4x4Voice

The Michigan-based performance off road powerhouse now offers five staged packages with increasing levels of hardware and capabilities for Jeep lovers.

Adrian, MI (Oct., 2012) – VWerks, a specialty vehicle builder and off road parts manufacturer, announced today its new dealer direct program for Jeep Wranglers that customizes JKs to make them look more extreme and be more off-road capable. Through select dealerships, customers can now order Jeeps upfitted with additional hardware to match the level of off-road ability they need and desire. “We want to customize the Jeep experience,” says Jeff Wyatt, CEO of Venchurs. “Whether you want a vehicle that looks more menacing than your average Jeep, or you want something capable of crawling over the rocks on a mountain trail, we have a package that fits you.”

Original linkOriginal author: VWerks

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WORRIED ABOUT THE RUBICON TRAIL?

I left my leadership position in Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR) and the Rubicon Trail Foundation (RTF) a few years back, thinking that we had laid a positive foundation to continue these incredible efforts to keep the Rubicon Trail open to all of us...all year; for all types of rigs; with challenges for us all. NOT THE CASE!!! I am sorely disappointed in the way the trail has changed in the last few years, and I am not afraid to step up and say that government is NOT listening to the users.  Not in this case.  Something is wrong and we need to bring some slap down on the deaf ones who "govern" our use of public lands in the case of the Rubicon Trail.

Original linkOriginal author: Del Albright

CA4WDC NRC South - Oct 2012 (for South District Meeting)

OHMVR Funding Study - Current project is a funding study of OHMVR Grants, OHV registration,  SVRA attendance and OHMVR operations costs.  I am waiting on response to a Public Records Act request that is expected to be delivered early November.

Dinky Landscape Restoration Project - Sierra NF project with potential impact on a number of OHV trails; Swamp Lake, Bald Mtn, and Dusey.  USFS effort is a major fuels reduction project and protection of Pacific Fisher, Great Gray Owl, and Goshawk.  One sub-project, the Bald Mountain Project, is being reviewed. Within the Cow Creek Critical Aquatic Refuge, decommissioning of NFS roads 9S402 and 9S402A is proposed. Currently, both roads are closed year round to public use

USFS Planning Rule -- The Forest Service Planning Rule has been a very contentious issue for the past decade.  Under the Organic Act of 1897, the purpose of the national forest system is conservation of water flow and assurance of a continuous supply of timber. In 1960, the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act added a mandate for the concepts of multiple use and sustained yield. Under the 1976 National Forest Management Act, the agency is required to adopt rules (the Planning Rule) for writing land use plans. 

CA4WDC has joined with BlueRibbon Coalition American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) and a broad group of other national and regional interests in a lawsuit to overturn the new Forest Service Planning Rule adopted April 2012. According to the Complaint, the new Rule violates the statutory requirements Congress has given the agency to prepare forest plans to provide for multiple uses of outdoor recreation, range, timber, watershed, and wildlife and fish. The Rule instead elevates the vague concepts of “ecological sustainability” and “ecosystem services” such as carbon storage and spiritual values above all else which will lead to years of lawsuits over new forest plans and forest management projects.

To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles And by opposing end them. Hamlet's soliloquy poses a complex question that can be re-phrased: To litigate, or not to litigate, that is the question...A complex question that needs some background to explain.  The California OHV program was created in 1971 as a self-funded program.  The primary funding is derived from registration of off-road vehicles, entries fees to State Vehicle Recreation Areas (SVRA), and revenue derived from a calculation of the motor vehicle fuel tax paid for fuel used in off-highway recreation.  In 2007, SB-742 was approved by a near unanimous vote and changed the motor vehicle fuel tax revenue to be derived from a calculation based on the actual number of OHV recreation-related public land visitor-use-days.

Original linkOriginal author: John

The California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs has submitted a letter to California Governor Brown requesting that OHV Local Assistance Grants be restored to their prior year levels.  Grant funding is capped at $10 million for the current year.  Cal4Wheel is requesting that funds identified within the "hidden funds" held by State Parks as OHV Trust Fund monies be released to fully fund the grants program.

The Local Assistance Grants are an important part of the state OHV program by helping maintain trails on public lands managed by US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.

In addition to the Governor, the letter was provided to all Member of the Assembly and State Senate Budget Committees with oversight of California State Parks.  A copy of the letter is included below: