ATV Trails at Brushy Mountain Motor Sports Park

The Brushy Mountain Motor Sports Park can be found in Alexander County, North Carolina. This park is friendly to ATV riders, Motorcycle riders, and UTV riders and has been in business for several years. Most of the trails are marked one way which keeps riders from playing chicken head-on which is very nice. Motorcycle riders who are looking for tight trails are sure to feel at home here because they have many trails designated just for them.

This park was chosen for it rave reviews online, and because we needed an honest to goodness proving ground for the new Linhai-Yamaha 400 4x4 ATV. We quickly unloaded and went over to the sign in station to pay the fee and sign the liability waivers that I like to call the "Not our fault if you get hurt or die" papers. The attendants quickly came over to check out our brand new Linhai Big Horn ATV, and to make sure we had all the proper safety equipment like helmets, riding boots, and gloves.

Now that the formalities were out of the way, a push of a button later the engine started with a throaty growl and I pointed the brand new ATV that had never seen mud before up the mountain trail. The trail started off with a couple jumps and quick turns up a moderate incline, but it was plenty wide enough not to feel threatened very much. The trails were still peppered with large mud holes from the early spring rain and my riding partners behind me will agree that I made sure they wore as much of it as I could spray on them if they got too close to my ATV.

Further up the trails, the conditions quickly changed from Beginner level to white and orange DANGER signs around every turn. Steep hill climbs combined with very rocky terrain put my new ride to the test and I quickly engaged the four wheel drive. It seemed to be powering along pretty well right up until I came around a blind uphill turn where another rider was stuck right in the middle of the trail.

You must understand that this section of the trail was not a place to stop because of the degree of incline, and my Linhai ATV once stopped on the mountainside, stalled, then started rolling rapidly down the hill despite the brakes being fully applied. I jumped off just in time before is rolled right off the side and continued until a tree stopped it 20 feet off the trail. After several hours we got it back on the trail and I cursed myself for being too cheap to add on the winch option. I was really excited when it cranked back up with one push of the button, and the only damage was the left rear plastic fender was broken and the rear metal rack was bent pretty bad.

When I got back to the entrance, I broke out the wrench and proceeded to add a portion of my brand new ATV to the totem pole. I ordered a new fender and a winch for it that night and plan to ride there again very soon.

Recapture your youth with an ATV. If your heart cannot handle the excitement, ride your ATVs somewhere easier instead.

What is an ATV?

An ATV is an all-terrain vehicle that usually has either three or four wheels that travel on low pressure. There are many different types designed for racing, recreation, hunting, ranching, emergency services, industrial services, the military, and other uses.

All-terrain vehicles are measured in cubic centimeters (cc). They can range in size from over 1000cc to as small as 50cc. They can have as many as eight wheels or as few as three wheels. One of the most popular types of all-terrain vehicle is the utility vehicle. Utility vehicles generally have short travel suspension, a large motor, and accessories that are intended for hunting. These types of vehicles are often used in the agriculture and ranching industries.

Another popular type of ATV is the sport ATV. Sport ATVs are generally lightweight and have lots of suspension. The reason is that sport ATVs are intended to handle jumps, bumps, and turns. They can range in size from 250 cc to 700cc. Sport ATVs are often used in off-road racing. They usually have four wheels and can be modified with different types of accessories to enhance driving performance.

Side by side ATVs, also known as SxS or Rhino ATVs, are also popular vehicles. Side by side ATVs offer the same suspension as sport ATVs but with a much larger engine. They are lightweight and can carry several passengers as well as cargo. Side by side ATVs are often found in rural communities and are sometimes used as pit vehicles in races to provide versatile mobility and transportation. They are also used in the fire and rescue industries.

Children's ATVs are also growing in popularity. These ATVs are smaller and usually range in size from 50cc to 110cc. Children's ATVs, which are also known as youth ATVs, have little or no suspension, limited power, and an automatic transmission. They are designed to accommodate children of less than 100 pounds. ATVs can be fun for the whole family to enjoy.

Along with riding off road vehicles, Joseph enjoys working in his gardens. One of his favorite gardening websites is Garden Harvest Supply which offers flowering plants like Heuchera and Begonia for sale.

ATV and UTV Accidents Continue to Cause Litigation Over Injury and Death

With the first successful personal injury litigation case against Yamaha and Rhino UTV completed, this verdict will have broad implications on the hundreds of other pending lawsuits, including several in Orange County, California.

The accident associated with this litigation occurred when the UTV Mr. Roger Mc Taggart was driving rolled over at low speeds and then trapping his legs under the vehicle. He sustained serious and permanent injuries.

This verdict awarded Roger and Glenda Mc Taggart (both plaintiffs) $317,000 for both current and future medical expenses. In addition to the medical expenses, the jury found that the company was negligent and Yamaha's Rhino design was defective and that the vehicle had safety problems.

Currently there are hundreds of pending lawsuits against Yamaha at this time. Over sixteen million Americans now ride all-terrain vehicles and their popularity is at an all-time high. However as with all sports that grows quickly, accident can happen and manufacturers can rush product to the consumers without testing them thoroughly.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's 2008 Annual Report of All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV)-related Deaths and Injuries, over 135,100 people were treated in emergency rooms due to ATV accidents and over one quarter of them were children.

Additionally, 410 deaths have occurred. There are many reasons for these accidents but the primary factors are lack of developmental skills and parent supervision.

If you choose to participate in this type of sporting activity, children should always wear protective equipment and ride age-appropriate vehicles.

ATV's are classified into three groups; Y-6 for ages 6-11, Y-12 for 12-15 year olds and the adult version. The main difference is the size of their engine and the maximum speeds. Over 90% of the youth accidents occur when a youth is operating an adult ATV.

The manufacturers place placards of minimum age requirements for a reason. The key to safe driving is parental supervision.

California's state laws regarding ATV operations are some of the strictest in the nation, due to the fact that we have the highest death rate in the country. State law requires that operators on public lands wear a helmet at all times. Additionally, No one under 18 years of age can operate an ATV unless they have a safety certificate or are with an adult with one.

Attending a safety training program can decrease the risk of personal injuries tremendously.. In fact, no one under the age of 18 is allowed to operate an ATV without possessing a safety certificate. For an ATV training course near you, visit http://www.atvsafety.gov/state/california.html.

Additional Safety Tips from the ATV Safety Institute are:

* Always wear a helmet and other protective gear; goggles, boots and jackets.

* Never ride on public roads where another vehicle could hit you.

* Never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

* Never carry a passenger while driving an ATV.

* Ride an ATV that's right for your age.

* Supervise riders younger than 16, ATVs are not toys.

* Ride only on designated trails and at a safe speed

James Ballidis is a California injury lawyer and the author of several books on managing your recovery after a physical injury. For more articles on personal injury, or if you wish to obtain a copy of his books, please review the articles of this California injury attorney. If you need help because you were injured in an accident, please call us at (866) 981-5596.