A group of five or six families of riders came up from Vancouver Island to test out the 100 Mile House motocross track on the 99 Mile Hill.
Oliver Sayah treasurer for the West Coast ATV Racing Club says their group of family-oriented people is making a tour through B.C., spending a few days in Whistler before coming up to 100 Mile House and going to Kamloops and Kelowna on their way back to Vancouver Island over the course of about a week and a half.
“We promote safe and responsible use of ATVs. Particularly sport and race ATVs so we try to encourage people to take safety courses and we’ve held race schools and ATV training courses already and we promote the use of all full riding gear.”
They had a riders meeting and gave out some instructional before they started riding on July 6, he says.
“Because we have the track to ourselves, we’re trying to work with the kids and the beginners to help them with training so yes we are doing some today.”
Brandon Plewes, president of the South Cariboo Track and Dirtbike Association, has done a really good job and been really supportive and accommodating, says Sayah.
“We just went out a couple of times already and I’ve got a little hole in my tire from a rock but the track’s in great shape.”
The best part of riding is the friendships that you make and because it’s so family-oriented that everyone can be part of it, he says.
“I think that it’s a great way to get some good exercise, get some fresh air and meet new people.”
Plewes says they’d been talking about having them come up since late last year.
“Race ATVs, there’s a bit of a thing with them on dirt bike tracks. Not a lot of dirt bike tracks want them on there. I feel like our track is very safe for ATVs and actually designed pretty good for them to enjoy the track, have fun and be safe doing it.”
The track has been good and they’ve been enjoying it, he says, adding that just as they’d thought it’s been safe for ATVs to go out there.
Having them come up and use the track helps the local club, says Plewes, adding that the more people they can get to come from out of town and purchase memberships helps them with grant applications to keep improving the grounds.
With prices a fraction of what they are in the Lower Mainland and them being welcoming to ATV groups it seems to be a pretty good value, he says.
“We’re happy that they made the track up here and see every one of the group, everyone in their club come back again and any other user groups that want to give it a go can certainly do so as well.”
