Yamaha Contributes More Than $300,000 Towards Safe, Responsible OHV Riding and Access

Yamaha Contributes More Than $300,000 in First Half of 2009 Towards Safe, Responsible OHV Riding and Access

Yamaha OHV Access Initiative Grants $110,000 in Q2 2009 bringing Program Total to $985,000;Continues Grassroots Effort To Make Critical Resources Available to the OHV Community Nationwide

CYPRESS, Calif. – July 23, 2009 – The Yamaha OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle) Access Initiative GRANTed more than $110,000 in cash and equipment to ATV riding clubs, national forests, local land managers, recreational conservancy advocates and other members of the greater OHV community in the second quarter of this year. These GRANTs bring Yamaha’s total contributions for 2009 to $300,000, and the total contributions to date to more than $985,000, in support of the Access Initiative’s mission to promote safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable riding areas.

In addition to the financial support provided, Yamaha corporate employees, field staff and dealer partners have been directly involved in projects in their own respective areas this year. Yamaha corporate employees cleaned trails and planted more than 1,200 seedlings in the San Bernardino National Forest as part of important OHV trail and reforestation projects, and Yamaha’s regional and district managers nationwide have stepped in to help potential GRANT applicants identify appropriate projects and funding opportunities.

In this second quarter funding cycle, 12 Yamaha GRANTs (Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation’s Trails) were awarded to fund projects that directly impact the access, safety and sustainability of OHV riding areas across the country. GRANT recipients for Q2 2009 include:

• Black Hills National Forest (SD)
• Clark County Forestry and Parks Department (WI)
• Dayton Valley Events Center (NV)
• Florida Trail Riders (FL)
• Green County ATV Club (WI)
• Indian Creek Valley ATV Club (PA)
• Public Access Preservation Association (CO)
• Portage Lakers ATV Club (ME)
• San Diego Off-Road Coalition (CA)
• The Cascade Project (ID)
• Tri-County ATV Recreation and Rescue Association, INC. (PA)
• Van Buren Pine Runners ATV Club (ME)
  

“Yamaha’s commitment to the OHV community, demonstrated by the continued, aggressive GRANT funding and hands-on support, remains strong,” said Mike Martinez, Yamaha’s general manager of ATV and Side-by-Side Operations. “Yamaha considers it our duty as a leading OHV manufacturer to help support these efforts and ensure that OHV enthusiasts have open access to safe and sustainable riding areas.”

The Yamaha OHV Access Initiative funds OHV access-related projects that include, but are not limited to:

• Trail development, restoration and maintenance
• Trail signage, mapping and map production
• Staging area construction, renovation and maintenance
• Responsible OHV riding education and outreach
• Land stewardship and education
• Legislative lobbying efforts

About the Yamaha OHV Access Initiative
Each quarter, Yamaha accepts applications from non-profit or tax-exempt organizations including OHV riding clubs, national forests and associations, and national, state and local government agencies. A committee then reviews each application and awards GRANTs to deserving projects. Applications for the third quarter of 2009 should be postmarked by August 31, 2009.

Updated guidelines, an application form and information on the OHV Access Initiative are available at the newly redesigned web site: www.yamaha-motor.com/ohvaccess . For specific questions about the OHV Access Initiative, call Yamaha’s dedicated OHV Access Initiative Hotline at 1-877-OHV-TRAIL (877-648-8724), email OHVAccess@yamaha-motor.com or write to: Yamaha OHV Access Initiative Review Committee, 6555 Katella Avenue, Cypress, CA 90630-5101.

About Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS), a leader in the motorsports market, makes the toughest, most capable and versatile ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings also include motorcycles, outboard motors, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, boats, outdoor power equipment, race kart engines, accessories, apparel and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of more than 4,000 dealers in the United States.

Headquartered in Cypress, Calif., since its incorporation in 1977, Yamaha also has facilities in Wisconsin and Georgia, as well as factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. For more information on Yamaha, visit www.yamaha-motor.com .

Nevada: Governor Gibbons vetos OHV registration bill

A bill to require registration and licensing of up to 400,000 off-highway vehicles in Nevada has been vetoed by Gov. Jim Gibbons, who said it calls for new fees and which is not something he supports. Senate Bill 394 was supported by rider groups, power sports dealers, law enforcement agencies, the Nevada Conservation League, the Nevada Association of Counties, the Nevada Cattleman's Association and the Nevada Farm Bureau.

The money that would have been raised from the fees would have gone into a dedicated OHV fund which would have been overseen by an 11-member commission appointed by the governor.

Update on Children's OHV Ban from BlueRibbon Coalition

UPDATE ON CHILDREN'S OHV BAN: BUREAUCRATS REFUSE TO LISTEN - INCLUDE CHILDREN'S SNOWMOBILES IN BAN
Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,
Despite calls for Congressional hearings (http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/?alert=951) the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is refusing to lift the ban on children's off highway vehicles.
CPSC Commissioners voted late last week on procedures for determining exclusions. Based on that vote, BRC is not optimistic that the exclusion for youth model ATVs and dirt bikes will be granted anytime soon. Indeed, the bureaucrats at the CPSC have emphasized that their ban includes children's snowmobiles!
If you have already sent a letter to Congress and the CPSC, we want to thank you. Thanks to your many letters, phone calls, protests, and emails, the media has been reporting the obvious - that kids don't eat their ATVs and motorcycles!
The BlueRibbon Coalition is asking its members to redouble their efforts to fight the ban on youth OHVs. We are asking that folks follow up with another letter or email. We are also asking our members to forward this information to their friends and family.
The potential losses for the industry and local dealers are massive - up to $1 billion in retail economic value annually.
BRC asks you to join the efforts of the Western Caucus, Congressman Mike Simpson, Congressman Duncan Hunter, State Senator Tom Self, MIC/SVIA, and others to "encourage" the CPSC to do the right thing and grant existing petitions for a stay.

MIC's "Stop the Ban" Letter Generator and Info Site:
http://www.mic.org/stoptheban.cfm

BRC's News Release with Link to Congressman Simpson's Letter to Chairman Waxman
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/media/?story=636

Congressman Duncan Hunter's Letter to CPSC
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/CPSC_Cong_Hunter_March_2_Letter.pdf

Western Caucus Letter
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/CPSC_Western_Caucus_Letter_Feb_6_20090001.pdf

State Representative Tom Self's Website
http://www.tomself.com/

www.UTVGuide.net