San Diego Off-Road Coalition

February 1999

Phone: 619.561.3877; Fax: 619.561.5424; e-mail: garv@cts.com; www.sdorc.org

Our February meeting will be Tuesday the 2^nd, at Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant, 9353 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard at the corner of Ruffin Road. Their phone number is 619.279.6700. A buffet including all-you-can-eat pizza, salad and soft drinks for $7.00 will commence at 6:00 p.m., and the meeting proper will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Don’t forget to bring some extra money for raffle tickets. Each month the pot gets bigger and the prizes get better. As with all our income, proceeds go to toward preserving and increasing our off-highway recreation opportunity.

You missed it! Well, at least most of you did. Our first off-road event held in conjunction with Fud’s FRT Budweiser Dunaway Dash on New Year’s Eve is history, and I didn’t see many of you there.

Too bad. Those that attended, even those of us who worked the event, had a tremendous time. It was by any measure a resounding success. The Coalition made over $1,900 after expenses. We signed up approximately forty new members; members who will hopefully bring needed assistance and fresh ideas to our organization. We increased public recognition of our group and our mission.

Twenty-five teams — none of whom, I’m sorry to say, were SDORC members before the event… but they are now — ponied up twenty five bucks apiece to enter our event. Twenty-three of them finished, and without exception proclaimed that they had a lot of fun, and would do it again.

So we will. Do it again, I mean. Fud would like us to return, so we will probably hold a similar event each year in conjunction with one of Fud’s races. Next time I hope to see more of you there!

This event would not have been the success it was without the help of a few dedicated SDORC members. In alphabetical order: Roy and Nancy Denner, Alan Klumph, Frenchie La Chance, Jan McGarvie, and Rick Moore. Julie Allen, even though not feeling well, was still able to help with t-shirt sales for a while. Many thanks folks!

And of course this event would never have happened in the first place without Fud. Fud conceived it, sold us on it, planned it, did most of the work, and even provided the trophies. Then he thanked us for participating. What can I say? Thank you, Fud!

Future headlines you will see and hear soon unless you get involved NOW. The environmental extremists are conning the government into locking up more land from us and imposing stricter regulations on our vehicles and sports everyday. You may not think it can happen but it can and is happening already. The longer it goes on the easier it is to continue. Many groups like the Sierra Club have gotten extremely rich and powerful because no one is challenging them or the lies they are spreading to further their agendas. Politicians and legislators are more than happy to oblige their demands because it makes them more powerful too. The liberal media is right in there supporting all this, making it a vicious circle that perpetuates itself.

The way to slow this down is to become involved in the wise use movement. There are many organizations like the San Diego Off-Road Coalition that are fighting to help save our rights and privileges that are being taken away from us. Unfortunately we are not having a lot of success because most of you are not participating. Everyone that enjoys off-roading, mountain biking, snowmobiling, hunting, back country drives in your SUV, fishing, motorhomes, camping, personal water craft, horses, hiking, target shooting or even owning and driving a car, truck or motorcycle needs to get involved. Yes even hiking is being threatened. When land is designated as a wilderness area then access is severely limited so that only a few people can enter. These are all things that are being threatened by extremist groups AND your failure to get involved.

When was the last time you made a phone call, sent a fax or letter, or attended a meeting in support of any of the activities above? Was it last week, last month, a year ago or never? For most of you it was never. This really ticks me off because some of us put in a lot of time working in support of the sport of off-roading and trying to help save it from the slow death it is experiencing. Meanwhile most of you are out having a great time riding your dirt bikes and ATV’s or driving around in your buggies and 4X4’s. Just because your particular riding area has not been closed yet, you don’t think there is anything to worry about, so why get involved? Your apathy is exactly what the enviro-extremists are counting on. You are making it real easy for them. The legislators are more than happy to do what they ask because not enough folks are saying anything otherwise.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

Call, fax, e-mail, write, and/or visit your elected and appointed politicians and legislators and let them know where you stand on the issues, especially the ones opposing your point of view.

Write, fax and/or e-mail the news organizations you read, watch or listen to and let them know where you stand on the issues.

Join and participate in the activities of organizations like the San Diego Off-Road Coalition, CORVA, the Blue Ribbon Coalition, American Motorcyclist Association, NRA, etc.

Make it a point to get involved in some of these activities on a regular basis and urge your friends to do it too. Do whatever you are comfortable with; just do something and start SOON.

For more information on the San Diego Off-Road Coalition visit our web site, write, fax, call or e-mail us.

The Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission, those fine folks who help administer our "green sticker" funds, met in El Centro on January 22. We are proud to say that with 13 SDORC members present we represented the majority of the audience. We would have had 16 members present except that the El Centro office of the BLM directed Jim, Anita and Nikki Karasek to the wrong location! Thanks to all of you who made the effort to attend this meeting.

Most of the members of SDORC who spoke during the time allotted for "public comment" presented excellent comments on the Herman Schneider Bridge Project. It has been four years since the Commission approved the $1.3 million for this project. To this day, not one shovel of sand has been turned! Commission Chairman Don Amador took notice of our request that the bridge project be placed on the official Action Log for better monitoring. We also requested to have included in the commission information packet a Project Status Report that will include projected dates and explanations for any delays. However, we made it quite clear that we did not wish to see any further delays. The proposed completion date is February 2000.

SDORC members also expressed their displeasure with the Fee Demo Program at Glamis and Buttercup. It was pointed out to them that their handout brochure and the seasonal pass hang tag states that 100% of the funds will go back on the ground. This is a false statement. The contract with the Universal Parking Company who installed the ATM machines states that they will receive 50% of the first $300,000, 20% of the next $300,000 and 15% of all funds in excess of the first six hundred thousand dollar per year for the next four years. I have met with Congressman Duncan Hunter’s Staff and they have agreed to investigate this matter.

I took my turn at the microphone and asked a pointed question that turned many heads, and turned some faces red! My question, simply stated: "Are Green Sticker dollars being used to fund the implementation/start up costs for the Fee Demo Project?" The Commission was told at the last meeting in Barstow that only appropriated (Federal) dollars would be used. However, I have written proof that this is not true. The Chairman, Don Amador, did not wish to turn the public comment period into an unofficial inquiry, but did say that the matter would be investigated. He would respond to my question in writing in two weeks. Commissioner Jim Bramham asked that the BLM repay the funds if they did indeed use our money to start a program to charge a fee to the OHV community.

The SDORC 3^rd Annual Winter Beach Party, held the weekend of January 23/24 at Gordon’s Well in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA), was a far different story than last year’s storm-plagued event. This year we enjoyed record attendance (estimates exceed 80 off-roaders), made over $300 in raffle tickets, over $150 in shirt sales, $100 in new memberships and, most importantly, had a wonderful time in the process!

Saturday afternoon Jan McGarvie organized a trash collection contest. Entrants were allowed 30 minutes to bag and bring back as much trash from outside the camp as possible. Julie Allen won first place (that happens when you find a television set!), Nancy Geraci 2^nd place, and Megan Pallazollo took 3^rd. Honorable Mention went to Matt Geraci for bringing back the single heaviest item: a large chunk of iron. Winner of the Children’s Division was Cody Lee.

In the process we collected 16 bags of trash, a fact that did not go unnoticed by the BLM ranger who stopped by to say "hi." They know who we are! I’d also like to thank Ian and Ryan Atlas, Joe Gonzales and Jon Phipps for taking all that trash to the dumpster.

Saturday evening we held the raffle drawing. Julie Allen outdid herself by selling over $300 worth of raffle prizes. Thanks to H.P. Tietz for procuring (that’s a two-bit word for arm-twisting) several great prizes from Racer Accessories, Fiber Tech, House of Buggies, Motorsports Warehouse, Scorpion Sand Products, Bilstein and Chuck Neal. In addition, new SDORC member Mark Recker from Arizona donated a truck tent. Thanks folks!

I wish those who would deprive us of our sport could see a gathering like this. Most of the participants were families, with three generations represented in some cases. Where else can you see people of all ages, gathered around a campfire, enjoying the pleasures of each other’s company? And to the best of my knowledge the environment was never harmed in any way!

SDORC is proud to co-sponsor the First Annual Off Road For Hope: Ocotillo Wells Adventure ‘99, on February 6th.

All proceeds from this exciting new event will support the Muscular Dystrophy Association. SDORC is working in conjunction with the event’s co-sponsors California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs and CORVA. Los Pretot’s Desert Club will be the host club.

Off road For Hope is open to all off-highway vehicles (except for 3-wheelers, due to insurance restrictions). We encourage all our members to join in this great new annual event. There will be runs for the experienced as well as beginner 4-wheelers and dirt bikes, poker runs and numerous games being organized by Los Pretot’s.

There will be a pancake breakfast, lunch and barbecue dinner as well as a grand opportunity drawing to end this fantastic outing.

