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May 15, 2006 – ATV Digest

NOHVCC holds annual conference
More than 150 people from 33 states attended the annual National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council Conference in Alabama last month to take part in seminars, training programs and awards ceremonies.
The NOHVCC Board of Directors meeting — held twice each year — ended with the election of a new secretary, a new treasurer and the resignation of a director.
Bill Kaeppner (Ohio) was elected to replace outgoing at-large member Brian Sears (N.C.), while Tom Umphress (Minn.) was elected to the position of secretary. Steve Gunderson (Idaho), who had served as BOD secretary for several years, took over the position of treasurer, and Director Brian Sears (N.C.) announced his resignation.
Also held during the multi-day conference, the NOHVCC Auction raised more than $5,200 for the distribution of new Adventure Trail CD-Roms. Donations also were received from Tucker Rocky, Kolpin, Troy Lee Designs, K&N Filters, LeoVinci, Honda, Arctic Cat and Polaris. Plus, an additional $1,000 was raised by a quilt bought by Nevada’s Ron Loomis last year as a charity item for a cancer victim. Loomis donated the quilt back as a fund-raiser for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and promptly bought it back again.
During an awards ceremony, NOHVCC Land Manager of the Year awards went to Colorado resident Jim Cooper and Rick Schuler of Wyoming. Cooper was instrumental in increasing Colorado’s riding opportunities considerably during the past year while Schuler developed a youth OHV education display and program based on the NOHVCC Adventure Trail concept.
The NOHVCC Association of the Year went to Carol Smith and Bobby Beamer from the Texas Motorized Trail Coalition (TMTC), honored for its work in the development of a new OHV park on private lands, and inaugural NOHVCC Hall of Fame inductees included Jim Pilon, Paul Slavik, Steve Gunderson, Tom Crimmins, Bill Chapin and Ron Morganthaler, all of whom are the longest-serving NOHVCC members.
Richard Goudarzi (N.H.) took home the NOHVCC State Representative of the Year Award, given for his efforts in the Granite State, and Alex Bub (Wis.), Bill Kaeppner (Ohio) and Harold Soens (Calif.) received the Never, Never, Never Quitting Award for their work as OHV activists. Sadly, Soens passed away suddenly at his home in California just days after receiving his award.
The next NOHVCC Board meeting takes place in Pennsylvania in September. Here is a schedule of NOHVCC activities:

  • May 20-21, Hawaii Association Development Workshop, Maui, HI
  • June 16-17, WOHVA Annual Conference, Wabeno, Wisc.
  • June 21-24, Honda Hoot, Knoxville, Tenn.
  • July 15, Virginia Association Development Workshop, Roanoke, Va.
  • July 22-23, Arizona Association
    Development Workshop (Collaboration), Phoenix, Ariz.
    SPV Motors USA enters ATV Market
    Is there room in the market for yet another importer of small displacement ATVs? SPV Motors USA appears to think so.
    The Fort Worth-based company started a nationwide marketing program this month to sell SPV brand ATVs to retail buyers. A partner of Haining SPV Vehicle Manufacturing Ltd., SPV Motors USA is a subsidiary of CLB Investments LLC.
    The company says it can manufacture more than 5,000 units of each model per month, and says its ATVs and motorcycles comply with EPA, CARB and DOT standards. They’re also covered by a 12-month warranty.
    Check out www.spvmotorsusa.com for more information.
    N.C. Launches ATV Safety Campaign
    North Carolina has announced a statewide ATV safety blitz involving Safe Kids North Carolina, where volunteers across the state will coordinate efforts to educate parents and caregivers about North Carolina’s recent ATV legislation, which introduces safety requirements for children.
    Initial efforts call for the distribution of more than 400,000 educational cards explaining what parents need to know about which size ATVs are appropriate for children and general ATV safety.
    The N.C. ATV law (S.L. 2005-282), passed last December, mandates safety precautions and size limitations for youth riders. The law, in summary, requires:

  • Children must be at least 8 years old to operate an ATV. They must also ride the ATV that is appropriately sized for their age. (8 to 11-year-olds, under 70cc engine; 12 to 15-year-olds, 70 to 90cc engine; 16-year-olds and older, over 90cc engine)
  • Children under 18 must be continuously supervised by an adult while riding an ATV.
  • No rider may carry a passenger, except on machines specifically designed to do so.
  • Riders must wear helmets and face protection.
  • ATVs may not be operated on public streets, roads or highways, except for purposes of crossing.
  • Effective Oct. 1, all riders born on or after Jan. 1, 1990, must possess a safety certificate indicating successful completion of an ATV safety course sponsored or approved by the ATV Safety Institute.
  • Noncompliance is subject to a fine of $200; however, the law does not apply to the operation of ATVs when used for farm purposes or for hunting or trapping.
    Alabama to Expand ATV Park
    Assisting in an effort to expand an ATV park, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley recently awarded $469,000 to Cullman County to purchase 323 acres of land to add to 160 acres the county already owns.
    An additional $117,250 in federal grants also has been earmarked for the project. psb

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