Yamaha Employees Donate Time to U.S. Forest Restoration

Yamaha Employees Join SBNFA and USFS to Improve Nation’s Busiest Forest

SBNFA Has Model OHV Program Supported in Part by Yamaha OHV Access Initiative

CYPRESS, Calif. – April 30, 2010 – Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., employees joined members of the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the San Bernardino National Forest Association (SBNFA) by volunteering more than 500 hours to improve off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails and staging areas and plant 2,250 trees in the San Bernardino National Forest (SBNF).

As part of its OHV Access Initiative, Yamaha works closely with the SBNFA sponsoring a number of OHV trails and adopting trail 3W14 as well as the Pinnacles Staging Area in the SBNF trail system near Lake Arrowhead, Calif.  On Saturday, April 24, members of Yamaha’s ATV & Side-by-Side (SxS) department along with representatives from the ATV enthusiast press participated in an OHV area clean-up led by staff and volunteers from the USFS and SBNFA in and around Yamaha’s adopted areas.  Throughout the day, teams worked around Pinnacles and across miles of adopted and nearby trails clearing brush, removing litter, cleaning culverts, building water breaks and generally improving the areas.

“The OHV Access Initiative is a major priority for Yamaha, and we understand the future of our business and lifestyle depends on supporting this mission of safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable riding areas,” said Mike Martinez, General Manager of Yamaha’s ATV & SxS Department who also serves on the SBNFA Board of Directors.  “The SBNFA, in conjunction with the USFS and corporate partners, has a multifaceted and model OHV program.  We encourage other OHV groups to take a look at what we’ve doing here in Southern California and consider how they might implement similar programs in other parts of the country.”

On Sunday, nearly 90 Yamaha employees along with family and friends joined a second-year program by the USFS, the SBNFA and the Los Angeles-based TreePeople organization to help reforest burn areas in Southern California. This joint effort was launched in response to the devastating Southern California wildfires in 2003 and 2007 where 185,000 acres burned in the SBNF.  The program’s goal this year is to plant 25,000 bareroot seedlings, and Yamaha’s group planted a single-day record near Big Bear Lake, Calif.  Through its efforts the past two years, Yamaha’s groups have planted more than 3,400 seedlings.

“It was exciting to see so many Yamaha employees get involved in Sunday’s tree planting efforts,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV & SxS Department Marketing Manager and OHV Access Initiative Review Committee Member.  “Supporting our local and OHV communities is important to Yamaha, and we plan to continue growing the OHV Access Initiative and supporting more outdoors areas across the country.  By putting our best foot forward, we can set a positive example for everyone who enjoys outdoor recreation.”

The SBNF is the mountain playground to 24 million Southern Californians -- or 10 percent of the nation’s population.  Given its proximity to this population base, the SBNF is an “urban” forest and, consequently, is the most recreated and populated national forest in the system.  Over 15 million people recreate annually on the SBNF and 60,000 reside full- or part-time.

About the Yamaha OHV Access Initiative

Since launching in 2008, the Yamaha OHV Access Initiative has injected more than $1.4 million into its mission of supporting safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable riding areas.  Each quarter, Yamaha accepts applications from non-profit or tax-exempt organizations including OHV riding clubs and associations, national, state and local public land use agencies and other members of the OHV community in the United States.  A committee then reviews each application and awards GRANTs to deserving projects.

Examples of appropriate projects for GRANTs include, but are not limited to:

·                    Trail development, restoration and maintenance

·                    Trail signage and map production

·                    Staging area construction, renovation and maintenance

·                    Land stewardship, trail safety and education

The next GRANT application submission deadline is June 30, 2010.  Updated guidelines, an application form and information on the OHV Access Initiative are available at: www.yamaha-motor.com/ohvaccess. For specific questions about the OHV Access Initiative, call Yamaha’s dedicated OHV Access Initiative Hotline at 1-877-OHV-TRAIL (877-648-8724), email OHVAccess@yamahamotor.com or write to: Yamaha OHV Access Initiative Review Committee, 6555 Katella Avenue, Cypress, CA 90630-5101.

NOHVCC April Newsletter

Schedule Your NOHVCC Workshop
By Jack Terrell


Do OHV enthusiasts in your state need assistance starting or revitalizing a statewide OHV association? Could your favorite riding area benefit from a NOHVCC OHV Recreation Management Workshop? If so, help is just a phone call or email away.


