The Roads of My Father

The General had a rare and unique “step back in time” experience this weekend while riding the Lost Coast Dual Sport Ride in NW California. As some of my followers know, I was born and raised in Cutten, a small community on the outskirts of Eureka.

*Click on photo for larger view

After WW2, my dad worked in the logging industry from 1950-1961 and then was hired as a foreman for Burman Construction Company. As a kid (aka The Cuttenkid), I remember driving on many of Humboldt County’s roads with my dad. Back in those days, the timber industry was going strong and many small communities had vibrant populations, grocery stores, and gas stations. Today they are mostly ghost towns.

In the early 1970s, The General worked at a lumber mill in Blue Lake that was eventually put out of business by the establishment of Redwood National Park. The sorter crew that I worked on actually set a mill record of pulling/sorting 220,000 board feet of lumber in an eight hour shift.

Seeing this small “logging museum” along one of the back roads in the Fort Seward area brought back some fond memories of driving on those same roads with my dad or handing him up a sandwich when he was running the dozer.

Thanks North Bay Motorcycle Club for the great ride and for allowing me to once again experience the backcountry roads of Humboldt County.

NBMC
http://www.northbaymc.org/content.aspx?page_id=9&club_id=709509

PS - My dad passed away in 1998

Carl Gooch Wins New KTM 250

As many of you know, May 2009 was the KTM/FMF Protect Your Right to Ride Month. Members (or new members) of BRC and other land use groups had to show their membership card at a participating KTM dealership and they were given a chance to win a new KTM 250 XC-FW.

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Photo at right is bike winner, Carl Gooch
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Well – it was announced yesterday by KTM that Carl Gooch (a BRC and AMA member) from Olive Branch, Mississippi was the lucky winner. His local dealership was Shoals Outdoor Sports.

BRC News Release on Carl Winning the Bike
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/media/?story=650

Examiner.com

http://www.examiner.com:80/x-1197-Boomer-Biker-Examiner~y2009m6d23-Carl-Gooch-is-Protect-Your-Right-To-Ride-Month-Winner

Carl has been active over the last few years working with other BRC supporters in his area by hosting a fundraiser for BRC and working on access issues on the Holly Springs
National Forest.

Helmets off to Carl and all those who support our efforts to champion responsible OHV use on public lands.

The General salutes you!

"Join A Club" Video From The General - Jimmy Lewis Weighs in Too

This video message below from The General is not geared to those of you who are already members of BRC or some other land use organization. It is geared to the 98 percent of the approx. 43 million off-roaders in this country who are not members of ANY organization or club.

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YouTube Video "Join A Club" Video from Don Amador

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy8cyutGdL8

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Dirt Rider Mag's, Jimmy Lewis, also has been banging the drums for a number of years regarding getting off-roaders to wake-up out of their dream-like state and get involved by joining a club --- see his post at:

http://blogs.dirtrider.com:80/6534753/editorial/save-a-trail/index.html

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I believe now more than ever that the future of our sport depends on getting the non-involved off-roader engaged in the battle.

Who are those non-involved riders? They are folks who think that “somebody else” will fight (and pay for) their battles for them or worse yet… they are the clueless riders who think that land-closures “won’t affect them.”

KTM and FMF have stepped up to the plate to help push up those membership numbers by declaring May as Protect Your Right To Ride Month. Also, BRC has a free 3 month trial membership promo going on right now.

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KTM/FMF's May is Protect Your Right to Ride Month

http://www.soundoffmc.com/

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BRC's 3 Month Free Ride Membership

http://www.sharetrails.org/three-ride-intro/

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It is my hope that the non-involved riders will wake-up and smell the campfire coffee. Who knows… the trail they save might just be the one they ride on.

KTM/FMF Kick Off May as "Protect Your Right To Ride Month"

Something very cool and exciting is starting May 1, 2009. KTM and FMF have joined together to promote May as “Protect Your Right to Ride Month.” KTM is doing a giveaway of a brand new 250 XC-FW equipped with a Q4 muffler.

If you are a rider, all you have to do is go into your local KTM shop and sign up for a membership with BRC or AMA (businesses can sign up with ORBA) or show your BRC or AMA membership card and get an entry into the drawing to win the new bike.

