Arctic Cat Desert race car purchase program now on ACs website.

tatum

Hans Solo - 2009 UTV Baja 500 & 1000 Winner - UTVU
Feb 10, 2009
1,450
198
63
arizona
In viewing the catalog, I was impressed to see that it runs a dry sump system for the motor oil, has a 28 gallon fuel cell ('cause all serious race UTE's should make it at least 100 miles on a tank of gas), and has 210 amps of available electrical power using an engine mounted alternator (freewheeling pulley, I hope. Curious at what vehicle speed the alternator starts putting out, and how much is the initial amperage) The big benefit here is that when you slam on the brakes, the alternator pulley doesn't come to an immediate halt along with the drive train.
Regarding the ass end, I'm not a fan of the lay-mans basic rear swingarm set up. I remember hearing a rep comment in one of the promo videos that in line stability was a factor in going with a rear swingarm that pivots perpendicular to the wheelbase. I would strap the rear suspension to limit the amount of droop. It may mean some minor tweaking on the coil spring rate and/or adjustment, but given the 32" tires and potential HP the motor has, I don't think you want to force too much of a compound angle on the cv's (based on cv joint technology 2 years ago that is. I'm unaware of the current cv tech and durability). 20" of rear wheel travel would still suffice. The swing radius of the rear suspension looks a bit short to allow 22" of vertical wheel travel without compromising cv joint integrity at full droop. Seems I remember reading somewhere that after last years 1000, someone in the know said the rear cv joint/axle set up was in need of further R&D.
The front steer was a given in my mind. Irregardless of the layout in past models, I'm sure RG would've ran a front steer. It's just the right thing to do. I'd suggest steering dampers with the 32" tires. For less than 5 or 6 lbs., it's a small price to pay for durability . By the end of 2018, expect to see the other mfg's follow the front steer example as set here. I also think they nailed the track width at 77", and the WB at 110". For too long the available UTE's were either too short (in the mid 80" range), or too long (in the mid to high100 teens range).
The spec sheet still left me a bit hungry. For $100,000, I'd sure like to know how much the car weighs. In standard trim, and fully loaded. All in all, it's a pretty impressive package. I'm sure the influence of this vehicle will help to keep the wind blowing strong into the sails of UTV desert racing. Now, if they can just refine the politics of regulating these cars, it will go a long way in securing said future.
The CV issue was the stub size where it goes in to the differential was to small and breaking off in the diff. It was a known problem going in to the 1K and a fix was in the works but wasnt done yet.
 

baja specialist

Well-Known Member
Mar 23, 2013
242
254
63
Alpine CA
BITD rules say the manufacture must build 1000 units per year, to be eligible for both Production classes.
The problem is that they don't specify that the units have to be already produced before you can race it!!! So RG just claims that they are going to make a 1000 units.
 

bluediamond

Active Member
Jun 24, 2015
300
97
28
54
To me the spirit of a production rule means that every team has equal chance to purchase a car as a whole . No one off exotic motors or trans that not every team has acess to. To me the speedcat is now every bit of a production car now that a dealer network has been established as a RZR built by Jimco or RMR in my opinion.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: XPirate

zambo

Member
Nov 13, 2016
42
15
8
55
I hear Geiser brothers are planning on building 1000 trophy trucks so teams can run them in stock full.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: PickupTrucker

baja specialist

Well-Known Member
Mar 23, 2013
242
254
63
Alpine CA
To me the spirit of a production rule means that every team has equal chance to purchase a car as a whole . No one off exotic motors or trans that not every team has acess to. To me the speedcat is now every bit of a production car now that a dealer network has been established as a RZR built by Jimco or RMR in my opinion.
The motor combo in the Speed Cat is a "one off" combo. It is not found in any production car made other than the Speed Cat, and the Speed Cat is a made to order car "one at a time" not a mass produced car.
The point is that the Polaris and the Can Am's are actually a production car with a cealed production motor and turbo. The Speed Cat is using a Yamaha motor with a turbo that does not come stock on any production car. I am all for Robby and Arctic Cat racing in the UTV class but he needs to be racing within the same rules as everyone else in the class.
Just because you can order a car or a truck does not make it a production vehicle. You can order a Trophy Truck from Jimco or Tysco but that does not make it a production truck.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rynomx785

