American Snowmobiler magazine’s annual shootout trials are scheduled for Friday, December 13, at the White Otter Fish & Game Club grounds at 10914 Woodgate Rd. in Woodgate.
Held on the club’s quarter-mile drag strip, this year’s event marks the 24th 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 the DynoTech Research Center in Batavia, NY where they are put through computerized dynamometer tests to ensure that they are typical “box stock.” Dyno test comparisons of the stock machines are posted on www.dynotechresearch.com.
The stock snowmobiles 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 much like those 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 CJ Motorsports—are allowed to optimize clutch tuning specifications similar to what they would do when selling new machines.
Modified “Lakeracer” 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 open to spectators at 8 a.m. and the club will be selling food items on-site until the event concludes in mid-afternoon. Admission fee is $8 per person.