When you go into the shop, The General is asking that you also buy some KTM products or other aftermarket accessories to help support the dealership. That is what I will be doing! Don’t just sign up for a membership for yourself… sign up each member of your family as an individual member.

I expect some news releases on this promo in the next day or two, but here is some initial info on this project at FMF’s new land-use site:
http://www.soundoffmc.com/


Here also is a link to KTM’s dealer network to find your local shop
http://www.ktmusa.com/Dealer-Locator.77.20.html


Please fwd this note to your email networks and get folks to sign up and also buy some products at the dealer.

Thanks for your service!!!

BRC Obtains Status for CFC Donations

For a number of years, pro-access government employees have strongly urged the BlueRibbon Coalition to obtain official status in the Combined Federal Campaign Charity List.

Today that vision was realized when the BRC announced that the United States Office Of Personnel Management has granted the aforementioned status. BRC will be listed under the National/International Independent Organizations list for charitable donations.

BRC News Release on CFC Status
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/media/?story=641


I know that BRC has many supporters in the federal land agencies and our military who want to donate to its effort to champion good stewardship of public lands. According to
the BRC news release--the organization will be listed as: 11402 BlueRibbon Coalition.

I think a special note of thanks should go to BRC executive director, Greg Mumm, and his staff for a mission accomplished.

ON ANY THURSDAY - Malcolm Smith's Protest

Those of us in the off-road world already know Malcolm as the racing and film legend that he is. We all remember watching him ride in “On Any Sunday.” For many off-roaders that movie was the driving force for them to get into motorcycle riding or competitive racing.

On March 19, 2009 Malcolm Smith became the star of another achievement. By holding a rally and defying the CPSC ban on the sale of youth OHVs he will be also known as the driving force of…”On Any Thursday.”

Dirt Rider Mag Article on Event
http://blogs.dirtrider.com/6491556/editorial/malcolm-smith-s-cpsia-federal-offense/index.html

Great Photos from Carlos Aguirre (Thanks Carlos!!!) of Malcolm Event

http://motography.smugmug.com/gallery/7665496_8cVgT#494851525_DvDyJ

AMA Article on Malcolm Event

http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=747

Overlawyered Article on Event
http://overlawyered.com/2009/03/cpsia-a-season-of-activism/

Cool Video of Josh Cerne (a young racer) Asking Folks to Save the Sport
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ISeSAyFMj8

As you know, the decision to engage in civil disobedience is a decision that only can be
made by the person who is defying the law. It is a deeply personal decision that must be respected.

As Congress works on legislative fixes to the current ban and to honor Malcolm’s decision, The General is asking riders to continue to pressure your elected officials to help bring a quick end to what has become a national disgrace.

Continue to monitor and use the MIC’s “Stop the Ban” Website
http://www.mic.org/stoptheban.cfm

Also, watch for alerts from other groups such as AMA and BRC.

Thanks for your service!

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CPSC OHV Ban - Conspiracy, Hypocrisy, or Bad Government

Over the last few days, The General has received a lot of emails from
off-roaders who are asking why youth-OHVs and related products did not get the same sort of exemption that the sporting goods industry apparently received from the CPSC.

After all, youth OHVs and related OHV clothing/safety gear are considered to be part of, or related to, the sporting goods industry and those products are often sold along side of each other at multi-venue retail shops.

(photo of a youth training wheel set was taken today at a major retail chain -- this product would be banned at Malcolm's shop if used for a youth dirt-bike)

Those questions are good ones. In fact, they are validated by a recent statement given to The General from a spokesman of the outdoor industry about how basically the youth outdoor/sporting goods industry was not impacted by the CPSC lead ban.

That statement is supported by a Feb 12 article from the Sporting Goods Industry Association that talks about how sporting goods ARE NOT a toy and hence deserving of the CPSC reprieve.

SGIA Article
http://www.sgiauk.com/module/news/display/newsdisplay.aspx?news=52

Another article where non-motorized "sporting goods" are given a pass

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090318/OPINION01/303189989

Based on that information, The General decided to take a trip today to a major national discount retail chain store and see if they are selling almost identical youth “sporting goods” that Malcolm is prohibited from selling.

