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. He founded Scheuring Speed Sports in the late ’80s as the first independent professional Snocross team without factory backing. Over the years, a long-term partnership with BRP has included development work on components featured on many modern trail snowmobiles.
A Winning Team
In the 2022-2023 season, Scheuring’s Snocross team achieved an impressive 32 podium finishes, with Pro class riders Logan Christian and Hunter Patenaude finishing strong despite injuries that impacted their performance. Nathan LaValley has also represented the team in the Sport class and former teammate Adam Ashline clinched the Sport Championship in 2022.
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.
In addition to Snocross, Scheuring manages a UTV racing squad in the AMSOIL Championship Off-Road series. Team mechanic Elliot Burns is partnered with Pro 4×4 and UTV pilot Kyle Chaney, who has won more than a dozen off-road racing titles. The team celebrated five race wins and nine podium finishes in 2022, including one in their Pro 4 Truck, culminating in winning the off-road World Championship Cup at Crandon International Raceway.
“Winning the largest Short Course Off-Road race was a huge milestone.” – Steve Scheuring.
Klim* Compound
To support their racing efforts, Scheuring built a premier 23-acre testing and training facility in Aurora, Minnesota. This compound generates over $400,000 for the local community each year as nearly 50 teams from around the world come to prepare for the AMSOIL Championship Snocross season opener. The facility includes a seven-room bunkhouse and race shop, allowing Scheuring’s team to test and train at their own workshop—an advantage over traveling teams.
“Build it and they will come.”
– Steve Scheuring
Starting in October, they pump three million gallons of water from an old mine pit to create snow with 11 snow guns. Two state-of-the-art Pistenbully* groomers replicate track conditions similar to those found on the national tour.
Scheuring believes the practice track encourages young drivers to overcome their fears and helps reduce injuries. His goal is to inspire youth to enjoy snowmobiling by providing access to better technology and experienced mechanics.
In addition to his work in snowmobiling, Scheuring applies his experience with heavy equipment to his off-season business of wildland fire suppression for the U.S. Forest Service.
Stronger with AMSOIL
AMSOIL focused on grassroots racing prior to sponsoring Scheuring Speed Sports in 1998. Reflecting on lessons learned over nearly three decades of developing two-stroke racing oils in partnership with AMSOIL, Scheuring recited a quote from AMSOIL founder, Al Amatuzio, “The key to success is the ability to change and adapt as times change.”
The team’s racing modifications increase stock sled power by 20%, which creates intense heat. They rely on AMSOIL to keep their racing sleds running at peak performance that gets them on the podium. “Failed engines cost us money, time and races,” Scheuring said.
“100% the reason that motor lived was because of the AMSOIL products”
– Steve Scheuring
Former Scheuring Speed Sports driver Carl Schubitzke now serves as President of ISOC, which operates both the AMSOIL Championship Snocross and AMSOIL Championship Off-Road series.
Video transcript: 10 Questions with Pro Snocross Racers Hunter Patenaude and Logan Christian
Three, two, one, action. Give me whiplash. You’re the assistant to the groomer operator. I’ll be Jim, I’ll be Jim.
You’re the assistant to the groomer operator. [ MUSIC ] Hey guys, Hunter Patenaude are. Pro Snocross racer for Scheuring Speed Sports. And I’m Logan Christian, also in the pro class for Scheuring Speed Sports.
All right, so, we’re going to do a little Q&A here. What is your favorite track on the tour and why? Well, I think my favorite venue is either Lake Geneva or Canterbury because it gets such a good crowd. Every year the tracks are different in each place.
Fargo was pretty cool because it’s so big but just excited to race my snowmobile. I get excited for every track. Yeah, I’d agree. I’d say the two, Lake Geneva and Canterbury, are probably two the best venues.
I think, those ones are the coolest because it’s like, I mean, I like Canterbury the most personally, just because it’s more of a stadium feel like supercross Yeah. Okay, next question. Below zero or 30 plus degree race and why? I’d say 30 plus because your fingers aren’t freezing.
The snow gets packy and that kind of makes The sleds unpredictable no matter how good your suspension is I feel like. But it’s better than freezing your hands. Seems like no matter how good your suspension is on ice, you’re always sore the next day, because it’s so jarry. Joints are sore.
Especially when you’re old like you. I’m not even 30 yet. No, but I’d agree. I think definitely above 30 because above 30 you get the packiness Depending on the snow conditions.
Like Deadwood is always unique in that way because there’s so much natural snow that they use. So when it gets above 30 it’s like slushy, not even like hard pack. Okay, I’m going to say rhythm section because I’ve struggled at corners for all 25 years of my life I’ve raced. My Kryptonite is turning.
If snocross had a straight rhythm it would be awesome. They should do that. Yeah, I’m going to go corners. I like corners mainly because, I don’t know, I feel like if I can hit a perfect corner you just feel fast and you just feel cool.
