"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.

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.

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.

# # #

Civil Disobedience and the CPSC Ban on Youth OHVs

Last week, The General wrote about riders and dealers who are “mad as hell” regarding the CPSC’s current ban on the sale of youth-OHVs. Those angry folks have been “banging trash can lids” loudly so that Congress, the Obama Administration, and the CPSC will hear them from miles away.

Dems and GOPers in Congress are working on H.R. 968 to address the impacts to OHV sales as well as Senator Tester and Representative Rehberg with the introduction of their “dirt bike” bill this week:
http://www.powersportsbusiness.com/output.cfm?ID=2075923

Senator Tester’s Website on Dirt Bike Bill
http://tester.senate.gov/Newsroom/pr_031609_dirt-bike.cfm


One of those folks who have been banging the drums at 104 dBA is off-road hero, Malcolm Smith. Malcolm is planning a protest on Thursday March 19 at his Riverside dealership.

Malcolm’s Event
http://kidslove2ride.com/

USA Today Article on Malcolm's Event

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-03-18-motorcycle-kids_N.htm

Malcolm is actually taking his protest to a higher level by planning to sell the currently banned OHVs to various racing legends and other celebrities. This is an act of civil disobedience and it has a long history in America’s political process.

Being a veteran of the private property wars, the timber wars, the roadless wars, the Klamath water war, and the OHV commission war that defunded trail monies to the FS and BLM for almost 8 years, The General’s view is that the decision to engage in civil disobedience is an extremely personal choice.

That decision can make them a target for overzealous federal agencies who may decide to target them to make an “example” out of them. In addition, the court system is not geared to protect conservative values or issues and a family can face fiscal hardships fighting the federal government.

The General (or anybody for that matter) cannot tell somebody like Malcolm or other dealerships when it is an appropriate time to employ civil disobedience to address ill-conceived government regulations that will put you out of business.

Factors such as the status of pending congressional actions to fix the problem, support from local elected officials for the event, being drowned out by other more pressing media issues, agency relief, or pending court action must be considered.

In the final analysis, it remains a deeply personal decision that must be respected.

Man-Up CPSC

The General has been following this issue since January 26 and has been asking the troops to send letters, make phone calls, and visit the local office of your Member of Congress.

Some people say that “one person cannot make a difference.” I disagree with that statement since I have seen “one person” make a huge difference to effect positive change. However, you can be assured that when hundreds of thousands of businessmen, riders, motocross moms, and proud dads cry foul and make their voices heard in DC (and in the media) that entrenched bureaucrats do listen and can be encouraged to make a better decision or to rethink a current stance.

Up until just a few days ago, it was The General’s impression that the CPSC was going
to stiff-arm the OHV community and make us wait for the 2-3 year rulemaking process
to finish before issuing a variance for youth OHVs. However, based on the quotes below from a recent news article, the CPSC now appears willing to find a solution in a “few weeks” rather than in months or years.

Below are quotes from a CPSC spokesperson in a Feb. 22 news article:
http://www.fwdailynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1596:-New-federal-lead-law-puts-the-brakes-on-kids%E2%80%99-powersports&catid=174:features&Itemid=151

…“We are in receipt of the (powersports) petition, but we are not able to grant an exemption at this time because of the way the CSPC operates,” Hayes-Pleasant said. “We are working on it, though, and plan to provide some guidance in the very near future. We do realize that (children) are not directly mouthing these parts (on youth powersports vehicles). The last thing we want to do is take ATVs away from young riders.”

The “guidance” will take a few weeks, “not months,” Hayes-Pleasant said. However, she could not say whether that guidance will come in time for the national Motocross competitions next month. In the meantime the CSPC is advising powersports suppliers and sellers to move and store the affected equipment in an area away from children, but not to get rid of it before the commission comes up with the new guidance…

My final thought for today is that a common thread is running through feedback from the CPSC -- they appear to blame Congress for writing a bad law. While there may be some merit to that concept, the CPSC should “man up” and confess THEY did a darn poor job in issuing the appropriate interim exemptions while the rulemaking process is underway so the powersports industry and OHV recreationists are not hurt or put out of business. If the CPSC really wants to

do the right thing, they won't wait for a few weeks --they will grant a stay on Monday Feb. 23.

KEEP SENDING LETTERS AND MAKE THOSE VISITS TO YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS – This is no time to let up!!!

Stay on Offense Regarding CPSC Ban of Youth OHVs

The General asks you to keep the pressure up on the CPSC
to grant the petitions of the Motorcycle Industry Council
And Specialty Vehicle Institute of America for emergency
relief. Family OHV recreation, dealers, and youth OHV events are
being negatively impacted.

Even though the official public comment period has ended for
the CPSC’s Rulemaking process that will consider permanent
exclusions for youth OHVs, riders and dealers must keep the pressure on the CPSC to grant the MIC’s request for temporary exclusions.

