Headlines ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS LOSE Federal

UNITED FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ASSOCIATIONS INC.
AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION
www.ufwda.org
UFWDA e-News August 2008
From the headlines, you’d think that reason had finally
returned to the world and that the courts and politicians
are not the clowns that many consider them to be.
Headlines
I suspect that the vision might be short lived and those
opposed to the use of the wider outdoors by humans,
will have already briefed their lawyers with the aim to
prolong the circus in the hope that their finances will
over-power those who have other views.
All the more reason to recognize the value of the
various legal people arguing for the 4x4 case in the
courts. UFWDA is not alone in many of these fights
and has teamed up with other 4WD and outdoor
advocacy organizations to pool our resources.
The blunt truth is that putting forward strong legal
arguments costs money. It is not just the time in court
but the huge amount of research that must be done to
ensure that our facts presented are correct and that
doubt can be cast on our opponent’s arguments. At
UFWDA we only have Carla Boucher representing us
as attorney, so our ability to cover everything is
constrained.
Now is not a good time to be complacent but a time to
say ’it can be done’ and let’s help with money.
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Federal Judge overturns
roadless rule
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS
LOSE
UFWDA NEEDS YOUR
SUPPORT!
Virginia Preservation Trail
Ride
ANFWDC News
13th Annual All Breeds Jeep
Show Review
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Lone Star State Wheel-in
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The good oil on remote water
WANT TO BE PUBLISHED?
American Trails Action Alert
30th Annual Four Wheelin’
with Feelin’
Adopt a Road etc.
Managing your internet
privacy
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Peter Vahry
UFWDA international vice-president
Federal Judge overturns roadless rule!
UFWDA played a part in this legal action, in combination with Blue Ribbon Coalition and the California
Association of 4WD Clubs Inc
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/aug/12/federal-judge-in-wyo-overturns-roadless-rule/
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS LOSE
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS LOSE MAJOR NATIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT LAWSUIT.
HERGER-FEINSTEIN QUINCY LIBRARY GROUP MANAGEMENT PLAN VINDICATED BY
FEDERAL COURT
As reported by OFF-ROAD BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, Inc. www.orba.biz
BAKERSFIELD, CA (August 13, 2008) – The Eastern District of California Federal Court recently ruled
that the consensus forest health and fire hazard reduction plan developed by the Herger-Feinstein
Quincy Library Group (HFQLG) was a sound plan and rejected the lawsuit filed by environmental
groups intended to block the plan. This group was formed in the early 90’s by a county supervisor, a
timber forester, and an environmental attorney to try to develop a plan that would protect the
environment, promote rural community stability, and reduce fire danger for local communities in the
northern Sierra’s. The plan they came up with was then adopted by local Republican Congressman
Wally Herger and Senator Diane Feinstein. The plan included thinning overstocked National Forests to
improve forest health as well as reducing the potential for catastrophic fires adjacent to rural
communities.
Even though the HFQLG plan was endorsed by environmentalists that participated in developing the
plan, major national environmental groups challenged the plan in the federal court system and have
blocked projects to reduce fire danger, protect the California Spotted Owl, and improve forest health.
The Quincy Library Group intervened in the lawsuit on behalf of the Forest Service, along with several
other groups. HFQLG member Linda Blum responded “After the recent fires, the spotted owls and old
growth trees will always be near to our hearts, because now little pieces of them are lodged in our
lungs. Losing habitat to wildfires is very dangerous to all species. It’s just wrong because it could
have been prevented.”
Bill Dart, ORBA’s Director of Land Use, was heavily involved in the Sierra Nevada Conservation
Framework in the mid 90’s that included the HFGLG plan as an element. Dart stated, “The Forest
Service was needlessly delayed from moving forward to protect old growth forests and all of the
species that live there, as well as local communities. Short sighted environmental groups were willing
to sacrifice habitat, plants, animals, and fish that live there, endangering lives and property while
denying residents the chance for good jobs that would have protected all of these things. The Forest
Service can now get back to doing the job they are chartered to do, managing National Forests based
upon sound science instead of misguided emotions.”
UFWDA NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT!
United Four Wheel Drive Associations is currently in a battle to save lands at Tellico National Forest
and Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Carla Boucher, UFWDA Legal Counsel, is working very hard
and is currently in Cape Hatteras for a committee meeting. Carla is a very talented attorney and is
doing all she can to support you, the four wheel drive enthusiast, but UFWDA needs your help!
