Off-Road Park Near Brainerd, Minnesota?

The "A" pin is Brainerd, Minn.

If Gordy Hardy can get a few questions answered and hammer out the specifics, Minnesota may get another off-road park (specifically designed for dirt bikes and ATVs). Hardy, a powersports industry veteran and advocate, has been racing enduros for 30 years and currently is a sales representative for Marshall Distributing out of Cass City, Mich. His off-road career began in 1968 when he started selling suzuki motorcycles, acting as a replacement (substitute) dealer. The dealership soon grew and Moto Guzzi, Triumph and Ducati bikes were all added over a nine-year span (1971-1979). In 1978, Hardy also joined Bell Industries and worked there for 25 years. His last eight have been with Marshall.

I ran into Hardy at the local corn and pork chop feed here at the fire department in Alexandria, Minn. One thing this part of northwest Minnesota is missing is OHV riding areas. Hardy says his family and friends currently ride on 90 acres of private property outside of Brainerd, Minn. It’s made up of tight, twisting trails and currently consists of seven miles of trails. He said the amount and type of trails could change if they choose to convert the riding area to an OHV park and open it to public use. He also stated that there’s another 320-acres near Leader, Minn., (owned by his father-in-law) that could potentially be used as the park.

Hardy has to speak in a “what-if” tone because right now they are only in the “talking about it stage,” as he says. “The major concern is the liability issue,” he said. “It’s something you have to be aware of. While you’d like to provide a place to go riding, we also have to protect ourselves. There are too many lawyers out there.”

Hardy is a walking encyclopedia of off-road information and has many contacts that should help him take the next logical step (decision), provided that’s the direction his family wants to go. One area where he’s not well versed is opening an OHV park and the tricky area of liability insurance. Part of the reason why he spoke with me was to share his idea of an off-road park and to gauge the public’s interest for such a place. And, most importantly, establish more contacts who have experience opening and insuring an OHV park.

If you’re experience with opening, operating and insuring an OHV park (private/public/or even partially leased from the state), share your thoughts here.

Hatfield-McCoy Trails: Wayne County Update

The Hatfield-McCoy Trails has announced that its officials have recently met with the U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers to discuss a new trail system. The U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers controls the East Lynn Dam Area in Wayne County, W.Va.

East Lynn Lake Area

Now, the trail system need to write a formal proposal, which includes both trail routes and trailhead sites. Once this is complete, Hatfield-McCoy with set the license agreements in place and begin construction.

For more info visit, TrailsHeaven.com or read the HMT blog

Doomsday……again. [CPSIA Feb. 10]

Just when things seemed like they couldn’t get any worst, the good ole Consumer Products Safety Commission is once again wreaking havoc on the off-road industry. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 is a new law that prohibits the distribution or sales of children’s products that have any part with a lead content above 600ppm. In theory, the CPSIA law was intended to make toys safer for kids under 12 by limiting their exposure to lead. Unfortunately, minicycles, small-bore dirt bikes, and ATVs have some parts with lead in them which exceed the 600ppm limit. What this means, for now at least, is that as of February 10th all units not in compliance will be given a year before being unceremoniously pulled off of show room floors.

To express your concerns or write a letter to your state and national officials: click here

For more on the CPSIA, check out this site www.cpsia-central.ning.com/

The other good news is the new bill being pushed through congress to shut down more than 1,000,000 acres of OHV land. The bill is comprised of more than 160 other bills which are being bundled together, and have a good chance of being pushed through. You can read more about it on the AMA’s web site.

Lets hope for a miracle on both fronts.

Redneck Yacht Club For Off-road Junkies

ATV Magazine Managing editor Tom Kaiser stumbled upon a story about a new off-road park in Florida. The privately owned OHV facility is named the “Redneck Yacht Club” (RYC) We assume the name came from country music singer Craig Morgan and his song title “Redneck Yacht Club” (if you’ve never heard it, check it out here www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsGOX7DMVCg.

The RYC was created by Danny Kelly and is located in Charlotte County, Florida. With its 1,000 acres, the park is said to be Florida’s largest OHV facility. Currently it’s open one weekend a month, but that could change if people keep coming.

We have not been there, but hope to get someone down there to see if we can have fun at the Redneck Yacht Club.

