ATV-Industry News

Updated 5/1/07

ARCTIC CAT YOUTH ATVS RECALLED

A case of possibly loose parts has led to the recall of one of Arctic Cat's youth ATV models, Web sources report, noting the voluntary recall involves about 1,500 90cc DVX and utility model ATVs. No one has been injured by the allegedly improperly tightened parts, according to the reports, which state the affected items are the handlebar base mounting bolts, tie-rod ends and tie-rod adjustment locking nuts. The ATVs were reportedly sold between August 2006 and January 2007 for about $2,200. The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission states: “Consumers should stop using these ATVs immediately. Registered owners have been notified about this recall by mail. Consumers with a recalled ATV should contact their local Arctic Cat ATV dealer to schedule a free repair.” For more information, call Arctic Cat at 800-279-6851 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday, or visit the company's Web site at www.arctic-cat.com.

GETTING ALONG IN SAN BERNARDINO

Strike another victory for compromise and consultation over antagonism and confrontation. Since July 2006, police and code enforcement officers in San Bernardino County, CA, have handed out 5,000 fliers concerning a new ordinance for offroad vehicle use. The ordinance reflects input from riders, environmentalists and community groups who met for two long work sessions and was passed unanimously by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, according to the Off-Road Business Association, Inc. (ORBA). As 2007 dawned, the report back is positive. “Judging by the success we've seen in the first six months of enforcement, I am confident the ordinance will continue to reduce OHV-related problems,” said Mike Romage, code enforcement officer in the South Desert for San Bernardino County. The ordinance reportedly involves issuing permits with riding guidelines and the county says all the requirements of the permits were met. The keys to success, according to ORBA, were cooperation and compromise. “We hope that other counties around the country look to the process used by San Bernardino when attempting to solve OHV-related problems,” states Fred Wiley, the association's executive director.

SNOW NEWS IS GOOD NEWS FOR PLOW SALES

This winter's Colorado blizzards ran the gamut from inconvenience to tragedy, with a thousand shades in between. Airports closed, cattle were stranded and avalanches tossed vehicles from highways. But at least one segment of the business community appears to have prospered as a result of the bad weather. George Stone, owner of Stone Power in Evergreen, CO, a parts and accessories dealer, reports snowplows for ATVs are big sellers in the Centennial State this year.

HERE TO THERE IN NORTH DAKOTA

For ATV riders, the path to approved riding trails is sometimes a case of “you can't get there from here,” at least not without using a trailer. But the City of Wahpeton, ND, aldermen recently voted to allow ATVs on city streets, as long as they follow the same rules that govern snowmobiles and follow the shortest routes into and out of town, according to the Wahpeton Daily News. Five aldermen supported the measure - described as a first hearing on the subject - and three opposed it, the paper said, noting further action lay ahead for the idea before it might become law.

CONGRESSMAN EYES SPORTSMEN'S RIGHTS

Wisconsin's First District Congressman Paul Ryan, a Democrat, announced that, beginning in January, he is serving as a co-chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus with an eye toward sportsmen's rights, his Web site reports. Over 300 members of the House of Representatives and the Senate currently belong to this bipartisan caucus, which works to protect the rights of America's hunters, anglers and trappers and to promote wildlife habitat conservation, Ryan states, noting Wisconsin Rep. Ron Kind, also a Democrat, will serve as the other House co-chairman. The term of co-chair lasts two years, throughout the duration of the 110th Congress, according to Ryan. “I'm excited about co-chairing this caucus and working in a bipartisan way on issues that impact my fellow hunters, fishers and all who enjoy the outdoors,” Ryan said. “Hunting and fishing are ingrained in Wisconsin's culture, and it's an honor to be able to chair this caucus and pursue our shared goals of habitat conservation and preserving sportsmen's rights.” Ryan, a bow and gun hunter, had previously been vice-chairman of the caucus, he reported.

NEW BRUNSWICK WANTS ATV RIDERS TO BE 16+

The New Brunswick, Canada, government is going to ban the use of all-terrain vehicles by anyone under 16, but the head of the province's ATV federation says many people will just ignore the law, Canadian news sources report. Public Safety Minister John Foran announced plans for the new age restriction, according to sources, which noted the issue dominated a recent public meeting following a number of ATV-related accidents and two fatalities in the province. “We're responsible as a government and two deaths are two deaths too many and we feel we have to do something to prevent that,” said the minister, adding, “This is the first step.” Currently there is no minimum age to ride an ATV in New Brunswick, however, riders under the age of 14 are required by law to be supervised by an adult, sources said, noting the new ban would include all offroad vehicles including snowmobiles and ATVs.

BOOKING 'EM ON LONG ISLAND

Offroad riders of New York's Long Island woodlands are under siege by local law enforcement officials cracking down on illegal riding of ATVs and dirt bikes on fragile trails, Newsday.com reports. The Pine Barrens Law Enforcement Council stepped up efforts to curb illegal riding of motorized vehicles on Suffolk County's woodlands over the past year, Newsday's Web site states, noting dirt bikes and ATVs are illegal to ride on public lands and most public roads. Officials have impounded 509 ATVs, issued more than 900 tickets and increased the number of sting operations all over Suffolk County.

