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The dew was still glistening on the grass blades one day last spring, and that meant only one thing – it was flippin’ early. Way too early for any human to be awake, and the bloodshot eyes and weary heads were evidence of that. But we were vertical, conscious and making some final checks before hitting the road for a two-hour drive to our ATV riding destination.

After slugging 24 ounces of Mountain Dew and downing some sugar-infested donuts, the caffeine and glucose-induced alertness finally kicked in as we headed north to the St. Croix State Forest near the Minnesota and Wisconsin border.

It was our first “real” ATV ride of the season in the upper Midwest. Sure we had spun some rubber elsewhere in the country, but it was our first ride of the year with our own staff ATVs that we were able to ride near home. We had been to the area before. We’d used a portion of the ATV trail on some rides during our first couple of ATV Trials events. We liked the trails so much, we decided to go back. Continue reading ‘The St Croix State Forest Offers 45 Miles of Trails For ATVs and Dirt Bikes’ »

We first heard of Brushy Mountain Motorsports Park one cold winter in Roseau, Minn. One of the Polaris test engineers got all wide-eyed and excited as he was telling us about this riding park in North Carolina he had visited the previous fall. He kept telling stories of one-way trails, hillclimbs, jumps, mud, hardpack, loose rock, beautiful vistas. He went on and on about the park.

The Chance Arrives

Continue reading ‘Brushy Mountain Motorsports Park is "Perfection" For ATV Riders’ »

In this World of modern day technology, nothing helps a child grow up and learn responsibility more at a young age than owning their own all-terrain vehicle, or ATV. Enjoying the outdoors with a true sense of freedom, your child will love the excitement his ATV provides. They learn safe driving practices, safe handling of their ATV and the proper use of equipment. They’ll learn safe driving speeds and the use of safety gloves and helmets and safe eye wear while riding. All the while they’re enjoying the outdoors and the splendor nature has to provide!

Kids quads are a great way to get your children outdoors and away from the video games for some nice outdoor fun, fresh air and exercise too! Kids love the freedom of riding instead of walking, and the kids quads are a great source of entertainment and can be ridden in groups with friends. With headlights on many ATVs they can enjoy the outdoors after the sun is setting also. Continue reading ‘The Exciting World of Kids Quads’ »

The advent of the toy hauler has made it easy to take your toys and leave home. Your motorcycles, Off-Road Vehicles, snowmobiles, and other recreational vehicles go with you in the “garage” of your trailer. You can go from state to state, and from competition to competition. Some may follow the sun, and others may follow the snow, but all are on the go! It’s always fun to compare notes with other ATV devotees.

Know the rules of the road (on and off it)

Every state has rules for owners of ATVs, but not all have the same set of regulations. You would do well to familiarize yourself with the laws of the state in which you are visiting. Proof of ownership and registration may vary. Learn what you need if you want to ride your ATV without falling afoul of the law. Remember that these vehicles may be ridden only on public land or places where they are authorized. Nearly all states oblige users to hold a particular kind of license, be minimum age, and use safety paraphernalia, Your vehicle must be registered, and drivers must abide by local speed and noise restrictions. Look up the requirements, and be informed. Continue reading ‘Finding Friends in Your Toy Hauler’ »

Dune buggies are fun. Thousands of driving enthusiasts will testify to how much fun they are. Whether you call the vehicle a dune buggy or an off road go cart, the premise is the same. It’s an open chassis powered by an engine designed to power through rough terrain, especially the ups and downs of hills, sandy or otherwise.

Some folks prefer the sleek ride of an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle). Honda, Polaris, Yamaha and others make creditable ATVs that can be as mild mannered (250 cc) or as muscled-up (650 cc and more) as you like. They all tend to have seats that the driver sits on much like a motorcycle whereas dune buggies are more like open chassis mini cars with the driver generally sitting in the middle of the seat, very close to the ground, unless it is a two-seater. Dune buggies can be made from kits, dune buggie plans modified from small cars (especially Volkswagen Beetles), and bought outright. Continue reading ‘Dune Buggies Are Family Fun’ »

Let’s say you wanted to ride an unfamiliar ATV trail system. How would you go about planning your trip? Most of us would probably do a little investigation on the Internet and maybe consult an ATV trail map. We might call the local Chamber of Commerce. But to really get the flavor of an area, there’s nothing better than finding a local guide.

Dave Okerlund is a hired gun for anyone who wants to get a true ATV adventure in the Piaute Trail system surrounding Richfield, Utah. It’s a part-time job for Okerlund (he’s an insurance agent most days), but it’s still considered work. Okerlund enjoys riding his Honda Rincon, so it doesn’t take much coaxing to get him out of the office to take complete strangers ATV riding. Continue reading ‘Cool Job – ATV Trail Guide on Utah's Piaute Trail’ »

The dew was still glistening on the grass blades one day last spring, and that meant only one thing – it was flippin’ early. Way too early for any human to be awake, and the bloodshot eyes and weary heads were evidence of that. But we were vertical, conscious and making some final checks before hitting the road for a two-hour drive to our ATV riding destination.

After slugging 24 ounces of Mountain Dew and downing some sugar-infested donuts, the caffeine and glucose-induced alertness finally kicked in as we headed north to the St. Croix State Forest near the Minnesota and Wisconsin border. Continue reading ‘The St Croix State Forest Offers 45 Miles of Trails For ATVs and Dirt Bikes’ »