Outstanding Trails Event Dates
The dates for BFGoodrich's Outstanding Trails events have been announced. The first events took place in June and July in Moab and the Naches area. Next up is a trail ride and cleanup of the Black Bear area on August 19, the Dixie Run at Tellico on September 30, and a final trail ride and cleanup at the Pyeatt Draw location on October 14. The Outstanding Trails program is a joint effort between BFGoodrich Tires, Tread Lightly!, and the United Four Wheel Drive Association (UFWDA).
For more information, check out www.bfgoodrichtires.com.
4WD&SU Message Boards Active
We cleaned up our act for the summer and have freshened up the message boards at www.4wdandsportutility.com. Senior Online Editor Edward Sanchez has spruced things up quite a bit with dedicated discussion threads for Jeep, Toyota, Ford Bronco, and Chevy vehicles, as well as for GeoStash, technical topics, travel and adventure, and other items of interest. There's also a thread for discussing recent magazine articles, as well as a general discussion thread where topics are limitless. Check it out and submit a question or even just sign up to say hello.
Diesel Vehicle Registration On The Rise
According to data compiled by R.L. Polk & Co., registration of diesel passenger vehicles in the U.S. has shown an 80-percent increase since 2000. At that time, 301,000 diesel vehicles were registered, whereas 543,777 diesel registrations - including cars, trucks, and SUVs - were counted in 2005.
Researchers at J.D. Power and Associates predict that diesel sales will approximately triple in the next 10 years, accounting for more than 10 percent of U.S. vehicle sales by 2015. Much of the allure for diesel vehicles is evident in the fact that they are much more fuel efficient, offering 20 to 40 percent more miles to the gallon than a comparable gasoline-powered vehicle. In fact, the federal government's 2005 Fuel Economy Guide indicated that four of the top ten most fuel-efficient vehicles are diesel-powered. Diesel drivers also have the option of filling their tanks with blends of biodiesel, which helps further reduce U.S. oil dependence.
For more information and a list of diesel vehicles currently available for sale in the U.S., check out www.dieselforum.org.
OHV Users Lose Access
Southern California OHV enthusiasts took a hit recently as a federal judge struck down a plan by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to allow off-highway vehicle use on large sections of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area that were closed in 2000. The Imperial Dunes are also referred to as the Glamis area and are popular with all types of off-highway vehicle enthusiasts. The court ruled that the BLM violated the Endangered Species Act and other federal laws when it proposed to reopen roughly 49,000 acres in four areas of the dunes to off-highway vehicles. The area was previously closed in 2000 after the Pierson's milk-vetch, an abundant desert plant, was placed on the endangered species list in 1998.
The court stated that the BLM relied on a "flawed" report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which indicated that the dunes could be reopened without jeopardizing the plant's existence. New briefs outlining potential uses for the closed portions of the dunes will be filed as the BLM and OHV lobbyists continue their quest to reopen the dunes to the public.
To assist in this and other land use efforts, contact the American Sand Association (www.americansandassociation.org) or the BlueRibbon Coalition, (208) 237-1008, www.sharetrails.org.