zambo

Member
Nov 13, 2016
42
15
8
55
When they build 1000 of them, THEN it will be a "production" car. Not before. Production cars are built, then sold. As opposed to sold, then built.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

bluediamond

Active Member
Jun 24, 2015
300
97
28
54
The motor combo in the Speed Cat is a "one off" combo. It is not found in any production car made other than the Speed Cat, and the Speed Cat is a made to order car "one at a time" not a mass produced car.
The point is that the Polaris and the Can Am's are actually a production car with a cealed production motor and turbo. The Speed Cat is using a Yamaha motor with a turbo that does not come stock on any production car. I am all for Robby and Arctic Cat racing in the UTV class but he needs to be racing within the same rules as everyone else in the class.
Just because you can order a car or a truck does not make it a production vehicle. You can order a Trophy Truck from Jimco or Tysco but that does not make it a production truck.
Im guessing you may remember Tiger atv ? Maybe not. This is exactly what they did as a company back in the day. Built hand made , one at a time race bikes for the atv class for production racing . There are also lots of examples of small shops in Auto racing building cars for the production classes. These small shops have been accepted by most all the racing oranizations . People act like RG came up with this concept all on his own. When in fact this type of thing has been going on forever in almost all forms of racing. Its not a new idea at all.
 

bluediamond

Active Member
Jun 24, 2015
300
97
28
54
You forget that ATV racing back then did not have a production rule so that logic does not apply.
This is true and I had forgotten that. Its been a while. I'm just not understanding how it can be argued that if a car comes with a seriel number and is ordered from a dealer its not cosidered a production vehicle. Not sure how the number of vehicles produced has anything to do with it. The jimco argument holds no water since jimco doesnt run any type of dealership. . It seems a bit elitist to say only the guys with factory backing and or unlimited resources can run a Jimco or RMR type race car but the common man with no connections that saves thier pennys shouldnt be allowed to go down to a dealer , plunk down thier money and have a car thats capable of competing with the factory teams.
 
Last edited:

dezertracer

Member
May 22, 2016
32
6
8
44
Until Textron starts selling a Wildcat XX car to the public the Speedcat shouldn't be allowed to race a "production" class. From what I've heard Textron will release the Wildcat XX as a naturally aspirated car for the first year so the Speedcat with a turbo cant race the Pro Production turbo class for a while.
 

tatum

Hans Solo - 2009 UTV Baja 500 & 1000 Winner - UTVU
Feb 10, 2009
1,450
198
63
arizona
Until Textron starts selling a Wildcat XX car to the public the Speedcat shouldn't be allowed to race a "production" class. From what I've heard Textron will release the Wildcat XX as a naturally aspirated car for the first year so the Speedcat with a turbo cant race the Pro Production turbo class for a while.
In SCORE it can race up.
 

the stripping shop

RACER - UTVUnderground Approved
Jan 29, 2009
1,101
137
63
peoria,Az
www.strippingshop.com
The question is. Can I or anybody on this website walk over to your local Kitty cat dealer and by a turbo anything sxs is the question? I am 100% positive there will be a shit load of protest when and if robby podium ever.
 

NIKAL

Well-Known Member
May 13, 2012
970
310
63
The question is. Can I or anybody on this website walk over to your local Kitty cat dealer and by a turbo anything sxs is the question? I am 100% positive there will be a shit load of protest when and if robby podium ever.
Protest all you want, throw your protest money down and lose it. The fact is BITD & the UTVWC has approved and allowed the Arctic Cat XX / SpeedCat to race in the Pro Production class. This is not a Robby cheating or breaking a rule. For whatever reason BITD has approved and allowed this SpeedCat into the Production class. So by BITD allowing the SpeedCat to race Pro Production, there is no protest to win.

