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Snowmobile acceleration, braking and cornering performance data are not well developed for use in accident reconstruction. Linear acceleration and braking data published by D'Addario[1] gives results for testing on 4 snowmobiles of various make and model. This paper presents the results of on-snow tests performed in 2014 which include acceleration and cornering maneuvers that have not been published previously. Maximum and average cornering speeds and corresponding lateral accelerations are presented for turns of radius 20, 35 and 65 feet (6.1, 10.7 and 19.8 meters) on level, packed snow. Performance values for acceleration, braking, and cornering are determined in tests with and without a passenger. Results of linear acceleration and braking tests were found to be comparable to the previously published work. The data are useful in snowmobile accident reconstruction for certain types of snowmobile motion analyses.

Published data relevant to snowmobile crash reconstruction is comparatively limited, especially pertaining to mountain snowmobiling and riding in deep snow. Snowmobiling is a unique motorsport activity as it requires substantial rider input and physical interaction to properly control the vehicle. The added complexities of varying slope angle and snow depth in mountain terrain make application of test data from testing done on flat surfaces less useful when applied to sloped terrain analysis. New data from testing performed in deep snow conditions on various slopes is presented in this paper. Acceleration tests were performed using two late model mountain snowmobiles from a stop on various slope angles. Additional related factors such as snow density, trenching, and snow mass momentum exchange are also discussed. Comparison of these test results to previously published snowmobile testing data advances the understanding of snowmobile acceleration parameters into mountain terrain.