Gilbert, Minn. -- More than 50 off-road enthusiasts and members of the Northern Minnesota Jeepers club gathered Sunday to celebrate as BFGoodrich Tires named the Iron Range system as one of its 2008 Outstanding Trails and awarded the club a grant. The Iron Range system near Gilbert, Minn. features a system of 36 trails and 1,200 acres of recreation in a north woods setting with scramble areas, training hills and rock crawls, The BFGoodrich grant will be used to preserve the trail system and continue conservation efforts for one of America's premier areas for off-roading.
BFGoodrich Tires, working in conjunction with Tread Lightly!® and United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA), chose the Iron Range system because it provides riding opportunities for many skill levels on varied terrain – rock, dirt, mud and hills.
"The Iron Range system of trails is an off-roader's paradise because it offers activities for every type of off-roader and obstacles that cover the board in difficulty and skill levels," said Joe Mazur, light truck brand category manager for BFGoodrich Tires. "We're honored to join with the Northern Minnesota Jeepers club to help in the conservation efforts for this amazing off-road trail system."
The Northern Minnesota Jeepers club is a non-profit, organization and supports Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) recreation within the spirit of Tread Lightly. The club works in conjunction with other area clubs to assist in the maintenance and preservation of existing 4WD OHV opportunities and the creation of new opportunities where possible.
"We are very pleased to have the Iron Range system included in the 2008 Outstanding Trails program," said Phil Anderson, vice president of the Northern Minnesota Jeepers club. " As Joe said, this system has a little bit of everything and we are thrilled that this grant money can be used to keep the trail system open for everyone as well developing new trail riding opportunities."
Launched in 2006, the BFGoodrich Tires Outstanding Trails program is dedicated to the responsible use, and preservation of, off-road trails while providing aid in the trails' conservation efforts. Over the past two years, the Outstanding Trails program has recognized 11 off-road trails in nine states and one in Canada. The program has also given $42,000 in grants to clubs and seen more than 1,700 participants in trail events.
The following additional five trails have also been selected as part of the 2008 BFGoodrich Tires Outstanding Trails program:
BlackCat Trail located on Superstition Mountain near San Diego, California
Blacktail / Wild Bill National Recreation Trail located in northwest Montana
Quinn Trail that leads to Quinn Lake in Ottawa, Canada
Pritchett Canyon, one of the toughest trails in Moab, Utah
Beasley Knob OHV trail located near Blairsville, Georgia
To learn more about these trails, visit the Outstanding Trails Web site at www.bfgoodrichtires.com/outstandingtrails.
Both Tread Lightly! And UFWDA are non-profit organization dedicated to responsible and ethical outdoor recreation. BFGoodrich Tires collaborated with these two groups to select the finest off-road trails, and will continue to work with these organizations on restoration and education initiatives.
Tread Lightly!
Tread Lightly! is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to proactively protect recreation access and opportunities. Tread Lightly!'s strategic educational message, along with its training and restoration initiatives are designed to instill an ethic of responsibility in outdoor enthusiasts and the industries that serve them. The program is long-term in scope with a goal to balance the needs of the people who enjoy outdoor recreation with the needs of the environment and it's leading the way to help remedy current and future recreation issues. Tread Lightly! is proud to be recognized by the USDA Forest Service and its partner actively engaged in collaborating to implement solutions to the problem associated with outdoor recreation.
United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA)
United Four Wheel Drive Associations is the world's leading representative of all-brand four wheel-drive enthusiasts. UFWDA benefits, developed and tested true over the past 30 years, include four wheel drive safety and awareness education; user ethics programs such as adopt-a-road, conservation volunteer, and volunteer trail patrol; assistance with new club formation; education seminars to aid four wheelers through complex state and federal programs affecting trail access; Internet forums designed to connect members globally and instantaneously; and unrestrained member access to its full-time legislative advocate and nationally-recognized attorney working exclusively for four wheel drive enthusiasts to protect access and prevent road and trail closures. For more information on the UFWDA log on to www.ufwda.org or call toll free 1-800-44-UFWDA (800-448-3932).
BFGoodrich Tires
Using motorsports as a proving ground for more than 30 years, BFGoodrich Tires is involved in every type of racing, including oval, sports car, drifting, drag, desert, dirt, rally and extreme rock-crawling. BFGoodrich Tires combines technological expertise with vast motorsports experience, delivering a high-performance tire for every type of vehicle. Visit BFGoodrich Tires online at www.bfgoodrichtires.com.