You need to ask Cory & BITD why they have approved the SpeedCat in the first place? Has anyone actually called or had a meeting with Cory about this? IMO Cory made a huge mistake and possibly opened Pandora's box when he allowed the SpeedCat to race Pro Production without meeting the requirements to run in that class.

For Score I don't think there is an argument either. I'd have to look, but I don't think Score has an Unlimited UTV class, so it falls in the Turbo class. But I'd have to go back and look it up.
 
Last edited:

bluediamond

Active Member
Jun 24, 2015
300
97
28
54
The question is. Can I or anybody on this website walk over to your local Kitty cat dealer and by a turbo anything sxs is the question? I am 100% positive there will be a shit load of protest when and if robby podium ever.
PJs performance , Coyne Powersports and Az West are all on the list of authorized dealers taking orders for the Speedcat. So to answer your question . Yes , anyone on this website can go to an autborized dealer and order the car.
 

baja specialist

Well-Known Member
Mar 23, 2013
242
254
63
Alpine CA
This is true and I had forgotten that. Its been a while. I'm just not understanding how it can be argued that if a car comes with a seriel number and is ordered from a dealer its not cosidered a production vehicle. Not sure how the number of vehicles produced has anything to do with it. The jimco argument holds no water since jimco doesnt run any type of dealership. . It seems a bit elitist to say only the guys with factory backing and or unlimited resources can run a Jimco or RMR type race car but the common man with no connections that saves thier pennys shouldnt be allowed to go down to a dealer , plunk down thier money and have a car thats capable of competing with the factory teams.
The fact is the rules state that there has to be 1000 units produced to race in the class. How many Speed Cats have been produced??? We also have to use OEM trannys and front diff OEM motors and OEM turbos from the production car we are racing. My Jimco car is using all of that and a whole lot more of the OEM production parts.

Why can't the common man can't have a Jimco or an RMR? But the common man can save their pennies and buy a Speed Cat??? Not to sure what the difference is here, have you seen the price tag on a race ready Speed Cat? You make it sound like they are way cheaper than what we are racing. For about the price tag of the Speed Cat you can buy a car from Jimco, RMR, Holz or Cognito.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bark beetle

baja specialist

Well-Known Member
Mar 23, 2013
242
254
63
Alpine CA
Protest all you want, throw your protest money down and lose it. The fact is BITD & the UTVWC has approved and allowed the Arctic Cat XX / SpeedCat to race in the Pro Production class. This is not a Robby cheating or breaking a rule. For whatever reason BITD has approved and allowed this SpeedCat into the Production class. So by BITD allowing the SpeedCat to race Pro Production, there is no protest to win.

You need to ask Cory & BITD why they have approved the SpeedCat in the first place? Has anyone actually called or had a meeting with Cory about this? IMO Cory made a huge mistake and possibly opened Pandora's box when he allowed the SpeedCat to race Pro Production without meeting the requirements to run in that class.

For Score I don't think there is an argument either. I'd have to look, but I don't think Score has an Unlimited UTV class, so it falls in the Turbo class. But I'd have to go back and look it up.
This is Robby bending the rules in order to race in the class. Yes I have spoken with Cory about this subject and found out why it was allowed to race, but I am not at liberty to discuss the details. Like I said before, Robby got it through a loophole in the rules.
And yes SCORE does have an unlimited UTV Pro class but there rules are not clear at all so the Speed Cat will most likely end up in the Pro Turbo class.
 