In the Tellico National Forest case, Trout Unlimited is involved. Trout Unlimited has 150,000 members
and $20 million in revenues last year. UFWDA must be able to compete with those numbers and we
are currently not competing. UFWDA would like to encourage all associations that joined for the
minimum $100 to encourage their members to join UFWDA! The old saying “Power in numbers” is
absolutely true and UFWDA needs your members to make a difference.
We do understand the importance of keeping funds on the local level and that some 4x4
organizations do not feel the need to support UFWDA by bringing all of their members. However,
when land use issues occur in your area, you will have a better chance of winning those land use
issues with UFWDA and its member base behind you. If your association or club joins at the $100
level and does not bring the members with it, that counts as one person and despite the fact that
UFWDA understands that your entire organization supports UFWDA, the official count is as one
person.
‘Together we stand and divided we fall’, has never held more meaning than now. Please bring all of
your members to UFWDA so that when Carla Boucher travels to Washington, Cape Hatteras, or
perhaps your back-yard, she is armed with the same member numbers as Trout Unlimited or any
other anti-access group that presently has more members than UFWDA. All Four Wheel Drive groups,
either national or regional, should send all of your members and we should all band together, so the
next trip Carla makes to Washington or wherever she may be fighting, she has the entire community
behind her.
Marti Pugh
UFWDA Operations and Business Development Manager
Virginia Preservation Trail Ride
UFWDA is hosting the Inaugural Sponsorship Trail Ride on
September 6, 2008 in Crozet, Virginia at the amazing Crozet Off
Road Park. The Park is an exclusive club facility that is only open
to members the majority of the year, however they are opening
the park to UFWDA members for this event. The park is a rock
crawlers heaven with very difficult trails to try out your latest
modification.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp21UeRlsLk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rrZmEjErbA&feature=related
The Sponsorship Trail Ride is the first of its kind for UFWDA. It is the same concept as a
walk-a-thon. Participants will solicit donations from family, friends or co-workers to
sponsor their trail ride while raising funds to protect, promote and provide 4x4 access.
UFWDA is hoping that this will be a success and a great way for our members to enjoy a great park
that they may not be able to access any other time, while raising
funds for the sport! Sign up today so you do not miss your chance to wheel and do your part to save
the trails!! For more information visit our website at www.ufwda.org
ANFWDC News
In the State of New South Wales, land managers in forestry, national parks and public lands, are
discussing agreements with our four wheel drive clubs which will see members in the bush helping to
maintain our public infrastructure in restricted areas. Some initiatives drawn to the 4WD clubs’
attention by park rangers have already put people together on significant projects. An example of
such a project is happening on a road of significance to our clubs.
About 15 years ago, an early 19th century convict built road, the Great North Road from Sydney to
the Hunter Valley, was permanently closed to vehicles. The road was handed to a community
committee for care and upkeep of its historic and often elegant examples of the stonemason’s craft.
Originally constructed to connect the fertile Hunter Valley with its extensive cedar resources to
Sydney, it was routed through difficult country west of the coastal hinterland. The route was
deliberately chosen to lessen the chance of it becoming a convenient convict escape route to Sydney
from Newcastle, which was then little more than a harsh convict coal mining camp at the mouth of
Hunter’s River.
At the time it was finally closed, the road could only be travelled in a high clearance 4WD and many
club members were greatly disappointed at the loss of this trail. It had been used for many years by
enthusiasts who first discovered the pleasures of going bush in surplus WWII Jeeps. These
enthusiasts later formed the first Australian 4WD club, ironically registered as the Newcastle Land
Rover Club (by then the Jeeps had mostly been retired and it was the early days of the Land Rover).
In May this year, the Central Coast 4WD Club was asked if it would transport volunteers along the
road to their worksites. Once on the job, the club members found that their bushcraft skills made
them far more valuable than just an off road taxi service. The work involved the removal of young
trees growing on the edge of the road that had the potential to totally destroy both small and large
convict built stone walls which support the road along a section constructed along the side of the
mountain. With equipment loaned from the state Roads and Traffic Authority, a large number of
invasive trees were removed from the stonework and the club members were able to reconstruct a
road protecting stormwater diverting rollover, which had washed out.
The Executive Director of the Convict Trail Project said “Unfortunately we found evidence of why the
invasive tree removal work is necessary. In the past 12 months a tree that was growing on the top
section of the wall had fallen over and the root ball has pulled a section of the wall apart.” She also
explained that not only was this work invaluable for the protection of the wall and part of the planned
works but “By costing all the voluntary hours put in this week at a nominal value, I am able to
provide our half dollar for dollar works and can use the remaining $6,000 funds in a dollar for dollar
$79,000 NSW Government heritage incentives program for conservation of a section of the Great
North Road to purchase more fill for future works.”
