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Season 2 of our Educational Video Series is Starting Now!

 Season 2 of our Educational Video Series
is Starting Now....

  Off Road Education is at the core of our association's directive. A strong emphasis of our core mission is placed on education. All OHV enthusiasts are encouraged to practice safe and courteous driving and proper vehicle use off road.

We work closely with certified instructors, and professional trainers within the region who teach the principles of Tread Lightly! and best practices for safe and effective off road driving.

This continuing series of videos discuss some of the most common and useful best practices of traveling off road and managing a variety of obstacles that you may be confronted with. Stay tuned for a 5 new titles in Season 2 featuring topics like " What to carry on a 1 day trail ride", safe operation of a High Lift jack and a Winch as well as How to avoid getting stuck and in an emergency "How to get unstuck". We will be releasing these videos monthly throughout the year beginning with our first title feature already out within this months newsletter. 

 These videos are created with idea that through proper Education we will all enjoy continued safe use and access of our trail systems. Produced through our Non-Profit Associations Grant Program which supports our core mission of Education, Conservation, and Recreation. Check out our website SFWDA.org to learn more get involved.

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Beasley Knob - "Spring Cleaning" Volunteer Work Day

Beasley Knob - "Spring Cleaning"
Volunteer Work Day
March 19th, 2016 Beasley Knob OHV Park, Blairsville, GA

Hosted by the Georgia Bounty Runners in a continuing 22 year effort to fulfill our volunteer work hour requirements for our commitment to the RTP funds. These funds have been used at Beasly to add miles of trails all while fixing and repairing the existing trails. Beasley Knob OHV Park is the only full size vehicle OHV area in the National Forest in the state of Georgia.

We will work togther in several groups to survey the trails, and then begin clearing brush and sapplings along the trails. Some attention to the Pay Stations will be adressed too. The overall goal is to freshen up the park and trail sytems essentially preparing the park for the upcoming riding season. 

Who?
Everyone who can make the drive is requested to join and share our support. There are already about 40 GBR members signed up but many more are needed. 

What to bring?
If you have a shovel, and/or any brush clearing hand tools (shears or lopers) bring them along. No power tools or chanisaws please. Forest service reps will be on hand to supervise and use chainsaws when neccasary. 
Pack a trail lunch for everyong in your group. 

Why?
We are obligated as recipients of the RTP grant funds which are used to

What is RTP?
Recreational Trails Program. A state based grant with Federal funding from gas tax revenues. The Beasley project was awarded $500,000 in RTP funds with a pledge to matching volunteer commitments.

When & Where? 
Meet at the Beasley Knob OHV Parking area, Blairsville, GA; Satterfield entrance and be ready to head out by 9 AM (EDT). 

Trailers?
If you haul in your rig then its suggested to park near town in Blairsville at the Park & Ride then commute to the trail head so we squeeze everyone inside the parking lots. 


For complete details on Beasley Knob OHV Park, including a trail map, check the USFS's page;
http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/conf/recarea/?recid=10533

Directions: 
Beginning on US 76/Highway 515 in front of the Blairsville Post Office, go east for 0.7 mile. Turn right onto Windy Hill Road, a paved road. At 0.7 mile when Windy Hill curves sharply to the left, go straight onto a gravel road. After 0.1 mile, turn left onto a narrow gravel road, Forest Service Road #851. Continue 0.8 mile to the OHV trail system parking lot.

Facebook Event Page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/439445689581745/

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Join SFWDA & Trick N Traction for our Free Inaugural Environmental Stewardship Initiative Workshop

TL_logo

Attention All SFWDA Members;  

  Have you always wondered what Tread Lightly! was all about? Interested in finding out how you can do your part in preventing trail closures? Then join us for a three-hour workshop and our inaugural Tread Lightly! training event free for all members!

This Awareness Workshop is a 3-hour course that will provide attendees with an introduction to Tread Lightly! principles as decision making guidelines while enjoying the great outdoors in a safe and responsible manner. The workshop will provide you with situational awareness, the know-how on minimizing your impact while recreating, and the outdoor ethic that will help sustain our trails for generations to come.

