The Dirt: Better Times Ahead

This is from The Dirt, by John Prusak, in the May/June 2010 issue of ATV Magazine.

Congratulations seem to be in order. By the time you read this, you will have successfully made it through what, in many areas, was an unbelievably harsh winter.

At one point in February, every state in the country except for Hawaii had snow on the ground. And, let’s face it, Hawaii isn’t much of a state is it? It’s more of an island paradise than a bona fide part of the good-ol’ ATV-riding world we call the U.S. of A.
Most economists agree that you’ve also made it most of the way through one of the worst worldwide recessions our planet has ever experienced. Oh sure, unemployment is still higher than anybody wants and we’ve all taken some financial hits the past couple of years. But we’ve pretty much made it through the storm, and better times appear to be on the horizon.

In many ways, this all makes for an extra-special spring. Warmer temperatures and a thawing financial freeze have me in an optimistic mood. The snowplow has been disconnected and placed in the back of the shop, and the ATVs and UTVs are getting ready for more interesting, and less monotonous, activities.

There’s a lot to look forward to, and hopefully this issue will help put you in a summertime mood. Our guide to pull-behind implements is meant to inspire those with projects ahead of them. Me? I’ve got a landscaping overhaul to perform, and I’ll also be helping a friend put in a new food plot on some deer hunting land. Time to turn some soil, haul some dirt and rocks, and throw some seeds in the ground.

Managing Editor Tom Kaiser shares a story on page 28 from an ATV-riding and fly-fishing adventure he experienced last fall. Reading Tom’s adventure has got me in the mood to seek out some new, hidden fishing holes this summer with my son – though, admittedly as I write this, our fishing destinations are still covered with ice.

Also in this issue, you can read about our power steering shootout from Moab, Utah, last fall. Moab is one of those iconic off-road riding destinations that truly has to be experienced, and it’s also a great place to showcase the dramatic improvement of adding power steering to a four-wheel drive ATV. We wandered well beyond the red rocks when we were in the Moab area, weaving down some tight trails in the nearby La Sal National Forest that mirror conditions in other parts of the country.

Combined, Tom’s story and the power steering shootout have me itching for a summertime trail ride with the guys, challenging our skills and the ATVs’ abilities while sharing the camaraderie of the ride.

We’ve also got a couple of unique stories packed in this tight little issue for you. Longtime contributor Bill “WBGO” Lanphier takes us to Germany for an on-road ATV-riding adventure like none other. It all makes me wonder why on-road ATV riding seems so foreign over here. Maybe it won’t be for long. Meanwhile, contributor Howard Elmer reminds us of perhaps the most all-terrain ATV made – the unbelievable Argo.
While most of the country readies for the summer ahead, the prime riding season in the deserts in the southwest corner of the country is actually starting to wrap up. Soon, it’s going to be too darned hot to ride in place like Southern California’s Imperial Sand Dunes. Good thing Kaiser’s trip was timed in February, when long riding days and cool nights make the desert the perfect place to be. Read about it in our review of Yamaha’s special edition models on page 56.

Ah, spring, the gateway to better times. Aren’t you glad it’s here?

Last 5 posts by John Prusak

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