For more info on the RYC, check out this link: www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=25520&z=3

NOHVCC Is Here To Help

NEED HELP WITH OHV ISSUES? CALL THESE GUYS!
By Steve Casper, NOHVCC Director of Communications

Admittedly, the name National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council is a mouthful to say as well as a bit confusing. But in reality, the group’s purpose and mission is quite simple and straightforward. The folks at the NOHVCC are basically professional consultants for off-highway vehicle activists and land managers. And being professional doesn’t mean their services cost a bundle. In fact, many of their services are free for the asking.

A GREAT BARGAIN
“We’re one of the best bargains in the business,” says NOHVCC Executive Director Russ Ehnes. “Our main purpose in life is to help off-roaders keep their ride areas open by giving them the tools to organize, gather funds, work with local politicians, land owners, and land managers, and any other way we can think of to keep the sport happy and healthy. Rider education, even at the youngest levels, is also a very important part of our mission since we know from experience that responsible riders are the best ammo we have for keeping ride areas open.”
And the key word here is experience. The very reason the NOHVCC was started in the first place was to gather the nation’s most influential off-road movers and shakers and pick their brains for what works and what doesn’t in our never-ending battles to keep ride areas open, as well as starting new ones.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY
“Every year we gather in one place to meet with all the NOHVCC state representatives as well as many other important OHV organizers and land managers to have a big Pow Wow where we share and record information,” explains Russ. “This info eventually becomes the basis for the ‘tools’ we utilize in our literature and consulting services. It’s constantly being updated at our head office where it’s cataloged into our off-highway vehicle library (which is available on the web). If you’ve got a question on any OHV issue, the NOHVCC can usually find you an answer.”
To do that, it’s as easy as calling the NOHVCC (800) number or sending a quick e-mail. “It’s our job to help people, and the more folks who contact us, the happier we are,” says NOHVCC’s Heidi Annau. Even simple requests such as “Where in my state can I ride my ATV or dirt bike?” will get a response. “Our motto here at the head office is, ‘We may not necessarily know all the answers, but we do know how to get you in contact with the person who does,’” reports Heidi.

HOW NOHVCC CAN HELP YOU
Following is a partial list of the many materials and services offered by NOHVCC.
•    Club Kit (how to start a club)
•    OHV Park Manual (a resource guide to assist in the development, enhancement and operation of OHV recreation and facilities)
•    Management Guidelines for OHV Recreation (a resource guide to assist in the planning, development, operation, and maintenance of environmentally sustainable and quality OHV trails, trail systems and areas)
•    Adventure Trail educational posters, CD-ROMs, and activity books (safety and ethics of riding)
•    Access to a national network of OHV activists, clubs, associations, organizations and agencies
•    Information on getting federal gas tax monies for your trail project
•    A wide array of youth programs and materials for your club or organization
•    Direct contact with experts to address specific issues
•    Workshops and speakers for OHV organization development and recreation management
•    Public awareness and image enhancement materials
•    Information regarding risk management, event insurance, economic impact studies, environmental studies, and the political process as it relates to OHV issues
•    Information on ATV and dirt bike riding schools
•    Detailed literature on trail management issues and techniques
•    Volunteer development programs
To find more detailed information on these “tools” and the many more that NOHVCC has to offer, check out their extensive website at www.nohvcc.org  Many of these materials are currently available in a downloadable PDF format, allowing users instant and free access to the most popular NOHVCC tools.

SUCCESS STORIES
There have been literally hundreds of NOHVCC success stories over the years with many new ride areas opening and state associations forming. Their intensive organizational and management workshops that are held at various locations throughout the country dispense important information to OHV activists and federal and state land managers. In addition to riding opportunities, the education of youth riders is high on the NOHVCC priority list.

MINI ADVENTURE TRAIL NOW AVAILABLE
Their popular “Adventure Trail”, an interactive tour through the NOHVCC trailer with a quiz at the end, is a big hit with the kids whenever the truck shows up at an event. A mini Adventure Trail, consisting of 11 colorful and fun posters, is now available to organizations, land managers and dealerships.
The NOHVCC is a non-profit organization that doesn’t solicit memberships or money from the grassroots weekend riders. The best way to help with the organization’s mission is to be active at the club level in promoting safe and environmentally-friendly riding practices within your group, as well a working to enhance local riding opportunities.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Anyone can contact the NOHVCC by calling (800) 348-6487, e-mailtheNOHVCC
or writing to:
NOHVCC,
427 Central Ave.
West, Great Falls, MT 59404.

You can also find out more about the services at www.nohvcc.org where you can sign up for their weekly e-Newsletter.

Photos courtesy of the NOHVCC.