Moab Easter Safari Underway

EASTER SAFARI MOAB, UT
It's About Freedom

By Del Albright

The 50th Annual Moab Easter Safari is underway this week and wow, is town hopping.  No matter what you wheel or drive, Moab and the surrounding incredible scenery represents a lot of what our motorized sport is about.

While the town itself and some of the businesses may be confused about who brings the money to this small town, four-wheelers are not!  We explode the local economy and bring more focus than any other activity to this Utah community.

And it's about freedom.  Taking a drive around the red rock country, or challenging your rig in some big rocks, Moab area has it all. And the freedom to do this adventuring is what we love.  Unfortunately that freedom is always under attack by, as Stacie my wife says, exclusionary elitists who would rather not have rubber tires anywhere on the red rocks.  I say let's tell them to pound sand!

There are several groups fighting to keep Moab motorized trails alive and well for us all.  BUT it takes all of us doing our part -- whatever your part is in this tangled web of politics, meetings, letters and fight back efforts, you MUST be doing your part if you love Moab for four-wheeling.

I recommend you realize that all fights for trails begin at the top -- Washington DC and national politicians.  So being a part of national groups like BlueRibbon Coalition and United Four Wheel Drive Associations is essential to saving our sport -- from the top down.  Then also join regional, state and local groups that make sense to you and that you see fighting for your freedoms.  WE MUST BELONG and be counted to make a difference.

JOIN and get your name on those rosters of enthusiasts who are really doing something and not just being virtual where your name (and voice) never really shows up.  Take another step and BUY only from businesses in our sport who are doing the same and are on the land use team.

It's about freedom; Easter Safari in Moab represents that freedom.  Go have fun; but BE part of the solution.
Del
BlueRibbon Coalition Ambassador, http://www.sharetrails.org

• RUN A BETTER MEETING
• LEARN MORE ABOUT NEPA
• WRITE A LETTER
• GIVE A SPEECH
• LEARN TO FACILITATE MEETINGS
• WHY JOIN A CLUB
• ORGANIZE A CONVOY
• JOIN THE RIGHT GROUPS
• GET VOLUNTEER TRAINING
• LEAD VOLUNTEERS
• CHOOSE THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU

GO BACK TO HOME MENU FOR THIS MOBILE PLATFORM

Landuse January 2013 Notes from Team Albright

January 2013 Highlighted Landuse Issues/Links 

from Team Albright

1.       Johnson Valley, the Hammers – PLEASE sign the petition needing 1000 signatures a day, to request the White House to deny any request by the 29 Palms Marine Base to use land from Johnson Valley OHV area for base expansion.  We love the Marines; but they don’t need our OHV area.   Go here to sign:                                                                     http://ultra4racing.com/featured/1000-signatures-a-day-needed-to-help-save-the-hammers/.

2.       Oregon – comments needed on Oregon Dunes Designated Routes Project DEIS, right away.  Best coastal dunes around are in jeopardy and need our help.  Your letter can make a difference.  BRC has a sample letter here: https://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/2013/01/15/oregon--comments-needed-on-oregon-dunes-10c-designated-routes-project-deis.

3.      Wilderness Costs: The economic costs of Wilderness, from USA-All (Utah Shared Access Alliance) – what a negative impact on local communities and economies. http://www.environmentaltrends.org/single/article/the-economic-costs-of-wilderness.html.

4.      Fishing: Recreational fishing a positive impact for local (and national) economies in this new report Sportfishing in America: An Economic Force for Conservation. http://muirnet.net/news-bytes/new-report-highlights-recreational-fishing-s-broad-economic-and-conservation-impact.

5.      UFWDA: United Four Wheel Drive quarterly magazine,  with tons of 4x4 access info, The Compass, is online here: http://www.u4wda.org/.

6.      “Big Green Money:” see this note from BlueRibbon Coalition how the anti-OHV legal efforts have grant money available to them approaching 100 million bucks!  See the net assets of some of the biggies in the anti-crowd, here: https://www.sharetrails.org/public-lands/anti-ohv-legal-efforts-money-talks.

More from Team Albright here at http://www.delalbright.com.

Thanks for your help,

Del & +Stacie Albright 

RACERS AND BUSINESSES, RENEW LANDUSE VOWS NOW!

TEAM ALBRIGHT ASKS ALL RACERS AND OFF-ROAD BUSINESSES TO RENEW THEIR LANDUSE VOWS THIS WEEK -- JOIN OR RENEW AND REVITALIZE OUR SPORT

With the elections pending and a whole new fight ahead of us to preserve our off-road sports and save our backcountry access, we need a flush of memberships, right now.  Please join us.

This is a partial list, but an important one, to help you decide where to put your memberships and support.  Racers and off-roaders should join their State and Regional Associations that best represent your sport.

Businesses need to join several outfits, national, regional and state level, depending on where your biggest customer base resides.

START HERE: https://www.sharetrails.org/support/join-or-contribute


BlueRibbon Coalition supports and fights for ALL TRAILS, and ALL SPORTS, nationwide, at the grassroots level.  I recommend EVERYONE be part of BRC.  Start there, the add on.  BRC is the outfit Stacie and I work for full time.

California folks, or businesses with a large customer base in CA need to join this family-oriented 4x4 association.  With over 50 years of history, CA4WDC is fighting daily with professional landuse folks to maintain our access.

Visit and support Cal4 at http://www.cal4wheel.com







Dirt biker folks and businesses need to start with the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), at

http://www.ama-cycle.org

4x4 folks should consider joining and support United Four Wheel Drive Associations as the national sport-specific group for jeeps, trucks, and 4x4's.

