NOHVCC News: When did you first get involved with OHVs?

Jim:) The answer is....when was I not involved? Just kidding! I started out in high school when my parents (read that: Dad under protest of Mom) bought me a motorbike to go to school with. It was boring to ride to and from and one day I tried a dirt lot to break up the boredom. I guess that was the very first time I was in the dirt with a motorbike. Not a motorcycle, but a motorbike. I was hooked. I went out and bought a "real motorcycle" a 1953 Triumph Tiger Cub (OK...quit laughing!) and started doing more "dirt" exploring. This was about 1965-ish and there was a lot of open spaces. Next thing I knew, my friends in high school had bikes and we all went riding together. About 1977 I got the urge to compete and bought my second bike, a 1975 Suzuki TS400 (mild-mannered brother to the TM400) and tried an enduro. Wrong bike! I then got my very first real bike, a PE250 Suzuki. Loved that bike! Got quite a few trophies in class and the 2-man team with my riding buddy and best friend Bob Andrake. Did that for a few years and got as high as "B" class in AMA and local events. Then life set in and I cut back, but kept riding casually. I got a lot of my co-workers into family enduros and was having a great time. I then changed jobs and worked graveyard with Tuesday/Wednesday off. So much for riding with friends on the weekends. As an enduro rider I bought an XL500 and started riding in the local mountains on my days off. This is when I went to meetings on local issues of OHV use and started to get involved. This is also the time I designed "Dual Purpose", a.k.a."Dual Sport", self guided tours. With the help and support of Ed Waldheim, 1983 is when I really got involved. As it is said..."the rest is history"

NN: How did you first get involved with the NOHVCC?

Jim: During my dealings with OEM's and magazines trying to sell the fledgling "Dual Purpose Rides", I made contacts and was approached by Honda and asked to be on part of a group to promote OHV use. Sounded good to me! I was actually at the second meeting in Torrance when all this got going. We were at ground zero and building a foundation "on the dirt" for the future. I was (and still am) excited over what has been accomplished for our sport.

NOHVCC News: What are some of the other ways that you have been involved with OHVs?

Jim: In my years of riding I was an enduro rider and when Dual Sport rides were started, I was making a lot of visits to various OHV land managers to get riding opportunities for the Dual Sport venues. Working with Ed Waldheim provided me with a multi-faceted environment of OHV experiences and legal situations. This also involved me with the American Motorcyclist Association and District 37. I was a member of the Barbenders MC, CORVA, and the Phantom Duck Club at the time. I helped Bill and Kathy Herndon with the SSS (Sequoia Summer Series) of trail maintenance and Adopt-a-Trail for the Kennedy Meadows area of the Sequoia National Forest. This is where I also met Tom Crimmins.

NOHVCC News: In what ways has working the NOHVCC helped you accomplish your land-use goals?

Jim: In working from "dirt" up, I realized the diversity of riding in the USA. Needless to say, some of the initial groups had an idea of what / where we wanted to go. Putting it all together was a monumental task. Long after-meeting discussions ( usually over "adult beverages") and just plain old bench racing proved to be the inspiration for our next days agendas and directions. Sorta like "Dirt Riding Management 101" and we were setting up the curriculum! Many a meeting our heads were throbbing from all the input and sorting of ideas.
NOHVCC News: OK, what's your current favorite ride area and machine?

Jim: My current ride area is where I can just ride, take my kids and grandkids out and enjoy the "Church of the Great Outdoors". With ten dirt / Dualsport bikes and five 4X4's in the family and all of our friends we go camping with, I would say the desert areas north of Los Angeles. Primarily, the California City area. Mainly because it is close and easy enough for the grandkids to ride. My favorite bike? Right now, I have an 1993 XR 650L and a 2001 XR650R conversion to Dual Sport. Both are great bikes, but for different "attitudes" when I want to ride. Kinda like our '05 XR230 too for just goofing off. The fastest dirt bike I ever had, my 1979 OR 390 Husky. My favorite 4X4 is our ( my wife's) Jeep Rubicon.