2020 has been an unusual and trying year for everyone, yet NOHVCC has engaged partners to try and continue to bring you best practices from throughout the OHV community. If you missed anything or want to revisit some of our articles from the past year here is your opportunity!
Arizona State Parks And Trails Hosts Awesome Veterans Ride Inspired By NOHVCC Webinar!
On October 1, 2019 NOHVCC hosted a webinar titled “Learn How To Host Rides for Veterans.” NOHVCC Chairman and External Relations Director for the Iowa OHV Association Dan Kleen, who has organized several veterans’ rides in Iowa, served as the webinar’s presenter. He highlighted the rides for veterans in Iowa and hoped to provide participants with all the information and tools necessary for clubs across the Country to replicate Iowa’s success. Arizona State Parks and Trails proved the webinar was a success!
Adventure Trail Activity Books Part Of Summer Reading Program
Given his commitment to educating young people, it’s also easy to see why JC Sanders gravitated to the Adventure Trail Activity books which were designed by NOHVCC and partners. The books are based on the Adventure Trail, which was created to communicate NOHVCC’s safe and responsible ethic to young kids – including the need to wear appropriate safety gear, stay on designated trails, be considerate of the environment and other messages. Some of the artwork is designed to portray responsible OHV recreation in a way that kids and adults will find humorous. The remainder of the artwork takes a light-hearted look at the very serious consequences of inappropriate OHV use at a level relatable to kids.
Twist-It Sisters Women’s Motorcycle Club (MI) Officially Launched On International Women’s Day – Read How They Got Started – And How To Replicate Their Success!
March 8, 2020 was International Women’s Day. Never to be left out, the OHV community was well served on that important day by the announcement of the formation of a women’s club in Michigan. The Twist-It Sisters Motorcycle Club announced on Facebook, “The Cycle Conservation Club of Michigan has welcomed its newest, and first, women’s chapter! The Twist-It Sisters Motorcycle Club has been many years in the making. It began with a Michigan rider seeking other ladies to meet and ride with on an upcoming trip. That ride spawned an annual ride, impromptu day rides, camping weekends, and lifetime friendships.”
NOHVCC reached out to the Twist-It Sisters and chatted with Karen Bunker who has been active in establishing the Twist-It Sisters Facebook group and, ultimately the Club itself. Karen has been engaged in OHV recreation since she married John Bunker who was (and remains) a dedicated off-highway motorcyclist.
For Those Who Choose to Ride During “Social Distancing” – Some Guidelines
NOHVCC recently drew your attention to U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service guidance, indicating that opportunities to continue dispersed recreation may remain during the current reality we are all facing as a result of COVID-19. It is possible to abide by social distancing and other recommended guidelines while getting outdoors and engaging in all sorts of recreation – including OHV recreation. But, ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide if getting outdoors is the right thing to do.
NOHVCC always believes in safe and responsible recreation – this is the core of NOHVCC’s ethic; however, safety is even more important than ever if you choose to ride in the near future. Many hospitals are at or near capacity. This may not only make it difficult for you to get the care you need should you get injured, you may also turn the attention of hospital staff away from focusing on addressing the needs of other patients.
How One Private OHV Area Has Responded To COVID-19
Please click here to read a letter from Bill Lyon, President, Wind Rock Park, Knoxville, TN. The letter outlines how Wind Rock is responding to threats from COVID-19. Individuals, businesses and land managers are being forced to make tough decisions, while still attempting to provide opportunities for recreation. NOHVCC wanted to share this letter as one example of how a private riding area is dealing with our current reality.
Guest Article From New NOHVCC Partner – Don Amador – DON’T BE GROUND ZERO
Long-time OHV advocate, friend of NOHVCC and new NOHVCC Partner from California, Don Amador has a long history of promoting safe and responsible OHV recreation. You can learn more about Don by visiting his website www.quietwarriorracing.com. Don recently published an article on his blog that we wanted to share with you.
