Carolina Beach Jeep Go Topless Day makes a $5,954.00 contribution to help support a cooperative Grant Project in Uwharrie National Forest

 We wanted to give a huge shout out of gratitude to the Carolina Beach Jeep Go Topless Day; who just made a $5,954.00 contribution in 2017 for support of an all new "Interpretative Trail System" project within the Uhwarrie National Forest. 

This project showcases how the OHV community contributes positively.  By supporting the mapping portion of this project, the OHV community illustrates to the overall outdoor recreation community and the National Forest Service that we are dedicated to promoting responsible use of the trail system by all. 

Thank You CBJGTD for your generous support!

 What is the Carolina Beach Go Topless Day like? 

Check out the aerial video from last years event....

Carolina Beach Go Topless Day - 2017 https://youtu.be/1bFoIau6CAA

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Venuw Location; Wilmington, NC

Carolina Beach Jeep Go Topless Day was formed by a few close friends back in 2012 to get out and enjoy the weather, being topless, the beach and most importantly to share a love in our vehicles and give back to the community. We quickly realized just how important this was to the lifelong Jeeper’s and even the newest members to the Jeep community. The first year we had 72 participants and thanks to Neuwirth Motors sponsoring the event, we were able to contribute $1200.00 to local charities around our community. The word quickly got out and the event has beyond grew to 648 Jeeps in 2017 with the help of 4WD joining on and just over $32k being raised and donated to local charities. We invite you to join this event and not only give back for a good cause, but get to be apart of the biggest annual Jeep event in NC.

Learn More.... https://www.jeepgotoplessday.com/ 

SFWDA joins a Cooperative Grant to provide Smart Maps for all within the Uwharrie National Forest

Uwharrie Co-Op Grant Info Package

 We are very proud to announce an exciting new Educational Grant project to map the Uwharrie National Forest!

 Made possible together with a dynamic team of both sponsors, and volunteers. The team at CartoTracks will not only be mapping the OHV trails, but also the hiking, mountain bike, horse, and kayak trails. Our hope is that this project will bring trail conservation further into the spotlight, potentially saving the lands we all hold so dearly — at Uwharrie National Forest. 

An educational project has been started to turn the Uwharrie National Forest Trail System (UNFTS) into an Interpretative Trail System (ITS), where important key areas along the trails are identified by local experts and then identified with signage along the trail and highlighted on an Interactive Map Application (IMA). This will be the first of its kind in the nation.  

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The UNF Interpretative Trail System project is being sponsored by organizations like Tread Lightly!, 4 Wheel Parts, Carolina Trail Blazers, Carolina Jeep Beach Go Topless Day and the National Forest Service. To date each sponsor has donated in their own way to creating the Interpretative Trails in the Uwharrie National Forest.   

Visit our Grants Page to learn how your club or group can make a difference. 

 
This project showcases how the OHV community contributes positively.  By supporting the mapping portion of this project, the OHV community illustrates to the overall outdoor recreation community and the National Forest Service that we are dedicated to promoting responsible use of the trail system by all. 

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“I am really glad to see SFWDA and Carolina Beach Jeep Go Topless Day step up and illustrate to all those that like to recreate in the great outdoors that we are committed to helping provide tools that will help everyone.

While doing the research to determine the value of this Uwharrie National Forest Trail System mapping project, feedback from OHV enthusiasts, hikers, bikers and equestrians indicated a GPS enabled map that requires no cellular network connectivity will help them stay on the designated trails as they trek through the forest.”

— Al Sweney - Vice President; SFWDA

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Learn More;

NAXJA Southeast Chapter - Cherokee Crawl Event contributes $800 to SFWDA

  The NAXJA Southeast Chapter which hosts the Annual Cherokee Crawl event this year up in Harlan KY at Black Mountain OHV Park had another successful event this summer back on the first weekend of July. Be sure to join them next year in Harlan.

To learn more visit their forum today; http://naxja.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=364

NAXJA Cherokee Crawl    
July 1-2, 2017   Black Mountain OHV Park; Harlan, KY 

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 It was voted before the event that NAXJA would be making a donation to SFWDA. Well we are very proud to announce that we received a check in the amount of $800 which has been earmarked for our Education Video Series.

