San Diego Off-Road Coalition

June 1999

Phone: 619.561.3877; Fax: 619.561.5424; e-mail: jgarv@home.com; www.sdorc.org

Our June meeting will be on Tuesday the 1^st, 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.

Our guest speaker this month will be Darrah Eisele. She conducts a program at schools regarding the "Leave no trace" concept, and has agreed to give us an idea of the program. Should be very interesting and educational.

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.

Our election is history. Or, more precisely, our non-election. Due to the fact that once again there was no more than one candidate per position, the members present passed a "white ballot" motion which automatically elects the candidates.

You will notice some changes in the lineup. Rick Moore opted not to run again this year for personal reasons. I want to thank Rick for his years of work on our board. He will be missed.

Taking his place as Club Representative is Justin Cole, formerly our Business Representative. Justin felt that the Club Representative position would be a better "fit", more in line with his interests, inclination and time availability.

Taking Justin’s place as Business Representative is Roy Denner, formerly Education Chairman. Roy, no mean businessman in his own right, has been helping Justin in this department for quite some time, and will be a big asset in his new position.

Roy’s move left an opening in the Education Chairman slot, and we are fortunate that Dave Konstantine ("Dave K") has agreed to serve in that position. Dave has strong interests in that area, and works with the Cal-PALS program at the Ocotillo Wells SVRA.

Mark Smith declined to run again for Newsletter Chairman, and we managed to coerce Linda Berman, of Sunlight Press in Lakeside, to fill that position. A more natural fit would be difficult to imagine. We are extremely pleased that Linda has stepped in to help out in this way. Jim McGarvie will continue to be a sort of editor, and articles and other input should be sent to him. But Linda will do the actual production of the newsletter.

And Mark, thank you for all your years of labor on this newsletter. Don’t be a stranger!

Dick Miller resigned some time ago as Phone Tree Chairman due to health considerations. Dick was a wonderful part of our Board, and his humor and insight will be missed.

Janette McGarvie, no stranger to the Coalition, has graciously agreed to serve in that position. She wants to update the phone tree, and asks that you let her know if you want to be on either the phone tree or e-mail list.

Have you ever had this happen? I was moving a trailer around in my driveway. I looked for something to chock the wheel. The first thing I found was my Black Labrador’s favorite hunk of 2x4. I stuck it under the wheel and went inside. A few moments later my dog was standing in the kitchen wagging his tail. In his mouth was his treasured stick. I forgot to tell you my driveway was on a big hill.

By now you have guessed what happened. My trailer and all its contents took an un-scheduled trip. Not much damage, but a good lesson.

I am sure many of you have had an unusual experience that you learned from. One that you would never have guessed could happen. I would like to ask the members to submit any of these "freaky" events to me. Maybe we can help each other from repeating the same ones. Thanks for your help.

Submit to:

davek911@flash.net or

Dave Konstantin
PO Box 178724
San Diego Ca 92177
619-569-2080

This is the time of year when most of us wish we could be out in the desert enjoying our chosen sport, but because of the heat we're stuck at home with just our memories.

So, for future newsletter articles, where in the San Diego area do you ride during the summer? Keeping this article about San Diego off-roading makes it possible for just a day trip. The areas that are written up must be legal riding areas.

I will need help with this to make it a success. If there is an area that you have been to in our local area write up a description of the area, how difficult the riding is, what type of vehicle is best suited for it and detailed directions on how to get there. If your not sure whether it is legal to ride there submit it anyway and I will look into it.

E-mail me at: desertrats@cari.net or mail me the old fashioned way to:

Linda Berman, 2147 Raymond Ave., Ramona, CA 92065

Remember that the newsletter can only be as good as WE make it (and that doesn't mean the mouse in my pocket).

The 24-hour Off-Road Endurance World Championships was held in Plaster City on May 15 and 16, by Fudpucker Racing Team. Fud, of course, is a Coalition member and strong supporter.

A highlight of the race from our standpoint was the performance of the motorcycle entry of Cycle Parts West. In addition to the fact that CPW is a member, sponsor and Preferred Merchant in SDORC, four of the six team members are SDORC members: Ben Engebretson, Jim Gavin, Darren McGarvie and Sean McGarvie. Their team managed to come in first in class, 7^th overall to the likes of Johnny Campbell and Paul Krause, and set a new world record for riding 956.98 miles in 24 hours on a 350cc 4-stroke. Congratulations, guys!

WASHINGTON (AP) -- As the Clinton administration ponders its next move, industry groups are applauding and environmentalists are decrying a federal appeals court decision that blocks new regulations on curtailing smog and soot.

"It's a big victory, one of the biggest," said Robin Conrad, senior vice president for litigation at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia blocked the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday from enforcing tough new air standards requiring reduced levels of ozone and microscopic soot in the air.

The July 1997 regulations were among the most contentious ever issued by the Clinton administration. The EPA insists the tougher standards are needed to protect people with respiratory ailments, the elderly and children from the adverse health affects of dirty air.

The administration is "deeply disappointed" at the court ruling, said White House press secretary Joe Lockhart. The EPA said it will recommend that the Justice Department appeal the ruling.

The court, with one of the three judges dissenting, said the EPA had overreached in issuing the new standards, interpreting the 1990 Clean Air Act "so loosely" as to be unconstitutional. The court told the EPA to rework the regulations or go to Congress to change the law.