Visit and support UFWDA at http://www.ufwda.org

Businesses in the off-road industry should consider joining the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA), a trade association dedicated to help businesses preserve and promote recreational access and the off-road sports.

Join and support ORBA here:  http://www.orba.biz



There are many more choices and this list is just a start.  Every state has outfits fighting for the sport and our trails.  Write if you need more links or help deciding.

Some more groups working on our behalf include:

California Off-Road Vehicle Association (CORVA): http://www.corva.org
Tread Lightly! at http://www.treadlightly.org
Americans for Responsible Recreational Access (ARRA): http://www.arra-access.com
American Sand Association (ASA): http://www.americansandassociation.org
Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA): http://www.rohva.org
North American XJ Association: http://www.naxja.org

And visit Muirnet.net for a thorough list here:http://www.4x4wire.com/4x4-resource-and-information-links/other-4wd-and-offroad-sites-4

Del

POISON SPYDER LARRY McRAE ON LANDUSE AND JOINING

POISON SPYDER LARRY MCRAE SPEAKS ON LANDUSE

Here is a short video about landuse from Larry McRae of Poison Spyder, Pat Brower of United Four Wheel Drive Associations, Jeff Blewett of Calif. Assoc. of 4Wheel Drive Clubs, and Del Albright, BlueRibbon Coalition.  It's all about joining.  Check this out:

Fordyce Trail Selected as Outstanding Trail by BFGoodrich Tires

BFGoodrich and UFWDA team up again in 2009 for the Outstanding Trails program. Fordyce Trail Gets on the List!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Todd OckertE-mail: landuse@ufwda.org
Tulare, Ca. 4 August 2009United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA): BFGoodrich and UFWDA team up again in 2009 for the Outstanding Trails program.Beaverton, OR – April 10, 2009 – United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) has again teamed up with BFGoodrich on the 2009 Outstanding Trails program.

This year due to the current economic climate, the program was reduced to include only two trails this year that are adopted by two outstanding clubs and associations. BFGoodrich has identified some of the best trails in the country and given them national recognition with their Outstanding Trails program. But it is not all about recognizing the trails, as it takes a lot of work by local club members and associations to maintain these trails.

During the course of the program, which runs May through October, BFGoodrich Tires will be at club events associated with these trails and areas to highlight the uniqueness of each location as well as educate off-road enthusiasts on the responsible use of each trail.

• The Fordyce Creek Trail (August 8, 2009), Nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Fordyce Creek Trail has a rich history starting as an old wagon trail serving the 19th century mining town of Summit City at Meadow Lake prior to evolving into the OHV trail it has become. The trail was lost for many years after the mines closed and is now accessible after many years of effort by a group of dedicated off-road enthusiasts.

The trail has incredible high sierra beauty with five winch hills and four water crossings, ending at Meadow Lake, which is adjacent to Fordyce Lake."United Four Wheel Drive Associations is again proud to partner with BFGoodrich for the 2009 Outstanding Trails program. This program is a great opportunity for leaders in the four-wheel drive community to recognize enthusiasts and the impact they are making,” said Todd Ockert, director of environmental affairs, UFWDA.

“The Outstanding Trails program has recognized some great trails across the country and the enthusiasts that maintain those trails. United Four Wheel Drive Associations hopes to continue this partnership for years to come," added Todd.

To help aid with costs associated with the trail’s conservation efforts, BFGoodrich Tires will also present a grant to a selected off-road club at each trail event. Both Tread Lightly! and UFWDA are non-profit organizations dedicated to responsible and ethical outdoor recreation. BFGoodrich Tires collaborated with these two groups to select the finest North American trails, and will continue to work with these organizations on restoration and education initiatives.

# # #
United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) is the leading representative for four wheel drive enthusiasts. UFWDA is a group of individuals, clubs, state, regional, provincial and national associations and businesses in the United States and around the world; our members span the globe from the U.S. and Canada, New Zealand, Australia, England, Japan, South Africa, and Iceland. If you would like more information on how you can be a part of this effort contact United Four Wheel Drive Associations today at 14525 SW Millikan Way #22622, Beaverton, OR 97005-2343, 1-800-448-3932 or visit http://www.ufwda.org/.

Tread Lightly!® is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Tread Lightly!'s strategic educational message, along with its training and restoration initiatives are designed to instill an ethic of responsibility in outdoor enthusiasts and the industries that serve them. The program is long-term in scope with a goal to balance the needs of the people who enjoy outdoor recreation with the needs of the environment. The federal government recognizes this by acknowledging Tread Lightly! as a sole-source service provider of education and training on how to be environmentally and socially responsible while using motorized and mechanized vehicles in off-highway settings.

Using motorsports as a proving ground for more than 30 years, BFGoodrich® Tires is involved in every type of racing, including oval, sports car, drifting, drag, desert, dirt, rally and extreme rock-crawling. BFGoodrich Tires combines technological expertise with vast motorsports experience, delivering a high-performance tire for every type of vehicle. Visit BFGoodrich Tires online at www.bfgoodrichtires.com.

United FWDA Director of Env. Affairs in Public Display (of affection)

Todd (United Four Wheel Drive Assoc. Dir. of Env. Affairs) and Larisa get engaged in front of the entire banquet audience at the CA4WDC Convention on Valentine's Day.

Yes, Todd is a career Navy guy and he's in his dress uniform. Very cool. Larisa is just plain beautiful and TOTALLY surprised.

4x4 Responsible Trail Ride Video

United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) has a new (short) video on the home page that is really awesome – and good to use/show at club meetings and public education workshops or gatherings. In a quick few minutes, this video captures a day trip (trail ride) with the drivers meeting, safety notes, a pack it out message, trail closures, and more. It's worth a watch.

http://www.ufwda.org/

Del