Take control, adjust your controls that is

Want to make your ATV experience more enjoyable?  Want to increase your ability to go those long rides with less fatigue in your arms?  Want to do all this for free?  Of course you do!  Adjust your controls my friend.

It seems so elementary but many people fail to do this after buying their machine.  Whether it s a new machine or a used one, adjusting the controls to fit your particular body and riding style will surely help you enjoy your riding that new machine even more. Here is how to do it.

First off think about your natural riding position. Do you sit most of the time your riding or do you stand most of the time? Put both index fingers straight out to rest on the levers. Adjust the clutch (where applicable) and brake levers to make as straight of a line from your finger up through your wrist, hand and arm. If your a standing is what you do most of the time make sure your in the “attack” position.

The wrong way

The right way

Adjusting your levers is somewhat subjective but a general rule of thumb is you should never have to reach way up or way down to pull in either lever.

Stalking Bill Gates

Washington State, the 42nd admitted to our beautiful union, is home to a lot of notable people, places and things. One of them is Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, who is the world’s second richest person with a net worth just north of $53 billion. He lives on a 66,000 square foot Pacific lodge-style estate on Lake Washington east of downtown Seattle.

William Henry Gates III

His estate has heated driveways, guests wear “pins” so the house recognizes their temperature and music preferences as they walk into a new room, and the sewer system runs Windows. This is normally where people would insert an “I-wonder-how-often-the-plumbing-crashes joke” making fun of his company’s products. I, for one, think Microsoft makes excellent products these days, and would take Windows any day over Mac OS. With all the Apple fans spreading their gospel, I feel obligated to stick up for good old Microsoft and declare that Windows 7 is a fine piece of software.

Anyway, enough of that. I’m in Washington stalking Bill Gates on his home turf – I just didn’t know it yet. You see, I came here at Yamaha’s invitation to ride the new Grizzly 450 with Electric Power Steering. We flew into the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and it was immediate by the diverse palette of faces, shapes and sizes that this is a true city of the world. I had never been, and have always been curious.

[Read more]

Jeff Tweet’s Hybrid Yamaha-Arctic Cat Race Quad

Jeff Tweet, a paraplegic racer and son of former Arctic Cat VP Ole Tweet, built his own hybrid race quad. We were informed that the main goal of the ATV was to allow Jeff to “compete at a higher level than what his Honda 250R would let him, being that the Honda has a transmission that needs to be shifted.” Jeff took a Yamaha YFZ450, gutted it and stripped it to the bare frame. He then added half of an Arctic Cat ZR900 two-stroke engine (431cc), CVT, EFI, Fox shocks, Maxxis tires and a bevy of additional aftermarket accessories and personal items to make it his own.

A truly unique ATV, Jeff Tweet's custom race quad took more than two years to build. (Supplied image)

To see more photos and up-close details of Jeff Tweet’s hybrid race ATV, visit ATVMagblog’s photo gallery.

Responsibility of the trail leader

Riding season is upon us and of course we are all going to either participate in a group ride or organize a group ride ourselves.  For the latter it is important to be a responsible trail or group leader.  Leading riders into unfamiliar areas can be fun and rewarding.  What follows are some helpful tips to make the group ride a success and everybody gets back to the staging area in one piece.

1.  Communicate

Before anyone loads a single piece of gear, have a get together and talk about the 3 W’s Who, What, Where.  Who is all going with you on the ride, this is also a good time to get an idea of everyones skill level.   The skill level of the riders involved leads into the next question.  What type of terrain is the group going to be riding on?  Depending on everyones skill level will depend on the terrain you will want to take the riders on.   And lastly, Where are are the riders going to ride?  The what somewhat dictates the where.  For example, do the riders want a challenge or a leisurely ride.  As the leader you will need to respect the riders skill levels and desires, especially if they are new to the area.  Remember a trail that seems easy to you may be very difficult for others and vise-versa.

