We Still Have Winter In Wyoming

[mtntopper]

Yesterday we woke up to -11F and about 12 inches of new snow in the past couple days. We decided in the afternoon to take our new to us Thiokol Super Imp out and around the neighborhood. Jan took some video and still pics of us while we were out cruising around. We both really like the Super Imp as it handles like a sports car in the tight and narrows with more top speed than most other snow cats including the Sprytes and our 1200 LMCs we owned.

Jan took this video from a distance away from where I was in the snow cat near the trees. The snow is about 4 to 5 foot of sugar powder snow near the trees.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2DjRzG576I&feature=channel_page"]YouTube - P3100014[/ame]

This video was with her riding near the trees in the Super Imp as we went back through the same area of deep snow as in the first video.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKH620PKi3A&feature=channel"]YouTube - P3100021[/ame]

This is the trail to the back side of our property from the forest service land to the west. We had not taken a snow cat through this trail this past winter, only snowmobiles. The trail is narrow and twisty with many big deep drifts of snow.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2LpjrM4CBo&feature=channel"]YouTube - P3100036[/ame]

 

[mtntopper]

More pics of yesterdays snow cat trip around the neighborhood......

 

[Doc]

Good pics! Heck I'd guess you'll still have snow on the ground come May 1st.
We are already thinking of putting the boats in here. I know it's pushing it, but one 'might' go in this weekend for a trip down river to it's new home. Anxious new owner.

 

[utahwilson]

Nice video (w/ music) and pics. How does the imp perform on hills? I first looked at buying an imp but it was a two seater and we could barely fit in it. We looked at a spryte, however it seemed to large for what we needed. There are a couple 4 person imps for sale and I'm sure I could modify the seat. Whats the top speed in an imp?

 

[EastTexFrank]

Good job guys. I do enjoy seeing your place although all that snow has my knees seizing up just looking at it.

 

[mtntopper]

Nice video (w/ music) and pics. How does the imp perform on hills? I first looked at buying an imp but it was a two seater and we could barely fit in it. We looked at a spryte, however it seemed to large for what we needed. There are a couple 4 person imps for sale and I'm sure I could modify the seat. Whats the top speed in an imp?

I have owned and operated several different snow cats: Bombardier BR100+, 1200 LMCs, Aktiv Tracmaster, a standard Imp and the Super Imp Thiokol snow cats. I have operated many larger utility type snow cats. The Imps both work very well in most snow conditions while the Super Imp handles easier with the automatic trans, 6 cylinder engine and the OC12 rear end. The smaller wide track Imp will surprise you with its ease of getting around in the steep and deep also. The Super Imp has a better (lighter) snow foot print than the standard Imp.

As to hill climbing I have not really put the Super Imp to the test but my preliminary thoughts are it will do very good with the power, speed and PSI foot print. I looked at the Super Imp track with the track angle raising in the back to meet the sprocket and like a snowmobile the angle of attack/contact to the snow will often determine how you float in the snow. The angle of attack on the Super Imp in reverse is like a snowmobile track going forward. If you are having a problem going forward up hill it might be easier and work better to back up the hill as the track angle looks like it might keep the machine on top of the snow and with the engine and cab weight in back makes some sense to me for really steep climbs. I did a little backing up hill as in the deeper snow shown in one of the earlier pics. It seemed almost easier to do it that way yesterday even though I had no problem going up the hill as you normally would. Overall performance of any of the Thiokols designed snow cats for hard use, deep and steep is very hard to equal or beat. I have owned a Trackmaster and they are great but not as easy to maneuver, as comfortable and easy to utilize as the Super Imp. I would say for personal use the Super Imp maybe the ideal snow cat for private use.

Here is a a couple pics of my Thiokol Standard Imp that I owned. It was a sweet heart and now is owned by a neighbor cabin user.

The top speed if conditions allow should be about 18 to 21mph for either the Standard or the Super Imp. Snow conditions limit the speed of any snow cat.





This pic shows the angle of contact/attack of the back of the track on the Super Imp that I mention above. It is less sharp than the front angle and might work well on backing up a big hill if you are unable to navigate it going forward........

 

[utahwilson]

Interesting tracks almost look the reverse what you would see on the trackmaster.

 

[Gatorboy]

Still winter in Maryland too ... in fact the entire Northern Hemisphere is in winter ... until spring arrives.

 

[NorthernRedneck]

Nice pics and video. Thanks for sharing. Wish I had that as a backyard playground.

 

[dlmorindds]

Bill--great pictures and videos! Loved the music. Your the Renaissance Man of Hazelton!