4WHEEL PARTS GREG ADLER LANDUSE MESSAGE

Keep Public Land Open to Off-Roaders Friends and Off-roaders, We need your help. One of Southern California's most popular off-roading recreation areas, Johnson Valley,  may soon be closed to off-roading permanently. The proposed expansion plan for the 29 Palms Marine  Corps Base would permanently close off more than 120,000 acres of land for Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV)  use in Johnson Valley, cutting California's available off-roading area in half and jeopardizing off-road events  such as the annual King of the Hammers. The proposed Department of Defense plan would give limited access to a portion of Johnson Valley for  off-roading,  but only if no live-fire activities take place in the vicinity. The Department of Defense only wants the land  for two months  out of the year for exercises, but if there are any live rounds left in the area after the exercises are complete,  OHV access to Johnson Valley will be denied. Off-road organizations have teamed up by forming the California Motorized Recreation Council (CAMRC).  An alternative plan proposed by CAMRC would allow everyone to win, giving the Marines access for training,  while allowing the Bureau of Land Management to continue managing the area. The alternative plan will   keep  Johnson Valley open to off-roaders for most of the year. We need you to support the alternative plan,  and  voice that support in three ways: by calling your representatives, writing the Department of Defense during the   Public  Comment phase, and by donating to the Save the Hammers campaign. Here's how you can help: Call Congress - Call your U.S. Senator or Representative and ask that they keep public land available to the public, and that the alternative plan needs to be considered. Find your representative. Write to the Department of Defense - Write a letter to the Department of Defense during the Public Comment phase to say you want Johnson Valley to remain an OHV area open to off-roaders under the alternative plan. Donate to Save the Hammers - To keep Johnson Valley open to the public, 4 Wheel Parts will match every $1 donated up to $10,000. Let's keep public land open for the use of all off-roaders. Greg Adler CEO & President of 4 Wheel Parts

JOHNSON VALLEY EIS NEEDS OUR VOICE NOW

We need every off-roader to participate in a targeted outreach. One phone call or fax a day is all we ask. Talking points can be found below. Contact name is underlined. Congress is on recess this week, they should be in the District Office. Every off-roader must participate!

THINK of this as 7 days to save the Hammers (and Johnson Valley).  

The US Marine Corps has posted the final EIS on their website here: http://www.marines.mil/unit/29palms/las/Pages/default.aspx

USMC Preferred Alternative:
Alternative 6 was selected in the DEIS as the preferred alternative and slightly modified in the Final EIS: it is the optimal alternative for the Marine Corps considering operational and environmental impact factors together. Developed in response to public comments it was designed to rpeserve public access to important off-road recreation areas during periods when MEB training did not require use of those lands. The Preferred Alternative would allow for reopening to public recreation use approximately 40,000 acres of the acquisition area for ten months a year. The land would fall under management of the Marine Corps under this proposed plan.

More here on Cal4's site:  http://www.cal4wheel.com/

Save the Hammers and Johnson Valley Now!

This video about The Hammers and Johnson Valley tells the story.  We need your help now.



VISIT:  SaveTheHammers.org and help us keep this awesome OHV area in OUR hands.

CAL4 CONVENTION AND TDS DESERT SAFARI

On the road today for the annual convention of the Calif. Assoc. of 4Wheel Drive Clubs (CA4WDC); then onto TDS Desert Safari down by the Salton Sea. It's all about landuse for us and these events are tuned into our fight for freedom and access.  So it's all good.

Cal4 is part of the new unified group of organizations fighting hard to keep Johnson Valley OHV Area open to us -- called the California Motorized Recreation Council (CMRC). We'll be hooking up with a lot of folks to talk about this battle.  The Marines do not need JV, but we DO.

Be sure to see my video here about King of the Hammers and our new donation website at www.savethehammers.org (also on Facebook).

Pictures to follow.
Del

JOHSON VALLEY (HAMMERS) LESS ATTRACTIVE TO NEW MARINES?

POST WAR MARINES MORE "MARINE" FOCUSED AND LESS LAND-BASED?

My access partner, Don Amador ran a blog about the new Marines and how they are more focused on ocean/marine issues in the future. So maybe they will leave Johnson Valley alone because like we've said all along, THEY DON'T NEED IT.

Check out his blog with more links and see how we might be winning this battle here:
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/

NAMRC Supports CAMRC to Save Johnson Valley, CA

SAVE JOHNSON VALLEY and the HAMMERS

 October 31^st, yesterday, the North American Recreation Council, NAMRC, in Las Vegas, NV in conjunction with SEMA,  made Johnson Valley and the Hammers a top priority action item.  NAMRC will basically follow the lead of CAMRC (the Calif. Motorized Recreation Council), and provide national support of JV efforts.  Whatever letter-writing, donations and action items that CAMRC puts together for a Strategic Plan, NAMRC will follow suite and jump in with national organizational support to fight for Johnson Valley.  This is SWEET news to those who love this unique place – and ask that the Marines go someplace else for whatever training needs they might have.

More on NAMRC on Cal4wheel’s website here: http://www.namrc.com

More on the “Hammers” and the Hammerdown email list at http://www.savethehammers.com

(NAMRC is hosted by SEMA every year; facilitator provided by BlueRibbon Coalition)

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BFGoodrich Tires Outstanding Trails for 2010

BFGoodrich Tires Announces Five Outstanding Trails for 2010

• BFGoodrich celebrates five year anniversary of Outstanding Trails program

• The five 2010 selected trails cover the map from Southern California to Pennsylvania

MOAB, Utah – April 2, 2010 – BFGoodrich Tires has announced the five trails selected for its Outstanding Trails program at a presentation held in Moab, Utah during the Easter Jeep Safari. Celebrating the program’s five year anniversary in 2010, the Outstanding Trails program has recognized 19 trails, donating more than $70,000 to clubs across the United States and Canada. The program was established to raise awareness for responsible use, and preservation of, off-road trails while providing aid in the trails’ conservation efforts.

