Trouble In Them Thar Hills!
This is an image of Aztec family raceway - its a privately owned dirt track (members only) for dirt bike enthusiasts and racers alike. Right next to the Aztec raceway the city of Colorado Springs is going to build, or already has built some wonderful single track for ohv use. Here is where the trouble begins, my buddy Dan is an avid dirt bike enthusiast, who is a bit cash strapped and is really exited about this new park the city is proposing. He cant afford the prices Aztec wants - and who would if your just a weekend trail rider looking for some place close and legal to ride - for free, or for a small day use fee. Aztec wants a down payment and monthly fees? Thats fine if you are a racer there but if your just looking to go for a ride on your day off its not cost effective?
He has been talking non stop about his place ever since he read about it on thumper talk, and already the motorcycle crazy among us have been giving privately our own hard earned cash to make this park a reality. Now here is where it gets interesting. Dan is a college student and during class one day a librarian came to his class to "discuss" something with the class. She was going to talk about how she was opposing this new OHV park - about how it will destroy the natural beauty of Coral Canyon. OK WHAT??? So naturally Dan - being the engineering scientist type, lets her speak, and when she finishes her speech she asks the students if they have any questions. Of course Dan is the first to raise his hand.
Being an engineering student he launches into a series of questions of a Socratic nature, designed to undermine her argument.
1) Mame have you ever been to Coral Canyon - NO
2) Are you aware that a dirt bike facility already exists next to the park? - NO
3) Are you aware that a dump site exists just adjacent to the Park? - NO
4) Why did you not complain when the county commissioners allowed the building of the dump site? - I had no idea it was there?
5) Are you aware that there are already single track paths laid out by hikers and illegal dirt bikes, and mountain bikers - that the land has been used this way for years? NO
6) Are you aware that our organization intends to clean up the random trash strewn around the property and that we are making an effort to shore up illegal single track with erosion barriers and signs to point out legal trails. - I knew that there were trails but not that the park was intended to fix them?
7) Are you aware that 70% of the funding has been by private citizens not city government funded? NOT A SINGLE TAX DOLLAR WILL BE SPENT? = NO ANSWER
The thing is he pretty much gutted her arguments and provided a solid foundation for why the park should be allowed. I for one welcome the park, its a great cold weather park and limited access place to ride in the winter when its too difficult to trail ride in the mountains, it is also close to the city and was targeted for urban development anyway! What is the problem lady?
I guess if you want to ride you have to fight for it!
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