 "The dream for Trick N Traction to host an Environmental Stewardship Initiative Workshop is a reality... The workshop will be conducted on March 19, 2016 at Duke Energy's Oconee World of Energy. We will open the doors at 11:00am for on site registration and start the three hour workshop at noon. A snack for everyone will be provided during a break around 1:15pm. We are pleased to partner with Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, Tread Lightly, Clemson 4Wheel Center and WARN to conduct this workshop. The focus of this workshop will be on the Tread Lightly principals. Uwharrie Off-Road Training Centers'; Scott Fields is a Tread Lightly Master Training. He will be leading the workshop based on Tread Lightly's three hour workshop outline. Note that we will only be able to accommodate the first 100 people to register for this exciting event."    - Al Sweeney (Trick N Traction 4WD Club)

 
 

Event Details

COST =
There is NO COST for the event to all active SFWDA members. We will soon be launching an online registration and hope you can make it for this first time offering of a Tread Lightly Course Class sponsored by SFWDA.

WHERE =
Duke Energy's Oconee World of Energy,
7812 Rochester Hwy, Seneca, SC 29672

HOW =
Ensure your SFWDA Membership status is active, and when Online Registration Launches you can sign in and register at no charge, right here on our website. (Links will be provided)
You can also register in person at the event if space is still available but this event is limited to 100 attendees. 

WHEN = March 19, 2016 ( 12 Noon - 3 PM )

  "We have hundreds of dollars worth of off road gear for door prizes donated by Clemson 4Wheel Center,  and WARN. SFWDA will also offer a pair of TrailFest 2016 Gift Certificates.  Sorry...  no WARN Winch because theTrail Fest Team beat me to it..."
 - Al Sweeney (Trick N Traction 4WD Club)

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Dixie Run 29 is a Huge Success, Thank You to everyone for your support!

Dixie Run 29 is a Huge Success. 
Thank You to everyone for your support! 

DR29

 That's right, now that we have reviewed the results of the event we can say for sure that Dixie Run 29 was a hit. We broke almost all prior records for this long time event. With just under 800 total attendees and 487 rigs we have pushed this event to another level raising more money than ever before. Not only did we raise a considerable amount of money for our Association we have also added many new members including 15 new Premium Members. Thank you to each and every one of you who came out and enjoyed Golden Mountain Park together as part of the SFWDA family. 

What will the money raised do for our sport and community, well that is actually up to you all; our loyal members, clubs, and OHV parks. That's right, the SFWDA is a non-profit organization and as such we have a Grant Program for all active members to utilize. These funds are offered in grants up to as much as $5,000 per applicant for a variety of uses. Apply soon and get your your group involved. Grants are useful to educate enthusiasts, maintain and develop  OHV trails, construct OHV park improvements, and more. 

In case you missed it or you would like to check out photos from the event and look for your rig, take a peek at our Official Photographer for the event Image Off Road Photography. These great folks have provided hundreds of images for us all to browse and purchase. 

You can purchase directly from this link, including digital downloads. Enjoy!

Album 1
http://www.imageoffroadphotography.com/…/Dixie-Ru…/i-xHbHgXt

Album 2
http://www.imageoffroadphotography.com/Events/Dixie-Run-2015-Album-2/

Album 3
http://www.imageoffroadphotography.com/Events/Dixie-Run-2015-Album-3/i-nt4SHxZ

 Next up is our Meet & Ride on November 14th, at Choccolocco Mountain Park . Hope you can join us!

Don't forget about TrailFest 2016 at Adventure Off Road Park which we plan to make bigger and better. Then mark your calendars for Dixie Run 30 at GMP September 23-25th.

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OHIO RIVER FOUR WHEELERS GRANT UPDATE

The OHIO RIVER FOUR WHEELERS off-road club, based in Cincinnati, OH performed trail repairs to a severe washout on Old Fincastle Road, part of the Daniel Boone Back Country Byway, on Saturday August 8th. 

