QWR News Release - Amador Appointed to Pacific SW Region Recreation RAC

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Don Amador, President QWR

Phone: 925.625.5309

Date: August 3, 2011

Email: damador@quietwarriorracing.com

Website: http://www.quietwarriorracing.com/

EAST BAY AREA OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE RECREATION ADVOCATE

TAPPED FOR FEDERAL RECREATION COMMITTEE

OAKLEY, CA (Aug 5) - Don Amador, owner of a recreation consulting company in Oakley, California, was recently appointed by the USDA Secretary of Agriculture to serve on the Pacific Southwest Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RAC).  Secretary Thomas Vilsack appointed Amador to represent Summer Motorized Recreation on the RAC.  The term is for 3 years.

This will be Amador’s second term on the RAC. The committee is composed of 11 voting members that represent diverse interests.  The Recreation RAC was established in compliance with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (Public Law No. 108-447). 

Don Amador, owner of Quiet Warrior Racing, states, “I believe that sensible use fees have an important role to play in the long-term viability of recreation programs on federal lands.”

Amador, who also serves as the Western Representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, concludes, “It has been my experience that recreationists will support use fees as long as those fees are fair and are used to maintain and improve the sites where those funds are collected. I consider it an honor to have been reappointed to the RAC.”

*Link to Appointment Letter and Certificate

http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Region_5_Rec_Rac_Appointment_20110001.pdf

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Special Auction of D-Day Memorabilia for The Wounded Warrior Project

As some of you know, Quiet Warrior Racing has adopted The Wounded Warrior Project as our official military support non-profit organization.  QWR believes in supporting those men and women who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.

QWR plans to hold two auction events each year where 100% of the donation goes to The Wounded Warrior Project.

For this summer, I wanted to put together a unique auction package collected while attending the 60^th Anniversary of D-Day in 2004.  While hiking on Omaha Beach in the morning of June 6, 2004 with my wife, I noticed some tracks left in the sand by one of the many restored WW2 jeeps.  The jeep that made the track was way down the beach, but I did manage to shot a photo of the track in the sand.  I thought it was symbolic.  I didn’t see anyone else out there taking photos so this might be the only jeep track taken on June 6, 2004 on Omaha Beach.

Link to ebay auction

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120754417179&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

I also collected a small container of sand near the track.  The auction package today will only be offered once.  It is an 8x10-framed copy/print of my original photograph.  I also am including a teaspoon of Omaha Beach sand, a photo of a restored “D-Day” jeep, a photo of the 60^th Anniversary invite, and a certificate of authenticity.

Happy bidding and thank you in advance for supporting The Wounded Warrior Project!

Permitted Events - Overview, Solution, Action Item

PROBLEM: A growing number of non-motorized and motorized clubs are being forced to cancel historic and reoccurring permitted events because of a burdensome administrative process. For units that want permitted events to occur, that regulatory burden has made it almost impossible for the agency to authorize an event.  For units that want to eliminate permitted events, that same burden is being used as a convenient excuse for denying that activity.

Currently, the administration of special recreation permits or special use permits is 100% discretionary with no appeal process.  For units that want permitted events to occur, that regulatory burden has made it almost impossible for the agency to authorize an event.  For units that want to eliminate permitted events, that same burden is being used as a convenient excuse for denying that activity.

SOLUTION: Congress is best suited to address this issue with a legislative fix.  That concept has evolved over the last several years after reviewing this issue with clubs, land managers, and legislators. The goal of this legislation should be to eliminate or at least streamline the administrative process at recreation sites where roads, trails, and areas have ready been designated for a particular activity such as OHV, rock climbing, OSV, equestrian, and mountain-bikes.

ACTION ITEM: Draft legislation based on aforementioned legislative pillars

QWR President to Testify at House Subcommittee Hearing on June 22, 2011

Don Amador, president of QWR, just received his confirmation from the House that he will testify before the House Subcommittee on Wednesday, June 22 at 10 a.m.  The focus of the hearing is in regards to Recreational Opportunities (or lack thereof) on Public lands.  This will be Don's first trip as QWR owner to Washington DC to testify at a Congressional Hearing.  Don will also be representing BRC at the hearing.

