Jet Rent ATV Rentals

On February 10,2009 the Consumer Safety Commission decided that ATVs and DIrtbikes for Children 12 and under had too much lead in them. Forcing Several ATVs and Dirtbikes  to be taking off the show room floor. Dealers are already suffering due to the economic crisis and it is another blow to the OHV industry. Please go online to http://tomself.com and sign the petition. Thank you. We will have more information as soon as it comes.

I read the paper this morning to hear about an unfortunate story. I have heard recently several stories regarding abuse of power. One person told me about how a law enforcement officer at the Imperial Sand Dunes gave everyone at thier camp tickets for this that and the other. They justified it by saying they had to meet thier quota. The article in The Sun (Yuma Newspaper) talked about a couple that has invested over $70,000 in a rail to drive from Canada to ride the Imperial Sand Dunes. One argument was the leos at the sand dunes were too agressive with the people going over to the Southern California Dunes. Some arugued the stiffer control by the leos was due to people's carelessness. Personally my thoughts on this is, there is always three sides to a story. Side A side B and the truth. Some people might say the Law enforcement is out of control but if they are you can always visit their office and talk to someone about the Leo abuse. I had at one point received a citation by the highway patrol for not having the insurance information for the vehicle I was driving. It was not mine and I was borrowed. I couldn't find the information so I told the officer " I don't know where the insurance is." Out of frustration (I hope) the officer reached in the car opened my glove compartment and started to look through the paperwork in the vehicle. I was scared at that point. He should have never reached in my car to get anything unless I was acting weird or gave him a reason to search my vehicle. If he had probable cause he could search it but there was no probable cause no search warrant. He opened my back pack and was asking my why I had so many cameras. I explained to him it was because I was a photographer and was on my way to the college course. He gave me a ticket and sent me on my way. I called his supervisor and told him what happened. I obtained a lawyer to fight the traffic ticket in court. A few days later the ticket was dismissed by the highway patrol. Some issues can be resolved when you speak to the supervisors. If you have witnesses it always helps to have a written statement of what happened. Be careful at the dunes! I have personally witness people drinking and driving out there. I scared me enough to where I don't drive at night at the sand dunes. For the article in the Yuma sun check out http://www.yumasun.com/news/_47364___article.html/_.html

There are lots to do in Yuma Arizona. I will bring you more information about riding in Yuma soon, in the mean time Yuma has its annual Lettuce Days Festival. If you didn't know Yum is the lettuce capital of the world. Over 90 percent of the winter vegetable crops are grown in this area. When I arrived there was so many people one could hardly even walk. There was so much going on, food venders, such as Ice cream, chocolate covered strawberries, little donuts to yummy organic candles, little girls dresses. There was so much to see and enjoy there. The Yuma Lettuce Festival is every year. Thier attractions and events include the southwest longest salad bar, tour of the agriculture, belly dancers, music and muppets, square dancing to name a few. There was a few rides for the kids, and plenty of tasty treats. I tried to take as my photographs of stuff as I could, I will post them up for you so you can enjoy them. Tomorrow is that last day to enjoy or purchase items at the festival. It will be going on from 10 untill 3:00pm. So if you happen to be in the surrounding areas stop by, you will have a blast.
For more information on the festival check out, http://yumalettucedays.com

I apologize for not blogging for the past days. I have been busy with new upcoming events that I will blog about later in the future. I have mostly focused on atvs, and Imperial Sand Dunes but there is a little hidden treasure in Yuma Arizona that I have not told you about. For those of you that are interested in Motorcross there are some places that you can go and ride in Yuma, there is a Motorcross in Yuma Arizona! The track is located on County 13th st and east canal. Take Ave B to get there and go on 13th st all the way to the canal bank. The owner of the track is Chris Strebe, he maintains and runs the track. The track is open Saturday nights from 5:00pm to 10:00pm. Adult riders cost is only $20.00 minor riders is $15.00. Spectators cost is only $2.00. For more information check out http://happytrack.com.