In collaboration with Tread Lightly! and United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA), BFGoodrich Tires is proud to present the 2010 Outstanding Trails:

• Rausch Creek, Pa.
• Drummond Island, Mich.
• Yacolt, Wash.
• Johnson Valley, Calif.
• Holy Cross, Colo.

“The five trails that have been selected this year are well-deserving of the recognition and we’re excited to have them part of the Outstanding Trails family,” said Joe Mazur, light-truck marketing manager, BFGoodrich Tires. “We look forward to honoring the clubs at selected events throughout the year and helping them maintain and preserve these beautiful off-road trails for everyone to enjoy.”


Read/download entire press release here: http://www.delalbright.com/Access/bfg_2010_trails.html
Del

King of the Hammers; a Land Use Perspective

BlueRibbon Coalition sent me to Griffin King of the Hammers to be the Land Use Emporium guy and seminar host/moderator.  I was BLOWN away by this awesome event.  I could blog hours on how this is a shining example of our sport taken to the next level, while still embracing simple things like recycling and pack it out.

To keep my blog short, let me hit the highlights:

The organization and staff of KOH was incredible and efficient.

One local reporter said 28,000 folks were in attendance; Jeff Knoll and I were thinking around 22,000. No matter. It's HUGE.  It's the biggest thing I've ever been too, and well done to boot.

The lakebed and trails were left cleaner than when the crew got there.
I lead the cleanup of Sledge and I can attest to the fact that our off-road folks are getting the message and not leaving behind big messes.

Cal4 ran the recycling program (KOH idea) and kept the money for land use issues.

Over 100 volunteers help put on the race.

Over 100 vendors provided and shared their wares and goodies with booths, vans, trucks and displays.

The land use seminar was more about FREEDOM -- and will be posted (recored version) on Pirate4x4.  John Stewart (Cal4), Todd Ockert (Access Army), and Jacquelyne Bebe Theisen (FOTR) were on the panel with me.

100 drivers started and about half finished.  There was only 28 seconds between first and second.
Loren Healy from Farmington, NM was crowned King of the Hammers.

Loren on stage with his team, getting crowned KING.  From Farmington, NM, Loren drives a Jimmy's 4x4 rig with a 365ci motor.

BlueRibbon Coalition off-road Champion, Brad Lovell, Lovell Racing, took a shining Second Place, only 28 seconds behind the winner.

Greg Mulkey from Raceline Wheels (Allied) presented KOH organizers Jeff Knoll and David Cole with Racer's Choice awards.  Sweet.

Friends of Johnson Valley were there and benefited from a nice Saturday morning breakfast prepared by 4x4Him.org.

Poison Spyder was there with their great products and awesome support of our new Access Army.

Jason Scherer (L) and Shannon Campbell (R) stood with Loren Healy with co-driver Rodney Woody, all the Kings in Court.

Here's the King's buggy, # 667, in Sledge, gettin' it and looking good.

Loren was another of the BFGoodrich Tire drivers, like the top 12 winners were using.  BFG's kicked it in 2010.  Wow.

The best place to get more of a report and see videos is on Pirate4x4 here: http://www.pirate4x4.com/king-of-the-hammers-2010/index.php

Johnson Valley (and Hammers) Letters Needed

BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

SEND A LETTER TO HELP SAVE JOHNSON VALLEY

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

The Marine Base at Twentynine Palms is considering expanding because they claim to need more room for training purposes. The proposed expansion could functionally close most, if not all, of the Johnson Valley OHV Area. In order for the Marines to expand the base they need to go through a public process called the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In NEPA, it is very important that the OHV community submit letters during this scoping process requesting the Department of the Navy analyze impacts they feel would be made by the proposed project and to offer alternatives. Now is the time when we can have an impact on the proposed project. The deadline for submitting these comments is January 31, 2009.

Get the whole story and letter details here (download/read the BRC Alert in WORD)

http://www.delalbright.com/Access/jv_hammers-letter.doc

Thanks for your help in continuing to save the Hammers and Johnson Valley,

Del

Help Save Johnson Valley and the “Hammers”

Help Save Johnson Valley!

Attend Public Scoping Meeting on

Proposed Marine Base Expansion

Working together everyone can help save Johnson Valley. However, your participation in the public decision making process is critical. You can help save Johnson Valley by attending one of the three Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Base expansion scoping meetings. Just walking through the door of one of the meetings to ask questions and gather information sends a loud and powerful message that the future use of Johnson Valley by the public is important to you!

Meeting Dates

December 3, 2008, 5 p.m to 9 p.m., Twentynine Palms, CA (Twentynine Palms Junior High, Hay's Gym, 5798 Utah Trail, Twentynine Palms, CA)
December 4, 2008, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Victorville, CA (Hilton Garden Inn Victorville, 12603 Mariposa Road, Victorville, CA)
December 5, 2008, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Ontario, CA (Convention Center, 2000 E. Convention Center Way, Ontario, CA)

Read more about the Marines wanting to take over Johnson Valley (including "the Hammers") here:

http://www.delalbright.com/Access/hammers_meeting_08.html

Thanks, Del