Russ Ehnes, NOHVCC Executive Director, reports that “the NOHVCC Board of Directors recently approved funding for NOHVCC State Association Development Workshops and NOHVCC OHV Recreation Management Workshops during the second half of 2010. This funding will allow us to bring these workshops to your state.”...... Read more


GAO Releases Report on ATV Use and Safety
By Russ Ehnes                                            


The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report dated April 2010 called “All-Terrain Vehicles - How They Are Used, Crashes, and Sales of Adult-Sized Vehicles for Children’s Use.”
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act requires the GAO to conduct a study of the utility, recreational, and other benefits of all-terrain vehicles and the costs associated with all-terrain vehicle-related accidents and injuries. GAO addressed these topics by reviewing ATV use and crash data and by discussing these issues with Commission staff, industry officials, user groups, and safety stakeholders…....Read more


DVD Distribution Competition 
By Karen Umphress


You may have already seen a bunch of press releases, a couple of newsletter articles, and some e-mails on the subject.  The NOHVCC Public Lands Workshop Series DVD has been released.    If you haven’t figured it out yet, we think this is one of the best tools that we have added to the tool-kit, especially for the new people who are just starting to get involved.


We have been working with a writer to create some great articles to be printed in industry and Enthusiast magazines.  Some of these articles are available on-line now in Racer X and Cycle News.  Some of the articles will be in print soon.……. Read more


4-H Announces New ATV Safety Site
Submitted by Sheila Chaconas, 4-H ATV Safety                                                     


4-H ATV Adventure Online has introduced a new ATV safety mini site sponsored by the Specialty Vehicle Association of America (SVIA) and the ATV Safety Institute (ASI).  The site promotes safe and responsible use of ATVs, thereby reducing accidents and injuries that may result from improper ATV operation by the rider.  We encourage you to visit the site at www.4-h.org/atvsafety to see the great new interactive tools and resources:………… Read more

Baja Legends to Help Stop the Youth ATV Ban with New MIC Web Site Videos

Baja Legends Call on Riders to Help Stop the Ban with New Motorcycle Industry Council Web Site Videos

Honda and Kawasaki Teams Plus Robby Gordon Add Their Voices to More Than 200,000 Electronic Messages Sent to Congress

IRVINE, Calif., April 13, 2010 - History's two winningest Baja motorcycle racers Johnny Campbell and Larry Roeseler have added their powerful voices to the fight against the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act's ban on youth motorcycles and ATVs. So did NASCAR driver and SCORE Trophy Truck champion Robby Gordon and motorcycle speedway legend Bruce Penhall. All of them, along with Honda and Kawasaki team members, can be seen on new videos posted on the Motorcycle Industry Council YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/motoindustrycouncil

"Since February, nearly 210,000 electronic messages have been sent to Congress because of the Stop the Ban campaign," said Paul Vitrano, MIC general counsel. "The new videos from these off-road superstars give our cause a real boost. Whether you're into racing or weekend family fun, remember that there's only a temporary stay of enforcement on the ban and the battle is still on. We must convince Congress to permanently end the ban by changing the law or it will be a lot harder to produce future legends like these guys, and harder for kids to get properly sized machines and safely enjoy rides with their parents."

The videos were shot last month in Baja during the pre-race festivities for the 24th MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250. Other racing stars featured in the videos include JCR Honda's Colton Udall and Jeff "Ox" Kargola, this year's overall motorcycle winners.

The Blue C / Wahoo's / Monster Energy Kawasaki team also participated, with seven-time Baja 1000 winner Steve Hengeveld, part of the second-place team in San Felipe, along with Brent Harden and Ryan Penhall, team members who finished third. Besides owning JCR Honda, Johnny Campbell has won the Baja 1000 11 times while the legendary Larry Roeseler won an even dozen on two wheels and four.

"You know, I wouldn't be where I am if I wasn't able to ride when I was a kid," Campbell said. "There [are] a lot of kids who have a passion for two wheels and that involves riding dirt bikes....I encourage you to go to stopthebannow.com."

A famed auto racer also spoke on camera for the cause.

"I was young, four, five, six, seven, riding motorcycles," said Robby Gordon, who placed second in San Felipe in his Trophy Truck. "Where [are] the next Robby Gordons coming from, or the Ricky Carmichaels? Keep these young kids riding."

SCORE International is one of the most widely recognized off-road motorcycle and ATV race sanctioning bodies in the world, known for the annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. The San Felipe 250 is the first of the three-race SCORE Baja series that also includes the Baja 500.

A copy of a sample letter to Congress and background information about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act can be found at www.stopthebannow.com

Background Information on the CPSIA:

Three key reasons why youth ATVs and motorcycles should be excluded from the CPSIA's lead content provisions:

       1.      The lead content poses no risk to kids. Experts estimate that the lead intake from kids' interaction with metal parts is less than the lead intake from drinking a glass of water.

       2.      The key to keeping youth safe is having them ride the right size vehicle. Kids are now at risk because the availability of youth ATVs and motorcycles is limited due to the lead ban.

       3.      The lead ban hurts the economy for no good reason when everyone is trying to grow the economy and create jobs. MIC estimates that a complete ban on youth model vehicles would result in about $1 billion in lost economic value in the retail marketplace every year.

The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications and media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, development of data communications standards, and activities surrounding technical and regulatory issues. It is a not-for-profit, national industry association representing manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles, scooters, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts and accessories, and members of allied trades such as insurance, finance and investment companies, media companies and consultants.

The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office adjacent to Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914. Visit the MIC at www.mic.org

2010 Events on Utah's ATV & UTV Trails:

Information on each event is available on the Internet. The following is a list planned for 2010 in order of their occurrence:

The Rally on the Rocks, May 12-15: The fourth annual Rally on the Rocks is the premier UTV event is held in Moab, Utah. MORE INFO

The National ATV Jamboree, June 21-26: The oldest jamboree in the nation is held in Fillmore. The $130 fee includes a hot breakfasts and dinners every day, maps and a jamboree T-shirt. Trails on the Paiute ATV Trail system are featured as well as some desert destinations. Registration is limited to 500 riders and discounts are available to couples and groups. MORE INFO

The Paiute UTV Jamboree, Aug. 12-14: The second annual Marysvale jamboree primarily for UTVs is staged in Marysvale. A unique feature of this event is that no registration fees are charged. You can choose to order a shirt and meals, or not. MORE INFO

The Manti Mountain ATV Tour, Aug. 13-14: This event includes a T-shirt, dinner, two lunches, and two days of riding on the Arapeen trails above Manti for $50. MORE INFO

The Arapeen ATV Jamboree, Sept. 6-10: This event featuring trails in the San Rafael Swell and on the east side of the Arapeen Trail system is staged from Ferron. The $120 fee includes continental breakfasts each day, two dinners and a T-shirt. Two additional dinners are available at $10 each. MORE INFO

The San Juan ATV Safari, Sept. 16-18: Blanding is the host for this festival featuring trails in the Blue Mountains and surrounding canyons. Fees are $100 per rider with special rates for groups. MORE INFO

The Rocky Mountain ATV Jamboree, Sept. 20-24: The largest ATV festival is sponsored by Richfield. Registration is $150 per rider and is limited to 650 participants. Fees include daily continental breakfasts, two dinners and a T-shirt. This jamboree features trails in the Paiute trail system and others in Central Utah. MORE INFO

Polaris Awarded Contract with Educational & Institutional Purchasing

Polaris Awarded Contract with Educational and Institutional Cooperative Purchasing

Minneapolis, April 6, 2010– Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) today announced the company was awarded a new competitively solicited contract with Educational and Institutional Cooperative Purchasing (E&I). The contract makes Polaris vehicles available to all E&I Cooperative members comprised of more than 1,700 colleges, universities, prep schools and other institutions.

E&I is the largest member-owned buying cooperative for higher education.  E&I delivers value to educational institutions by providing high quality, cost-effective and timely solutions through a diverse portfolio of competitive contracts and value-added services. Polaris sees benefit of being part of that portfolio due to the increasing demand for its products by colleges, universities and schools.

“Polaris offers a broad range of work utility vehicles that will enable enhanced productivity and value for school groundskeepers, security and event management,” said Dave Huguelet, director of Business Development for Polaris. “This contract is an efficient and effective way to showcase our products to the education business customer and will streamline their purchasing process.”

The contract went into effect March 1, 2010 and the offering will consist of a full catalog of ATVs, RANGER Side-by-Sides, snowmobiles and the Polaris EV LSV, as well as Polaris parts and accessories.