Steve Scheuring raced snowmobiles on the ice oval circuit in the 1970s and has been an innovator and tireless ambassador for the sport of snowmobiling ever since. Steve founded Scheuring Speed Sports in the late 80s as the first independent professional Snocross team without factory backing. Since then, a long-term partnership with BRP* has also included development work on components featured on many modern trail snowmobiles.
A Winning Team
The Snocross team amassed 32 podiums last year with Pro class riders Logan Christian and Hunter Patenaude, who finished the AMSOIL Championship Snocross season in second place due to injuries. Hunter previously won the Pro Lite Championship and Sport Championship and is expected to be a contender for the Pro Championship this year. Nate Lavalley is representing the team in the Sport class after former teammate Adam Ashline won the Sport Championship last year.
Scheuring’s snow team dominates wherever they compete, with more than 320 Pro series podiums and the longest win streak of any team on the national circuit, securing at least one win every year for the last 12 years. They have also won one gold, six silver and five bronze medals at the Winter X Games.
Scheuring also manages a UTV racing squad in the AMSOIL Championship Off-Road series. Team mechanic Elliot Burns is partnered with recently signed Pro 4×4 and UTV pilot Kyle Chaney, winner of more than a dozen off-road racing titles. This year, the team won five races and nine podiums, including one in their Pro 4 Truck, and capped it off by winning the off-road World Championship Cup at Crandon International Raceway. “This is the largest Short Course Off-Road race on the planet and to win it is a huge milestone,” said Scheuring.
Klim* Compound
Scheuring needed a place to test race sleds prior to the annual AMSOIL Championship Snocross series, so he built the premier North American 23-acre testing, training and practice site, complete with a seven-room bunkhouse, race shop and capacity similar to tracks on the national tour.
The compound generates more than $400,000 of business for the community each year as every top driver and nearly 50 teams from around the world flood the tiny city of Aurora, Minnesota, in the weeks leading up to the season opener.
“Build it and they will come.”
– Steve Scheuring
The onsite track affords Scheuring’s team the opportunity to test and train at their own workshop, which is a huge advantage over teams that travel. Starting in October, the team pumps three million gallons of water from an old mine pit to make snow with 11 snow guns. Two state-of-the-art Pistenbully* groomers and large earth-moving equipment replicate track conditions in the Snocross series.
Scheuring’s believes the practice track encourages young drivers to overcome their fears and helps reduce injuries. His goal is to inspire youth to enjoy the sport more by gaining access to better technology, experienced mechanics and a better chance of success.
Scheuring’s experience with heavy equipment is also applied to his off-season business of wildland fire suppression for the U.S. Forest Service, including active burn management nationwide.
Stronger with AMSOIL
The team relies on piping, clutch, carburetion and other modifications to increase stock sled power by 20%, exposing the engine to intense heat far beyond standard operating temperature. “We go above and beyond the capabilities of these motors. If they fail, they cost us money, they cost us time and they cost us races, and we can’t afford to lose any of those. We’ve worked with AMSOIL the last 25 years developing two-stroke oils for our race sleds,” Scheuring said.
He adds, “Al Amatuzio showed me the difference between confidence and ego. The key to success is the ability to change and adapt as times change, with strong and passionate leadership that believes in its employees, dealers and products. It’s very easy to promote AMSOIL products when you know they are the best in the business.”
“100% the reason that motor lived was because of the AMSOIL products”
– Steve Scheuring
AMSOIL focused on grassroots racing before Scheuring Speed Sports became its first major professional team sponsorship in 1998. Retired Scheuring Speed Sports driver Carl Schubitzke is currently President of ISOC, the organization that owns and operates the AMSOIL Championship Snocross and AMSOIL Championship Off-Road series.
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AMSOIL Technical Writer and 20-year veteran of the motorcycle industry. Enjoys tearing things apart to figure out how they work. If it can’t be repaired, it’s not worth owning.
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