Arctic Cat hillclimbers head for the top

Because Arctic Cat mountain riders had such a superb season in 2006, Arctic Cat race director Russ Ebert admits that “matching the success of the past two years won’t be easy. But we believe we’ve got the equipment and the team to do it.”

The 2006 Arctic Cat hillclimb squad scored the best results in the mountains of any factory. Last year was more of the same, as Cat drivers won 12 of 19 non-Masters class points titles and a whopping 46% of all Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Hillclimb Association (RMSHA) races.

As in 2007, the 2008 Arctic Cat squad will focus on being the best. Factory support will come from longtime Arctic Cat master technician, Al Shimpa, who will live out West to oversee the hillclimb effort. “Al pours his heart and soul into our mountain program and we’ve been very pleased with the results,” Ebert says.

“We got a lot of wins and were quite successful,” says Shimpa. “The competition’s going to be even tougher this year, but our sleds should be better than ever.”

The M-series line of Arctic Cats was designed with Western riders in mind. They have been improved in 2008, thanks in part to help from Shimpa and several Team Arctic competitors. Arctic Cat relies on its team racers in the West to do more than just accumulate titles. These mountain experts also enjoy sidehilling and highmarking in the steep-and-deep. They know mountain machines, and they know the 2008 M-series snowmobiles feature a redesigned rear suspension that’s both lighter and stronger than past models.

“The new rear skid is really sweet,” says Cat climber and past RMSHA class champ Ty Free. “It’s eight pounds lighter and has new geometry that will help us build track speed faster for better acceleration. It’ll definitely get the power to the snow.”

“They’re so light and forgiving,” adds Shimpa. “Our engineers have done a great job and made the sleds really maneuverable; they’re easy to ride and go where you point them.”

Shimpa has a stable of talented riders ready to point Arctic Cat’s M-series straight to the top. In 2007, five different Arctic Cat racers combined to win six Pro RMSHA classes. Led by Todd Tupper, who captured two divisions and was second in another, all five of the RMSHA champs return to Cat in 2008.

“I think the whole team will do great once again,” Tupper says. “Cat is putting a great package together for us and the sleds are bulletproof; they’re so dependable. And all the guys work together so well; we develop setups as a group and always share information.”

Among those returning to Arctic Cat’s climbing crew are Les Keller, Chance Buckallew, Travis Zollinger and Russell Frisby. In 2007, Keller claimed Stock 700, Buckallew won Stock 800, Zollinger took 1000 Improved and Frisby earned Mod 800.

Travis Zollinger is one of several Zollinger family members flying the Cat colors; others include Nate, Tony and Amy Zollinger, who swept the women’s classes in 2007. “They are so valuable to have on the team,” says Free. “They’ve got near 100 years of experience between them, their clutching knowledge is awesome and they’re always willing to help other team members.”

The Zollinger clan isn’t the only family act representing Arctic Cat: Kyle, Russ and Nels Tapio will all be back. Kyle is coming off another tremendous season. In 2006, the Brush Prairie, Washington, native became the first Arctic Cat rider to win the prestigious King of Kings crown at the Jackson Hole Hillclimb. He did it again in 2007.

Other members of the 2008 Cat hillclimb squad include Ben Adams, David Brown, Alan Huntzinger, Casey Jump, Rob Kincaid, Lonnie Keller and the Cheeney, Ottobre and Stone families.

“I just can’t say enough about all of our guys,” Shimpa says. “They all work so hard and give it everything they’ve got. I love talking about them because they’re such a good group.”