Post Rally Update on Fight for Carnegie

The General wants to thank all of you who braved the rain to come out today and rally in support of Carnegie SVRA. Based on feedback from a number of event promoters who are used to tallying a crowd, their opinion was that over 1,500 OHVers were at the park today because of the rally.

Photo: L to R – Ed Santin, VP, AMA D36, Dave Pickett, President, AMA D36, Don Amador, BRC, and Rich Fern, Treasurer, AMA D36

Today, you took a stand for the park and against eco-fraud groups who use the courts to enact their political agenda. I believe the rally will go down in off-road history books as the day when OHVers took a stand.

Thanks also for stopping by the BRC booth and visiting with me and/or signing up for a BRC membership. You are why I was there.

Stay tuned to this and other websites and blogs for updated information as there could be news very soon regarding the success or failure of the appeal filed by state parks and submitted to the court last Thursday.

Also, be sure and watch Channels 2 and 5 in the Bay Area and Channel 3 in Sacramento tonight regarding TV coverage. There may be on other TV stations as well.

Thanks again for your service!!!

Weekend Update for Carnegie Crisis

This is a short bulletin for this weekend regarding the pending temporary closure of Carnegie SVRA on Dec. 29 (actually I believe at this point that the park will close at the end of business on Dec. 28).

Dave Duffin, a fellow Carnegie OHV Taskforce Member and friend will be at the park today to inform riders about this issue.

He has started an online petition for riders to sign:

SAVE CARNEGIE SVRA
http://www.carnegieforever.org/

I understand that Deputy Director of OHMVR, Daphne Greene, and/or other senior staff from Sacramento might be there today or tomorrow to answer questions.

During this crisis it is important for you to understand who the enemy is. Some newbie riders have asked me…”How do you know that these law suit happy eco groups want to BAN OHV recreation on public lands?” The answer is simple – they told me!

Yes, it is the hard core left wing eco-groups that have told The General (during the course of a national conference, regional meeting, or stakeholder group) that their real agenda is to ban ALL OHV recreation on public lands. Some of them are quite proud of it. Others mask their agenda with seductive phrases like, “We just want what is best for OHV” or “All we want is for OHV recreation to be managed” or “You should be joining our effort to force the land agencies to comply with their own rules and regulations.”

Don’t buy it and don’t blame the OHMVR Division or the one or two federal on-the-ground OHV techs that are tasked with taking care of a popular OHV area such as Upper Lake, Cow Mt., or Mace Mill. Blaming these folks is like blaming a bank for being robbed or blaming an old lady for allowing her purse to be snatched. In these cases it is the robber and the petty thief that are to blame.

Stay tuned over the next few days as more information is dissected and action items are developed.

New "Rider-Fit" OHV Laws in CA and OR

I know most of my readers are bogged down just trying to keep up with all the FS TMR related planning documents and proposed closures in the West. Also, enviros are filing lawsuits at an alarming rate against OHV recreation on both state and federal lands.

The General wants you to take a minute from your busy schedules to be aware of new “rider fit” laws in CA and OR.

In CA, AB 134 will take effect on Jan. 1, 2010. Law enforcement officers will be able to cite the parent or guardian for allowing a child less than 14 years of age to operate an OHV when they (because of their size) are either too small or too big from being able operate all controls needed to safely operate the vehicle.

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AB 134
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0101-0150/ab_134_cfa_20090630_114101_sen_floor.html

*

OR’s law is similar but it impacts children under the age of 16.
http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/ATV/Rider_fit.shtml

I believe one could argue on either side of this issue regarding if “another OHV law” was needed. The main point is that this type of bill has been in the pipeline for several years in CA and to restate a phrase from the Mayor of SF…”This puppy is coming whether you like it or not.” As many of you know, CA passes laws like some riders pass gas while sitting around a campfire telling stories.

What is different about this new OHV law is that legislators used some common sense in crafting this bill. For CA (and OR) this bill could have been a lot worse.

24 Hours of Electricross - New Member of Off-road Family

Taking a break from all the OHV “bad news,” The General is happy to report on a very cool event that is happening in San Jose on the weekend of April 4-5, 2009.

I will be representing BRC at the first ever 24 Hours of Electricross endurance test for all electric OHVs. The event will be held at the 408 MX facilities at the San Jose fairgrounds. OHMVR will be there as well, plus a number of other partners and sponsors.

A number of teams both domestic and international will be putting their electric OHVs to the test. The Guinness Book of World Records will be there.

***** Don Amador on Zero Motorcycles Dirt Bike in photo at right of screen *****

Zero Motorcycles Info on Event. (includes info about Demo rides, quotes from Zero founder Neil Saiki, Daphne Greene, and Don Amador, plus other stuff etc.)
http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/electricross/

Zero Motorcycles Code of Ethics
http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/electricross/Code-of-Ethics.html

March 27 Santa Cruz Sentinel Article
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_12008079

Fox Business Article

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/zero-motorcycles-set-world-record--hour-electric-vehicle-endurance-race/

Motorcycle.com Article

http://www.motorcycle.com/news/zero-hosts-electric-24-hr-endurance-race-88100.html

I believe that electric OHVs are or will become an important member of
the off-road family. I too share the sentiments of Deputy Director Greene (OHMVR Program) that having these products available increases our collective chance to site an urban/city OHV park so folks can ride close to home.

Don will be doing a post event story.

See ya there!

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