As it is in many sports, there are many different angles you may view the sport from. For example. If we were looking at the sport of riding horses you would want to consider each of the various diciplines, such as horse racing, horse showing, rodeo, or cowboying in order to gain a greater understanding of the sport as a whole.
To many the ATV sport is only what they have seen on TV commercials or extreme sport programs. I think it is safe to say that neither of these represent the total picture of ATV motor sport enthusiasts.
There are four basic philosophies for the ATV Motorsport. Since each have a different goal, each have different skills. Being good in one area of the sport does not make you an expert in another area of the sport.
If you are interested in one particular aspect of the sport it will largely dictate the type of machine you wish to purchase.
RacingTo the racers, the thrill of the sport is found in speed and agility. The competitive nature of these individuals will draw them to compete in any activity they become involved in. They will even see who can eat the fastest. When this ambition is organized and created with appropriate safeguards it can be every bit as exhilarating and romantic as the pros and cameras would have you believe. The key is of course, organization, rules and structure, without these elements it would be suicide by four wheeler.
Manufacturers like these activities because it gives them a chance to show off their biggest and fastest machines before the TV cameras. Professional ATV riders like these activities because it gives them the opportunity to make money at something they enjoy. There is nothing wrong with the sport of ATV racing. It is a part of our American competitive spirit.
Racing is conducted on specially designed and constructed tracks for this purpose. There are some cross country races conducted over a specific course in open country. These, for four wheeled enthusiasts, are less commonly found. Yet there are occasionally such opportunities offered in the spirit of cross country motocross for motorcycles.
This is not a sport for the casual participant. This aspect of the sport requires many hours and years of preparation and training. It also requires a competition grade machine, if you expect to come away a winner. You can't borrow your gandpaws old Four Trax and expect to come away with a trophy. People who are involved in racing are as dedicated to this as if it were a religion, perhaps it is.
Sand Duneing is a form of "no holds bared" spirit of freedom and enjoyment. The Sand Duners find their greatest enjoyment in having an area open for their use and play which has no restrictions or trails. A Duner will look for a machine that will get them to the top of the sand pile faster than anything known to mankind. A Duner will revel in the excitement of feeling their machine attempt to rip away from their grasp at the top of a dune leaving them suspended, ever so briefly, in mid air.
The unique aspect of this sport is that it requires an open sand dune to be appreciated. Thankfully, there are at least according to Robert Uzelac twenty two sand dunes in Utah, and others in Idaho and Nevada.
This sport also has its specialized equipment. These machines tend to be extensively modified. The Duner will look for a high powered 2x4 machine. The ones with the bright colors and no utility racks are most frequently the ones desired by this group of enthusiast. These machines have short fenders and no mud flaps. Half the fun of the sport is seeing rooster tails of sand whipping up behind all four wheels.
The greatest danger of this aspect of the sport is that it is completely free form. You are totally open in a Sand Dune to go anywhere and do anything your heart desires. Even though you may return to the same area to ride you find that the nature of the Dunes is changing all the time and it is different each time you return. Contrary to reports from so called ecologists, the use of the dunes for motor sport activities has almost no impact on the environment. It only takes a sturdy storm to blow through and the evidence of the tracks left by the 4 wheelers is completely obliterated. This makes it a bit of a challenge to know where you are, at times. The Sand Dunes recreation areas account for the most frequent accidents and deaths in the State of Utah. Last Easter the Little Sahara OHV Recreation area hosted over 20,000 people to the area.
Duners tend not to organize with one another, out of personal safety. After all the more Duners there are on the dunes, the greater hazard they present to one another, or so it would seem. (I'm not a Duner, so I can't speak with complete authority on this group)
A duner will love to show off his machine and his web page will have pictures of him breaking air. For a duner, the more noise they can make, the better. Not only will a modified muffler give you more power, but it will allow your machine to act as a sirene announcing their arrival. After all, this is also a form of assuring their safety, and those about them, I might add. (by the way, modified mufflers are illegal in most areas, so just don't get tempted to do it.)
Duneing is also a family sport. These enthusiasts are likely to have all forms of dune conveyance: dune buggies, ATV's, motorcycles,"odessy" (sand specialized go cart), sand rails, and the like.
The trail tourist will find their greatest thrill in simply putting along enjoying the blue sky and the opportunity of being out doors with their family. While they don't mind the occasional burst of speed, it is far from their center ambition. They enjoy the opportunity of traversing through the deep and dark forest and happening upon a clear mountain lake or grazing deer.
While power is a valuable asset to these sportsmen, the power they seek is climbing power. Four wheel drive is often the feature that they will value most in their machine. Their machine will be a utility machine that can climb over steep trails with no worries of a stall.
Trail tourists make up the largest part of the ATV motorsports enthusiasts population. It is an ever increasing population due to the realization that enjoyment of the outdoors requires assistance as one's physical ability diminish with age. Age notwithstanding, this aspect of the sport is enjoyed by all age groups. A Trail Tourist may be an occasional hunter, but certainly not exclusively devoted to that goal. (for the occasional hunter, please refer to "tips for Hunters" at this link)
The trail tourist are those who are most likely to be a part of an ATV organization. The trail touist will have multiple machines and where possible, one for every member of the family. Overall machine affordability and fuel economy are two important features to a trail tourist.
If there were stickers for every place you can ride, then the back of the trail tourist's trailer would be covered with these ride stickers. Some of these folks will come from great distances to enjoy our unique Utah landscape close up. Many more are at home right here in the State.
A fourth, less common, group of ATV enthusiast exist who consider the sole purpose of their machine to be a hunting transportation tool. These folks would never consider going for a ride on an ATV for the pure enjoyment of the ride. They are the genetic remnants of the early trappers who first explored the west. They would not be content on a ride until they had bagged some form of game. These are the folks who are always going here and there hunting the open season of some form of game, be it deer, antelope, bear, elk, moose, buffalo, prairie dog... you name it. If it is open season in any State within a three day drive, they will go hunting. You'll see them on the road with their ATV in the rear of their pickup covered with the evidence they've been in the field in the recent past splattered all over the sides thereof.
These folks will have their machine all decked out with all the features to give them all the access to the tools that they need for their hunt The hunter will look for the camouflaged machines with large motors and plenty of utility capability. They will want a winch on their machine so they can haul up their game and dress it out for the ride home.
Of course anyone can cross the boundaries
of any group, but for the most part, when they find their niche they will
be set to follow that course. One of the greatest parts of the sport
is that there are many facets to it. Some may not enjoy parts that
others find crucial, and that is okay. The important thing is that
the sport as a whole is growing and as a result we need to work together
to protect the opportunities for all to enjoy their form of recreation
written 10-25-01