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Dirk DeYoung
NAXJA Southeast Chapter Treasurer
NAXJA National Director

- Presenting their $800 Contribution to SFWDA President; Ray Stanley

The Educational video series is now into its third season and is at the core of our mission. Funds like this fuel our non profit association and make it possible to reach more folks and continue the fight. Thank you to the NAXJA Southeast Chapter for your contribution, it is already being put to good work. In fact the first video episode on season 3 is ready to be released any day now so stand by to watch the very newest addition to this great series.  

Thanks again Dirk and everyone at the NAXJA! 

Grant funding fuels the success of the DBBB creating new trails and preserved access.

Grants are available right now for your local club or group project. Apply Today Online. 

  We hope everyone enjoyed themselves at our Fall 2016 Meet & Ride. Before we move focus onto our Annual Meeting on December 3rd, in which everyone's invited to attend, it's seems worthy to reflect on our success together as an Association for a moment. It is well known how successful this past years SFWDA events were, generating thousands of dollars of revenue for our non-profit association. With the success of these events and through the support of our constantly growing membership base we will never stop fighting the core mission of your Association;  Conservation * Education * Recreation. 

 For those that were able to join us at  our Meet & Ride this past Saturday you were able to see first hand a rural and majestic part of the Appalachian Mountains. The route there near Slade, KY and the Red River Gorge area that everyone traveled is part of a long term and ongoing project which was made possible by grants from both the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) and TreadLIghtly. Soon several local off road business's and others in the community stepped up to support as well. With combined financial support and together along with the hard work from volunteers like the Ohio River Four Wheeler's club and Friends of Daniel Boone we have created what is now know as the Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway.

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Current map digitally available from Cartotracks.com 

  These joint efforts have proven successful in reclaiming the nearly 100 miles of the byway into a OHV route for everyone, highlighting the beautiful nature in this area all the while stimulating the economy by attracting many wheeler's and tourists to the area. As members of SFWDA we pride ourselves on being comprised mostly of responsible enthusiasts who practice the TreadLightly principles and we strive to serve as a model of what the OHV community should be perceived as to others. Our core SFWDA mission is in full effect here in the DBBB with grant funds in a variety of ways to include; marking the byway route with kiosks and signage, digitally mapping for smartphones, continual volunteer maintenance of these trails, engineered water and erosion management projects, bridge building, and even routine trash removal. This continued effort is how we plan to protect and preserve access to this beautiful trail.

 If you missed it this past weekend don't worry, with our continued efforts the DBBB will remain open for generations to come. Feel free to look up the ORFW club (links below) for more info about joining them on a ride of the area. 

  For anyone interested in more rides like this..... We host 4 of these Meet & Ride events across the Southeast Region at various off road trails & parks annually. Subscribe to our newsletter and visit our website on a regular basis at www.SFWDA.org , and also check out our Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/SFWDA .

Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway

Ohio River Four Wheelers

Grants are available right now for your local club or group project. Apply Today Online. 

Grants

Kentucky Krawlers

Tread Lightly

Cartotracks

2016 Annual SFWDA Meeting & Webinar

BFG will again award $4,000 through it's annual OUTSTANDING TRAILS PROGRAM

OUTSTANDING TRAILS PROGRAM

It's that time of the year again....$4,000 can go a LONG WAY for your club and OHV Trail. You must earn it but read up on the details and let us know if SFWDA can help point you in the right direction to benefit another local club again.

The BFGoodrich® Tires Outstanding Trails program was established in 2006 to raise awareness for responsible use and preservation of off-road trails while providing support in the trails’ conservation efforts. Through 2015, the Outstanding Trails program has recognized over 40 off-road trails and clubs across North America. The program has provided more than $150,000 in grants in support of the various trails conservation efforts.Trails are nominated for uniqueness, terrain type and enthusiast following.

Learn More & Apply Today;

http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/outstanding-trails-program.page

Join SFWDA & Trick N Traction for our Free Inaugural Environmental Stewardship Initiative Workshop

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Attention All SFWDA Members;  

  Have you always wondered what Tread Lightly! was all about? Interested in finding out how you can do your part in preventing trail closures? Then join us for a three-hour workshop and our inaugural Tread Lightly! training event free for all members!

