Hats off to ATVAM and the sponsor clubs for an outstanding job! Applause Applause! This highly successful gathering raises the bar for future events. I for one was very impressed with the organization and management of an event of this size. Undoubtedly the result of much effort by the typical handful of people who usually do all the work.

Unfortunately, that’s where the good comes to an end and the ugly begins.

How so many dim-witted individuals could find their way to the convention without court appointed supervision eludes me. Did anyone else stop to ask themselves why they wanted to be associated with a group so significantly populated with selfish, disrespectful, rude, and intellectually challenged people? I did. The bikes were up and down the posted “no motorized vehicles” paved walk trail like a freeway, After day-one warnings had to be solicited in response to the abusive speed, off-trail riding and general debauchery going on. During the legislative update (that effects the future of ATV's in Minnesota) interested people needed to strain to hear the speakers over the roar of private conversations going on without any regard whatsoever for the people wishing to be informed and involved in the current and future issues of our sport. Another real impressive act - the sanitary dump station in the campground - was rendered completely un-usable by a group of brainiacs who thought it was a bike wash down area, and for those intelligent enough to make their way to a grassy area of a campsite, they left that looking like a mud pit also.

Safety tip - you don't put your wife on a quad for the first time and head off down the most difficult trails, duh. And who was the rocket scientist carrying his asleep 3 year old in his lap with one arm and driving the bike one handed through some of the most difficult areas? Captain? Hello? Is there anybody in there? No wonder we are at risk of loosing our trails and public access to ride. Every sport has its 1% that we are expected to tolerate but hey – to the rest of us - lets step it up a click or two and start acting like we deserve some respect.

 

I was at the local Yamaha dealer today,looking at some pictures from the Gilbert ride,looked like a great area,sounds like it is set up well.
I am very disapointed to hear of your experience there. From what the dealer told me,the event was being closely watched by the DNR,with sound checks and equipment checks at the gate, so how did all these morons get away with all of that? I was under the assumption that all the riders going there were aware of the bad press we riders are getting lately,to go to a riding area set up for us,even amid all the scrutiny OHV's are under,and act like that is inexcusable. I'm sure the Star Tribune will gladly put another big "Nature Rape" tirade in several issues if they had people there (and I'm sure they did). COME ON PEOPLE !!! don't give the green ***** ammo to throw back in our faces,if you feel the need to rip and tear grassy areas up,go do your own lawn,just because you're 4 or 5 hours from home doesn't mean you can act like a complete a$$ and not see any consequences. We are all judged by the actions of even the smallest percentage of idiots,so what you 'got away with' may very well come back to bite us all on the rump,and sooner than you think. I was planning to check this area out with my son next month,hopefully it will still be open,unless it gets totally trashed in the first few weeks, and the state steps in to shut it down. Let's all work together to stop those who hurt our cause,and show the general public we can be trusted to treat the trails with respect,and still have a lot of fun. Sorry to rant on like this,but my son and I truly love getting out and riding,and it is getting harder all the time to find decent,legal riding within a few hours drive because of the actions of a few mental deficient horse's a$$es.
I'm done now,again,sorry.

 

How did the local law enforcement (DNR?) or parties responsible for the area view the event?

..........'start acting like we deserve some respect'

Beautiful way to sum up our sport. I agree with what you said regarding folks talking in meetings. All of us have muttered something to our cohort under our breath in response to what someone has just declared. Most of us have the decency not to crank up the volume and make it a prolonged conversation.

From my experience, I am starting to find more and more people that are not only unwilling to stand up for what's right; they are more than happy to work diligently ONLY on what will benefit THEM directly and not the entire region or state. I had to quit an organization over some of these same issues and wonder if others that see the things that you witnessed at an ATVAM gathering, no less, are spurred into action or disappointed with who they are fighting alongside.

John
'00 SP500