When asked about the work done by the Central Coast 4WD Club, the Public Relations Officer Bruce
Close said “It was an opportunity for his club members to visit a normally closed area whilst
demonstrating they are responsible 4WD drivers who respect the great outdoors.”
Rob Kelly
13th Annual All Breeds Jeep Show Review
York Fairgrounds - York, PA.
July 19 & 20, 2008
By 6:00 PM Friday we have put in a total of approx. 279 volunteer working hours and
transformed an empty facility into what we hope will be another successful Jeep Show. All day our
participating vendor have been arriving and setting up for Saturday’s start.
Vendors in Attendance: NO particular order:
Quadratec – Fishel Jeep – Rusty’s Off-Road Products – 4Wheel Drive
Hardware – Warn Ind.
Hoak’s 4x4 – A to Z Fabrications – Fabtech Motorsports – JKS
Manufacturing – JP Magazine
Low-Range Magazine – Mickey Thompson – Rock Krawler
Suspensions – All Things Jeep
Extreme Axle Sales – Z & M Jeeps – Solid Axle Ind. – Skyjacker
Suspensions – Hi-Lift Jack Co.
Mount Zion Off-Road – Vintage Jeep Specialists – Mountain Valley Customs – SPP 4x4
Powers Rock & Rally – OK Auto 4WD & Tire – Hutchinson Ind. – GR8TOPS – EMS Off-Road
Know Where 2 Jeep – Full Traction Suspension – A&L DeSign/Sticky Lee – Hotwire Auto
Skid Row Off-Road – Adventurous 4x4 – Cage Off-Road – STOUT Products – Clayton Off-Road
Foothill Off-Road – Jeeprz 4WD – Appalachian Off-Road – Truck Stuff & More – 4x4 Group Buy
Jeff Daniel’s Jeep Customizing – River Raider Snorkle Systems – Performance Auto Group
Adams Jeep of Maryland – Jim Diamond Jeep Parts – Apple Hill Off-Road – RIPP Modifications
Olympic 4x4 – The Metal Shop – Those Garage Guys – Middle Creek Mobile Welding
Saturday morning starts at 6:30 AM for us with our usual coffee and donuts as the staff meetings
are being conducted at registration, parking, spectator gate, obstacle course, and the Club Booth.
The registration gate is already showing signs of life as we can see some 50 Jeeps in line already.
Vendors are coming through their gate to return to their booths and place the finishing touches
needed as the registration gates open.
Again this year the PA Jeeps Club had extended an invitation to several Clubs within our region
to set up a Club booth (free of charge) to advertise and recruit members. Our Club affiliation section
had the following Clubs in attendance this year:
Baltimore 4Wheelers – Grass Roots Jeep Club – New Jersey Jeep Assoc. – Maryland Jeep Club
NOVA Jeepers – Maryland Rock Raiders – Christian Crawlers – High Centered Off-Road
A big change for this year was the PA Jeeps
Booth moved up onto the large stage on-site mainly
to free up the needed 100’ for addition vendor space.
This move proved to be a success as everyone was
able to get a break from the oppressive heat as they
are purchasing event shirts, raffle tickets, filling out
land-use surveys and membership forms, and just
relaxing for a moment before heading back out into
the excitement.
We also had a couple special guests from the United
Four Wheel Drive Assoc. with us on the stage as well.
Carla Boucher (Legislative Advocate) and Marti Pugh (Business Development Manager) were set up
with a booth to promote the organizations mission. Carla and Marti certainly would have an excuse if
they were to have lost their voice’s since they had constant traffic meeting many members,
enthusiasts, and vendors for the first time as well as those they have already met during their travels
.
The obstacle course opened at 10:00 AM for our vendors to take their vehicles out to entertain
the spectators in the packed bleachers. Of course they can’t dent that some good old competition is
going on amongst them out there. Those competition rigs always liven up the crowd coming across
the rock course. Again this year Ron Allen instrumented another informative winch demonstration
once the vendors were finished showing off their rigs and driving skills. Then the announcement was
made that voting has opened to all the registered Jeep owners in the show-field. For the next 90
minutes they will be browsing through the field selecting their favorite Jeeps within eleven
classifications broken into three categories each.
This obstacle course draws the Jeeps in for some
playtime. Many drivers are experiencing driving their
Jeep in an off-road environment for the first time or
are what we call “green” behind the wheel. The staff
of “spotters” offers instruction, direction, and a safe
environment for them to enjoy the day. Then you
have the more experienced drivers bringing their
more modified Jeeps out to conquer the BIG rock
course to inspire the hundreds in the crowd. You’ll see
nothing but action and excitement out here for the
next four hours. The heat was oppressive for all the
“spotters” this year. Thanks goes to Quadratec for
supplying a 20’x20’ tent so each “spotter” could rotate for breaks and hydrate themselves from the
water coolers. Each and every one of these people deserves a standing ovation for their services this
weekend.