2. Bring the right gear

As the leader you need to set a good example and at least require the bare minimum of safety gear before you allow anyone on the trail.  Other than the obvious, be sure to take along extra specialty gear for the area or conditions you might face on the trail.  For example, if your riding in an area that sees frequent afternoon showers, pack extra rain ponchos.  Also even though the other riders might bring other gear, as the leader make sure you have a basic first-aid kit.  Plenty of water is always a good idea as well.

3.  Know your route

Know the area well.  Know where the parking is, how much parking and the route you will take to get to the trail head as well as the trails themselves.  Especially with new riders to the area you want to instill confidence that you know your way around.  Make sure if it is a complicated area be sure to provide maps for everyone just in case someone happens to get behind.  Be sure to discuss how to read the map.

4.  Don’t get too far ahead

This one is simple.  Keep track of your group.  Stop at every fork in the trail and make sure everyone is accounted for and that everyone can see the proper turn.  If there are difficult obstacles it might be a good idea to stop and make sure everyone clears the section before proceeding, this can also be a good time to take a break if people need it.

5.  Action plan

Have an action plan for the extreme case of someone getting lost, breaking down, or getting hurt.  A good plan is to have everyone meet at a certain well known landmark or area at the end of the day.  This way when someone comes up missing it is easier to plan your search of the trail to find that person.

Every situation will warrant different tactics.  These tips should only serve as introductory guidelines as the leader or organizer of a group ride.

Cedar Run OHV trail at Harlan County Lake

With the grand opening come and gone the new trail system is now fully open. Me and my team had a rare opportunity to help fund, organize and participate in the grand opening (May 1, 2010) of this expanded trail system. The trail now encompasses 470 acres of US Army Corp. of Engineer ground just south of Harlan County Lake in south central Nebraska. The two nearby towns Alma and Republican City should see an increase in tourism that will boost the local economy. Businesses large and small donated “seed” money to get the project off the ground. Major donors were people, organizations, and businesses that donated $200 or more to the project.

Our part in the big event consisted of organizing and running a “scavenger hunt” for all that attended. It was a lot of work but turned to be a fun weekend with good weather.

[Read more]

Yamaha Grizzly ATVs Recalled

Yesterday the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) sent out a release (Alert #10-733) stating Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., of Cypress, Calif., in cooperation with the CPSC, has voluntarily recalled about 20,000 all-terrain vehicles due to an issue with the steering column support.

The release says the assembly can crack and cause the rider to lose steering control, posing a risk of injury or death to riders. Yamaha announced it had received 19 reports of incidents involving the recalled ATVs. No injuries had been reported, according to the release.

The Yamaha ATVs involved in the recall include both the Grizzly 550 and Grizzly 700 models. The ATV recall involves non power-steering Grizzly models and does not include Grizzly models with Electronic Power Steering. The models, produced in Japan, were sold at Yamaha dealers nationwide from October 2007 through March 2010 for between $7,000 and $9,500, according to the CPSC release.

The following model numbers are affected by this recall:

2009-2010 Grizzly 550 non EPS

Yamaha Grizzly 550 (Non EPS)

• 2009 Grizzly 550 YFM550FGHY
• 2009 Grizzly 550 YFM550FGY
• 2010 Grizzly 550 YFM550FGHZ
• 2010 Grizzly 550 YFM550FGZ

2008-2010 Yamaha Grizzly 700 non EPS

• 2008 Grizzly 700 YFM700FGHX
• 2008 Grizzly 700 YFM700FGX
• 2009 Grizzly 700 YFM700FGHY
• 2009 Grizzly 700 YFM700FGY
• 2010 Grizzly 700 YFM700FGHZ
• 2010 Grizzly 700 YFM700FGZ [Read more]

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. [Read more]

GNCC ATV Racing: Borich Wins At Muddy Loretta's

Mother Nature, mud bogs and even a class of fellow Pro Class racers couldn’t prevent Yoshimura Suzuki’s Chris “Big Finish” Borich from posting his third straight Pro class victory on the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series. In using a style that has become more his trademark and not just a game of chance, the Pennyslvania-based pro came from behind and passed late in the race to secure the win the Round 5 overall at the Acerbis Loretta Lynn’s GNCC in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. GNCC Racing said the ATV racers described the course as “wet and muddy” and said an “all-day rain pummeled” the dude ranch in the middle of Tennessee. Despite the dismal conditions and three other riders contesting him, Borich proved his resiliency and also made it clear he is the man to beat in 2010.

