June 25,26, and 27, 2004. Kent(brother), Chance(buddy), Tyler(buddy), and I went up to the Iron Range in Gilbert Minnesota. Tonight July 11 on Fox 9 news Chance was on the news climping a hill. They were doing a story on "ATV Ride to Safety" and they purposely rolled a 4-wheeler to show what the results were. The guy who rolled his wheeler was parked next to us in the parking lot. Pretty sweet that ATV's are getting more attention, it may not be the best attention (four wheelers rolling) but they were saying how that there are almost more 4 wheelers than snowmobiles now in the state of minnesota. There is a place on the channel nine website. www.kmsp.com where you can submit a local story. I think someone should submit a story on Bauer's Pit. Help get it some publicity to keep it open. I'd do it, but I don't think they would take a 16 year olds advice or take my story.

 

I watched the Sunday night clip, they will have the main " dangers of ATVs" on Monday night, I have to say, it is just like their snowmobile "news" they had, they film a couple of people doing unsafe stunts, manage to catch a couple of accidents, then tie a dummy onto an ATV and run it off a downhill or into a tree to show how "unsafe" ATVs are. Gee, an uncontrolled vehicle with the throttle tied down run into a side hill or a tree, now I wonder what will happen ???????? So called "journalism" like that makes me want to blow a hole in my TV screen with a shotgun, how in the HE!! can you get accurate, meaningful results by PURPOSELY ramming a vehicle into a tree, or down a steep hill with no way to control it, yah, it looks dangerous, with the dummy flying around loose, but how many of us sit there flopping around not trying to steer or brake to avoid obstacles or bad situations ??? Yes I agree, 17 deaths on ATVs last year is bad, but what about the HUNDREDS that die from cars? do you see them running cars off bridges and under semi trucks???noooooo, because that won't get the big ratings and outrage anyone. ALL modes of transportation have their problems, but pointing fingers and screaming EVIL !!!! won't solve anything. If they put all that effort into public information and rider safety requirements, then a lot of accidents wouldn't happen. Just like guns, the ATV is not to blame, it just sits there, not trying to hurt anyone, it takes a careless operator to cause any real harm. Blame instead the parents that let 8 yr old Johnny on their 660 Grizzly, or Grampa that lets the little ones ride unsupervised on the back 40 with his old farm rig, 3 up on an old 3 wheeler. Sorry to vent so much, but these news shows really tick me off,
so in closing, QUIT POINTING THE FINGER AND GET OFF YOUR BUTT AND DO SOMETHING POSITIVE TO HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It was on again tonight (Monday) It showed my buddy chance working his way up a hill. it was a really short clip. a dark green 2003 Honda rincon, and he was wearing black shift riding gear. I know where you are coming from 95wolv. But at least they mentioned how the atv sales are just about more than snowmobile sales. And with all of the snowmobile trails. They will have to make more ATV trails.

 

95wolv,

As an instructor, I felt there was a positive message in the footage they showed. It did say that the MNDNR was conducting the tests with the dummy on the machine. This will eventually be footage that we will use in our safety training. Also, by showing this footage, it will give those who ride, but don't understand the machine very well, a better idea of the dangers involved with riding. It was entirely meant to be a situational perspective. Would you rather be the test dummy strapped to the machine and hit a tree at 15-20 mph? Accidents will happen.

Do understand that not everyone will have the same experience level as you or I, or possibly more. Educating people in our sport is the best way to cut back on the number of accidents. We need to start policing ourselves and I can guarantee that in time, ATV's will start to get a better image in the general public.