The RTI Ramps are also beginning to create
quite a line of anticipated drivers looking to win a
trophy. Here is where everyone can test the
articulation of their suspension system. By the
way, thanks goes to the New Jersey Jeep Assoc.
for donating the use of their club’s ramp so we
could have the use of two to speed things up for
everyone. This year our first place winner (Scott
Phillips) scored 1451. Also during this time
drivers were lining up at the Slow Crawl
Competition course to see who is geared the
lowest. How slow can you go? The course is only
50’ long and the first place winner (Rob Murphy) took 2:45.46 to crawl through.
As 5:00 PM rolled up on us it was clear that the crowd had enough of the 94 degree heat today
as traffic began to thin out as they make their way to their camp or back to the hotel to relax and
cool off. That’s not a bad idea and as the event winds down Saturday that is all that is on the minds
of the rest of us.
Good night everyone…See you tomorrow for more of the same…!
Sunday morning pretty much started out the same as Saturday except all the Jeep owners are
gathering to see if their Jeep has won one of the one-hundred trophies to be awarded today. All of
our first place trophy winners are parked to form the Parade of Winners later in the day. They’ll be
handed their trophy as they drive past the applauding crowd.
Once again it looks like we’ll be experiencing another day of 95 degree heat. Staying hydrated is
going to definitely be a priority again today. The
water bottles are being sold at the food court by the
cases. The foot traffic throughout the event is heavy
again today as people are once again looking for the
products their Jeep is in need of. Our Club Booth
area is also quite full throughout the day as our
popular event shirts are being purchased and who
can forget about buying raffle tickets to have a shot
at something with all that merchandise. The cash
value of the products in the raffle this year exceeds
$15,000.00 in value. The raffle ticket line doesn’t
seem like it will empty out until just before the raffle.
The obstacle course is opening early today so everyone gets plenty of play time. The traffic flow
is constant as drivers are making multiple laps and the on-looking crowd in the bleachers is getting
some quality entertainment. As the event approaches lunch time the vendors are stopping by our MC
to offer up some great deals on merchandise today. I’m getting the impression many of the vendors
do not want to load this stuff back up because a good number of these deals are hard to turn down.
And it’s paying off too, wallets are opening up and merchandise is being carried out all day long.
You can also see that the 28’ inflatable
climbing wall is busy with kids and adults
taking a shot at making it to the top. Another
hiding place from the sun is under the 20’
inflatable Jeep that’s brought in every year by
a great friends at Fishel Chrysler Jeep
Dealership. Many thanks go to Ben and Jeff
Fishel for their continued support for this Jeep
Show. They have sponsored the cost of the
100 trophies to be awarded as well as the 28
page full color event program distributed to
each registered Jeep owner each year.
As 3:00 PM comes upon us we announce
that the weekend is nearing its end and close
the obstacle course and prepare for the awards ceremony. The crowd makes its way up on the stage
with us as all the first place winning Jeeps parade by to accept their trophies. Wow, I believe we saw
Jeep models parade by from years 1941 to 2008 keeping the name of the event “All Breeds Jeep
Show” alive.
Immediately following the awards ceremony our MC made his way down his extensive “thank
you” list to ALL the people and businesses that come together to make this event a reality every year.
Our membership puts in thousands of volunteered hours to staff the event, but without the
generosity of our sponsoring/attending businesses it wouldn’t be as popular as it is. Many, many
thanks go to all of them with a special thank you going to Craig Jaros at Quadratec for continuing to
step up every year as this events “Premier Event Sponsor”.
On to the raffle we go folks. Ticket number after ticket number is being drawn as winners collect
their prizes. And what a list of prizes there are. Let’s look at what was donated:
Winches - Suspension Kits - Optima Batteries - Fender Flare Kits - Recovery Kits - Axle Kits - Hi-Lift
Jacks – Tie Rod Kits – Tires – Wheels – T-Shirts – Gift Certificates etc. etc. etc.
There is a lot to see and experience here at our Annual Jeep Show and I believe the greatest
thing taken home by everyone are the friendships made over the two days. I hope everyone enjoyed
their weekend and we hope to see you and many more next year.
Rick A. Bear
PA Jeeps, Inc.
