Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/485263
The 16th Annual SAE Snowmobile Chal- lenge was held March 3-7 at Michigan Tech- nological University in Houghton, Mich., with more than 20 teams from the U.S., Canada and Finland participating. The members of the International Snow- mobile Manufacturers Association — Arctic Cat, BRP, Polaris and Yamaha — were Gold- level sponsors of the event. Representatives from the manufacturers were involved in the event and supported the college and university students participating. The University of Wisconsin won the Internal Combustion Engine Division, ahead of Kettering University. The competition featured a new Diesel Utility category, where North Dakota State took first place. The diesel category was cre- ated as diesel sleds have different characteris- tics than gasoline sleds, and there is growing demand for snowmobile use in the agricul- tural and hard work categories that would use diesel power. Second place in the Diesel category was awarded to SUNY-Buffalo. The Finnish team from Lapland Univer- sity of Applied Sciences celebrated its first year as the top Zero-Emissions team. Michigan Tech has hosted the Snow- mobile Challenge for the past 13 years and experienced a beautiful snowy winter with temperatures solidly in the freezing range, providing ideal conditions for the SAE Col- legiate Design competition. A record-setting 11 teams completed the 100-mile endurance run to Copper Harbor. In addition to engineers and other groups, the U.S. Forest Service is very supportive of the challenge. Forest Service representa- tives believe that the snowmobile industry and clubs have made great strides, and this partnership with the Snowmobile Challenge is a great opportunity for the students to help move forward in a partnership. The SAE Snowmobile Challenge includes such activities as: Endurance Run from Houghton to Cop- per Harbor Technical presentations on emissions and design parameters Subjective handling event Acceleration test Scientific testing of emission levels and sound levels CROSS-COUNTRY RACING SEASON ENDS IN WARROAD, MINN. The USXC season is officially over with the conclusion of the Seven Clans Casino War- road (Minn.) 100. The weekend weather was fantastic, and the new Seven Clans Casino served as an excellent location. Zach Herfindahl and his ZR put on a cross-country clinic as he showed the com- petitors he is the man to beat. He not only won the Pro Stock final, but he ran off and left them. Aaron Christensen came down from Canada and placed second in Pro Stock and Pro Open on his Polaris Axis and was the only driver to seriously challenge Herfindahl. Wes Selby topped off an incredible season with a third-place finish in Pro Stock and Pro Open. The Arctic Cat duo of Herfindahl and Selby have established themselves as the team to beat. The Yamaha team of Re Wadena and Matt Piche have had a very competitive season, coming close to winning a number of times, with Piche taking a hard-earned second at the Thief River Falls Seven Clans 300 and a fourth in Pro Open at Warroad. Seven USXC races were scheduled, with six run. Since 2013, USXC has put on 24 suc- cessful cross-country events. MIKUNI RELEASES MK PULSE FUEL PUMPS Mikuni MK Pulse Fuel Pumps are now available for use as OEM original equip- ment in many motorsports applications, including snow- mobiles. The benefits of using the Mikuni MK pumps range from fuel-pumping capabilities to freedom of placement on custom powersports vehicles. The fuel pumps employ an engine's fluctuating crank- case pressure when running to pump fuel from a remote fuel tank to an engine carburetor. In addition, they allow the builder the option of placing the fuel tank in any location not requiring a gravity fuel feed, and there is no need for an auxiliary electric fuel pump. PSB DIGEST www.PowersportsBusiness.com SNOWMOBILE Powersports Business • April 6, 2015 • 47 Wisconsin wins SAE Snowmobile Challenge at Michigan Tech Zach Herfindahl won both the Pro Stock and Pro Open titles at the USXC finale in Warroad, Minn. PHOTO BY ARCTICINSIDER.COM Mikuni has launched its new OEM replacement fuel pumps.