If you are out of Yuma Arizona and are looking for a place to ride your dirtbike check out http://wheretomx.com. There is nothing like the feeling of flying in the air with your dirtbike. Hope you enjoy those websites :)

From time to time I meet people that share their experience regarding the Imperial Sand Dunes. Some of the earlier stores that I have heard are about Yuma Locals that had one of the first OHV modified Ford Model A. It is awesome to hear stories and watch their eyes light up about growing up by Imperial Sand Dunes. My curiosity lead me to have a conversation with Mark, now I have blogged about Mark going to the Imperial Sand Dunes when he was young. He began to tell me of the first ATV that he remembered his brother had. He remembered his brother had a ATC that went back to 1971. The first one to create such a vehicle was HONDA. I went online and found a website that featured the first ATV later ATC. The ATV was first introduced in 1969 by Honda. It was called ATV US90 and was later changed to All Terrain Cycle 90. It was powered by an 87cc four-stroke single cylinder engine. It had a 7 horse power and automatic clutch. I found it funny because Honda has a Honda 90 that is now a childs quad. The ATV 90 had a ballon looking tires and tiny rims it was created so it has a smooth ride the ballon tires would absorb the rough terrain. This is what began a billion dollar industries, this little quad had a bit a power but I don't know if the engineer Osamu Takeuchi ever thought about how much this ATV would influence generations. Over 30 years later ATV riders passion for them has only grown stronger. For more info on the history of the first ATV or ATC check out http://atc90.tripod.com/hondaatc90/id17.html More ATV history coming up!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

No Riding in YUMA? ARIZONA no ride zone.

I finally found it! I found the information I was looking for. I was looking for the answer to my question. Why is that wall there ? Is it a stage coach horse exchange? After trying to find out who the mayor of Winterhaven California was I found out there was no mayor. So I called the Winterhaven Court and they said they had no mayor, no city council, no city administrator nothing. The Winterhaven Court referred me to Sheriffs office and I was transfered me a couple of times before I spoke to someone. They referrd me to the Quechan Indian Tribe Administration. I called them and they had no idea who to call. Then I called The Yuma Crossing Historic Park and they had no idea what I was talking about. At this point I was getting desperate. I called the BLM I was transferd a couple of times then was told they would get back to me. I didn't get a call back so I called the Arizona Historical Society in Yuma Az. I was given a conact name of Carol Brooks. I called Carol and she was able to give me what information I was looking for. Ms. Brooks told me that adobe wall was thought to be a Stagecoach Horse Exchange. According to a letter dated 1910 the adobe wall that is still standing was a pump house for the American Gold Mine. They would have pipes from the river to the mine and pump the water to the American Gold Mine. Ms. Brooke said it could not have been a Stage Coach Horse Exchange because it was too close to the Crossing. The Stage Coach Horse Exchanges would be posted 5 miles from each other and since there was one in Yuma the next one would be close to or located by Pilot Knob. What is now an old Adobe wall also may have served as a boating dock although it is unclear wheather it was or not. The adobe wall could have been constructed some time between 1850 -1880 that was the time the American Gold mine was in it's peak operation time. So to answer my questions, was it a Stagecoach Horse Exchange? No it was not. Although it has a lot of historical value the owners of that land are the Quechan Indian Tribe. It would be up to the tribe to preserve it. That wall being historical remains of a building. I can tell you that many times I have gone through the freeway not even giving that "wall" a second thought. I would never have thought that such a wall would have so much significance. If you are wondering where the American Girl Mine is, according to http://www.gamineral.org/rr06_yuma-az_ogilby-road.html the way to get there is go down Ogilby road untill you cross a rail road track. Then you turn ride on American Girl Rd, there are a lot of RVs that are dry camping there. And according to Gold Rock Ranch Rv Resort they are located 12 miles away from Yuma, and there are tons of trails to ride and you could actually access the Imperial Sand Dunes from there. This might be a point of interest for people that are out there dry camping at Imperial Sand Dunes and have nothing to do. Maybe someday soon I might blog about it. Mission accompished mystery solved. To see pictures of this wall check out http://www.flickr.com/photos/jetrent/sets/72157612463726441/

Veronica

Adobe Wall in Imperial County- Imperial Dunes Plank Road

Imperial Sand Dunes ????