Agency Leads get Dirt Bike Training at Nor Cal OHV Area

Chris Lloyd (L), Archeologist, BLM Ukiah Field Office - Rebecca Wong (C), Manager,

Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument - Paul Hart (R), MSF Dirt Bike Coach 

QWR wants to congratulate the federal land agency leads that completed official dirt bike motorcycle training at a recent trail workshop held at the BLM’s Chappie Shasta OHV Area near Redding, California on April 26, 2019.

Those graduates include Rebecca Wong, Manager of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, and Chris Lloyd, BLM Archeologist at the Ukiah Field Office.  The class was taught by Paul Hart, a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Dirt Bike Coach.  Hart is also the Trails Manager on the Yuba River Ranger District, Tahoe National Forest.

Paul Hart (L), MSF Dirt Bike Coach - Chris Lloyd (L), BLM 

Ukiah Field Office 

QWR believes it is important for agency line-officers, specialists, and recreation staff to learn how to ride OHVs so they can have 1st hand knowledge of how travel management is being implemented on their unit.

Due to decreasing federal funding for recreation and related training, QWR believes that non-government partners have an important role to play in helping provide access for agency staff to certified safety instruction for OHVs.

Don Amador, President of Quiet Warrior Racing/Consulting, states, “A lot of our OHV trail opportunities are either designated as single-track motorcycle trails or ‘50-inch’ routes that are used by dirt-bikes, ATVs, and in some cases very narrow UTVs.”

“Due to decreased federal funding for recreation programs, it is important for OHV stakeholder groups to create educational opportunities for agency staff to get dirt-bike and other OHV-related training.  There are a lot of important travel management, resource protection, and post wildfire recovery planning efforts that deserve on-trail review by decision-makers and riding the appropriately sized OHV on those surveys is the best way to understand the issue,” Amador continues.

“QWR wants to thank Beta USA for their support of rider education with use of an Xtrainer and Paul Hart for his ongoing commitment to helping educate agency staff on how to ride a dirt-bike in a safe and responsible manner. QWR looks forward to our continued partnership with Hart and land agencies to provide dirt-bike classes at future events,” Amador concludes.

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Core Tenets of Successful Competition Off-Road Motorcycle Events

Race 2 - Round 4 - AMA West Hare Scramble Championship

BLM Chappie Shasta OHV Area

Amateur off-road motorcycle competition organizations rely on collaboration with diverse partnerships and key stakeholders for a successful event.  One good example of that axiom was highlighted this past weekend at the Shasta Dam Grand Prix hosted by the Redding Dirt Riders (RDR).

Stewart Helmer (L), RDR Flag Pole Project Lead at Chappie Staging Area receives

 Proclamation from City of Shasta Lake Mayor, Greg Watkins (R)

QWR has created a list of five core tenets that form a solid foundation upon which a competition event is constructed.

BLM Law Enforcement at Event

First, it takes an active OHV club that is substantively engaged with the local land management agency.  Throughout the year RDR often donates time and materials to enhance OHV staging areas or maintain the trail network.  They also attend BLM meetings and have an open line of communication with the agency.

Sky Zaffarano, BLM OHV Lead, on Pre-Event Monitoring Recon

Second, engaging with local government leaders on important public land access and recreation planning efforts is critical.  Often, elected county and city officials rely on active OHV clubs for information and feedback on recreation opportunities within their jurisdiction or sphere of influence.  Those elected officials can then review or amend policies that enhance OHV recreation for their residents and visitors.

Shasta Lake Fire Department at Event

Local 1^st responders are also an important part of that local government outreach since they can provide important first aid and rescue for a competition event.

Third, competition events can bring an economic benefit to rural businesses so it is important to communicate with them on event support opportunities for vendors, hotels, dealerships, stores, and other economic interests.

Local Food Vendors at Event

Fourth, robust communication between the local OHV club and larger sanctioning bodies makes for a smooth event that is both noticed and appreciated by the riders and spectators.

Racers Enjoying Event

Last but not least, creating an event that meets rider expectation and spectator need is what all of the aforementioned tenets are focused on and those elements include a quality trail network and camping/staging facility, support from local elected officials/1^st responders, working with local economic interests, and substantive communication with the sanctioning body.  When those factors are combined they add up to seamless delivery of a stellar event.

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