Info on June 22 Hearing – It will have live video

http://naturalresources.house.gov/Calendar/EventSingle.aspx?EventID=246553

Amador will question the BLM’s decision-making process associated with the ongoing landscape level functional closure of the 75,000-acre Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) to all user groups on May 1, 2008.  This unit is managed by the Hollister Field Office (HFO) and is located in Fresno and San Benito Counties in the Central Coast Mountain Range of California.

Amador expects to include in his testimony information from the new OHMVR Health Study, comments from previous public input, San Benito County, motorcycle riders, and other stakeholders.

Amador will also be ready to field questions from House Members regarding travel management.

QWR believes that land management decisions should be made on good science and not based on the personal or political agendas of unelected government officials.

The entire witnesses list below:

Panel I

Mr. Russ Ehnes

Executive Director

National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council

Mr. Scott Jones

Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition

Mr. Dick Lepley

Executive Director

Pennsylvania Off-Highway Vehicle Association

Ms. Karen Umphress

Board Member

Coalition of Recreational Trails Users

Minnesota Motorized Trail Coalition

Panel II

Mr. Don Amador

Blue Ribbon Coalition

Mr. Tom Crimmins

Lead Spokesman

Professionals for Managed Recreation

Mr. Sutton Bacon

CEO

Nantahala Outdoor Center

Mr. Jim Akenson

Executive Director

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

Legislative Fix Needed to Address Denial of Special Recreation Event Permits

As more non-motorized and motorized clubs are being forced to cancel historic permitted events because of a burdensome administrative process, Quiet Warrior Racing believes it is time so seek a legislative fix to this issue.

For the last 13 years, I have worked sound tech at numerous motorized permitted events on Forest Service and BLM lands.  That opportunity has given me the chance to gain insight regarding this issue from both the club and agency perspective.  In recent years, QWR has seen an increased regulatory burden (cost recovery, insurance, agency staff shortages, excessive and/or unwarranted environmental review, etc.) directly causing a dramatic decline in the number of permitted events being authorized on federal lands.

For units that want permitted events to occur, that regulatory burden has made it almost impossible for the agency to authorize an event.  For units that want to eliminate permitted events, that same burden is being used as a convenient excuse for denying that activity.

Currently, the administration of special recreation permits (BLM) and special use permits (FS) is 100% discretionary with no appeal process.  QWR believes that recreationists will continue to see a decline in the authorization of permits unless a solution is found.

QWR is convinced that Congress is best suited to address this issue with a legislative fix.  That concept has evolved over the last several years after reviewing this issue with clubs, land managers, and legislators.

QWR will be encouraging and working with national recreation groups and legislators to find a long-term solution to this growing problem.  QWR believes that the goal of this legislation should be to streamline the administrative process and eliminate/reduce excessive or redundant environmental review specifically in recreation areas that have already been designated for a particular activity such as OHV, rock climbing, OSV, equestrian, and mountain-bikes.

In this climate of fiscal downturn, federal agencies should be working hard to encourage permitted events which often brings much needed economic benefit to the local community.  A solution is out there…now we just need a collective effort to find it.

Quest/3M is Official Sound Meter Partner for QWR in 2011

Quest Model 1200 Type One Sound Meter Kit

Quiet Warrior Racing is proud to announce its selection of Quest Technologies as the provider of official sound testing equipment for 2011.  QWR will be using the law enforcement-grade Type 1 1200 sound meter for testing both street and non-street legal motorcycles and OHVs at events and outreach efforts throughout the country.

We are pleased to be teaming up with Quest Technologies here at QWR to help get us the word out about riding quiet on public roads and trails.

I have used Quest sound meters over the last 10 years and they have proven to be accurate, reliable, and rugged.  Here in Northern California, they are the sound meter of choice used by Forest Service and BLM law enforcement officials to enforce sound laws. It’s great to partner with Quest on our never ending journey to promote a responsible sound ethic on public travelways.

Eureka Access Champion Signs on as Individual Supporter for 2011

Dale Warmuth Pointing to a Trail He Wants to Keep Open on the Six Rivers NF

Quiet Warrior Racing is grateful to Dale Warmuth for his recent individual sponsorship.  Dale continues to be an access champion on the North Coast of California.  Not only is he a strong supporter of the OHV land-use fight, he is a darn good rider too.

QWR Blog with Dale Listed as Individual Member

http://quietwarriorracing.blogspot.com/

Dale and his family support many other OHV and non-OHV local and national charities. QWR is honored to call Dale a friend and is also thankful that he waits for me to catch up to him on trail rides.