How it all Started:
I have been asked to share my start to finish story behind the ‘Twisted Mini Panther’ sled build. This is not just a custom sled build project that I intend to keep polished and only display at the NW sled shows this season, but it is more the key piece of equipment needed to achieve the next level of my riding capabilities.
The idea of building the ‘Twisted Mini Panther’ started out one evening after an incredibly epic day of riding with my mentor & Husband, Budd (many know him as ‘Budd, from Timbersled’, or Budd from ‘Top Cat Modz’).
While nervously wondering to myself how he would respond at what I was about to ask. I said, "I want to climb the Smith Chute. Do you think it is possible? If so, do you think I will eventually have the skills and equipment to achieve this goal?"
Now, this is the moment when you’re EXPECTING your ‘best friend’ to be brutally honest with the answer, "NO WAY! JOSE! You could kill or seriously injure yourself, not to mention total your sled!!'"......
….BUT, instead,…. after a few moments of unnerving silence… Budd calmly answered, "YES, with the right conditions, a reliable turbo kit on your sled, and attention to focusing on honing your chute climbing skills and confidence a bit more, that goal is possible”. Budd then went on to explain in detail what I was going to need to start proceeding in the direction to accomplish this.
For me personally, riding sleds has been the highest level of rewarding challenge and satisfaction of any activity that I have ever experienced. It continually draws me to seek out the next level of capabilities from with inside myself.
For three seasons I have admired this ultimate dream climb. However, my current naturally aspirated M1000 was not going to make the cut in performance to strive for that next level of my future sights.
So, over a couple grilled buffalo burgers, cold Coca Cola and a bag of chips, the dream of the Twisted Mini Panther build began between Budd and I.
The 1st Sled Build Logistics:
I would need to step up to a sled that was capable of making this type of accent and still enable me to remain comfortable riding. I had already been discussing with Shain Stanger, of Twisted Turbo’s, on the upcoming transition into a pump/race gas M1000 turbo kit intended to install on my current ‘07 M1000. However, with all the extra modifications I had planned on for the upcoming season, along with the newest products coming out from my various sponsors it made more sense to start from scratch with a new chassis as to do it correctly. So we detoured from using my current M1000, that I had been riding for the past three seasons.
That next morning I called Darrick & Jessica Johnson at Edge Performance in Hayden, ID and shared my intentions. By the next afternoon I was going down to pick up a 2009 Arctic Cat M1000 162 Standard.
Later that week I took it up Trestle Creek and broke in 65 miles on the motor before Budd was to begin the complete tear down of the new sled.
I then proceeded to contact my other sponsors to fill them in on my new project. Within a week, I had a pretty good idea of what was going to be on the sled, without this build project getting extravagantly out of control. My main objective was to build a sled that the ‘common consumer’ could afford the various ‘bolt on’ parts, and yet, was a perfect fit for my own rider needs as well.
The Tear Down day one:
Nearly all the plastic, along with the seat, front suspension, rear suspension, & track were removed the first day.
Check back tomorrow & I will continue to share throughout the next few weeks the experience of the entire transformation of the ‘Twisted Mini Panther’!
I have been asked to share my start to finish story behind the ‘Twisted Mini Panther’ sled build. This is not just a custom sled build project that I intend to keep polished and only display at the NW sled shows this season, but it is more the key piece of equipment needed to achieve the next level of my riding capabilities.
The idea of building the ‘Twisted Mini Panther’ started out one evening after an incredibly epic day of riding with my mentor & Husband, Budd (many know him as ‘Budd, from Timbersled’, or Budd from ‘Top Cat Modz’).
While nervously wondering to myself how he would respond at what I was about to ask. I said, "I want to climb the Smith Chute. Do you think it is possible? If so, do you think I will eventually have the skills and equipment to achieve this goal?"
Now, this is the moment when you’re EXPECTING your ‘best friend’ to be brutally honest with the answer, "NO WAY! JOSE! You could kill or seriously injure yourself, not to mention total your sled!!'"......
….BUT, instead,…. after a few moments of unnerving silence… Budd calmly answered, "YES, with the right conditions, a reliable turbo kit on your sled, and attention to focusing on honing your chute climbing skills and confidence a bit more, that goal is possible”. Budd then went on to explain in detail what I was going to need to start proceeding in the direction to accomplish this.
For me personally, riding sleds has been the highest level of rewarding challenge and satisfaction of any activity that I have ever experienced. It continually draws me to seek out the next level of capabilities from with inside myself.
For three seasons I have admired this ultimate dream climb. However, my current naturally aspirated M1000 was not going to make the cut in performance to strive for that next level of my future sights.
So, over a couple grilled buffalo burgers, cold Coca Cola and a bag of chips, the dream of the Twisted Mini Panther build began between Budd and I.
The 1st Sled Build Logistics:
I would need to step up to a sled that was capable of making this type of accent and still enable me to remain comfortable riding. I had already been discussing with Shain Stanger, of Twisted Turbo’s, on the upcoming transition into a pump/race gas M1000 turbo kit intended to install on my current ‘07 M1000. However, with all the extra modifications I had planned on for the upcoming season, along with the newest products coming out from my various sponsors it made more sense to start from scratch with a new chassis as to do it correctly. So we detoured from using my current M1000, that I had been riding for the past three seasons.
That next morning I called Darrick & Jessica Johnson at Edge Performance in Hayden, ID and shared my intentions. By the next afternoon I was going down to pick up a 2009 Arctic Cat M1000 162 Standard.
Later that week I took it up Trestle Creek and broke in 65 miles on the motor before Budd was to begin the complete tear down of the new sled.
I then proceeded to contact my other sponsors to fill them in on my new project. Within a week, I had a pretty good idea of what was going to be on the sled, without this build project getting extravagantly out of control. My main objective was to build a sled that the ‘common consumer’ could afford the various ‘bolt on’ parts, and yet, was a perfect fit for my own rider needs as well.
The Tear Down day one:
Nearly all the plastic, along with the seat, front suspension, rear suspension, & track were removed the first day.
Check back tomorrow & I will continue to share throughout the next few weeks the experience of the entire transformation of the ‘Twisted Mini Panther’!
Wow, very happy for you, plus absolutely LOVE the step by step view of all of this. Great pics and write up! 
You have me watching.......now when I hear of the AC TM machines I'll be able to envision just what takes place (and give me ideas 
