American Snowmobiler magazine’s annual shootout trials are scheduled for Friday, December 12, at the White Otter Fish & Game Club grounds at 10914 Woodgate Road in Woodgate.
Held on the club’s quarter-mile drag strip, 2014 marks the 25th year these tests have been conducted.
Participating snowmobiles from different manufacturers are selected at random from box stock at various area dealers.
They are taken to a DynoTech Research Center in Batavia, NY where they are put through computer tests to ensure that they are typical “box stock.”
They are then locked in trailers until being brought to White Otter for the trials.
During the day’s tests, each machine is tested on the track for acceleration and top speed on timers such as are used at NHRA drag races.
After two “out of the crate” tests of each entered sled, the participating dealers—D&D Powersports, Fun Unlimited and Smith Marine—are allowed to optimize clutch tuning specifications similar to what they would do when selling new machines.
Modified snowmobiles with upwards of 600 horsepower are demonstrated with hundreds of spectators lining the fence along the quarter-mile strip.
The White Otter grounds will be opened to spectators at 8 a.m. and the club will be selling food items throughout the event, which will conclude in mid-afternoon.
The heated clubhouse will be available for warming up throughout the event.