Jeep Show Chairman
United Four Wheel Drive Associations Lone Star State Wheel-in
After the great success of the Inaugural Wheel-in event at Oak
Ridge Estate in Nelson County, Virginia, UFWDA decided to
continue with the event and move it around the country while
returning to the Virginia location annually. The next event will be
held at Barnwell Mountain Recreation Area in Gilmer, Texas on
November 21, 22 and 23, 2008.
UFWDA has taken lessons from the first event and this event
promises to be bigger and better than the first event! The Wheelin events are your opportunity to get to know fellow enthusiasts,
make new friends, wheel and save the sport. Who could ask for
more!
For more information regarding the Lone Star State Wheel-in
SEE YOU THERE!!
please visit our website at www.ufwda.org
The good oil on remote water
www.desertknowledgecrc.com.au/news/downloads/DKCRC-MR-June-2_The-good-oil-on-remotewater.pdf
WANT TO BE PUBLISHED?
The Annual General Meeting for United Four Wheel Drive Associations was a great success! We
received some feedback on ways to improve the Voice and need your help. The delegates
suggested that we have more human interest stories for the Voice and we would like to ask you, the
members, to send us your articles about your off road experiences.
United Four Wheel Drive Associations is striving to provide our members with what they want for
content in the Voice. We have also talked to several of the national four wheel drive publications
about writing stories for the Voice and have had several authors that are willing to write for the
Voice.
At the end of each year we will have a contest to determine “The Best Article of The Year”. The
article will need to be submitted by a current member of UFWDA. It would be great to not only be
published, but to win an award for your article!
Please send your article or questions to [email protected]
Next Deadline is September 15th, but send your article today!
Chris Pagan
UFWDA Voice editor
American Trails Action Alert - August 2008
American Trails Action Alert - August 2008
By John Stewart on August 11th, 2008 www.muirnet.net/
We’d like to bring your attention to two important issues that will affect all trail users, planners, and
managers:
1. Use and definitions of powered vehicles for ADA accessibility
2. Transportation funding: major changes proposed
ADA rule making proposed for “power-driven mobility devices”
“Should motorized devices that use fuel or internal-combustion engines (e.g., all-terrain
vehicles) be considered personal mobility devices that are covered by the ADA?”
This is one of the questions asked by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in a request for public input.
DOJ is proposing to add a category of “other power-driven mobility devices” to accessibility
regulations for state, local governments, and businesses. All comments must be received online at
Regulations.gov by August 18, 2008.
NZFWDA
The New Zealand Four Wheel Drive Association (NZFWDA) are pleased with the outcome of their
lobbying efforts against the Walking Access Bill that had been introduced to Parliament earlier this
year. An email campaign to all Members of Parliament, along with written and verbal comments to
the Parliamentary Select Committee, had a crucial section of the Bill removed and the Bill itself no
longer poses the significant threat to 4x4 recreation that it previously did.
www.nzfwda.org.nz/news/159 (More background on the Bill at www.nzfwda.org.nz/news/102 )
A grudging admission by researchers about 4WD safety statistics can be found on
www.nzfwda.org.nz/news/145
They still however appear to want everyone to travel in the same type and weight of vehicle at the
same speed, so that no one is disadvantaged by the mass/ velocity of another vehicle that they might
collide with!
30th Annual Four Wheelin’ with Feelin’
for the March of Dimes
On Road/On Trail Rally
Can be Run by Stock SUV’s with some alternatives for the Hefty at Heart.
OCTOBER 4
& 5, 2008
Northwoods Overland (OHV Park)
W1640 Knorn Road, Rib Lake, WI 54470
Rally Registration on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30.
Minimum Pledge per Vehicle: $75.00
For More Flyers, Pledge Sheets or Information go to the website at
www.fourwheelinwithfeelin.org
or contact the March of Dimes Capital Wisconsin Division,
5315 Wall St., Suite 140, Madison, WI 53718-7938
Phone:1-800-747-DIME (3463) or 1-608-243-7764 / FAX: 1-608-243-7765
Adopt a Road etc.
Back in 2005, UFWDA made a decision to support the concept of
an international program over the first weekend in October each
year that would encourage 4x4 organizations to clean up and
improve our landscapes in practical ways.
Although it is acknowledged that many people and their
organizations already do that during the year, the effect of a coordinated effort provides opportunities to get greater media
interest and wider community recognition of those efforts.
Let’s see if we can grow this idea into something really
noteworthy.
www.ufwda.org/adopt-a-road.htm
Managing your internet privacy
A slight irony in that headline, in an internet document striving for a wide audience!
www.itworld.com/tip/54142/15-great-free-privacy-downloads?page=0%2C0
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Copyright United Four Wheel Drive Associations 2008