Oct 2006 ATV-Industry News

Updated 11/01/06

Archives: Jan 06, Feb 06, Mar 06, Apr 06, May 06, June 06, July 06, Aug 06, Sept 06

CLEAR CREEK LAWSUIT CLEARED

A lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity and California Native Plant Society has been dismissed, reports the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC). The suit was filed in Federal District Court of San Jose, CA in November 2004 and sought to eliminate most motorized use of the popular Clear Creek Management Area, explains the BRC. Don Amador, western representative for the BRC, states, “I believe that off-roaders should continue to build our partnership with the BLM and help support the agency's effort to have a balanced program. With the distraction of this lawsuit removed, the OHV community can even more sharply focus our resources on proactive management of Clear Creek.”

KTM North America announces their intention to offer a 525cc sport ATV as a late release for 2007. The company informed dealers of their plan during their annual business meeting held at the end of August, a company spokesperson told us. They add the new units will be designed to run in GNC and GNCC competition. KTM N.A. President Jon-Erick Burleson said, “This initial unit will be positioned to run the cross country series, but we also plan to introduce a 450cc unit that'll be set-up for motocross competition.”

Arctic Cat announced testing the use of an alternative fuel made from vegetable oil and animal fat in its twin-cylinder diesel TRV ATV. According to the company, the unit features a 686cc twin-cylinder SOHC four-stroke diesel engine, which uses a glow plug pre-heater assist for starting and runs efficiently on six different types of diesel fuel. The idea to test the vehicle with bio fuel came from the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute and the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, adds Arctic Cat.

A plan to build a 515-acre ATV park on land owned by the federal government, southeast of the Harlan County Dam, was submitted to county officials, states the Lincoln Journal Star. The park would be an expansion of an existing trail system established by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and would open in 2008, the paper explains. The decision to go ahead with the project will depend on whether or not developers get Nebraska Game and Parks Commission grants and are successful in raising the funds needed to build the park, states the Journal Star.

Hawaii County police announced they have begun to impound offroad vehicles when issuing citations to individuals who illegally ride them on public roads, reports the Honolulu Advertiser. Community Police Officer John Briski said officers used to cite the operators under the section of the law that prohibits unlicensed vehicles on public roads and, under the same law, police are impounding the vehicles and holding them as evidence until the cases go to court, the paper adds.

In Mason, WV, ATV owners gathered in the town hall to voice their concerns and opinions regarding an upcoming ordinance for all-terrain vehicles inside of the corporation limits, reports the Point Pleasant Register. The paper adds the townsmen wanted to express their concerns about what would be in the ordinance, rather than opposing the idea of the need for one. After receiving input from audience members, the council will establish an ordinance similar to New Haven's but with a few key differences, concludes the paper.

The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) applauds Utah District Court's dismissal of a decade old lawsuit, which challenges rights of ways across public lands, according to Public Lands Director Brian Hawthorne. He said, “This is a huge victory for millions of Americans who value access to public lands. I think this decision throws a bucket of cold water on efforts by green groups to impose their closure agenda on local governments and the public.”