Here's my new sled :)

Last night I picked up my new snowmobile from Pittsfield Lawn & Tractor. I have to bring it back when the tunnel supports are in, but at least I'm getting a chance to ride it a little bit. So far I'm quite happy with it, though I definately need to make some adjustments to the suspension. Right now it doesn't turn well because there's not enough ski pressure. The throttle response is impressive, and once I get used to the machine I think I'll be very happy with the handling. Right now it's so much different than my current sled that it feels unnatural.

Last night I took it for a short ride up to Whitingham Lake and back. I made myself very sea-sick. Sometimes when I ride at night I get like that because the tunnel vision makes you get a bit of a disconnect between the motion you're feeling and the motion you're seeing. I made it a lot worse this time because I kept yanking on the throttle to feel all that new power. :) I'm still a little sick today from it. I'm also very tired, which isn't helping. But in any case, tomorrow I'll get it registered and insured so that I can take it for a ride on the trails during daylight.

Here are a couple pics I snapped last night:




In other snowmobile news, my insurance claim finally got straightened out. Last week I got my estimate for the damage claim on my old sled and it came in almost $900 under what I expected because they gave a $35/hr body shop labor rate instead of the $70/hr snowmobile mechanic rate. We got that straightened out yesterday and my check is on the way now. Once I get that check I'll be able to pay off my Corvette loan and then my new sled loan will be the only loan payment I'm making on vehicles. Over the summer I plan to fix the old sled (with a lot of help from Dad) so that I can have a 2nd sled for Kristin/Dad/Friends. I'm very excited about that because it will give me the opportunity to introduce some new people to snowmobiling and to ride with them.