INDUSTRY NEWS

SNOWMOBILE HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 2021 INDUCTEES

This year’s class includes; John Faeo, Dale Loritz, Craig Marchbank and Brian Sturgeon - all of which were snowmobile racers. The honorees will be inducted on the weekend of February 18-19, 2022 in St. Germain coinciding with the 38th Annual Ride With The Champs.

John Faeo (Racer)

John Faeo is synonymous with the famed 2,000-mile Iron Dog through the Alaska’s rugged and remote wilderness, winning this grueling multi-day event seven times between 1984 and 1996. In addition to his record-tying number of victories, the Wasilla, AK, legend also finished the Iron Dog race 23 consecutive times, with 13 podium finishes. Fast, smart and consistent beyond measure, Faeo is also a 9-time Alaska Motor Musher XC race champion; a 6-time winner of the Talkeetna-to-Anchorage XC, and an 11-time Alaska Calcutta 120 XC Champ. He raced on Polaris snowmobiles for the majority of his career.

Dale Loritz (Racer)

One of the most enduring oval racers of his generation, Dale Loritz of Green Bay, WI, scored innumerable wins—in a range of classes—at all levels of the sport. He qualified for the Eagle River World Championships an astounding 18 times and won the pinnacle event in 1994 and 1995. Racing for Ski-Doo throughout his career, Loritz notched 14 USSA high-point class championships, including seven Formula 1 titles. He was the USSA and Snow Week magazine Driver of the year in 1989, as well as USSA Oval Racer of the Year (2003) and a 2-time Sportsman of the Year.

Craig Marchbank (Racer)

Motivated, focused and unwavering in his pursuit of success, Craig Marchbank of New Lennox, IL, set benchmarks and records in snowmobile drag racing that may never be exceeded. In a 30-year career that began in 1982, Marchbank claimed more than 2,200 class final victories en route to 26 High Point Championships in Pro Stock and 24 High Point Championships in Improved Stock, all aboard Ski-Doo snowmobiles. He was the Minnesota Cup Champion a record nine times; a 5-time Michigan Cup Champion; and 3-time Wisconsin Cup Champion. He was the 2005 Snow Week magazine Racer of the Year, as well as the ISR Woody’s Traction Racer of the Year.

Brian Sturgeon (Racer)

Team Arctic’s Brian Sturgeon of Thief River Falls, MN, achieved remarkable success in snowmobile oval and terrain competitions. In ovals, Sturgeon won 12 Eagle River World Championship class titles, including the Formula III win in 1995. He also earned nine USSA High Point Championships, including eight in Stock classes and one in Formula III. In ice lemans he won two MRP Formula III highpoint championship and World Series titles, and he scored two snocross Pro Class wins at the Duluth National. He was awarded Racer of the Year honors by Snow Week magazine, SnoWest magazine, and MIRA. After retiring from racing, Sturgeon became the Arctic Cat Race Manager in 1999.

CFMOTO ENTERS GENERATOR MARKET

Two new lightweight gas-powered generators are now available from CFMOTO. The smaller inverter generator CFMOTO LH 271 is a 79cc air cooled engine with noise level of 52 to 59 dba with a weight of only 44 pounds, it’s capable of producing 2.1 to 3KW. The larger Inverter generator by CFMOTO, the LH 451-E is a 212cc air cooled engine with an output of 3.7 to 4.5KW, with a noise level of 55 to 60 dba with a total weight of 83 pounds. Both generators feature electric/ remote starter and a 5-year warranty. MSRP for the LX 271 is $1,199.99 CDN while the larger more capable LH 451-E MSRP is $1,999.99 CDN.

