A snowmobile, sometimes referred to as a snow scooter, a sled, or as a snow machine, can be defined as a land vehicle that is propelled by rubber tracks or belts, equipped with skis for steering. Snowmobiles are meant to be driven on ice and snow, without a road or trail being necessary.

The first ever snowmobile can be traced back to 1923, when a man by the name of Carl Eliason made modifications to a Ford Model T by replacing the undercarriage with tracks and skis. These earliest snowmobiles were used to deliver the mail through sleet and snow in the wintry Midwest area. The snowmobiles appearance and function has changed quite a bit over the years.

Today, there are a variety of reasons why people enjoy snowmobiles; recreation, remote travel, racing, as well as being used in rescue efforts. Snowmobiles are also made in a variety of styles, with some being produced for the single rider, with others being made for two passengers. Many riders of snowmobiles also utilize their snowmobiles to gain access to wilderness areas that are too remote to be accessed by a normal motor vehicle.

Snowmobiles have become so popular that there are now specific events centered on them! There is the Snowcross Racing Series, Snowmobile Skipping Races, as well as the Grass Drags, which are held in the absence of snow, right after Labor Day in Minnesota. While not all snowmobiles are manufactured the same, the average recreational snowmobile can reach speeds of 120 miles per hour, and the snowmobiles made for racing can reach speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour.

Not only are snowmobiles popular in the United States and Canada, Russia has their very own version of the snowmobile, which can be seen in the aerosan. Aerosan, when translated, means “aero sled.” The Russians use this propeller-powered snowmobile for delivering the mail, patrolling the borders, as well as for recreational purposes.

The aerosan has a very colorful past, and their use by the military can be traced back to the 1920’s. They were used in the Second World War, and were outfitted with a machine gun mount that was attached to the roof of the aerosan. During wartime, these particular snowmobiles were also used for medical evacuation in deep snow.

No matter what your reason for riding a snowmobile, you should always practice a bit of snowmobile safety. When operating, or riding as a passenger on a snowmobile, you should never be under the influence of alcohol. You should always carry a first aid kit, always wear protective headgear, monitor your speed, and never travel alone. There are also snowmobile safety courses that are available from a variety of sources, and these safety courses are always a good idea for the younger riders. Staying safe should always be the first priority when enjoying a snowmobile!

Although 4 wheeler atvs are some of the most dangerous vehicles known to man, people are more than ever buying 4 wheelers for kids. Not only do these four wheelers tear up the natural habitat, but they make tremendous noise, disturbing the native wildlife while causing their terrible erosion. Back in the days, young people eroded the soil and basically wrecked things for everyone else trying to enjoy the wilderness. But worst of all, is the danger of the 4 wheelers.

Going four-wheeling in one of those big trucks is a lot safer and it’s both fun and popular to do. Nevertheless, whenever you take something off road and go through the brush and the hills, you’re going to end up with someone getting hurt. Many people go four-wheeling during or after a drinking binge. That means there are a lot of people out there, too drunk to drive, tearing down back roads at breakneck speed. A safer way to go 4 wheeling is using 4×4 trucks, and this is also popular. Still, anything that involves driving trucks around off road for recreation, people will find a way to make dangerous, especially if they are young and stupid. Instead of having to worry about their 4 wheelers rolling over on them, we now have the problem of drunken drivers going in their older brother’s, or father’s pickup trucks at high speeds on the back roads. And more than once, this has had tragic results.

No matter how much fun they seem, people who are aware of how dangerous four-wheel ATVs are still buying them for their children. It seems like they are just asking for trouble by doing that. There are things like movie theaters and great movies to watch, soda shops for a nice afternoon treat, and even music venues that people of all ages can go to. How about enjoying nature by taking a great hike in the woods? There are acres and acres of beautiful wilderness to explore that don’t need to be spoiled by the grumbling whine of an ATV. On an ATV, the nature flashes by so fast you can’t see anything, you can’t hear any birds singing, and you’ve practically scared away all of the fantastic wildlife out there. There need to be some laws protecting kids and the environment from the dangers of ATVs. While they may be of use to someone out there, they aren’t toys and they’re definitely not for kids.

