Looking to ride, party and raise a few bucks and some needed awareness for a worthy cause? Load up the toy hauler with family, friends and toys and make way to the 2ND Annual BRP Fun Ride on December 13-14 at Cougar Buttes in Lucerne Valley, which is a part of the Johnson Valley OHV area. This year's event serves a dual purpose by increasing awareness of the proposed 29 Palms Marine base expansion into the Johnson Valley OHV area and providing support for the AMA District 37 Legal Defense Fund. The entire off-road community is invited, including dirt bike riders, trials riders, dual sport motorcycle riders, ATV riders, UTV riders, rock crawlers, Jeepers and 4X4 enthusiasts. Representatives from the AMA D-37, ORBA, CORVA and BRC will be at the event to help educate the OHV public on how they can be heard and what they can do to make a difference. Events will include rock crawling and trials demonstrations as well as organized rides and loops for various vehicle types.

The Bureau of Land Management has issued a Notice of Proposed Legislative Withdrawal to enable the eventual transfer of 365,906 acres of fragile public land in the Mojave Desert to the U.S. Marine Corps for bombing, tank training and other “live fire” exercises.  The lands identified by the Marine Corps for its Air Ground Combat Center training grounds near Twentynine Palms include habitat critical for survival of the threatened desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) and desert bighorn sheep. The Marine Corps says it needs the expansion for national security.

LOS ANGELES — The Bush administration on Wednesday recommended another reduction in protections for the endangered Lane Mountain milk-vetch by downlisting it to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act. This despite the fact that only four populations of the plant remain on the planet; that recent studies indicate that the number of individuals is declining; and at least 20 percent of the populations will be destroyed by tank maneuvers on Fort Irwin.

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) located in Twentynine Palms, CA has submitted a withdrawal application to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to essentially put a hold on 422,000 acres while it studies those areas for possible acquisition into the base. A large portion of the Johnson Valley OHV area is being considered. Johnson Valley OHV area is approximately 189,000 acres and is located in the high desert of California, just east of Los Angeles. The area is a Mecca for off-road recreation and is home to many events including off-road racing and competitive rock crawling.

The Marine Corps submitted a land withdrawal application to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for approximately 422,000 acres contiguous to Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif. The application is part of an ongoing study by the Marine Corps for possible base expansion, along with the establishment of corresponding special-use airspace, necessary to train a Marine Expeditionary Brigade at the Combat Center.

For off-road enthusiasts, both Johnson Valley (Lucerne Valley) and Stoddard Valley (Barstow) are among the hottest off highway vehicle (OHV) recreation destinations in Southern California. Their proximity to major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles County, Orange County , San Bernardino County and San Diego County make them a perfect place to ride and race dirt bikes, ATVs, 4X4 vehicles, Jeeps, trucks and buggies.

Because a lot of hard work by some the nicest off-roading families in the world, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is finaly considering changes to OHV ordinance 3973. But, the Friends of Giant Rock (FOGR) believe that most people affected by this ordinance are still unaware of its history, its significance or its present status. FOGR needs the help of everyone who recreates in San Bernardino County and anyone who believes that requiring a permit for a family to assemble on their own land, is just plane wrong.  So, please continue to petition the Supervisors for an ORV friendly outcome.