Press Release –

The first round of what is likely to be a busy fall of litigation regarding snowmobile access to Yellowstone this winter (2008-2009) has finished.   

On September 15, 2008, District Judge Emmett Sullivan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia  vacated the National Park Service’s December 13, 2007 Winter Use Rule, which provided for recreational access to Yellowstone National Park by up to 540 best available technology snowmobiles per day.  

He vacated the entire Winter Use Rule, apparently including the snowcoach provisions as well as the snowmobile provisions.   He did not put any substitute rule in place and remanded the rule to the National Park Service, which can consider whether to adopt a new rule.

Judge Sullivan’s ruling is only the latest in a long history of litigation surrounding the Park Service’s Winter Use Rules for Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway.  A second related case, challenging the Winter Use Rule as being too restrictive of snowmobiling, is ongoing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming.

While the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association – ISMA, the American Council of Snowmobile Associations – ACSA, and the Blue Ribbon Coalition – BRC strongly object to Judge Sullivan’s ruling, they recognize that this ruling is not the last word on Yellowstone winter use. 

Judge Sullivan’s ruling does not replace the vacated rule with any other rule for the upcoming winter season, leaving open the issue on whether and how much snowmobile access will be allowed.  Oral argument in the related Wyoming litigation took place before District Judge Clarence Brimmer in Cheyenne, Wyoming on the same day Judge Sullivan issued his Order. 

ISMA, ACSA, and BRC are parties to that litigation as well, and intend to ask the Court to reinstate the temporary rule that preceded the 2007 Winter Use Rule and allowed for up to 720 recreational best available technology snowmobiles per day in Yellowstone.

Judge Sullivan’s ruling may ultimately result in there being no snowmobile or snowcoach use in Yellowstone this winter, depending on the Park Service’s response, a possible appeal of Judge Sullivan’s ruling, and the Wyoming litigation. 

At any rate, Judge Sullivan’s ruling represents a radical departure from established legal principles and interpretations of governing statutes.  His broad-ranging and novel interpretations of the National Park Service Organic Act and the Yellowstone National Park Act prohibit the Park Service from approving nearly any visitor activity causing impacts to Natural Park resources. 

This has the potential to bar a broad range of visitor activities in National Parks year round, including car, truck, RV, motorcycle, and other motorized vehicle access during the Spring, Summer, and Fall months.  It also has the potential to do so throughout the Park System, not just in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

Finally, Judge Sullivan’s ruling ignores the long history of broad discretion for the Park Service to balance conservation with visitor use and enjoyment in its management of the Park System.  By second-guessing the Park Service’s methodology for evaluating the impacts of the rule, it also departs from the well-established legal principles requiring courts to defer to governmental agencies’ scientific and technical judgments.

ISMA, ACSA, and BRC are dedicated to preserving snowmobilers’ access to federal lands, including units of the National Park System.  ISMA, ACSA, and BRC will continue to pursue recreational snowmobile access to Yellowstone National Park.

Press Release –

DOOTalk is pleased to announce our plans for the Member Sponsored Racing program for the 2008-2009 Season. 

After two phenomenal years working with Warnert Racing, we have decided to bring our racing sponsorship back in house, and we are looking for racers.

If you are a racer, let us know about your program, racing history, and current year plans.  If you know about a racer looking for support, get them on DOOTalk to apply.

As in years past, this is a Member Sponsored effort and DOOTalkers will have the opportunity to buy laps to support the race team and to be eligible for great prizes throughout the racing season.

We will be accepting racing applications through October 5th, 2008. 

To apply for a racing sponsorship, please contact us at racing2008@dootalk.com for details on the application process.

Press Release –

The winter of 2008-2009 is rapidly approaching and the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association has prepared for safety trainers and snowmobile enthusiasts some new and updated Safe Riders! campaign material.

The material consists of a 22 minute safety video that is used in conjunction with safety training worldwide. We also have available video public service announcements and radio public service announcements.