Yeah. If you can nail a good corner I know what you’re saying. Favorite race day food and snacks? I’m a big, big pizza and cookie guy on race days.
I’ve noticed that. That’s why you have so much belly hanging when you put your jersey on. I like my health balls or my muffins and Bekah has always been cooking for us. Yeah, Bekah is really- I like all The crock-pot food and it’s just easy to snack on.
What do you look forward to most in the off-season? Not having to live with you. That was harsh. I’m leaving.
The biggest thing for me is just being home. This is the longest- I never went to college or anything so this is the most I’ve been away from home. I think just being home more consistently. But it has been a fun year.
Hoping the results get better the second half, which they will. Yeah, I agree with Logan. Just being able to be home. Like this year will be new for me in the off-season and my wife and I just recently moved to Arizona, so we have a place in Arizona.
She’s finishing up school there, so it’ll be exciting to be there with her and the dog. Do you realize you’re going to the coldest part of the world During its coldest season to the hottest part of the world during its hottest season? Yeah. We’re in the tundra right now and then I’m going to where it’s 120 degrees on a regular basis.
Between the two of you who’s faster? I don’t want to be in this position. I’m man enough. On the Ski-Doo*, Hunter’s been.
I feel like I’m starting to get more and more comfortable on the Ski-Doo. I mean, I think like how we picked our favorite sports too. I think maybe there is potential where I can be a little bit better then in the straight rhythm sections, but I would agree that you got me in the corners, and the corners are a lot on the race track. I think, for sure I’ve been racing a Ski-Doo for my whole life, so obviously I’m going to have that comfort.
I mean it’s more natural for me right now than it is for you. But I think two, about three weeks ago or so we were at the practice track and you were riding and I was like, “Man, he’s actually stepping it up.” You can clearly tell you’re getting more comfortable on the Ski-Doo. Each of you has 10 seconds to roast the other. Go.
Like I said earlier, Logan is allergic to carrots and he hates bacon. That s like the biggest thing. Okay, you have 10 seconds. Hunter has always got to take a morning dump and my bedroom is right next to the bathroom.
That’s really annoying. Dude can’t control his bowel movement. Hey, when a man’s got to go, a man’s got to go. Now give each other three compliments.
You’re a hard worker. You’re the first one up every morning. Whether you’re in the gym or just eating breakfast. Are we going to trade off compliments?
Like do you say one then I say- I don’t know, I just kind of assume you didn’t have anything for me so I was trying to think of another one quick. Not to copy what he’s said but he’s definitely a hard worker too. It shows with the amount of work he puts in on the sled. Hard work goes a lot more than just like actually doing the work.
It has a lot to do with physically doing the work. I think it has a lot to do with like mentally preparing yourself for what’s to come. I don’t know if it’s considered a compliment, but I like how our relationship we’ve gotten along so well. I feel like our personalities are similar enough that we can make fun of each other, but know when enough is enough and get serious with each other and work hard and help each other.
Logan is really good at making like these cookie things. They’re like oatmeal banana cookies or whatever. Oh, the banana cookies? Yeah.
You like those. I do like those. Describe your dream snowmobile trip. I would say probably going to one of the races.
I’m trying to pick out one specifically just because. Snowmobile race like Snocross race, or? Yeah, I’m going with a race and I’m going to say that going to like Deadwood and just sweeping the weekend. I would say that would be my ideal snowmobile trip.
I guess my dream snowmobile trip. Like snowmobiling trip I would say going to the mountains and going mountain riding and being able to- Like all-expense paid. Having an 850 Ski-Doo with a turbo and going into the mountains in 8 feet of fresh snow. A nice place to warm your gear.
Yeah. If you couldn’t race snowmobiles ever again what would you be racing instead and why? F1. Stamp it.
You for sure would. I love F1. F1 is the coolest. That’s the pinnacle of motor sports.
It is the coolest sport like with the- like Whether it’s the amount of money that goes into it Or the amount of knowledge that goes into it. I don’t know what I`d race, probably mountain bikes? There is not that much money in it I don’t think. But, I’ve gotten to be- I gotten to like riding mountain bikes so much but being at the top level would be pretty sweet.
[ MUSIC ]
Steve Scheuring in His Own Words
Steve Scheuring trained in heavy equipment and gave up a good job with a company truck to start a snocross team. “That leap of faith changed my life,” he says. For him a great racer starts with attitude.
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David Hilgendorf is an AMSOIL Technical Writer who develops content for automotive, powersports and industrial audiences. His work includes technical data sheets, magazine articles, blog posts, white papers, product literature and application guidance. Hilgendorf works with engineers, laboratory personnel and technical specialists to communicate lubricant testing, product performance, maintenance practices, metalworking fluids, grease, motorcycles, marine equipment and industrial reliability.
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