While there were some youth products that had “CPSC approved” decals on them, there were many sporting goods (youth baseball gloves, youth training wheels set, youth swim/goggle sets, bicycle tire tubes, etc) being sold with no “CPSC approved” sticker.

Unlike the non-motorized sporting goods industry who got an apparent pass from the CPSC, it appears that some government bureaucrats have decided to use political science instead of sound science and common sense to take a whack at the “motorized sporting goods industry” (i.e. OHV) causing great economic harm and personal hardships.

Is it a conspiracy? I’m not going that far since I know many people in government and most don’t have the energy or time to develop and implement elaborate conspiracies.

Is it hypocrisy? That is a charge that appears to have some merit since the CPSC has used a double standard that judges non-motorized vs. motorized sporting goods differently.

However, the charge of “bad government” is applicable since this CPSC ban on youth OHVs should have never gotten this far. Now we have dealerships going bankrupt and shops still in business like Malcolm’s dealership is preparing to employ civil disobedience as a tool of last resort.

The question is will current efforts by Congress to fix this problem be enacted in time to save family businesses and/or will the CPSC do the right thing and issue a stay in the next week or two?

Those are good questions to which The General does not have the answer.

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People Banging Trash Can Lids to Protest CPSC Ban on Youth OHVs

I read in the VOICES Section of the March 11, 2009 issue of CycleNews
where SF Bay Area OHV advocate, Dave Duffin, said he was ready to
start banging an old metal trash-can lid so Congress will hear our voices on
the absurd and hurtful CPSC ban on youth OHVs (and snowmobiles).

Good news for Mr. Duffin, a loud national outcry IS arising from the grassroots and they are mad as hell and are not going to take it any longer. The General visited a local KTM dealer
last week and he said that it is hurting his business and making his customers
mad.

Based on numerous recent letters from Congress to the CPSC and requests
for hearings on this issue, I would say that Congress and the media are hearing
from thousands of motocross/trail moms, angry dads, distraught OHV dealers,
and discouraged young riders.


Our friends at the MIC have a very cool Website and letter program set up. It has
specific letters tailored for the various stakeholders including riders, dealers, and families to send in. Go there TODAY and send new letters to Congressional Committees and the CPSC.

The General has already sent email letters and also printed off hard copies and placed them in the mail today.

BRC’s March 9 “Lead Alert”
http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/?alert=959

MIC's "Stop the Ban" Letter Generator and Info Site:

http://www.mic.org/stoptheban.cfm

Congressman John Dingell’s Letter to CPSC
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/mi15_dingell/090305CPSC.shtml

BRC's News Release with Link to Congressman Simpson's Letter to Chairman Waxmanhttp://www.sharetrails.org/releases/media/?story=636

Congressman Duncan Hunter's Letter to CPSChttp://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/CPSC_Cong_Hunter_March_2_Letter.pdf

Western Caucus Letter

http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/CPSC_Western_Caucus_Letter_Feb_6_20090001.pdf

State Representative Tom Self's Website

http://www.tomself.com/

Go forth and write! That’s an Order

-- The General

Congress is Hearing Your Voice on Youth OHV Ban

Congress is hearing your collective voice regarding the Feb. 10 nationwide ban of youth OHVs. Senator Jim DeMint has introduced legislation S374 to address the issue
http://demint.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=47f5e571-e91a-1938-714d-890052de9195&Month=2&Year=2009

NAM placed an ad on THE HILL that talks about the many businesses that will be impacted by CPSC’s ban. See article:
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/business-community-urgently-calls-on,704940.shtml

Here is the ad.
http://www.bracewellgiuliani.info/nam/

AMA has written a letter:
http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=595


This crisis for the OHV community is not over!!! Please continue to make personal visits to your Member of Congress and thanks to all of you who have made those visits or written a letter.

CPSC Comment Pagehttp://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/info.aspx

BRC Rapid Response Center to contact the White House and your Congressional Memberhttp://www.sharetrails.org/rapid_response/

MIC News Release on Issue:http://www.mic.org/news012609.cfm

Honda Letter to Dealers:http://www.cyclenews.com/ShowStory.asp?HeadlineID=13413

NAM Letter
http://www.sharetrails.org/files/CPSC-NAM-Request-for-Emergency-Stay.pdf

Sample "Cut and Paste" Letter:

As a member of the OHV community, I want to voice my strong support for petitions filed recently by the Motorcycle Industry Council and Specialty Vehicle Institute of America to seek emergency relief from provisions which go into effect on February 10, 2009.

