[Kim 100AW]

NEEDED IN THEIR HANDS BY 8/2/02!!!!!!!!!!!!

Regarding the future flexibility of the 100 Acre Wood.

The Mark Twain National Forest, with whom the 100AW organizers have a terrific working relationship, is revising it's 'Comprehensive Plan' which was last assembled in 1986.

Some roads within the Mark Twain are currently not available to the 100AW as they are completely owned by and maintained by the US Forestr Service. The roads we are currently competing on (and will continue to compete on) are maintained by the counties in which we run, hence not under the jurisdiction of the Mark Twain National Forest.

Some of the greatest stages in history (and I do mean history) are encumbered by a rule in the 1986 Comprehensive Plan that states that Motorsport is allowed on Forest Roads so long as speed is not the determining factor. In other words, TSD events are OK, Performance Rallies are not. Somehow, somewhere along the line someone apparantly decided that speed was hazardous to the environment. And we have no will to argue that it's not speed, it's time...that argument was forwarded last year and our relationship is too good to go that way.

To help us free up these roads possibly for YOUR USE, we are asking anyone and everyone who has a feeling about this, to take advantage of the system which is asking for input now that the 'Plan' is being revised. Our rangers in Salem and Potosi are helping us understand this process.

The Chambers of Commerce in Ellington and Salem as well as many local businesses who benefit from the annual event will be writing letters of comment. The Road Commissioners will be writing letters. Obviously we organizers will be writing letters. But I'm asking you the current, past, or future competitor or worker to write a letter of comment on this questionable wording to help us get the 'speed' prohibition out of the plan. The more people they hear from and you ARE a Federal Tax Payer) the more grease the wheel's going to get.

This should not be a 'form letter', but one thought out by the writer, so I will not grace you with specific wording. But for whatever reason you decide (economic impact, tourism, legitimate use of federal forest property, whatever) we want your voice heard along with the rest of ours.

Please note that this prohibition is an individual rule for the Mark Twain and may or may not exist in other National Forests.

BTW if any of you have Forest Rangers with whom you have solid relationships, a letter from some of them might not hurt either (if they're willing, that would be a great sign of confidence)

Please write (Snail-mail only):

Laura Watts - Plan Revision Comments
c/o Forest Supervisor
Mark Twain National Forest
401 Fairgrounds Road
Rolla, MO 65401

Please forward this to any additional concerned parties you might know.

Thanks in advance...please keep me posted.

Kim DeMotte
Official Old Fart, etc.

 

[GoetzingerMotorsports]

Kim,

I have no problem whatsoever in writing a letter in support of your efforts, and ours Though you stated you do not want us to use a "form letter", which I agree with, would you or somone else very educated, be willing to proofread or "Word Smith" any prospective letters? One thing that I do know very well is that it is VERY possible to have the best of intentions but the worst delivery. When it comes to political issues, a single mispoken or ill-chosen word can ruin an otherwise wonderful message. Therefore, I would be far more comfortable having someone "help" me with my letter than possibly misspeak and cause more harm than help.

Thank you once again for yours and the committee's hard work on maintaining and improving this event for the future...AND for keeping us in the loop.

 

[Kim 100AW]

Greg, I'd love to word-smith, but am probably A) the wrong person to do that and B) heading for LA in about 6 hours not to return until late next week.

I'm not too concerned about your concerns. Our friends at the MTNF have suggested that numbers will get the attention. For example, while the Chamber of Commerce will write a letter, it is more effective for the Chamber AND it's members to write a letter explaning that this particular wording might be having an adverse effect on the economic well being of their establishment. And, that by legistalive decree, National Forests are public land and belong to the people who use them (a fact that the Missouri Conservation Commission does not share...hence no State Forest roads...at least for the time being). Our Forest folks are willing to work with us on some AWESOME additional roads (slower, more technical than the County roads we saw last event) IF there is pulic support for altering the plan as it now exists.

There are two possibilities as have been inferred to me. A) It will go into a committee and be discussed ad nauseum and possibly put out for a long public opinion poll, etc., or B) they can look at the atmosphere as it is today compared to 1986 and make a quick fix. I really don't know which to expect. But I know if we aren't one of the higher priority lower effort changes requested, we'll wait a long time to be noticed. Make sense?

Thanks for the support....and no need to worry about future events.. ...all's very well...just would like it to get better!

Kim

Kim DeMotte
Official Old Fart, etc.

 

[GoetzingerMotorsports]

I regards to all that Kim has said, I am now asking the rally masses if anyone has a letter similar to what Kim is asking for that I can use to get some ideas. I have some ideas as to "what" I am going to say, but I would love to see "how" others have said it. I am not looking for, as kim requested, a "form" letter, merely something to help direct my thoughts.

Thanks!