SAWS Questions and Answers!

[Tedd]

Question

Why are the snowmobile manufacturers along with atv and dirt bikes companies not more involved in the closures of land? You would think they could have a very big voice in all of this.

I can tell you from talking to the local dealers and asking them to sign new customers up for SAWS or the BRC that the dealers are unwilling to have there customers sign another piece of paper during the purchase process. With that said, the dealers (at least our local dealers) are unfortunately no help in getting the message out that we need help in keeping the areas open for us to use.

 

[Nolimits]

You would think there would be a trickle down effect - the less areas to ride, the less riders, the less sleds being bought, the less sleds being made.

I hope to get more involved in our local club, and get the word out from there.

There must be more questions out there, I think it's great you guys step up to answer questions like this.

 

[H20SKE]

You would think there would be a trickle down effect - the less areas to ride, the less riders, the less sleds being bought, the less sleds being made.


The manufacturers and dealers may not be doing anything right now---But with the economy this way--they will have to start looking at other ways to get and/or keep customers. When all lands are closed---they will not have any customers to sell anything too!!! I call this ignorance on their part!! Hide your head in the sand and it will not affect me--Right??


Dave---State SAWS reps--We can not say enough about all the work you put forth to help us help you keep our riding areas open
Thanks and keep on rocking!! See ya at the Snow show on Sunday--12:00 at the booth!!

H20SKE...

 

[Wade]

As a guy that watched all the public lands close back east, let me tell you, there's almost no where to ride, but the dirt bike and 4 wheeler dealers are still there. They didn't care either. Most people ride private property, cut fences, but still ride. So no, available public land has nothing to do with their business.

Sorry, just my experience.

 

[CleElum Sledhead]

Just to be perfectly clear, "Nolimits" question and my previous answer was regarding manufacturers only.

We have in the past recieved some support through some dealerships, either by way of a financial donation or donation of merchandise, that we can use during fundraisers.

Here is our current list of donors:

http://www.snowmobile-alliance.org/Supporters.html

We appreciate very much those that support SAWS!!!

 

[Soccerd6]

I can tell you from talking to the local dealers and asking them to sign new customers up for SAWS or the BRC that the dealers are unwilling to have there customers sign another piece of paper during the purchase process. With that said, the dealers (at least our local dealers) are unfortunately no help in getting the message out that we need help in keeping the areas open for us to use.

Cycle Barn in Arlington is more than happy to have SAWS info on their counters, and when they do their parking lot swap meet give me a booth (I share it with WSSA) for SAWS.... and they ALWAYS come through with donations for our fundraisers....

 

[student driver]

I don't have an answer to that question. I guess you would need to ask them. I know for a fact that SAWS so far has received ZERO funds from all of these manufacturers.

This just blows me away.
I think that as a business that depends on people's right to ride, they would at least do SOMETHING.

 

[student driver]

I can tell you from talking to the local dealers and asking them to sign new customers up for SAWS or the BRC that the dealers are unwilling to have there customers sign another piece of paper during the purchase process. With that said, the dealers (at least our local dealers) are unfortunately no help in getting the message out that we need help in keeping the areas open for us to use.

This is crap too for the same reason's I mentioned above.

Hey Dave, It just hit me.
Load me up with some info etc and I'll throw it in with the orders I send out.

 

[SnowSnob]

I think t-shirts would be a great idea to raise some money.
Seems most people don't want to fork out money unless they get something in return. Someone should make up a variety of shirts (cause people are also picky) and have a % donated to SAWS.

Also I think if a good junk of us wrote to the manufacture you buy from from every to everyother year and said I will no longer buy any more machines from you if you do not donate to help protect are riding areas.
We've made you millioniares, I don't see why you can't give a little back.

Most of the machines made are from the midwest or another country and they probably don't know the sevarity of it. Maybe with a few letters they might come around.

 

[HeadedNW]

I wrote to the big 3 manuf. last week or so and asked them thier thoughts and what if anything they have done or are planning to do to counter the green fight to close areas and such .....do date I have not recieved a reply.

