Controversial Wilderness Bill Approved by Congress Will Limit Four WheelingCongress has approved legislation designating 106,000 acres in Washington state's Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest as wilderness. President Bush is expected to sign the bill into law. SEMA and the off-highway vehicle (OHV) community opposed the bill and supported an alternative version to preserve existing roads and trails on about 13,000 acres of the land. By law, wilderness areas generally prohibit roads and the use of motorized vehicles. The issue is consequential to SAN members, as off-roaders will have less riding areas in the region. The measure, which is commonly referred to as the "Wild Sky Wilderness" may sound familiar to SEMA members as it has been pushed in Congress for about five years. In years past, the bill was blocked by former House Resources Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA) who, with SEMA's support, proposed a compromise "backcountry wilderness" designation to set aside specific tracks of land that have existing roads and trails. Chairman Pombo was defeated in the 2006 election, and the bill's sponsors were able to pursue the legislation without concession. Leaders in the Democrat-controlled Congress are now moving forward on other wilderness proposals, which also may not adequately protect existing roads and trails. Currently, there are more than 20 other wilderness bills pending before Congress.
Available in September, the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain KM2 will be available in the following 21 new sizes:
LT215/75R15 100/97Q LRC RWL
LT235/75R15 104/101Q LRC RWL
LT325/60R15 106Q LRC RWL
LT225/75R16 110/107Q RWL
LT235/70R16 104/101Q LRC RWL
LT235/85R16 120/116 Q LRE RWL
LT245/75R16 120/116 Q LRE RWL
LT255/70R16 115/112 Q LRD RWL
LT255/85R16 123/120 Q LRE RWL
LT265/75R16 123/120 Q LRE RWL
LT285/75R16 126/123 Q LRE RWL
LT305/70R16 118/115 Q LRD RWL
30X9.50R15 104 Q LRC RWL
31X10.50R15 109Q LRC RWL
32X11.50R15 113Q LRC RWL
33X10.50R15 114Q LRC RWL
33X12.50R15 108Q LRC RWL
35X12.50R15 113Q LRC RWL
LT245/75R17 121/118Q LRE RWL
LT255/80R17 121/118Q LRE RWL
LT265/70R17 121/118Q LRE RWL
Bilstein is launching the largest consumer promotion in the history of the company, with the announcement of the Bilstein Baja Challenge Sweepstakes. There are two grand prizes consisting of an all-expenses-paid trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where each winner and their guest get to drive Bilstein shock-equipped Wide Open Baja race cars for three days on the real Baja 1000 race course. Each winner of the grand prize gets to bring along another person. This is a behind-the-wheel driving experience and much more than a simple racing school or guided low-speed tour. The Bilstein-Wide Open Challenge pushes the envelope of an adventure-based experience, and shows the participants just how well Bilstein shocks perform. Wide Open's exclusive open-wheel race cars provide guests with the performance and safety of a modern desert racer, but are comfortable enough for anyone to drive. Seasoned guides lead you through the entire journey, and the trip is planned to the final detail. Baja is rugged, untamed, and truly wide open, and just because you'll get a little dirty doesn't mean it's uncivilized. The trip includes first-class accommodations (where possible) and the finest meals that Baja has to offer. Even miles from nowhere, Bilstein and Wide Open make sure the legendary Baja hospitality is in place in even the most remote situations. Secondary prizes include four sets of Bilstein shocks and four Bilstein racing jackets. Entries open June 2. Contest closes September 30, 2008; winners announced October 13, 2008. Log on to www.bilsteinbaja14.com to enter.
- Looks like the actual '09 Dodge Ram 1500 fuel economy will be closer to 20 mpg highway, not the 23 as we originally reported.
- Rumor has it that a last-minute decision has been made to continue producing the current Ford Ranger until 2011.
- The next-gen Silverado has been put on hold and will not appear in 2012 as originally planned.