Polaris moving some work to Mexico....

polarisrider1

New member
3 pages of talk, Nothing changed or will change. Nobody will unify. Don't expect our kids(me generation) to change any thing either. It is how are system is setup. Note: the big 3 are Toyota, Honda and Ford, all build cars here with US labor. We are global and that's that.
 

arcticgeorge

New member
Polaris has been making Victory Motorcycles since 97, that's 14 years, sounds like more than a few to me. This book is very educative :) Polaris made the first snowmobile, but everybody thinks it'd Doo because they made the first "modern" snowmobile with the motor in the front and therefore have a patent for the "first one" versus polaris' rear motor.

Since 97 jeeez time flies...still very small compared to 50 plus years of snowmobiling..this article claims Polaris had thier sled and patents before ski-doo.... From the history of snowmobiling... Modern Snowmobiles
In 1954, brothers Alan and Edgar Heteen and partner David Johnson changed the name of Heteen Hoist and Derrick Company to Polaris Industries Inc, marking the beginning of major single-track snowmobile development, though it was not until the winter of 1955-56 that Polaris Industries manufactured the first machine of their own design.
Joseph-Armand Bombardier’s well-marketed Ski-Doo further propelled the modern snowmobile boom in 1958. Originally called the “ski-dog,” an ad agency lost the tail of the “g” on the artwork, however Bombardier discovered the mistake too late to fix it. In 1960 Canada granted patents for Bombardier’s endless track design followed by America in 1962. Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) gained another market advantage when Polaris neared bankruptcy following the failed design of the Comet in 1963.....more details............................In 1961, Edgar Heteen separated from Polaris and stared Arctic Enterprises. Seven years later, a motorcycle company called Yamaha built its first Snowmobile, the SL350 a 2-stroke, twin cylinder machine with slide valve carburetors. Hundreds of smaller manufacturers existed, but by the late 1970s Polaris, BRP, Yamaha and Artic Cat conquered the market.
 

indy_500

Well-known member
Since 97 jeeez time flies...still very small compared to 50 plus years of snowmobiling..this article claims Polaris had thier sled and patents before ski-doo.... From the history of snowmobiling... Modern Snowmobiles
In 1954, brothers Alan and Edgar Heteen and partner David Johnson changed the name of Heteen Hoist and Derrick Company to Polaris Industries Inc, marking the beginning of major single-track snowmobile development, though it was not until the winter of 1955-56 that Polaris Industries manufactured the first machine of their own design.
Joseph-Armand Bombardier’s well-marketed Ski-Doo further propelled the modern snowmobile boom in 1958. Originally called the “ski-dog,” an ad agency lost the tail of the “g” on the artwork, however Bombardier discovered the mistake too late to fix it. In 1960 Canada granted patents for Bombardier’s endless track design followed by America in 1962. Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) gained another market advantage when Polaris neared bankruptcy following the failed design of the Comet in 1963.....more details............................In 1961, Edgar Heteen separated from Polaris and stared Arctic Enterprises. Seven years later, a motorcycle company called Yamaha built its first Snowmobile, the SL350 a 2-stroke, twin cylinder machine with slide valve carburetors. Hundreds of smaller manufacturers existed, but by the late 1970s Polaris, BRP, Yamaha and Artic Cat conquered the market.

Everything in that article would be correct.

BRP almost bought out Poo. A few years later Poo almost bought out Cat.... Thought i might add that to go in with this wonderful discussion :)
 

whitedust

Well-known member
3 pages of talk, Nothing changed or will change. Nobody will unify. Don't expect our kids(me generation) to change any thing either. It is how are system is setup. Note: the big 3 are Toyota, Honda and Ford, all build cars here with US labor. We are global and that's that.

X2 agree but some interesting stuff came up along the way.lol
 
this topic really has the hot button.....from what i believe are mostly normal every day working folks who represent main stream america...john dee'ers.

So what disturbs me is the basic "darn it, there is nothing i can do about it so...i am going to join them and who cares" attitude.

We are fools if we do not see that the enemy is not them....it is us!

If we didn't buy it...they would not sell it. This is worth repeating....
If we didn't buy it...they would not sell it.

Global is the market because we americans, buy globally...and why? Because we think that the product is the best, or the cheapest, or that has the best service department...on and on...when we should really be thinking....gosh...what happens if i do buy this product not made in the usa??

Let's not forget about good old fashion corporate greed too, since no company is willing to work for at respectable 25 or 40% profit...it needs to be 2,000 % or forget it. (who gets to pocket the $45k for the chinese tile??...and have yah really looked to see if you can find it made in the usa at a reasonable price...thereby helping your bottom line and the guy who makes the tile and who will someday need you to lay it for him??? See how many chinese come a call'n for you...eh?)

frankly this process has disturbed me since i saw the tv industry we had in this country disappear because japan decided they wanted it, and they (their country) supported that process mainly thru companies like sony who were issued grants (not loans like we stupid americans provide) from their countries to subsidize their industry and then they brought the products over to the usa where everyone saw how good they were and how cheap and reliable they were and flocked to them leaving the companies like rca, zenith, magnavox, and others left holding the bag.