NIKAL

Well-Known Member
May 13, 2012
970
310
63
Why can't the common man can't have a Jimco or an RMR? But the common man can save their pennies and buy a Speed Cat??? Not to sure what the difference is here, have you seen the price tag on a race ready Speed Cat? You make it sound like they are way cheaper than what we are racing. For about the price tag of the Speed Cat you can buy a car from Jimco, RMR, Holz or Cognito.
I think the idea and concept of the SpeedCat is to be a true Production built race car. Your right the price of a SpeedCat might be about what it would cost to have one on f the shops you mentioned build you a race car. But you still have to buy the vehicle at a dealer, then hire a private shop modify & build it into a race car. And in most cases the owner is buying parts via a 3rd party vendor and giving them to the Fab shop doing the conversion. If the Arctic Cat/SpeedCat Concept works and sells, then it would be more of a Pro Production race UTV then what you are all currently racing today, as it would be a turn key race car that you buy once and race off the lot. To me that's the concept of the Arctic Cat/SpeedCat that Arctic Cat & RGM envisioned. Will it work? We will have to wait and see!
 
  • Like
Reactions: tatum

bluediamond

Active Member
Jun 24, 2015
300
97
28
54
I think the idea and concept of the SpeedCat is to be a true Production built race car. Your right the price of a SpeedCat might be about what it would cost to have one on f the shops you mentioned build you a race car. But you still have to buy the vehicle at a dealer, then hire a private shop modify & build it into a race car. And in most cases the owner is buying parts via a 3rd party vendor and giving them to the Fab shop doing the conversion. If the Arctic Cat/SpeedCat Concept works and sells, then it would be more of a Pro Production race UTV then what you are all currently racing today, as it would be a turn key race car that you buy once and race off the lot. To me that's the concept of the Arctic Cat/SpeedCat that Arctic Cat & RGM envisioned. Will it work? We will have to wait and see!
Yes exactly right. .... With out any connections or resume my guess is you will have almost 6 figures into a Jimco / RMR built race car by the time you purchase the car itself and then pay the builder and pay for parts to put the car together. Rumors are the speedcat will be significantly less than 100k. How is this not a good deal for the little guy to be able to buy a competitive race car over the counter ?
 

NIKAL

Well-Known Member
May 13, 2012
970
310
63
This is Robby bending the rules in order to race in the class. Yes I have spoken with Cory about this subject and found out why it was allowed to race, but I am not at liberty to discuss the details. Like I said before, Robby got it through a loophole in the rules.
And yes SCORE does have an unlimited UTV Pro class but there rules are not clear at all so the Speed Cat will most likely end up in the Pro Turbo class.
Wayne, why can't you discuss the details? I would think it should be public knowledge and not privy to only a few? Again how is Robby bending a rule if BITD is allowing it? Maybe Robby found a loophole in a BITD rule. Robby's good at that, and rarely loses when questioned. Remember he's dealt with NASCAR, INDY & Dakar, where rules and rule books are books, not a single page and are scrutinized in detail. Teams have people who's job is to understand and find loopholes.

I know as a racer and owner of a Pro Production UTV you don't want to hear this, but don't hate the player, hate the game. This is a BITD issue and not a Robby issue. He has built a car that by your words fits the class due to bending a rule or loophole in a BITD rule. To me this sounds like the same type of loophole Holz and Scanlon found with his front suspension.

If I or John Doe bought a SpeedCat would we be looked at as a Cheater and have everyone wanting to protest us?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bricoop and ssb4

BiggJim

I Hate Rules - UTVUnderground Approved
Jan 15, 2009
2,079
452
83
Bakersfield
This is true and I had forgotten that. Its been a while. I'm just not understanding how it can be argued that if a car comes with a seriel number and is ordered from a dealer its not cosidered a production vehicle. Not sure how the number of vehicles produced has anything to do with it. The jimco argument holds no water since jimco doesnt run any type of dealership. . It seems a bit elitist to say only the guys with factory backing and or unlimited resources can run a Jimco or RMR type race car but the common man with no connections that saves thier pennys shouldnt be allowed to go down to a dealer , plunk down thier money and have a car thats capable of competing with the factory teams.
We build and sell race cars that will compete with factory teams ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: PickupTrucker

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
17,292
Messages
179,387
Members
12,145
Latest member
felipebenjamin000