This Awareness Workshop is a 3-hour course that will provide attendees with an introduction to Tread Lightly! principles as decision making guidelines while enjoying the great outdoors in a safe and responsible manner. The workshop will provide you with situational awareness, the know-how on minimizing your impact while recreating, and the outdoor ethic that will help sustain our trails for generations to come.

 "The dream for Trick N Traction to host an Environmental Stewardship Initiative Workshop is a reality... The workshop will be conducted on March 19, 2016 at Duke Energy's Oconee World of Energy. We will open the doors at 11:00am for on site registration and start the three hour workshop at noon. A snack for everyone will be provided during a break around 1:15pm. We are pleased to partner with Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, Tread Lightly, Clemson 4Wheel Center and WARN to conduct this workshop. The focus of this workshop will be on the Tread Lightly principals. Uwharrie Off-Road Training Centers'; Scott Fields is a Tread Lightly Master Training. He will be leading the workshop based on Tread Lightly's three hour workshop outline. Note that we will only be able to accommodate the first 100 people to register for this exciting event."    - Al Sweeney (Trick N Traction 4WD Club)

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Event Details

COST =
There is NO COST for the event to all active SFWDA members. We will soon be launching an online registration and hope you can make it for this first time offering of a Tread Lightly Course Class sponsored by SFWDA.

WHERE =
Duke Energy's Oconee World of Energy,
7812 Rochester Hwy, Seneca, SC 29672

HOW =
Ensure your SFWDA Membership status is active, and when Online Registration Launches you can sign in and register at no charge, right here on our website. (Links will be provided)
You can also register in person at the event if space is still available but this event is limited to 100 attendees. 

WHEN = March 19, 2016 ( 12 Noon - 3 PM )

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  "We have hundreds of dollars worth of off road gear for door prizes donated by Clemson 4Wheel Center,  and WARN. SFWDA will also offer a pair of TrailFest 2016 Gift Certificates.  Sorry...  no WARN Winch because theTrail Fest Team beat me to it..."
 - Al Sweeney (Trick N Traction 4WD Club)

Dixie Run 29 is a Huge Success, Thank You to everyone for your support!

Dixie Run 29 is a Huge Success. 
Thank You to everyone for your support! 

 That's right, now that we have reviewed the results of the event we can say for sure that Dixie Run 29 was a hit. We broke almost all prior records for this long time event. With just under 800 total attendees and 487 rigs we have pushed this event to another level raising more money than ever before. Not only did we raise a considerable amount of money for our Association we have also added many new members including 15 new Premium Members. Thank you to each and every one of you who came out and enjoyed Golden Mountain Park together as part of the SFWDA family. 

What will the money raised do for our sport and community, well that is actually up to you all; our loyal members, clubs, and OHV parks. That's right, the SFWDA is a non-profit organization and as such we have a Grant Program for all active members to utilize. These funds are offered in grants up to as much as $5,000 per applicant for a variety of uses. Apply soon and get your your group involved. Grants are useful to educate enthusiasts, maintain and develop  OHV trails, construct OHV park improvements, and more. 

In case you missed it or you would like to check out photos from the event and look for your rig, take a peek at our Official Photographer for the event Image Off Road Photography. These great folks have provided hundreds of images for us all to browse and purchase. 

You can purchase directly from this link, including digital downloads. Enjoy!

Album 1
http://www.imageoffroadphotography.com/…/Dixie-Ru…/i-xHbHgXt

Album 2
http://www.imageoffroadphotography.com/Events/Dixie-Run-2015-Album-2/

Album 3
http://www.imageoffroadphotography.com/Events/Dixie-Run-2015-Album-3/i-nt4SHxZ

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 Next up is our Meet & Ride on November 14th, at Choccolocco Mountain Park . Hope you can join us!

Don't forget about TrailFest 2016 at Adventure Off Road Park which we plan to make bigger and better. Then mark your calendars for Dixie Run 30 at GMP September 23-25th.

Latest update on the Rock Solid Picnic Area Project

Check out some submitted photos on the continuing progress of the Rock Solid Picnic Area Project inside of Windrock Park. 

Photos provided by Bob Yarbrough