Also, you must continue to make appointments and/or personal
phone calls to your Member of Congress regardless of party affiliation.
I salute those who made those visits such as Pacific Motorsports – a Honda
and Yamaha dealer – in Eureka, California. They visited the local office of
Congressman Mike Thompson (D-Napa) and requested his assistance.

Such efforts resulted in a February 6, 2009 letter from 6 Members of
the Western Caucus to the CPSC asking them to grant the Industry’s petition
for emergency relief.

This is truly one time when YOU are making a difference. Stay on
offense.

See several news links below – your collective voice is being heard.
Also, you can send a letter via a number of ongoing efforts.

BRC Feb. 19 Alert (also see Feb. 19 BRC letter and Western Caucus letter)
http://www.sharetrails.org/

Senator Tom Self’s Website
http://www.tomself.com/
*Send this guy a big thank you!

ARRA Letter

http://www.arra-access.com/arra/home.html

AMA Letter and Alert
http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=629

Editorial by John Stewart - 4x4 Wire

http://www.4x4wire.com:80/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=483:get-the-lead-out&catid=56:4x4-access-view&Itemid=86

Feb 18 News Article with Video on this issue
http://www.newschannel10.com/Global/story.asp?S=9868087

MSNBC Story
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29236051/

FOX News
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2009Feb15/0,4670,MotorcyclesLeadBan,00.html

Other groups and websites have ongoing email and/or letter
writing efforts as well.

Thanks for your service!

The General

Continue Fight Against CPSC Ban on Youth OHVs

OHV families and dealers got hit hard on Feb. 10 with a "ban" on the sale of youth OHVs. Many riders and shop owners could not believe that their government would want to put them out of business.

However, don't think your letters and visits to congressional district offices did not matter - they did. A number of congressional members issued strong letters of opposition to the CPSC or introduced legislation such as Sen. Jim DeMint's S.374. Be assured the national OHV groups have this high on their radar screen and will continue efforts as well. They continue to need the grassroots support and effort.

We may have lost round one with the Feb. 10 ban, but we have several more rounds to go. Please continue to make those personal visits to congressional district offices. Also SEND letters to Congress using the BlueRibbon Coalition's

BRC Rapid Response Center (just type in ZIP code and cut and paste letter)

http://www.sharetrails.org/rapid_response/

Send letters to the CPSC

http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/info.aspx

SAMPLE LETTER BELOW:

As a member of the OHV community, I want to voice my continued support for petitions filed by the Motorcycle Industry Council and Specialty Vehicle Institute of America to seek emergency relief from provisions that went 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,

You can also go to Missouri State Representative Tom Self's website and send a letter as well.

http://www.tomself.com/

The General sent letters today using both services and he asks you to do the same. Also, fwd to other OHV users and dealers.

The General Thanks You for for Your Service!!!

So Long Dirt-Bike Kids - Not If We Can Help It!!!

*Photo is of a "Dirt-Bike Kid" who came over to

an OHV sound check station to get tested... cool thing was he did this on his own.

An article “So Long, Dirt-Bike Kids” was published recently http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/05/dirt-bikes/

I believe it shows the bias of the so-called “mainstream” media to
target activities that it/they deem unworthy. When I was young,
I was one of those dirt-bike kids. Also, so were my two sons.

My nieces and nephews were dirt-bike kids. My wife’s cousin has

dirt-bike and ATV kids. My nephew’s two sons are dirt-bike kids

too. A lot of this nation’s youth are dirt-bike kids.

I draw your attention to a Wall Street Journal editorial that notes how

dirt-bikes were “highlighted” by the NYT while it failed to mention

how the lead ban impacts everything from ball-point pens to comic books.

WSJ Article
http://overlawyered.com/2009/02/cpsia-chronicles-february-6/comment-page-1/

Also, ck out article on impacts to dealers

http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/39229887.html

DR Mag on the Issue

http://blogs.dirtrider.com/6424265/editorial/dirt-bikes-for-kids-soon-to-be-illegal/index.html

The General continues to ask the troops to keep sending letters in, make phone calls, and
never give up! Too much is at stake. (see blogs below for sample letter, etc.)

Feb. 6 CPSC News Release Offers No Help for OHV Ban

The CPSC’s News Release today
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09121.html

is of little help to the Powersports community. The General believes that totally inaccessible parts have always been excluded from the lead content limits. However, the problem is, there are many components/parts on ATVs and motorcycles that contain lead and are accessible (e.g. levers; tire valves; suspension parts; external engine parts; etc.). The MIC petition expressly seek an exclusion only for accessible lead-containing parts, components and accessories

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

Please continue to send letters to Congress, the Administration, and CPSC asking them to support the MIC’s petition. See my previous blogs for sample letter, etc.

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,