Chris Borich was all smiles after posting his third consecutive GNCC ATV Pro class win. (Courtesy Acorn Woods)

Borich summed up his performance in a GNCC Racing press release, by saying, “I worked back up behind McGill, and I picked a line that he looked like he was going right and then he came back the other way and we kind of came together and I was able to get around him. It’s great to get another win, and I had a lot of fun battling these guys.”

Borich has now won four of the first five races and has extended his points lead over Yamaha’s Taylor Kiser by 22 points (145 to 123).

Rounding out the Pro class podium were Adam McGill (Can-Am) and Donald Ockerman (Yamaha). McGill led for two laps and held the leave before Borich passed him late in the race. Ockerman put in his best race of the year to find a spot on the podium. Kiser salvaged a fourth-place ride to stay within striking distance of Borich for the points overall and is 30 points ahead of McGill, who sits in third.

In a GNCC Racing press release, McGill summed up his day with, “It was crazy out there. Someone would go up a hill and the mud would fill in the ruts and you couldn’t tell how deep they were, so it was kind of scary, but it was good to get out front and be in the hunt.”

Biggest Movers 1:

As long as Borich keeps passing for the win on the final lap, he’ll always deserve a spot on this list. McGill deserves credit for charging from fourth place after lap one to first place during the final lap. Despite dropping a spot to Borich, he still put in one heck of a race to earn a podium visit. Two other pros get kudos from me for their late-in-the-race efforts. The first being Ockerman, who moved from fifth on Lap 2 to third on the final trip around the soaking-wet Loretta’s course. His 32:29.656 time on Lap 3 was the fastest of the day and ensured he made the podium!

Let’s not forget about Bicknell, Indiana’s Ryan Lane, who rode his Honda to fifth place in the horrible conditions. It was Lane’s first GNCC race of the year and he moved from ninth place after the second lap to fifth by the time the checkers flew. There’s one word for that: Awesome! Johnny Gallagher also gets a thumbs up for effort as he charged to sixth on his YFZ. He moved from ninth after Lap 1 to sixth place by the end of the race, which was good enough for his best finish of the season.

Biggest Movers 2:

This spot is usually reserved for those who go the other way, sadly, in the final results. Unfortunately, Can-Am’s Chris Bithell made the list. He sat in fourth place at the end of Lap 2, but couldn’t complete the final lap and had to settle for 12th in the class and 84 overall. It was his second finish out of the top 10 this year.

After putting in finishes of seventh, seventh, fifth and six in the first four races, Jeffery Pickens was in position (third place after first lap) to post his top finish of the year, but fell three places after another lap. By the end of lap three the pro dropped to eighth place, for his worse finish of the year. However, on the flip side, the Pennsylvania race has to be relieved with an eighth place (as opposed to a DNF) in a mud race. And that fact that he’s still in the top five in the Pro class points race.

5-for-5

Six racers have posted 100 points (perfect scores) by winning all five rounds in 2010. Four riders fell off the list after the Loretta’s mudfest.

