FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Feb. 7, 2013)
Contact: Della Domingo
909/978-6723
dellad@sema.org
SEMA HAMMERS MESSAGE: SAVE
JOHNSON VALLEY OHV RECREATION AREA
TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA. (Feb. 7, 2013) – The Specialty
Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has joined with the Off-Road Business
Association (ORBA) and a coalition of other land use advocacy organizations to
keep the Johnson Valley OHV Recreation Area open to enthusiasts.
The Marine Corps wants to expand its base at Twentynine Palms, California to
include ownership of nearly 147,000 acres of adjacent land in Johnson Valley in
order to conduct large-scale training exercises for one or two months a
year.
“OHV racing is one of SEMA’s fastest growing enthusiast markets,” said SEMA
President and CEO Chris Kersting. “Many of our member companies provide
the equipment necessary for teams to compete and enthusiasts to enjoy the
sport. Given the strong interest our members have in preserving Johnson
Valley, SEMA looks forward to working with the Marine Corps to find a solution
that allows for both military training and recreational pursuits.”
Kersting attended the 2013 King of the Hammers, known as the toughest one
day off-road race in the world, to show SEMA’s support for a special-use permit
compromise. Racers take advantage of the area’s unique geography to race
Ultra 4 vehicles on a dry lake bed at speeds over 100 miles per hour and then
rock crawl through boulder fields.
Johnson Valley draws at least 200,000 visitors annually and generates nearly
$200 million each year for the local economy as a result of the Kings of the
Hammers event, scores of other organized enthusiast events, and individual
off-highway vehicle activities.
The OHV community has also petitioned the White House for support of the
special-use permit approach. Thanks in part to SEMA’s enthusiast outreach
organization, the SEMA Action Network (SAN) (www.semasan.com),
more than 25,000 signatures required for an official Administration response
were received in just two weeks. The community is now awaiting a White
House response.
About SEMA
SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association founded in 1963,
represents the $29.99 billion specialty automotive industry of 6,537
member-companies. It is the authoritative source for research, data, trends and
market growth information for the specialty auto parts industry. The industry
provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products
for passenger and recreational vehicles. For more information, contact SEMA at
1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA 91765, tel: 909/396-0289, or visit www.sema.org
or www.enjoythedrive.com.
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