ARCTIC CAT REDUCES WORKFORCE

Arctic Cat has reduced its workforce in order to lower its cost structure and align resources with current business conditions, reported a company press release. Approximately 65 positions have been eliminated, primarily in Thief River Falls, MN, said the press release, which added, this represents less than four percent of the company's 1,800 employees. "This was not an easy decision, but it reflects the realities of the current industry-wide market conditions, particularly for sales of snow-related products," said Christopher Twomey, chairman and CEO. He added, "We are rightsizing the business to lower our cost structure, strengthen our profitability and increase our long-term competitiveness."

It was brought to our attention that we ran the incorrect Oxlite press release in the February issue of ATV-Industry magazine. The corrected release is below. We apologize for any confusion.

OXLITE/CHINA LOADING RAMPS

Oxlite Manufacturing introduces a new brand of aluminum loading ramps - Oxlite/China. The new line reportedly will be built in China to Oxlite's proven quality standards. Oxlite/China will hopefully give dealers an opportunity to offer a product that compares to those sold by large discount houses and mass merchandisers, said the company. They added, "Oxlite Manufacturing: always finding ways to help dealers compete in a changing marketplace." For more information, visit www.oxlite.com.

ATV FOREST CRACKDOWN IN VA

(The following story appeared in the Jan. 11 edition of The Roanoke Times (www. Roanoke.com), written by Tim Thornton and titled “Forest Officials Set Sights on ATVs.” We offer it as an object lesson for the reason ATVs often attract unfavorable attention - a few irresponsible riders doing lots of damage and giving the entire industry a black eye. We urge readers to compare this story with the one above from San Bernardino.)

It was a clear night, near the end of December, with temperatures heading below freezing. Teddy Mullins, a law enforcement officer with the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, was watching lights dance on Pearis Mountain [in southwest Virginia]. The lights weren't supposed to be there. So Mullins used his government-issued vehicle to block the trail that leads up the mountain and headed through the Giles County forest on foot. "We had had it under surveillance off and on for 18 months," said Capt. Woody Lipps, Mullins' supervisor. "We just never were able to catch anybody there."

But Mullins caught 12 people and impounded seven all-terrain vehicles. The dozen people may face 50 federal charges. It's illegal to ride an ATV in most of the national forest. It's illegal to cut trees there without permission. It's illegal to damage soil, water or plant life there. Mullins found trees felled and a trail cut through the woods. One ATV was covered in mud and rhododendron leaves.

"We don't have any proof that these were the people who have been building that trail all the time," Lipps said. "But these are the ones we caught." They were young, Lipps said, mostly 18 to 22. Some of them had just gotten an ATV for Christmas. In the past, they might have been allowed to keep their Christmas presents. The forest service rarely seized law-breaking vehicles. "We haven't been, but we're changing that," Lipps said.

There's no federal law that specifically authorizes his officers to seize ATVs, Lipps said, but they have the right to seize evidence. And an ATV that's where it's not supposed to be is evidence. Often, officers find an ATV or two in the woods and wait for a hunter to claim them. Almost as often, the hunters who eventually amble down the trail claim the machines aren't theirs.

"We're just going to start taking them," Lipps said. "When your $3,000 or $4,000 or $6,000 machine turns up missing and you come to the National Forest Service looking for it, we'll be happy to see that you get it back. But not until you've gotten your ticket." It's not illegal to ride ATVs and off-road motorcycles everywhere in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Four areas offer a total of 75 miles of trails. The closest is a 17-mile trail near Eagle Rock in Botetourt County. Lipps said there are probably 500 miles of illegal ATV trails in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. ATVs and motorcycles also turn up on the 2,000 miles of trails the forests have for hikers, mountain bike riders and horses, though they shouldn't. "If you're not in one of those four areas, you ain't supposed to be there," Lipps said.

The National Forest Service has declared, "Motor vehicles are a legitimate and appropriate way for people to enjoy their national forests -- in the right places and with proper management." Every national forest has to designate trails for motorized vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles. In the past, some restricted off-road vehicles to trails. Some allowed them virtually universal access. "Virginia Forest Watch thinks ATVs are inappropriate for public land," said Sherman Bamford, the group's public lands coordinator. "They do so much damage and right now the forest service is not able to do that much in the way of enforcement."

Traditionally, 12 officers patrol the 3,018 miles of roads and 2,000 miles of trail in the forest's 1.8 million acres. But three officers retired, so now there are nine. We're going to pretty soon have 10," Lipps said.

In addition to the damage ATVs and motorcycles can do to the forest, they can ruin a wilderness experience for other people. "One of the problems is the amount of ground they can cover in a day," Bamford said. "They take up a lot of room and the noise just spreads out."

Annie Malone, who rides horses in the national forest near the Smyth County community of Sugar Grove, is glad they do make noise. "The saving grace of the internal combustion engine is it's loud," she said. "You can hear it coming." Malone was riding with friends when they heard a high-pitched whine heading down the mountain. They trotted their horses back up the trail and moved to the side. About a minute later, a dirt bike came around a curve, leaning at a 45-degree angle. "He was an awfully good rider, a very talented rider," Malone said. "He kind of did a little doughnut and headed back up the trail the way he came."

That rider met up with a group of motorcycles behind him and they all roared back up the mountain. "I don't see why they don't buy a big patch of private land and screw that up rather than damage the commons to the extent they do," Malone said. "I would hope it's that they're not aware of the damage that they're doing. But how can they not be?"

The first time a person gets caught riding in the national forest illegally, they don't have to go to court. They can simply pay a fine of about $150. The second time is a much bigger deal. It requires an appearance in federal court and could mean a fine of $5,000 or six months in jail. "We don't get too many repeat offenders," Lipps said. "Most probably because it's hard to catch them the first time."