The Fever is Here

This time of year at Penco is a transitional and exciting time for us!  Summer is virtually over and we are gearing up for the upcoming winter months.  I don't know about you, but when this chilly air hits and we see a crest of fresh snow on the mountain tops, there are a few of us that just can't help nearly losing our minds with anticipation.  The fever has set in and its not going away...Snow biking and snowmobiling are in our near future folks and we can't wait!

Where to begin? Well to start, Mountain Horse kit delivery and 2015 sled orders are set to arrive any day; let the demo bike builds begin and the smell of 4 stroke exhaust fill the shop.  

On top of that though, there are other things happening at the store that create a buzz at Penco.  Winter product is beginning to arrive.  Product that was pre ordered months prior, and finally putting our hands on it lets us to see our work come to life.  To add to this, our calendar has been planned since Spring, but the events filling the fall and winter months are finally close!  Snow shows, demos, Arena Cross, Winter Product expo, and more, are our soundtrack for the next 3 months; and let me tell you, our team has rhythm.  Last year was crazy and we plan to bring that to a whole new level this year.  

This job gets turbulent, but it never gets old:) 

We can't wait to share this season with you all and hope that we get to meet some new friends along the way! 

Cheers!

Snowbiking in Elkford, BC

Being in this business never gets old! Over the Valentines day weekend Penco had the opportunity to take our Mountain Horse demo snow bikes to beautiful British Columbia and be apart of "Elkfords International Take a Newbie Shredding Day".

The invite came from our friends to the North and took place in a little mining town called Elkford BC, Canada. The charm of this small community far outweighed the mere population of only 3000. Lovely people, amazing riding, and GREAT food!

The event was put on by The Elkford Snowmobile Association, and The Betties, a group of women riders set on encouraging other women to get involved and have an understanding and enjoyment of the sport.  It was extremely organized and very well put together complete with professional photography to capture the day. 

We arrived Friday evening after a few setbacks at the border, but that was not about to ruin the fun we had planned. We had dinner with Rhonda and Matt, along with a few other couples we would get to ride with the next day.

The ride Saturday was so much fun and the terrain/scenery was unbelievable. Unbelievable!  We were the only 2 bikes in a group of about 75 sleds but it worked out awesome! The bikes performed amazing as usual and caught a lot of interest within the group.  A great group of volunteers assured that lunch was ready for everyone when we arrived at the gathering area along with a fire to warm up.

The two of us rode Penco's 2014 KTM 350 xcf with a '14 SX Mountain Horse kit, as well as our 2014 KTM 500 xcw with a '14 long track Mountain Horse kit and we were able to experience riding in Canada first hand with some of its finest riders.  The day ended with a delicious Chinese buffet dinner along with raffles and giveaways donated by some awesome local businesses.

The hospitality was amazing as were the new friends we made! What a great group of people to spend the weekend with.  We will most certainly be looking forward to next year and hope you to see you all there!

Photography by Jason Bischoff

     

Happy New Year: Reflecting Back and Looking Forward

Its a brand new year and we are so excited! 2013 was an extraordinary and memorable year for Penco. Reflecting back, we are thankful for many things.

First and foremost the amazing customers that we have the privilege of serving.  With out the stellar individuals that walk through our doors, or phone from long distances, Penco would not be where it is today!  Secondly, the community we call home is truly unique.  From the local support, to the mountains we wake up to every day it is a joy to live here in the Flathead Valley.

These two foundational aspects of this business are so very important and dear to us, but on top of that we have also had many opportunities to participate in new events, expand our knowledge in our industry, meet new friends, grow and develop our mission further, and bring new products into our store!

Seeing what we were able to be apart of in 2013 is all the more encouraging for the new year! Thank you for a wonderful 2013, we are fired up for 2014.  Lets make this year the best one yet! Cheers from our family to yours!

Visit the Penco Facebook page for more 2013 memories

Penco Customer Appreciation Day

With a stretch of rainy days prior, we were unsure as to how the weather would play out for our mostly outdoor event.  We were pleasantly surprised to arrive at work Saturday morning with clear skies and the summer sun gracing us with its presence.

Our team had been planning this event for a while and we were so excited for the day to finally be here!  Customer Appreciation Day is something we look forward to all year.  It is a day where we get to say a special "Thank you" to all of our wonderful customers both local and far away.  Some we see every week, while others only a few times a year.  Either way, it is always so good to see those familiar faces walk through our doors.

We decided to go big this year.  I will admit I was questioning our abilities a time or two.  Thankfully with everyone's help, we pulled it off.  This years event included a delicious meal catered by the awesome crew at TNT BBQ, a dunk tank that was delivered by Celebrate and was occupied by a few brave Penco race kids, a live on site broadcast from the guys at Bee Broadcasting, tons of giveaways and drawings, and to end the day a group ride around beautiful Kalispell!

The best part was seeing all the smiling faces enjoy the day!  Some groups arriving on motorcycles after making the long trip, while others unloaded a car full of excited kids coming from soccer camp. This would have never been possible with out all of the great people who came out to support us.  Our guestbook with all of your names on it remind us just how lucky we are.  This community is truly one of a kind and we are so thankful to be apart of it.  Thank you to everyone who joined us, we are so grateful for each and every one of you!