Do You Use Chainsaws For Trail Maintenance? Here Is Some Critical Safety Information You Need To Know
In preparation for our June 10, 2020 webinar Vehicle Spark Arresters Past, Present and Future NOHVCC staff had the opportunity to speak with webinar presenter, Chris Real. Chris, with DPS Technical, Inc., brought to our attention a very real safety issue that could impact OHV enthusiasts and managers who may be returning to the field to perform trail maintenance or other trail work. Essentially, as a result of decreased vehicle miles travelled during the shutdowns, there may be more “winter blend” gasoline in circulation, which could create safety concerns related to the operation of small engines including those found in chainsaws during hot Summer months.
Winter blend gasolines react differently than summer blends and when used in chainsaws in hot weather vapor lock or “geysering” may be more likely than normal. This means everyone operating a chainsaw this summer needs to take extra precautions to prevent injuries.
National Trailer Safety Week – From Polaris – How to Properly Load and Haul Your UTV
The best part about owning a UTV is taking it out on those muddy backwoods trails, twisting sand dunes, and stair-stepped rock ledges. But for many of us who don’t live on a spacious countryside property, we don’t have the ability to just steer out of the garage and onto the trail – we’re inevitably spending a fair amount of time hauling our off-road toys to our destination. It takes time to get loaded up, but loading up properly will ensure you spend your time where it counts – having a blast at your favorite playground.
Here’s a general overview of some UTV hauling solutions: tips and techniques for safely and securely transporting your SxS to and from your destination.
National Trailer Safety Week – From Polaris – Choosing the Correct Loading Ramp for Your ATV or UTV
Whether you’re traveling to a jobsite, a trailhead, or a favorite hunting ground, transporting your ATV or UTV plays a big part in using your vehicle. Mastering how to load, secure and unload it is an art unto itself. Selecting the proper off-road vehicle (ORV) loading ramp is a major part of the adventure. In this guide, we’ll spell out how to go about that selection process, and in doing so we’ll introduce you to the basic varieties of ramps and why you might opt for one over another.
But before we get started, it’s important to always wear a helmet when riding your ATV or UTV up or down a ramp. And not matter which type of ramp you choose, always secure the ramp to the loading vehicle to minimize the chance of it dropping, slipping, or jerking away.
The “Bearded Jeeper” Shares Video Of Clean Up Event – Removed Several Abandoned Vehicles!
Recently the “Bearded Jeeper” shared a video highlighting abandoned vehicle removal that he and other volunteers performed in New Hampshire. His messaging in the video was clear – if we take care of the trails we love, we will have them to recreate on for years into the future. If we do not, we will face closures.
The Bearded Jeeper said, ‘It is the responsibility of every one of us to keep the trails clean so future generations can continue to use them without them getting closed down. Remember to stay safe and tread lightly.”
Oregon Motorcycle Riders Association Develops Waiver and Protocol for Volunteering During COVID-19 – Shared to Help Other Clubs Develop Similar Documents
The Oregon Motorcycle Riders Association (OMRA) has undertaken a systematic effort to develop documents related to OHV volunteer efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. OMRA shared its results with NOHVCC and has provided the documents for other OHV clubs and associations to learn/borrow from as they develop protocols of their own.
Would Other Riders Know Who To Contact If You Were Involved In An Incident?
One of the great things about OHV recreation is that we can get outdoors, often far from services. Many of us love to take our machines deep in the backcountry to escape our day-to-day routines. Of course, this sort of recreation requires responsibility. We should wear appropriate safety gear, recreate responsibly, travel with others and plan ahead. But, despite our best effort incidents happen. Even incidents that may be unrelated to the OHV recreation itself are possible – heart attacks, strokes, forest fires, animal run-ins and any number of other maladies can and do happen. As a result, it is imperative that we are prepared whenever we get in or throw a leg over our machines.
While there are lots of important steps to take to ensure your safe return from a day (or more) on the trails, NOHVCC Alabama Partner, Steve Newton has provided NOHVCC with one very easy idea to make sure your loved ones can be reached in the event of any incident.