• 90 Modified (12-15) – 1 PIT 003 LEVI COEN 1 1 1 1 1 100
• 4×4 Lites – 1 CAN 233 KEVIN TRANTHAM 1 1 1 1 1 100
• U2 – 1 CAN 206 CLIFTON BEASLEY 1 1 1 1 1 100
• Utility Senior (45+) – 1 CAN 709 FORREST WHORTON 1 1 1 1 1 100
• Schoolboy (13-15) A/B – 1 HON 239 BRADEN HENTHORN 1 1 1 1 1 100
• Women Novice (15+) – 1 HON 244 CHEYANNE SHADRON 1 1 1 1 80

Super Simmons

Dave Simmons just keeps impressing me. He’s in the 50+ class and has won four straight morning overall, including this sloppy race in Tennessee. And that’s with several classes of 4x4s breathing down his neck! Round 2, didn’t register because he won the Sportsman A/B class (non-points class). However, the last three event did, as the Ohio racer beat every other a.m. participant and 50+ competitor to the finish line. Had he raced in Florida, he may be on the “100 list” above. An interesting side note: Class points leader Donnie Pruett has yet to win the class in 2010, but still has 82 points and a 22 point lead over Simmons.

Another note from this class (according to Ken “Pappy” Hill on Facebook): You can help support Super Senior (50+) competitor Glen Pritchard (West Hamlin, W.Va.), who is dealing with an illness, by buying a T-shirts. They retail for $20.00. To order: Send an e-mail to: Cre8tivedesigns1@gmail.com (Brandon Sturdivant) Include: Name, quantity, sizes and shipping information. When order is received you will receive an e-mail giving you payment information. All Proceeds will go to Glen’s medical expenses.

Loretta’s XC1 Results (According to GNCCracing.com):

1. Chris Borich (Suz)

2. Adam McGill (CAN)

3. Don Ockerman (Yam)

4. Taylor Kiser (Yam)

5. Ryan Lane (Hon)

6. Johnny Gallagher (Yam)

7. Brandon Sommers (Yam)

8. Jeffrey Pickens (Yam)

9. Sloan Jackson (Hon)

10. Todd Demaree (Suz)

XC1 Standings:

1. Chris Borich (145/4 wins)

2. Taylor Kiser (123/1 win)

3. Adam McGill (93)

4. Don Ockerman (73)

5. Jeffrey Pickens (72)

6. Bryan Cook (69)

7. Johnny Gallagher (67)

8. Chris Bithell (66)

9. Bill Ballance (58)

10. Brandon Sommers (54)

Borich rode part of the three-lap race without goggles as the muddy course made for difficult racing conditions. (Courtesy of Acorn Woods)

XC2 Results:

1. Gabe Phillips (Yam)

2. Eric Hoyland (Yam)

3. Kevin Yoho (Yam)

4. Walker Fowler (Yam)

5. Josh Kirkland (KTM)

6. Mark Notman (Yam)

7. Ian Laufersweiler (Hon)

8. Blake Kramer (Suz)

9. Nathan Beyers (Hon)

10. Michael Lancaster (Hon)

XC2 Standings:

1. Brian Wolf (110/2 wins)

2. Kevin Yoho (101)

3. Walker Fowler (95/2 wins)

4. Josh Kirkland (92)

5. Gabe Phillips (88/1 win)

6. Parker Jones (68)

7. Eric Hoyland (66)

8. Blake Kramer (63)

9. Dustin Canipe (59)

10. Mark Notman (54)

On May 8, the Yadkin Valley Stomp Racetrack, in Yadkinville, N.C., will host the Round 6 of the GNCC series. For more info, visit GNCCracing.com.

Creamer Victorious At Ballance Moto-X

A few years back, someone once told me “Josh Creamer, would sign a contract for a cheeseburger.” I don’t know if they were making fun of him or just criticizing his approach to being a professional racer. Either way, that person’s opinion has proven to be erroneous. Creamer, who signed his first pro contract with Kawasaki in 2007, has more than lived up to his hype as one of the top pro ATV racers in world. First, he did very well with the Jimmy White-led Monster Kawasaki teams. Then he signed a full deal with Suzuki for 2010. This past weekend he earned his most  impressive overall at Round 2 of the ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA ATV MX Championships presented by Parts Unlimited. The Pro class win was Creamer’s first of the year and, more importantly, his first career Pro MX overall and first under the Makita Rockstar Suzuki team banner.