The team assembled at 7:30 a.m. just south of Cincinnati, OH and caravan down to the Natural Bridge area of Red River Gorge. We were on location at the work-site by 10:00. After reviewing the damaged area with the team we broke up into smaller groups to begin preparation of materials and the area to be repaired.

Concrete and pressure treated lumber were prepared a week before to act as foundation piers for a retaining wall. The retaining wall allowed us to fill the washout with locally collected rocks to act as a water break which would diffuse the rush of water into this area, yet allow it to drain through. We attached horizontal lumber ties to the vertical lumber piers with galvanized bolts. These allowed us to tie the retaining wall into the surrounding hillside for support.

Approximately 8-10 tons of local field stone was collected and dropped into the washout behind our fabricated retaining wall. 

We built a water bar across the trail at approximately 60 degrees from parallel, and then a second water bar in parallel with the trail into a natural drainage channel that empties out behind our retaining wall. We felt these modifications would divert water from the damaged area and work naturally with the path water tends to take in this section.   

In a couple of years time the pressure treated lumber will gray down and take on a natural look with its surroundings. The ties off the piers have been anchored into the surrounding hillside with 4 foot long pieces of ½” re-bar. 

The loose field-stone acts as a break to rushing water, which will allow it to pass through the retaining wall without building so much pressure as to challenge the integrity of the retaining wall. We expect silt from water runoff to fill in some of the gaps in our field-stone and settle our water bars into place.

We feel this is a sustainable repair and should last for many years.

Three months later 

* Update - After three months trail repair is still in good shape and it looks like the water is running in the direction that it was directed toward. Water bars have settle in good into the ground.

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Way to go Ohio River Four Wheelers! - SFWDA Grant award in full effect

Thanks to a grant from Southern Four Wheel Drive Association and hard work from Ohio River Four Wheelers, a washout on old Fincastle Road in Lee County was repaired yesterday.

Both groups support Friends Of Boone and the ‪#‎DBBB‬. Southern Four Wheel Drive Association is your regional association of off road enthusiasts. SFWDA includes individuals, clubs, member businesses, and offers national representation on Land Use and trail development as well as family events. Ohio River Four Wheelers is a great group of knowledgeable off road enthusiasts based in Cincinnati. Their strong backs and keen ideas led to this repair of beautiful Old Fincastle Rd.

This is where the rubber meets the road in sustainable multiple use recreation folks. Get involved! #DBBB!


For more info on how your group can utilize our Grant program and to apply today check out our Grant Info page on our SFWDA website.
http://www.sfwda.org/grants/

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Could your club use a $350 cleanup project grant? Extreme Terrain is offering....

ExtremeTerrain’s Clean Trail Grant Program

Everyone in SFWDA should know about a recent program launched at Extreme
Terrain which strives to give back to the off-road/OHV community. They contacted us to share and promote this among our association members. The "Clean
Trail Grant Program" will provide a $350 grant and trash bags to eligible
clubs/organizations to be used towards a trail improvement or a cleanup
project. Most of us in SFWDA clubs are already meeting the requirements and this grant money could be used for a variety of things like a new group chainsaw, a big ole' lunch spread lunch on the trail for volunteers, or whatever else would help to facilitate a successful trail conservation or cleanup project.  
 

Eligibility

In order to be considered, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

  • Organize or belong to a Wrangler/4x4 group/club with more than 5 members
  • Own or work at a private or public off-road park
    (Individual Club delegates just need approval from park ownership)
  • Organize or belong to an OHV Organization with more than 5 members

Requirements

  • Proof of your affiliation with organization/club/park
  • Must provide digital photo of trail improvement project

Action shots of volunteers preferred!

  • Completion of application form
  • Organization's are eligible once per year up to two years
  • Sign the eligibility waiver

Grant should be used for the following:

  • Tools needed for trail cleaning/restoration/expansion
  • Food and non-alcoholic beverage for all volunteers
  • Promotional materials used to attract volunteers
  • Miscellaneous trail improvement expenses

It's pretty straight forward and easy to apply. Follow the link to Extremeterrain.com below to sign up. 
$350 Grant Sign-up:
http://www.extremeterrain.com/clean-trail-initiative-program.html

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