We distribute snowmobiling fact books free of charge which contain more than 20 pages of facts on snowmobiling that can be used when discussing issues with land access managers, politicians, community leaders and others.

Also available are the Safe Riders! helmet stickers and of course our complete offering of Safe Riders! posters. The posters cover key campaign issues such as:

· Snowmobiling and alcohol don’t mix – Don’t drink a ride
· Ride Smart Ride Right – Stay in Control
· When night riding, slow down – Expect the unexpected
· Know before you go – Always check local ice conditions
· Cross with care – Don’t become road kill
· One is the loneliest number – Never ride alone
· Ride Safe, stay on the trail – Respect private property
· Know the risks and be prepared – Make every trip a round trip
· And more…

The poster series features world class artwork created by Robert Van Nood and the posters are and can be displayed in warming huts, restaurants, lounges, club houses, schools, CVB’s, garages and more.

In addition to the safety material available from the manufacturers, at this time of year we look to the Farmer’s Almanac prediction. In case you haven’t seen the latest Farmer’s Almanac, I will quote a few sentences that are contained in the Almanac.

“This winter will draw little comfort from the Farmer’s Almanac which predicts below average temperatures for most of the US. “Numb’s the word,’ states the 192 year old publication – which claims an accuracy rate of 85% for its forecasts that are prepared 2 years in advance.”

The Almanac’s 2009 edition states that at least two thirds of the country can expect colder than average temperatures this winter with only the SW and SE in line for near normal readings.

The Almanac predicts above normal snowfall for the great lakes and the Midwest and above normal precipitation for much of the country. “The NE and mid-Atlantic regions will likely have an unusually snowy February,” the Almanac states.

Not to be outdone by the Farmer’s Almanac prediction, the snowmobile manufacturers are working with a special You-Tube creative source. We are creating a special SNOW DANCE that will be featured on You-Tube and available for distribution soon. Please watch the internet for the You-Tube SNOW DANCE created for and by snowmobilers.

Make sure to pick out your new sled early this year, or get the work done on your existing sled. This is going to be a good snowmobiling winter – according to the Farmer’s Almanac.

If you are in need of some Safe Riders! materials, please visit the ISMA web site at www.snowmobile.org and request an order form for our free Safe Riders!

Press Release –

BRP gives back to volunteers who work on trails

As part of its 50th Anniversary celebration, BRP and its Ski-Doo® dealers will donate up to $1 million to Canadian snowmobile clubs for snowmobile trails through the Ski-Doo Million Dollar Club Support Program.

Regardless of the brand they own, every Canadian snowmobiler will be able to participate in this fundraising program.

For each snowmobiler submitting a certificate at their Ski-Doo dealership, BRP will donate $10 to their snowmobile club through the program.

Program certificates are available in all Canadian snowmobile magazines, at fall snowmobile shows, and on ski-doo.com.

An advertising, public relations and direct mailing campaign will also be launched to encourage snowmobilers to participate.

“Launching a grassroots funding campaign to benefit clubs is a natural fit with our 50th anniversary celebration because Ski-Doo was right there at the beginning to help establish the very first organized snowmobile trails in Canada,” said Alain Villemure, vice-president and general manager of the Ski-Doo / Sea-Doo division. “We’ve always recognized and appreciated the hard work our clubs and volunteers carry out on snowmobile trails — and how important those trails are for the safety of the sport.”

The top club in each of the following regions: Quebec, Ontario, Atlantic Provinces (New- Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador), Saskatchewan, and Manitoba will receive a limited 50th anniversary edition of a 2009 Ski-Doo MX Z snowmobile to use for additional fundraising activities.

There will also be parts, accessory and clothing incentives for clubs that reach 75% or more participation from their membership.

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), a privately-held company, is a world leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of motorized recreational vehicles. Its portfolio of brands and products includes: Ski-Doo® and Lynx™ snowmobiles, Sea-Doo® watercraft and sport boats, Evinrude® and Johnson® outboard engines, Can-Am™ all-terrain vehicles and roadsters, Rotax® engines and karts as well as direct injection technologies such as E-TEC®