York , died over the summer . It was Ted who first introduced our own Hall of Fame writer and Flashback columnist David Wells to the sport in 1967 , and the two became lifelong friends . Friendly , knowledgeable and talented , Perkins also will be remembered by some as the man behind the entertaining Saddlebag Snowmobiling videos . He was 82 .
▶ On page 11 of this issue , you ’ ll
spot the “ It ’ s Your Turn ” column . It ’ s a reoccurring department in the magazine aimed at giving riders a platform to share their favorite stories about snowmobiling . Do you have something to contribute ? Submit it to jprusak @ snowgoer . com . Total length should be 600-800 words plus one photo .
▶ Late last winter , one rogue in
Wyoming ran down a wolf with his snowmobile , then paraded its half-dead body around town before killing the animal . Isolated incident , right ? Apparently not to four headline-chasing politicians ( two Democrats , two Republicans , all from the South ) who used the opportunity to introduce the “ Snowmobiles Aren ’ t Weapons Act ” in Congress . Sheeze !
6 / NOVEMBER 2024 / SNOWGOER . COM