Please call Eric Corens at MDA: 619.492.9792 for additional information and to receive your registration packet.

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American Honda has collected nearly $1,000,000 to date (and still climbing) for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. On March 21, 1999 there will be a Ride For Kids at Glen Helen. The dual sport ride will include the GP track and 90 miles of forest trails. Watch for details, or check out their web site at: www.ride4kids.org.

Alan Klumph and I set out early Saturday morning (6 am!) on 1/16/99 to represent SDORC at the Second Annual Glamis Clean-Up. There was a turnout of approximately 2,000 folks to clean up the dunes, which is about twice as many as last year. They handed out 1,900 t-shirts and 5,000 trash bags, oh and about 2,500 hotdogs.

In my experience in manning the booth, this was one of our most successful. The people at this event are volunteers, just like you and me, and they were very supportive of our organization and appreciative of our efforts in their behalf. We signed 4 new members and sold about 50 bumper stickers.

We of course had the opportunity to discuss with the clean-up crews the new user fee program implemented by the BLM at Glamis on 1/1/99. In my estimation, 85% of the people we talked with were strongly against the program. Of the 15% who said they would not mind paying a fee if it benefited their desert, at least 10% of those, once informed of the facts, changed their minds. The remaining 5% wanted to wait and see if any positive results actually materialized.

Overall, it was time well spent for the Coalition. We need to be out there with our off-road community at every opportunity. AND manning the booth is actually quite fun!

P.S. Thanks to Justin Cole, our liaison with the BLM, for making the arrangements in advance.

[Many thanks to Julie and Alan for doing this — Ed.]

Fud, SDORC member and head honcho of FRT Racing Promotions, went above and beyond with his promotion of SDORC. He came up with the idea of the night rallye (see editorial). He planned the course. He developed and copied the entry forms, score cards, maps, directions, etc. He promoted the event. He allowed us to piggyback on his BLM event permit. He would not even accept reimbursement for the trophies!

Because of Fud’s generosity, we netted over $1,900 at the New Year’s Eve event. Fud, we can’t thank you enough.

Need a membership form? They are available online at http://wwww.off-road.com/~sdorc/join.html

Membership questions? Contact me, via e-mail: billq@san.rr.com

Just a reminder to support our Preferred Merchants, as they support us with their discounts, donations and contributions.

This month we would like to welcome new Preferred Merchant Cycle Parts West at 3104 El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego. They have graciously offered card-carrying SDORC members a 15% discount on their already reasonable prices for merchandise and labor (sale items excepted). Always supportive of SDORC, we want to thank CPW for joining our growing list of Preferred Merchants.

Alignment & Brake Specialties House of Motorcycles
Arma Coatings Lemon Grove Motorcycles
Aros Trailers Off-Road Warehouse
County Motor Parts Rhino Linings of El Cajon
Cycle Parts West Webb’s RV Supply
Fun Bike Center

Following is a list of all those businesses that currently support our Coalition by virtue of their membership. Please show your appreciation by patronizing these businesses: Alignment & Brake Specialties, American Metal Processing, B.A. Dick, Buffalo Metal Works, Crazy Keven's, Cycle Parts West, D&R Automotive, Douglas Wheels Inc., Duncan Racing, Escondido Cycle Center, Fiber-Tech, Fritz Garage, Fun Bike Center, Gilmore Off Road, Green Fascination, House Of Buggies, House Of Motorcycles, Johnson's Bug Machine, Lemon Grove Motorcycles, Mazzone Sandcars, McMillin Realty, Michael-Allan & Company, Motoworld, Quackenbush Construction, Rick's Buggy Works, Ron Bishop Motorcycles, San Diego Off Road Magazine, Sand Sports Magazine, Sand Tires Unlimited, Scrib's Motorcycle, Streamline Graphics, Tops International, Wilson Machine Works.

The 5^th annual SDORC Totes for Tots campaign for the benefit of the Polinsky Children’s Center has come to another successful conclusion. We collected 175 bags! Many thanks to all of you who distributed and picked up the collection boxes, to those businesses who allowed us to place the boxes in their place of business, and to those who donated bags for the cause.

WANTED! Volunteers to help SDORC with anything and everything! We need help manning our booth at events, cleaning up our designated highway section and area trails, acting as liaison at your favorite off-road dealer, making occasional phone calls, and other tedious (and, of course, unrewarded) tasks. Please give us a call if you’d like to help out once in a while. Thanks!