ATV Digest – ATV Sport TV debuts on the Outdoor Channel
ATV Sport TV premiered Saturday, April 3, 2004, on The Outdoor Channel cable network. The show is produced by Ehlert Publishing Group.
From woods riding to mud running to pro racing, the new show is about the faster, younger ATV owner and his sport ATVs. The half-hour program was developed in partnership with Emmy award-winning Ron Schara Enterprises and will air three-times a week on the cable network, reaching 30 million homes. Ron Schara Enterprises is the producer of “Backroads” on ESPN2 and other outdoor programs.
EPG Director of Media Development Carey Bohn said, “We’ll be covering 18 different race events — from motocross to drag racing — and airing the highlights within three weeks of the event.” Other program content includes project and custom-built quads, racer profiles, product tests and ATV lifestyle features. The staff of ATV Sport magazine, an Ehlert print product, are the hosts of the show.
“ATV Sport TV” will be broadcast April through September on The Outdoor Channel. Airdates and times are Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. EST, Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. EST and Fridays at 5:30 p.m. EST.
Plow Growth For Cycle Country
Cycle Country Accessories Corp. announced February sales exceeded its budget by 90%, or $1,822,059, compared to $961,296. The results are contributed by the company’s sales of over $1 million in snowplow blades, up 241 percent compared to February of 2003. Cycle Country’s growth rate continues to surpass last year’s actual results.
Net income outperformed last year’s actual results by $130,372. For the five months ending February 29, 2004, Cycle Country reported $9.9 million in sales, an increase of 50 percent compared to $6.6 million over the same period last year. Net income for the five months ending February 29, 2004, increased 226 percent compared to the prior year actual results.
Cycle Country anticipates continued growth throughout the year. A.G. Edwards continues to report a solid ATV industry with an average industry growth rate of 5-7 percent for the next several years.
“A RIDE ACROSS AMERICA”
Ten organ donors, donor family members, and transplant recipients are celebrating National Donate Life Month with the first-ever cross-country trip on ATVs.
“A Ride Across America” is the brainchild of living organ donor Kevin Monroe and his brother Greg Monroe. These Southern California residents are paying homage to their brother Elliott, a fan of off-road adventures, who succumbed to kidney disease. The trip was started on what would have been Elliott’s 60th birthday.
The four ATVs have been outfitted and permitted for riding on traditional passenger highways. The vehicles and their entourage are being creatively designed for maximum visibility. When the trip is over, the ATVs will be auctioned to raise money to continue organ donation education.
“We’ve been planning this experience for the past 18 months,” Kevin said. “I gave a kidney to my brother, and it gave him more time to be with us. This event is about showing what families can do to support their loved ones, and how important it is for families to talk together about the decision to donate organs. One person’s organs and tissue can benefit more than 50 people — what an incredible gift to give to those individuals, their families, and their communities. Riding across America seems a small price to pay to get out this important message.”
The ride launched from the Santa Monica Pier. The riders departed at 10 a.m. accompanied by supporting motorcyclists for the first segment of the trip. Local events will be held across the country at designated stops until the riders reach their destination at the Chelsea Pier in New York City.
For more information about the ride or to make a donation, visit www.arideacrossamerica.org.
National ATV race standings
GNC MX Series
Pro standings through Round 3
Rank, rider, points
1 Douglas Gust 85
2. Kory Ellis 69
3. John Natalie, Jr. 64
4. Jeremiah Jones 57
5. Tavis Cain 42
6. Jason Luburgh 39
7. Jasmin Plante 37
8. Jason Dunkelberger 36
9. Timothy Farr 34
10 Keith Little 34
GNCC Cross Country Series
Pro standings through Round 5
Rank, rider, points
1. Bill Ballance 145
2. William Yokley 99
3. Chris Borich 84
4. Matt Smiley 78
5. Gregory Trew 70
6. Bryan Cook 68
7. Chad Duvall 67
8. Brandon Ballance 66
9. Jathan Seale 42
10. Todd Knippenberg 35
Doug Gust News
Team Suzuki/Yoshimura rider Doug Gust, Eddy Graphic Design, Inc. and Holeshot Productions, Inc., have granted exclusive release rights to ATV Sport magazine for the use of the “Digger and Dozer” ATV Adventures cartoon strip. The strip is written by Paul Eddy and illustrated by Steve Struckmeyer. It will showcase funny scenarios in the life of professional ATV motocross racer Doug Gust, his girlfriend Cindi Hart (who races in the Women’s class) and his dog Dozer.
The cartoon will debut in the July/August issue of ATV Sport.
Backflip!
The backflip has changed the face of freestyle, especially in the dirt bike world. Add ATVs to that list. ATV freestyle rider John Guetter became the first person to land a backflip on an ATV March 16, at Snow Valley Ski Resort in Arrow Bear, Calif. It took four attempts before Guetter, riding a Yamaha YFZ450, nailed the landing sending the small group of people who gathered to witness the attempt into chaos.
H-Bomb Films Bomb Squad Rider Manager Sean Sermini said before Guetter or other Bomb Squad riders attempt another back flip on dirt, H-bomb will hold a practice session in a foam pit.
With the film crew there, Sermini says we can expect the footage to be included on a H-Bomb Films Bomb Squad video that is slated to come out sometime this year. For more information, visit www.hbombfilms.com.
Hatfield-McCoy Addition
Wyoming County is the latest West Virginia area to offer land for the expansion of the Hatfield-McCoy Recreation Area. Located in southern West Virginia near Pineville, the newest addition will be designated as Pinnacle Creek. Although the official grand-opening date has not yet been set Pinnacle Creek will add more than 100 miles of trail to the existing system, which has grown to more than 500 miles in length. The goal is to build and maintain more than 2,000 miles of trails.
Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority is offering a free “first look” event that is open to all registered participants. Registration is required to participate and will be available on the date of the event. The free weekend dates are scheduled for late May. For more information, visit www.trailsheaven.com; or call 800/592-2217.
Shane Hitt Hurt
Pro ATV racer and reigning ATVA TT Pro-class Champion Shane “Dog” Hitt (Yamaha/Sparks Racing/PEP) suffered a severely broken ankles while training on a motocross track with fellow pro Tim Farr.
Hitt said he was approaching a 50-foot double out of corner when a motorcycle that was between him and Farr roosted him. Because the track has a sandy surface, roost usually isn’t a big deal, but the motorcycle also threw a rock that knocked Hitt’s throttle hand off the handlebars. Hitt said he’d already gone in the air and the quad’s nose dived down so he had to bail from roughly 30 feet in the air. His right ankle shattered and he also broke his tibia and fibia. After a week in the hospital, Hitt’s back home recovering. He is wearing an external fixator to keep his ankle and legs secure during the healing process.
The accident will keep Hitt from competing in the remaining ITP ATVA MX Nationals events and could jeopardize his shot at another TT crown.
“I hope to return in time for the Danville, Va., TT, but that track is small and gets rough. If it’s too rough, I may have to skip it and focus on returning for Ashtabula [Round 3],” Hitt explained. “I know if I can ride six out of seven rounds, i’ll still have a shot at the championship, but with Timmy [Farr], Keith [Little], Mike Walsh and others, if I miss too many races and miss out in points, it could be tough to win this year.” psb