Environmentalists were stunned by the ruling.

David Hawkins of the Natural Resources Defense Council called it "a direct assault on the principle of health-based air quality protection."

"It's a bad day for public health and a good day for big polluters," said John Garrison, managing director of the American Lung Association. "The decision is a terrible step backward for public health protection."

Industry had launched an all-out assault on the regulation, arguing it was too costly and ill-conceived.

"We feel vindicated," beamed Jan Amundson, general counsel of the National Association of Manufacturers, one of the many industry groups that had joined the suit, challenging the regulations.

Others included the American Trucking Associations, American Petroleum Institute and groups representing small businesses and the auto and chemical industries. Three states -- Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia -- also joined the suit.

The revised air standards limited ozone, an essential part of smog, to 0.08 parts per million, instead of 0.12 parts per million under the old requirement. And for the first time they required that states regulate microscopic particulates, or soot, from power plants, cars and other sources down to 2.5 microns, or 28 times smaller than the width of a human hair.

The appeals court rejected claims by the industry groups that the regulations were based on incomplete and poor science, or that the EPA should have taken costs into account. But two of the three judges concluded the EPA set the new pollution level arbitrarily without clear "principles" to support them.

That, in effect, amounted to "unconstitutional delegations of legislative power" on the part of the EPA, wrote Judges Douglas H. Ginsburg and Stephen F. Williams. Judge David S. Tatel, in a strong dissent on this key point, argued the EPA had in fact used "reasonable explanations" for setting the standards.

The EPA by law must set health standards for air quality to ensure that public health is adequately protected. EPA Administrator Carol Browner argued in 1996 that the standard for ozone, or smog, and microscopic particulates from burning fuel and other sources had to be strengthened to protect certain population groups such as children, the elderly and people with respiratory problems.

The agency first proposed the tougher standards in November 1996, triggering an intense lobbying campaign by industry against the rules. They were finally issued in July 1997, with Vice President Al Gore calling them "the most significant steps in a generation to protect the American people, especially our children, from air pollution."

SIDEWINDER ENDURO, June 6, put on by the Southern California Enduro Riders, at Corral Canyon. This marks the first enduro in the area in a long time, and promises to be a fun event. For more info call Bob at 619.445.7114.

Even if you are not an enduro rider, this would be a good excuse to come up to Corral Canyon and see this wonderful off-highway recreation and camping area in the beautiful Cleveland National Forest near Lake Morena. It might even inspire you to help your fellow SDORC members during our annual Trail Days here.

OHMVR GRANT HEARING, Southern California region, June 7 in Glendale. Call Janette McGarvie for information: 619.561.3877.

HIGHWAY CLEANUP: The next clean-up party of our adopted section of Interstate 8 near Buckman Springs will be on June 13. Future clean-ups will be on September 26 and November 14. Traditionally we work on the highway in the morning then adjourn to the near-by Corral Canyon off-highway vehicle area for lunch and, for those so inclined, riding. Call Robert Molay at 619.660.0808 for details.

Many thanks to Tankslappers Motorcycle Club and Sunlight Press of Lakeside for their generous donations!

Thanks to the following new and renewing members:

Ray & Joyce Bell, Jim Berke, Dave Demangos, John Duffus, Mark Engebretson, Ken Jacobs, Burke Jones, Gary Magee, Daena & Darren McGarvie, Doug & Carol McPheeters, Rick Moore, Mark Smith, Pat & Joann Stoker, David Thompson, Mike Whalen, and Wilson's Machine Works.

Need a membership form? They are available online at http://www.sdorc.org/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.

Alignment and Brake Specialties, Arma Coatings, Aros Trailers, C&D Cycle Center, County Motor Parts, Cycle Parts West, Descanso Trading Post, Fun Bike Center, House of Motorcycles, K-CO Construction Inc., Law offices of Gary Quackenbush, Lemon Grove Motorcycles, Mail Boxes Etc., Motorsport Warehouse, Motoworld of El Cajon, Off-road Warehouse, Party Time Liquor, Rhino Linings of El Cajon, Webb's RV Supply, and Wilson Machine Works.

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, Arma Coatings, Brattin Motors, Brigantine Restaurants, Buffalo Metal Works, C&D Cycle Center, Chenowth Racing Products, Crazy Keven's, Cycle Parts West, D&R Automotive, Daily Californian, Douglas Wheels Inc., Duncan Racing, Escondido Cycle Center, Event Photography, Explorer Competition Products, Fabcom, Fiber-Tech, Fritz Garage, Fun Bike Center, Gilmore Off Road, Green Fascination, Hansen Loan Services, House Of Buggies, House Of Motorcycles, Johnson's Bug Machine, K-CO Construction Inc., Law Offices of Gary Quackenbush, Lemon Grove Motorcycles, Mail Boxes Etc., Mark Price & Assoc., Mazzone Sandcars, McMillin Realty, Motorsport Warehouse, Motoworld of El Cajon, Party Time Liquor, Quackenbush Construction, Rick's Buggy Works, Ron Bishop Motorcycles, San Diego Off Road Magazine, Sand Sports Magazine, Sand Tires Unlimited, Scrib's Motorcycle, SMD Motorsports, Streamline Graphics, Sunlight Press, THOR, Tops International, Unique Mortgage, and Wilson's Machine Works.

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!

WANTED: Newsletter input. Call Jim McGarvie with your articles or ideas: 619.561.3877.