(Courtesy of Creamer/DeBault Photography)

The victory made the Pro class points a lot more interesting as Creamer pulled to within four points of teammate Dustin Wimmer, who has 88 points and the other Pro class victory in 2010. Creamer, who also scored some bonus cash for the grabbing the Moto 2 holeshot, told me he wasn’t particularly happy with how his practice session went, but was more than thrilled with the final result. “When it came to race time, we did what we had to do,” he said.

“The second moto we just checked out. It just worked out really well. I’d like to thank my whole team under the Rockstar Makita Suzuki tent, and Yoshimura and all the sponsors we have. Everything’s just going really well this year,” he elaborated in a Racer Productions press release.

Joe Byrd finished third overall for his podium of the season, but was knows he has a tough fight against the Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammates. He said in the www.atvmotocross.com release: “The race could have been better, but we had a couple gremlins bite us. My goggles broke in the first moto and I couldn’t see, so the first moto was definitely not good to me. The second moto was better. We came out second and then took the lead, and I had a good battle with Creamer but I screwed up and he passed me back.”

Chad Weinen’s 6-3 finish was good enough for fourth place and keeps him in striking distance of the points leader, just 15 points behind.

Josh Creamer leads Joe Byrd at Ballance Moto-X. (Courtesy of ATVmotocross.com/Michael Roth image)

Biggest Movers 1: Byrd, who said he’s in charge of a “true privateer program,” did well in Moto 2.  The longtime pro finished in the seventh spot in Moto 1. However, in the second moto, he challenged for the
win and actually held the lead for the first six laps before an error allowed Creamer to pass him. His 7-2 score put him on the podium.

Reigning Pro AMA ATV MX Champ Dustin Wimmer (Rockstar Makita Suzuki) also put in two impressive rides, considering he got off to sluggish starts in both motos. After lap 1 in the first moto, Wimmer was in seventh place. He recovered to move into third. In the second moto, Wimmer was in sixth place after the first lap, but moved into third place. However, this time he dropped to fourth before the flag was waved. The 3-4 finish was good enough for second overall and he retained the points lead heading into Round 3.

Also in Moto 2, Pat Brown showcased some speed on his Honda as he motored from 16th all the way to eighth place to salvaged a 12th place finish and avoid a horrible weekend. Nick Denoble and Cody Grant also deserve a little praise for their “never-give-up” attitude. Each rider gained at least five spots by the time the Moto 2 checkers flew.

Biggest Movers 2: John “Ironman” Natalie. The Can-Am/Motoworks won the Moto 1 holeshot and than went wire-to-wire to win it. That put him in position for an overall. However, mechanical trouble in the second moto hurt Natalie’s shot at the podium. He sat in fourth place after two laps, but his day ended shortly after that. Natalie’s 1-17 finish, resulted in an eighth-place overall.

Harold Goodman also had some Moto 2 trouble, dropping from seventh place after the initial lap to 13th at the end of the race.

Pro-Am 2-fer
The Kawasaki-mounted Joel Hetrick was a perfect 2-for-2 on the weekend in both his Pro-Am classes. Hetrick edged Casey Martin (Polaris) and Chase Sapp (Suzuki) in the Pro-Am Production class, notching a 1-1 moto scores for the win. He backed that up with another 1-1 moto combo in the Pro-Am Unlimited ranks to beat Jeremy Tulenchik (Honda) and Andy Travis (KTM).

Perfect Thus Far

These 17 amateur racers, who have won both rounds in 2010 and have the early class points lead, deserve a lot of praise for their early season efforts. They are:

• 450 A – Wesely Holifield, Petal, Miss.
• 450B – Bret Cusumano, Maple Shade, N.J.
• Open B – Mark Gehring, W. Springfield, Mass.
• 4-Stroke A – Chase Henry, Petersburg, Va.
• Vet 30+ – Josh Strominski, Cedar Lake, Ind.
• Vet 30+ C – Bryan Williams, New Port Ritchey, Fla.
• Women – Heather Byrd, Union City, Tenn.
• Women C – Kelsey Dyer, Quincy, Ill.
• Schoolboy Sr. (14-17) – Dallas Tapscott, Scottsville, Va.
• Schoolboy Jr. (13-15) – Brent Sellers, Willis, Texas
• 90 Modified (8-15) – Samuel Rowe, Menasha, Wis.
• 90 Production (8-15) – Clay Pearson, Cullman, Ala.
• 90 CVT (8-15) – Tyler Mack, New Ulm, Minn.
• 70 Modified (6-11) – Ryan Harness, Beebe, Ark.
• 50 Sr. (6-8) – Ethan Putty, Nortonville, Ky.
• 50 CVT (6-8) – D.J. Bassani, Sussex, N.J.
• 50 Limited Jr. (4-6) – Ethan Ahlm, Cumming, Ga.

AMA Pro ATV – Overall

Overall Nbr Name Moto 1 Moto 2 Points Earned

1. #9 JOSH CREAMER – HON, NORTH STONINGTON, CT 2-1 47

2. #1 DUSTIN WIMMER – SUZ, CENTER VALLEY, PA 3-4 38

3. #7 JOE BYRD – HON, UNION CITY, TN 7-2 36

4. #44 CHAD WIENEN – CAN, GALENA, IL 6-3 35

5. #84 THOMAS BROWN – YAM, SANGER, TX 5-5 32

6. #20 JOSH UPPERMAN – HON, LOUISVILLE, OH 4-6 33

7. #16 JEREMY LAWSON – WAL, LIVE OAK, FL 10-7 25

8. #13 JOHN NATALIE JR – CAN, HOUTZDALE, PA 1-17 29

9. #12 KEITH LITTLE – HON, SPRUCE PINE, AL 9-10 23

10. #123 NICK DENOBLE – HON, DE PERE, WI 11-9 22

11. #62 JEREMIE WARNIA – CAN, PARIS, FR 8-16 18

12. #99 PATRICK BROWN – YAM, PITTSTOWN, NJ 17-8 17

13. #708 HAROLD GOODMAN – HON, ROMULUS, MI 12-13 17

14. #18 CODY GRANT – SUZ, OAKLAND, KY 15-11 16

15. #79 CLAY HOLMES – HON, LEXINGTON, TN 14-12 16

16. #111 NATE MORELLO – KTM, PETERBOROUGH, NH 13-14 15

17. #10 GREG GEE – HON, SIMCOE, ON 16-15 11

18. #86 JUSTIN BUSH – KTM, BAXTER, TN 18-18 6

ATV Pro Class Points (For riders who competed at both rounds, Through 2 Rounds – unofficial)

Rank, rider, points (wins)

1. Dustin Wimmer, 88 (1)

2. Josh Creamer, 84 (1)

3. Chad Weinen, 73

4. Josh Upperman, 70

5. John Natalie Jr.,65

6. Joe Byrd, 61

7. Thomas Brown, 58

8. Jeremy Lawson, 53

9. (tie) Pat Brown, Jeremy Warnia, 39

11. Nick Denoble, 35

12. Harold Goodman, 33

13. Keith Little, 32

14. Greg Gee, 28

15. Nate Morello, 26

For complete Round 2 results from Ballance Moto-X, visit the Trackside RESULTS PAGE.

Get More AMA ATV MX CHAMPIONSHIP INFO HERE.

Bringing new riders into the sport

From time to time we all run into or meet new people that are eager to get into the sport, and because most of us are thrilled to share the joys of the sport we all know and love, we are more than happy to introduce and teach the “new blood” all there is to know about riding ATV and motorcycles.  Problem is we as the unofficial mentor of this new rider tend to get overzealous and over-estimate the new riders abilities (from our own excitement).  Over estimating this new riders abilities can either present a less than desirable outcome and in some cases present a dangerous situation for this “newb”.  Below are some considerations to keep in mind when introducing a new rider to the sport for the very first time. [Read more]

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