Guest OP ED From Don Amador (NOHVCC California State Partner) – OHV Sound Compliance Paints Bright Future for Motorized Recreation
I believe agency adoption of the SAE J1287 20-inch sound test @ 96dBA for OHVs is the single most important factor in the land-use equation as it relates to sustainable motorized recreation on public lands.
As a member of the 2002 California State Park OHV Sound Working Group, I commend that diverse interest group (which included representatives from the OHV Industry, motorized organizations, environmental groups, land agencies, and the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division) that came together to address the number one user complaint which, at the time, was excessively loud OHVs.
User Created “Enduro Lines” Damage Resources And Jeopardize Riding Areas – NOHVCC’s Own Marc Hildesheim Offers Options To Find Challenge On Designated Trails
I will admit it, and I think everyone else knows it too, hard enduro races are cool. The riders at the front of those races do things on dirt bikes that do not seem humanly possible. I will also admit that my name is not Jarvis, Webb, or Haaker and I can’t do the same things that they do. That’s okay though, I don’t make my living by racing, and I’m perfectly happy navigating local trails, especially when I can seek out the more challenging ones. I don’t have access to the closed courses where these hard enduro races take place, and again I don’t have the skill or conditioning to race one. Recently I have noticed a disturbing trend – some of these “Pro” or “A” lines that belong on closed course racing have been finding their way on to trail systems across the country.
Important – Managing Human Waste – Learn How To Protect Resources And Access
As people seek ways to get outdoors during the time of social distancing OHV use is welcoming many new enthusiasts to our family. But when new members are added to our ranks it is important to ensure that everyone understands and applies important safe and responsible use practices. One gross and troubling issue that seems to be causing problems is how best to deal with human waste.
While visibly damaging vital natural resources, dumping trash and making user created trails are obvious practices that might lead to losing access to both public and private lands, many new to our sport may not recognize the threat caused by feeling the need to answer the call of nature at an inappropriate time.
RZRForum.net Administrator won’t let a few bad eggs ruin OHV opportunities in New Mexico
Too often we hear negative stories about OHV enthusiasts going someplace they should not. The thousands of hours that are spent volunteering at trails and trailheads by OHV enthusiasts are often overlooked, as has been a successful example of turning a negative experience a positive outcome. Frank Keane is a resident of New Mexico and the administrator of RZRforums.net, an online community of over 100,000 ROV drivers worldwide who love taking their machines on backcountry adventures. Frank is well connected in the OHV community among riders, land managers, and even manufacturers. He has been part of some outstanding events over the last 10 years.
NOHVCC Holds Saw Training For Washington Off-Highway Vehicle Alliance – By Marc Hildesheim
In 2016 after many years of collaboration with stakeholders, the Forest Service implemented a new chainsaw policy. This new policy was intended to make it easier for volunteers who perform trail work across the country to gain access to training, and to create a meaningful training that spoke directly to the type of cutting they do.
Part of the policy allows local volunteers to become certified “C” buckers, the highest possible proficiency level for this type of cutting. A bucker or bucking cut is the type of cut made when trees are on the ground across the trail, blocking access to trail users. A Sawyer Certified at the “A” level may operate a saw in the least complex situations and must be under the direct supervision of a B or C Sawyer. A Sawyer Certified at the “B” level may operate a saw in moderately complex situations.
NOHVCC Offers Education Messaging To Those Who Rent ROVs
NOHVCC has created a webpage with educational messaging aimed at renters of ROVS. If you know of any ROV rental companies that could use this messaging please pass this article along.
The National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC), a nonprofit public benefit organization primarily funded by MIC, SVIA and ROHVA exists to create a positive future for OHV Recreation. To further this mission NOHVCC, as a national body of OHV recreation enthusiasts, develops and provides a wide spectrum of programs, materials and information, or “tools”, to individuals, clubs, associations, and agencies.