                               

17th Annual Penco KooCanUsa Fundays

 
Just below the high water mark, tents and trailers lined the sand, the smell of dust and exhaust filled the air, and sparks flew from dozens of campfires across the KooCanUsa reservoir.  The anticipated event of the spring season was kicking off with a proper Montana welcome!  2013 Penco Fundays was finally here!

Backtracking for just a moment, this all started back in 1996 with Vaughn, an idea, and a small handful of dirt enthusiasts who were eager to get together and show off their skills.  Drag races and an obstacle course  have been a topic of preparation ever since.  Today, the event has grown to be an annual date on household calendars and hosts around 1500-1600 spectators and racers for the weekend.  17 years later and we are still loving it!

Over these last 17 years we have truly seen a lot!  From future little rippers on their training wheel bikes to creek skimming mod snowmobiles.  Ford ranger trucks (yes trucks) jumping the "Big Dune", to every possible tow-out-of-the-mud situation you could ever imagine.

This is what we have come to realize: NOTHING, is off limits, or impossible at KooCanUsa Fundays.  Just when you think you have seen it all...

The family aspect of Fundays is something that continues to be a priority to the Saturday activities.  Many families all take part in the races, even the little ones! The day pans out like this:  after signups, drag and obstacle course racers are broken down into classes.  Bikes, Quads, Mods, and Kids.  Line up is called and lights count your "go time" cue. The dirt and dust fly, as spectators line the courses cheering individuals on.  The competition ranges from good practice and pure fun for levels such as the kids class, to hard core old fashion racing between the adults.  Some walking away in victory and others with the mindset of "Just you wait until next year.."  There is a place for everyone no matter what age, skill level, or machine and on top of that, good hearted competition, 
Tshirts, and great prizes.

It is always a joy to see all the smiling dust caked faces; some new, others familiar veterans of the event.  These faces are what have carried Penco Fundays throughout the years and made it all possible and worth while!  The coolest part about KooCanUsa, is everyone is there for the same reason: a weekend getaway of fun, good company, and riding, where no one is afraid to get stuck or a little muddy.

With all of this fun comes a lot of hard work.  We are so thankful for the awesome law enforcement teams and medical staff that work throughout the weekend keep it safe and fun for all.  Without them and their dedication, it would not be possible.

So with another year down, we come away, in need of a long overdue shower, sleep deprived, dust caked EVERYTHING, and more memories to add to our story book than before. Thank you to everyone who joined us, we cannot wait to see you next year!

                   

         Thank you to Kilee Stevens for the footage

                  check her out on YouTube!

Valentines Day: Penco Style

It's that time of year again! Roses and chocolates, pink and red decorations; Love is in the air.  Thats right, Valentines day is upon us!

That one day of the year where couples all over the country make a conscious effort to express their love and appreciation as well as their impeccable taste in chocolate choices and floral selection.  Candy stores and florists are flourishing during the month of February.

But lets face it, doesn't the norm get a little repetitive each year? Lucky for you, Penco's selection and style has never been better!  This Valentines Day, take it to the next level and step out of the comfort box!  An Oakley hoodie or tee shirt for that man in your life, how about a new fox purse or wallet for your lovely lady.  At Penco, we can help you find something for your sweets!  Dvd's, casual wear, bags, wallets, jerseys, probe and shovel packages, hats, stickers, goggles, etc!  You get the idea: lets do something unique this valentines day for that special someone.

So make that wonderful person feel extra loved this Valentines day with a gift from Penco! Hurry in! Love is in the air:)

2013 Sweetheart Ride

It was an awesome weekend of riding in Canyon Creek for the Penco team! The annual State Farm Insurance and Flathead Snowmobile Association Sweetheart Ride was Saturday, January 26th!  Although we had grim expectations for the weather in the early morning hours, it proved to be a spectacular day full of fun and great company with the crowd of avid participants being the largest yet!
The $5.00 donation fee was well worth the fun and with the proceeds going to the great volunteers of the North Valley Search and Rescue and the Flathead Snowmobile Association made it even better!
The level of riders ranged from trail riding beginners to boon-docking, tree dodging pro's!   There proved to be a little something for everyone throughout the day! The snow proceeded to get better and better as we climbed higher, navigating the map and collecting our chips at the stations as we went!
They say if your not getting stuck your not having fun; this was all so true for many riders! The shovels and helping hands came in handy for adventurous thrill seekers who got into a  few sticky predicaments!
It seemed, though everyone had their own group for the day, that we all came together at one stop along the trail! The warming hut made a great location for a break, a good conversation, and a place to warm our toes.  The love of snowmobiling rang more clear than ever at this point, with the shiny-new, and the weathered-old sleds parked outside the hut, each telling their own story.  
At the end of the day, chips in hand, we all met back in the parking lot for some chilli, hamburgers, and hot cocoa provided by the awesome men and women of the FSA, SFI, and NVSR.  There, they announced the lucky winners of the prizes as well as the willing sponsors who gladly took part in the wonderful event!
All in all, the great snow, awesome company, and snowmobiles of every make model and year, made for an overly successful event and a stellar day of riding! Thank you to all who came out and supported and thank you FSA and TJ Wendt of State Farm Insurance for another wonderful weekend! Penco can't wait to see you again next year!