TAIGA AIMS FOR 1100 CHARGE POINTS BY 2025

Taiga recently announced that they will be rolling out a network of both on-water and on-land charging stations. These chargers will connect trail routes and circuits and will also appear at marinas across both Canada and the United States. Their goal is to electrify 75,000 off-road kilometers with roughly 1100 charge points by 2025. Taiga’s charge points will be, DC fast chargers with up to 75kW and will feature an easy charging system that will allow you to “park and plug-in”. Taiga made a point to make sure that these charge points will be designed for extreme heat and below freezing climates.

YAMAHA FINANCIAL SERVICES ANNOUNCES WINNER

Priscilla from Kenora, Ontario is this year’s winner of “Win Your Yamaha 5 for 5” contest. Earlier this year Priscilla purchased a 2021 Viking EPS from K-Sports Marine in Kenora. She was invited by the dealer to visit the dealership after the purchase as a winner of a special gift card. Expecting only a gift card, Priscilla did not know that Yamaha Financial Services would be there to surprise her that the loan for her 2021 Viking EPS would be paid in full by Yamaha Financial Services, she also won a special prize pack to make her riding season even better.

CALL 911 - 57 MOTORCYCLES STOLEN FROM CANADIAN DISTRIBUTOR

The Canadian distributor of KTM, Husqvarna and Gas Gas motorycles, had 57 bikes stolen from their warehouse in Laval, Quebec. The thieves made off with a mixture from all three manufacturers of still crated 2021 and ‘22 models. The crated bikes were loaded into three containers and hauled out by three trucks. All 57 units have been registered as stolen vehicles and have a total value in the $500,000 neighborhood. Our speculation is that the containers were placed on ships just as fast as they were put on trucks.

HAYDAYS SETS PACE FOR SNOWMOBILE SEASON

After missing the 2020 edition of Haydays, it returned to massive crowds of enthusiastic snowmobilers and off-road enthusiasts this past September 2021. The show was amazing. All show attendees were able to see freestyle shows, side-by-side racing, mud bogs, snowmobile grass drags take in the swap meet and see all of the commercial booths that had all of the latest gear, parts and vehicles. If you didn’t make to North Branch, Minnesota this year mark your calendars for Haydays next year, September 10-11, 2022 where OSM will have a booth set up, so come say hi.

FCMQ RELEASES 2022 SNOWMOBILE PERMIT PRICES

The FCMQ has released their prices for the 2022 snowmobile season, the permits can only be purchased online this year and get mailed to your address.

The price of a trail permit includes the cost of the liability insurance, defined as mandatory under article 19 of the Act respecting off-highway vehicles, as well as all applicable taxes. • $ 375 for an annual trail permit purchased on or before

December 9, 2021 • $ 455 for an annual trail permit purchased after

December 9, 2021 • $ 700 for an annual trail permit sold in trail* • $ 285 for an annual trail permit for antique snowmobiles (2002 and older) • $ 240 for a 7-day trail permit • $ 150 for a 3-day trail permit • $ 70 for a 1-day trail permit • $ 590 for an annual trail permit for a rental snowmobile • $ 30 for a replacement trail permit

To purchase your pass today please visit www.fcmq.qc.ca/en/trail-permit/line-trail-permits

POLARIS EXPANDS SERVICE PROGRAM TO CANADA

Launched in the U.S. in July 2020, RideReady helps simplify powersports ownership by connecting owners with Polaris and Indian Motorcycle dealerships to manage vehicle service needs and is now available in Canada through participating dealers. “We are excited to bring the RideReady service platform to Canada and allow more riders the opportunity to connect with dealers in a manner like never before,” said Vic Koelsch, Polaris chief digital officer. “We know that 50 percent of existing RideReady users schedule service appointments outside normal dealership business hours, showing the importance of flexible options. This expansion will help bring that convenience to additional owners and in turn help enhance dealer relationships.”= To experience the benefits, owners can log on to RideReadyService.com and set-up an account and their virtual garage to gain access to maintenance information and service recommendations, ‘how-to’ content specific to the registered vehicles, schedule online service appointments with participating local dealers and manage all of their vehicle maintenance and service needs.