 

[sledhead ut]

I agree with the above disappointments. Cannot believe Manufacturers and Dealers don't care enough to rally up funds to support the area ridden with the toys they sell. HHmmmmmm, IDIOTS. I always think of that little donation box every time a register a vehicle with the State and wonder why I don't see one on every internet invoice used to buy outdoor product. I know for me personally, on a big order, what's another 5 or 10 bucks for a good cause. Still pissed off about the manufacture thing. Sure seems like it would reflect well on a dealer or manufacturer to say; every sled or ATV bought will have a donation to SAWS or BRC or even a local club fighting the big fight. Anyway hope you get my point. These posts get me pissed off. Maybe that's good though, loosens up my pockets and makes me want to help more.
Peace Out

 

[Sled Idaho]

The reason the sled manufacturers don't really care about us out here is because we only buy a small percentage of their sleds. Take a look at this table of sled registrations from 2007-2008. You have to go quite a ways down the list before you hit a western state. http://www.snowmobile.org/stats_registrations_us.asp

Ed Klim is the president of the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA). That is who you all should get a hold of and ask why they aren't more involved with public lands issues in the western US. They will claim to be involved through ACSA's Western Chapter, but do any of you know anything about that? I know very little. ISMA, along with ACSA and BRC are very heavily involved with keeping snowmobiling open in Yellowstone and continue to be.

But, with the exception of apathy, the USFS and their recommended wilderness designations are the biggest threat to our snowmobiling. It would be nice if more snowmobilers cared just a little bit. And it would be really nice if the big four would try to energize the people that line their pockets, and try some leadership of their own for once. Doesn't Arctic Cat test their M sleds in Hellroaring basin at the bottom of Mt Jefferson? It would be nice to see Arctic Cat and the others take on those that are trying to close the Mt Jefferson area to snowmobiling. That would be a nice start.

Sorry - back to Dave's Q&A!!

 

[Tedd]

T-Shirts

I think t-shirts would be a great idea to raise some money.
Seems most people don't want to fork out money unless they get something in return. Someone should make up a variety of shirts (cause people are also picky) and have a % donated to SAWS.

Would something like this peek your interest?
They will be for sale at the snow show in Puyallup, and can also be purchased at http://www.racerscorner.com/id46.htm

There are also Sweatshirts available for $35.00 plus shipping.

 

[Bagger]

The way I see it....

I'm not sure if this is an answerable question, but, it always seems like when it comes to land use and possible restrictions and possible closures, the position to all users is defensive. How can that stance be changed to the offensive?

....is the first way we can carry the battle forward and be offensive instead of reacting to the closings is to police ourselves and our riding buddies about being good stewards of the land we love. No riding in off limit areas, no littering, no fragging human powered sports folks, no being jerks towing our sleds to the mountain.........
I know no one want's to hear this, but we need all the support we can get, and when we allow others to point at us and say "SEE!" we help them shut us out.
The second way is we can support organizations like SAWS and great people like Dave that work so hard for our sport.
The third way is to educate ourselves on the issues and VOTE SMART.

Bagger

 

[mtcatgirl]

Oppose new proposed wilderness before it even has a chance of rolling ahead!

Hey Dave, I couldn't resist jumping in on this one-Keep those answers flowing.
As Dave previously stated-"We need to oppose them right up front, before the general public gets behind these bad ideas."
The greens have some of the smoothest talkers working for them, I've seen them hook people in on their ideas by just using something those same people routinely participate in as an activity or sport other than snowmobiling. Unfortuanately, I've seen attempts of certain groups to incorporate past "bad" decisions by snowmobilers to entice snowmobilers into a "NEW bad decision or partnership"-Snowmobilers just need to be alert, aware and willing to get involved actively with organizations like SAWS, their local clubs or organizatons in your state working to keep areas open.
It takes 30 seconds to complete a search on the forest in your back yard or where you like to ride. Check out what's on the planning agenda-pay attention to "new" items that might be proposing a closure of some sort. The wilderness push can start with the "innocent" closure of a non-maintained road or maybe a bug that needs to be saved, or a creek that needs a culvert to protect a waterway, or a wildlife management area that should be managed not closed and placed in recommended wilderness status. Lots of reasons can prompt the beginning of the end to a riding area and don't be afraid to check out the websites of the wilderness groups in your state-that's a great place to find the seeds they are trying to plant. Most of all, if you are already a SAWS member, don't ignore the Alerts sent to you. They are meant for you to take notice that something needs attention regarding your access. If your not a SAWS member-it's painless and easy to join! Just don't expect an organization to Just fight it for you-you need to be an active participant!

 

[SnowSnob]

Would something like this peek your interest?
They will be for sale at the snow show in Puyallup, and can also be purchased at http://www.racerscorner.com/id46.htm

There are also Sweatshirts available for $35.00 plus shipping.

That's great. They should have a link to any of these places that will donate to the fight and pin it in all motorized forums.

Anyone know of any others?