Why, with all of this tragedy, parents would even think of buying their kids 4 wheelers? It just does not make any sense. It is not like there is absolutely nothing to do in town. There are movie theaters, coffee shops, the soda shop, the main drag. There is even an all ages venue that provides rock music for the kids. And that does not even touch on all of the beautiful wilderness that surrounds us. But instead of enjoying that wilderness for its quiet and mystery, the kids just use it to drive their 4 wheelers, making enough noise to wake the devil himself and completely trampling on nature. That is a shame when you realize how much they miss out on hearing over the rumble of their 250cc 4 wheelers engines. There is a whole world passing them by. Parents should save their money and buy their children something safer — like a bicycle or scooter.

The Jeep Hurricane is a concept vehicle unveiled by Daimler-Chrysler at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. It opened with and continues to receive rave reviews! So many in fact that it was rumored that Daimler-Chrysler was considering a limited production run of the vehicle. Those rumors have died down, but the Hurricane continues to draw the interest and attention of 4×4 afficianados, and hey, why not?

As Daimler-Chrysler has said: “Jeep Hurricane is simply the most maneuverable, most capable and most powerful 4×4 ever built,” said Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President - Chrysler Group Design. “It pays homage to the extreme enthusiasts’ Jeep vehicles in form and off-road capability, but is a unique interpretation of Jeep design. Simply stated, it is the extreme example for the Jeep brand.”

Why build such a vehicle? The Hurricane broadly successfully and dramatically illustrates Daimler-Chrysler’s ingenuity, technical ability and wherewithal. Still, the Hurricane does have practical applications out in the real world. As a Daimler-Chrysler spokesman put it, “Out in the wilderness, changing direction in minimal space can mean the difference between an afternoon of adventure and a distress call back to the trailhead…..The multi-mode four-wheel steering system on Jeep Hurricane is designed to offer enthusiasts the next level of performance and unexpected maneuverability.” It’s not hard to imagine that we’ll eventually see a military vehicle built off of this original design.

The Hurricane possesses an extremely powerful power system with not one but two 5.7-liter HEMI engines, one in the front and one in the back. Both engines deliver an impressive 335 horses for a total of 670 hp. The Hurricane set-up uses the Chrysler Group’s Multi-Displacement System which allows it to run on 4, 8, 12 or all 16 cylinders enabling it to adjust for speed, power and torque giving the driver ultimate power train control. The Hurricane is responsive and can go from 0 to 60 in less than five seconds!

The power is transferred through a central transfer case with split axles and has a mechanically controlled four-wheel torque distribution system. The suspensions, both front and rear, are short/long arm independent with 20 inches of travel, featuring coilover shocks with remote reservoirs.

One of the most impressive features of the Hurricane is its zero turning radius, which enables the vehicle to turn virtually in a circle in place! This is all thanks to a skid steer capability and toe steer, which is the ability to turn both front and rear tires inward. The Jeep concept vehicle has two types of 4-wheel steering: the traditional method with the rear tires turning opposite of the front wheels and an innovative one in which all four wheels turn in the same direction. This actually allows the Jeep Hurricane to move sideways without changing where it is pointing.

Topping off all of this is the Hurricane’s fantastic ground clearance of 14.3 inches and impressive approach-departure angles of 64.0 and 86.7 degrees. It really is a go anywhere do anything vehicle.

The Hurricane also features an innovative way to combine body, power-train and suspension. The suspension along with the power-train is mounted directly to the one-piece carbon fiber reinforced body, eliminating the weight and need for a frame. The vehicles belly is protected and connected by an aluminum spine, which acts as a huge skid plate mechanism. This is a lightweight and structurally strong set-up.

The general public wasn;t the only ones who loved what they saw. The Jeep Hurricane won Autoweek’s “Most Fun” Concept award at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. As we noted earlier there were rumors that Daimler-Chrysler was toying with the idea of a limited production, but those rumors have died down amid the company’s statement that this was indeed a concept vehicle and that’s all (at least for now). Kids, however, will be able to enjoy the Hurricane as Fisher-Price has introduced an all-new Jeep Hurricane toy. In addition, for learning about and ordering the latest innovation in Jeep aftermarket parts, great websites like http://www.xtremeterrain.com will illustrate what is new and offer a selection of affordable and high quality parts.

Automotive Radio Talk Show Host Daytona Dayton, host of Daytona & Friends Radio, will be moving to Alaska for participation in the March, 2006 Iditarod race. A national fundraiser, Pennies for Miles, is being established for Schools and Charities, with hopes that her endeavor to face 1200 miles of wilderness with her dog sled team will help bring attention and raise funds for children’s needs everywhere. [PRWEB May 3, 2005]