In those days, the companies just went out of business. Now they pack up those machines and move to 3rd world countries where they do not pay health care, or pensions, or over-time, or have government restrictions...and where they can produce a vacuum cleaner for $7 but import them here and sell them for 3 easy payments of $40...with money back guaranty...including shipping.

We all looked at those tv's and said...screw it...it is a superior tv, and the heck with the american companies ----who is going to miss them anyway???---

while that happened back in the "early globalization" days....today the trickle has become a gusher!!

If we didn't buy it they couldn't sell it. Simple as that.

While we all stand there and stare at the balloon that is deflating...and say gee whizz....we can't do anything about it!

Once we americans wake up...take the extra step to find out who in the usa is still making this thing i need to buy, and then pay the extra cash for it...knowing that the cash you spend will stay here and come back around to support your job....then we will have turned a corner.

I know american stuff has been often substandard...and often the most expensive compared to the cheap knock-off stuff that is half the price.

But............it is by far.....more important that we support american made products.

We might find that many of the things that "left the country" such as everything from toasters, to shovels....come back here again and start building them here again. This provides needed work, for workers who spend money buying our stuff, which keep our jobs going...get it??

but that won't happen until our attitude changes. And if you think there is nothing you can do about it....then i feel sorry for you...because as the saying says....if your not part of the solution...then you are part of the problem.

United we stand....divided...we fall...and brother...right now you better start looking for your parachute...because the bombay doors are beginning to open...which translates into just one thing that should hit you like a door in the face....your job is next! Now repeat after me....."hello...i am new to this job....welcome to walmart...sir, can i grab a cart for yah???" those walking and talking tall, will need to study these words because it is fundamental to their next job!

When we tell polaris...to take a hike...when we tell skidoo....not in my life time...when we tell orix xl, to take his vacuum cleaners and sell them to the chinese....we won't see anything positive come from this globalization process in the long run. Period!

well said
god bless the usa!!!!
 
our biggest problem today is our work ethic, or lack of it, and expecting something for nothing. If the unions worked as hard at being "productive" as they do getting high wages, benefits and retirement benifits that most people would kill for, we could compete. For those of us over 40, think back to when we were young and how hard we worked. Now take a look at today's kids and the difference is amazing!!

thats a pretty bold statement ...im a union local 73 tinner and i went to a 4 year apprenticeship and bust my *** everyday to keep my job and make my company $$$$.my local doesnt protect me at all if the contractor get slow i sit no $$$ . Alot of people think the trade union's are like the the auto workers or school teachers unions.no one protects us.yes the local pays my bennys , but no work no check and in 15 years i never even seen anyone in our local file a grevience they would laungh at us ... Unions are great when managed well
 

mxz_chris

New member
Did anyone see that the head AFL-CIO just proudly accepted an award from the Communist Party of America. Just sayin.
 

indy_500

Well-known member
The S-chassis in 97 was the king for a good while. Toni Haikkenen rocked on those.

That chassis wasn't "the king" compared to other brands though. No one had what Polaris had-consistency for 15 years with the wedge chassis and the 488 cc fuji liquid or fan. That chassis couldn't keep the ski's on the ground anyways.
 

mxz_chris

New member
Disconnect the front sway bar, give the front shocks more rebound with a progressive compession rate, soften the front springs, put the limiter on the second from the tightest hole, and stiffen the rear shock on rebound and compression, and it rode on rails. They were a handful until yoou figured them out though.
Anyone have the results for 1997-2000 snow cross championship results?
 

mrfirecat

New member
Excellent post anonomoose. America needs to wise up. The direction our country is heading in is going to be destructive. We are just seeing the tip of the iceberg right now.

Any change has to start with consumers. Consumers drive most of the decisions that are made in companies. I guarantee that companies would move manufacturing back to the US if consumers demanded it.

I too saw the flyer that Menards put out. I was really excited to see a retailer promoting American made products. It would be really good to see a trend like this get started with other retailers.
 

polarisrider1

New member
Excellent post anonomoose. America needs to wise up. The direction our country is heading in is going to be destructive. We are just seeing the tip of the iceberg right now.

Any change has to start with consumers. Consumers drive most of the decisions that are made in companies. I guarantee that companies would move manufacturing back to the US if consumers demanded it.

I too saw the flyer that Menards put out. I was really excited to see a retailer promoting American made products. It would be really good to see a trend like this get started with other retailers.

You think Menards did that because they care? 90% of what they sell is price point crap. They are the Kmart of Hardware using the Walmart strategy to make sales. It was marketing hype to give you the feel good of being in their store.
 

mrfirecat

New member
No I don't think Menards personally cares about buy American but you better believe they care what their customers think. My point is that companies make decisions based on what consumers want. That is marketing. They must of felt that consumers were interested enough to print a "Made in America" specific flyer. That is a good sign that more Americans are concerned about this.

It's just like the "green" movement. Do you really think most companies care about the green movement. No of course not but if consumers care about it then companies will make products to go along with it.

Consumers dictate the market.
 
Top