| An ATV is a very powerful machine. The first | | | | passengers, those are not people you know. But |
| four-wheelers were engineered for utility uses such | | | | most four-wheeler races are local pitting daredevils |
| as pulling tractors out ditches in the middle of a | | | | from the same community against each other in a |
| snowstorm or taking lumber workers deep into the | | | | test of man and machine against each other and |
| woods to do their jobs. But in the last couple of | | | | against rough terrain. It is not so thrilling to see |
| decades, the use of ATVs for recreational purposes | | | | "wipe outs" in that situation when it is your friends or |
| has really taken off. And perhaps one of the most | | | | family out there facing potentially serious injury or |
| exciting sports to grow up around four-wheelers is | | | | even death. |
| that of ATV racing. It is a sport that is easy to get | | | | That is why safety is a top criteria for any ATV |
| hooked on either as a participant or as a spectator. | | | | race. A four-wheeler race is not the kind of sport |
| Much of the reason for the popularity of off road | | | | to get into if you are not prepared to conform to |
| racing is also the reasons don’t want their | | | | very strict standards of preparation and safety. |
| youngsters involved in the thrilling hobby. There is | | | | Every possible form of body protection must be |
| just no getting around the fact that racing | | | | employed to give each driver and rider maximum |
| four-wheelers is a dangerous passion to have. Even | | | | protection should there be an accident. This includes |
| an amateur ATV race will, by the very nature of the | | | | helmets, gloves and body armor. This is no sport |
| sport take the four-wheeler and its driver over rough | | | | for the "hot shot" who feels they should not have to |
| terrain that could include ravines, rocks, fallen trees | | | | wear a helmet. The chances of accidents is high so |
| and just about anything else you might find in | | | | whoever is running the race must make this rule the |
| nature. | | | | law of the land. |
| It is one thing to take an ATV out for a recreational | | | | Then when racing, even though you are competing |
| tour of the wilderness. It is dangerous enough | | | | against each other, each and every driver or rider in |
| when you have the liberty to go slow, turn back or | | | | the competing ATVs must look after each other. |
| get out and clear the route before you take your | | | | You want to win the race but for each of your |
| four-wheeler over that terrain. In a racing situation, | | | | competitors to come through unharmed. By racing |
| you are pushing that ATV to its speed limits and the | | | | responsibly, making sure there is room to move for |
| driver will commonly charge right into unfamiliar terrain | | | | all drivers and even stopping if there is an accident to |
| that may have hidden dangers because of the need | | | | render aid, you are being responsible in how you |
| to move quickly to win the race. | | | | handle your ATV racing. These precautions won't |
| When you are watching a race on television, seeing a | | | | make four-wheeler racing completely safe but they |
| crash is exciting because when that vehicle goes | | | | can go along way to make sure racing is about fun |
| flying, as do the bodies of the drivers and | | | | and not life threatening danger. |