Special Presidents’ Day Factoids

Here in the United States, it’s President’s Day and with that comes an opportunity to share some wild and interesting facts with you our loyal readers.

While it’s true ATVs have been around since the invention of the internal combustion engine and the wheel, let us for a moment assume the first official ATV came in the form of the Honda ATC90.

This little 3-wheeler sent its seven horsepower through a dual-range, four-speed gearbox with automatic clutch, and sold for $595. It was introduced as the US90 then renamed the ATC90 later that year as Honda trademarked the ATC (all-terrain cycle) name.

The year would have been 1970 when the US90 hit our shores and the president at the time was Richard Nixon.

Now we’ll bet you didn’t know that it would be President Nixon who decided we should dedicate on the third Monday of the month of February to honor all past presidents of the United States, and set it on the day when George Washington’s Birthday was celebrated.

A lot has changed since those days and we don’t mean just the addition of a fourth wheel to our ATVs from the factory. Here are a few other facts from the year that brought us the Honda ATC90:

The median household income: $8,734

Cost of a First-Class postage stamp: $0.06

Some other President’s Day Facts:

The traditional food of choice to celebrate this holiday? Cherries! Cherry pie, cherry cake, cherry bread, a bowl full of cherries, whatever. Why? Remember the date was designated George Washington’s birthday before President Nixon changed it to celebrate all US presidents and as we all know, George couldn’t lie when asked if he chopped down his father’s cherry tree.

In 1971, the holiday was moved to be held strictly on the third Monday of each February as opposed to Washington’s actual birthday. This came to be part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act as an attempt to create more three-day weekends for U.S. workers.

Until the late 1980s, banks and corporate business remained closed on Presidents’ Day. These days not only are stores and retailers open (often later than usual even), the holiday has become known for an opportunity to have sales to clear out inventory/ debut new spring fashions.

Conclusions

Celebrate your freedom by getting out and riding today. If you must shop, capitalize on the sales and cap the day off with some warm cherry pie with a scoop of ice cream on top.