The Endangered Off Roader

Seems like over night the world has become a different place. Advocating for off-road vehicle users is still important to us at SDORC, it just comes with some perspective. Because of a virus, a large part of the world has been shut down and that includes many off-road vehicle areas. As of this writing, all California State Parks are completely closed, including Ocotillo Wells. At first, only certain camping and staging areas were closed, but later a complete closure of the park was ordered. Over in the Cleveland National Forest they closed the camping and staging areas in and around Corral Canyon. A little later, all off-roading in the forest was closed. As far as land managed by the BLM, staging and camping areas have been closed, but so far trails and open areas remain open for vehicle use. Bills on Hold

The State legislature has altered their business practices and work being done on bills has slowed accordingly. Word is out that unless a bill has something to do with this virus or public safety, it will not be worked on this session. I have received word that our bill, AB2761, will be set aside until next year. The same was announced about SB1032, the bill to reauthorize the OHV Commission. There are a few other OHV related bills we have yet to hear about, but in all likelihood, they will be postponed until next year. OHV Grants

OHV grants are still out for comment and will likely be sorted out and funded like normal this year. I consider myself a custodian of off-roader's money and read and comment on grants to make sure we get our money's worth. So far, the San Diego Police Department grant application I wrote about last month is the worst. There are other grants of interest though. The Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance has applied for grants to fix a culvert and do some restoration work in the Mendocino National Forest. This group is made up of off-road vehicle heroes who just want to keep trails open.

San Diego County Sheriff's are asking for the usual salaries and training as well as money for safety equipment. They say if officers come into the off-road enforcement team and later leave, they can take their equipment with them. So they are asking for money for helmets, goggles and gloves. What struck me as odd was not the prices, but the quantities. They asked for 40 goggles, 50 pairs of gloves and 11 helmets. One would think that the quantities of these items would match. I saw a grant I've never seen before. It's from the Sierra Avalanche Center, who want $135,000 to train snow mobile riders about the dangers of avalanches. The newsletter of the By Ed Stovin, President

Yes, snowmobiles get green stickers too.

Another interesting grant is from the Asian American Drug Abuse Program (501c3) who want $200,000 to take inner city kids dirtbike riding using the National Youth Project Using Minibikes program. I love grants like this, however, I scratch my head as I read this one. They want to hire two full time employees and three half time employees for a year, including a half time director at $52/hour. They also want a Ford 12 passenger van for $38,000. They don't mention how often they take the kids riding, but they do mention where they take them. They talk about Hungry Valley and Heber Dunes. Hungry Valley makes sense, as it is close to LA, but Heber really makes me wonder. To get to Heber Dunes from LA you would drive right past Ocotillo Wells, where there is endless opportunities for dirtbike training and riding. A good hour of driving past Ocotillo Wells you would arrive at Heber Dunes, a very small location which is entirely covered with sand. If you have ever ridden a dirt bike in sand, you know it is hard. Take beginner kids on minibikes and put them on sand and you will have one tip over after another. The Back Country Land Trust is looking for $183,000 to restore 5 acres with some dirt bike tire tracks in east San Diego County near Campo. The El Centro BLM is asking for $1 million for ground operations, safety and law enforcement. This is one of my favorite agencies and since I have been reviewing their grants (15 years) I have never found any funny business. They work under extreme conditions. From heat to cold to huge crowds to an empty desert, they cope with variations that are hard to plan for.

SDORC members at a recent highway clean-up. Rick Moore, Doug McPheeters, Audrey Mason, Colleen Schuster, SDORC Pres Ed Stovin and Carol McPheeters

Tread Lightly was at King of the Hammers and wants to go back to preach their ethics. In their grant is a line item where they are asking for $12,600 to boost posts on Facebook. This is where you pay Facebook to send your post to people who are not on your Like list. Something odd in their application is the location of King of the Hammers. They call it Johnsonville CA. E

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