While I do support efforts by Consumer Product Safety Commission to protect children from lead content in products that truly present a risk to children, I do not believe the Commission intended that metal parts on ATVs and motorcycles be included in that regulation because they do not present a lead risk to children.

As the spring OHV recreation season rapidly approaches, I ask you to support efforts to exclude youth-oriented OHVs – and the businesses that sell and service them – from being unnecessarily impacted by this ban especially during this economic crisis.

Sincerely,

Motorcycle Shop Owners Worried About Lead Ban

It appears that more users and shop owners are becoming aware of the Feb. 10 BAN on youth

OHVs. The General continues to urge riders and dealers to visit the office of their Member of Congress - TODAY. I think a lot of folks are slowly coming to the realization of just how great an impact this BAN will have on business owners and family OHVers.

Here is a news article on this issue:

http://www.stjoenews.net/news/2009/feb/04/some-frustrated-lead-mandates/?print

For info on how to send letters... see info below in yesterday's blog.

Keep Fighting Ban on Youth OHVs

As the Feb. 10 “BAN” on the sale of youth OHVs rapidly approaches, The General asks his readers to continue making personal phone calls or visits to their respective Member of Congress. I have already heard back from a number
of you who have made those visits or intend to make them today.

Please make those visits and “Take a Dealer” with you. Both the family OHV user and local shops will suffer if Congress does not act or if the CPSC does not grant the MIC’s petition for a temporary exclusion.

Also, JC at Motorcycle-USA wrote a great article on this issue:
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/5/2382/Motorcycle-Article/Lead-Ban-Stops-Youth-ATV-and-Motorcycle-Sales.aspx

Please continue to send letters to the CPSC, Pres. Obama, and Congress and ask others to do the same.


CPSC Comment Pagehttp://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/info.aspx


BRC Rapid Response Center to contact the White House and your Congressional Memberhttp://www.sharetrails.org/rapid_response/

MIC News Release on Issue:http://www.mic.org/news012609.cfm
Honda Letter to Dealers:
http://www.cyclenews.com/ShowStory.asp?HeadlineID=13413

PL 110-314 (HR 4040)

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpsia.Pdf

Sample "Cut and Paste" Letter:


As a member of the OHV community, I want to voice my strong support for petitions filed recently by the Motorcycle Industry Council and Specialty Vehicle Institute of America to seek emergency relief from provisions which go into effect on February 10, 2009.


While I do support efforts by Consumer Product Safety Commission to protect children from lead content in products that truly present a risk to children, I do not believe the Commission intended that metal parts on ATVs and motorcycles be included in that regulation because they do not present a lead risk to children.


As the spring OHV recreation season rapidly approaches, I ask you to support efforts to exclude youth-oriented OHVs – and the businesses that sell and service them – from being unnecessarily impacted by this ban especially during this economic crisis.


Sincerely,

Trail Tip - Try a Trials Tire

While sitting around the campfire recently with some fellow dirt-bikers at the Stonyford OHV Area on the Mendocino National Forest, we discussed the “secret” of trials tires and how well they work on just about any trail condition.

It was our collective opinion that using trials tires when trail riding makes sense for your pocket book since they last often 3 times longer than regular knobbies. Trials tires also offer increased traction control on almost every trail soil-type from loamy black diamond single-track in the mountains to sand or rocky two-tracks in the desert.

Many riding experts have already written praise-filled articles acknowledging the traction benefits of using trials tires including off-road racing legend and Dirt Rider Magazine editor, Jimmy Lewis.

Besides the vehicle control advantage, trials tires are more ecologically friendly because they “hook-up” with the ground instead of spinning like knobbies.

I currently have a Dunlop 803 trials tire on my 2004 KTM 250 EXC 2-stroke. Other companies that make trials tires include Michelin and IRC. There may be other manufacturers of the tire, but the aforementioned brands are what you see most often on the trail.

Next time you want to get a leg up on your ”knobby” riding buddies… buy a trials tire. It will make you faster and more ecologically-friendly.

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