The Golden Age of snowmobile manufacturing was from 1968-1976 with a gradual slow down leading to 1982. During this time literally hundreds of snowmobile manufacturers sprung up and then disappeared. This book is a look at all the most interesting, rare, or collectible snowmobiles from that time period. The big names like Arctic Cat, Polaris, Ski-Doo, Yamaha, John Deere, Scorpion, Snow-Jet, Mercury, Rupp, Moto-Ski, to the many small-company brands like Allied, Boa Ski, Chaparral, Evinrude, Harley Davidson, Johnson, Polaron, Sears, Skiroule, Sno Prince, Viking, and even includes a chapter of collectible racing snowmobiles in the hobby, like the 1977 Arctic Cat Z that turned Arctic Cats racing program around, and treasures like a 1973 Chaparral grass drag sled or a 1974 Roll-O-Flex called The Wild One. This book would be a benefit to anyone interested in sleds from this time period or looking to buy a more collectible sled from this era.

Long respected as a manufacturer of sturdy agricultural machinery, the John Deere Company began in the 1960s to build a line of consumer products in a dedicated factory in Horicon, Wisconsin. Starting with a lawn and garden tractor in 1963, Deere soon entered the fast-growing snowmobile market, introducing two models in 1971. The next 13 years would see a succession of models as Deere vied against tough competitors in a weather-dependent market. This detailed history, written by two key participants in the snowmobile program, describes the development of John Deere snowmobiles from start to finish: the design and engineering decisions that shaped each important model; reception of the snowmobiles by consumers; the factory race teams; the introduction of front-engine and water-cooled models; the process of selecting engines and negotiating with suppliers, including when problems developed; and the snowmobiles’ impact on product engineering. The text provides an inside view of Deere’s Consumer Products Division at a time of rapid growth, and of the people and processes that made it all happen.

Follow Edgar Hetteen from poverty to millonaire as he starts Polaris and Artic Cat snowmobile companies.

More than a million Americans own snowmobiles. Every winter, they get ready to race. Riders hop on their hot machines for some cold-weather fun. How do you drive a snowmobile? What are the races like? How can you stay safe while racing? Readers learn all about the exciting sport of snowmobiling. Color photographs, a glossary, and fact boxes will get them ready for this exciting adventure.

An exciting new series of high interest books that will appeal to even the most reluctant readers contains action-packed photographs and stories of the hottest racing vehicles and races for kids.

Introduces the sport of snowmobile racing, discussing the equipment and tactics, race courses, necessary skills, and safety measures.