Land, land, land, land..

One thing that comes up every few years in different groups is the concept of forming a group of private investors and buying some land. This is what the guys in fond-u-lac did.  Can’t remember the name of the group but mitch is a member.  They basically bought a 60-acre chunk of old quarry, set a limit on the number of members and everybody pays $350 a year to ride as much as they want. Mostly hare scrambles guys I think (which, with the loud 4-stroke exhaust, got them some noise problems with the neighbors..  that’s a problem you’re not ever likely to have in a trials area..)

Not that I don't love riding at Noel's. And Jim's. I do, but there seem to be a lot of small quarry's in this state abandoned.  I like fishing, but we already have plenty of lakes.  And we all know that land opportunities are diminishing.  If our sport is going to continue we need to make sure it has places to continue.

So that’s been on  my mind for years, but was beyond my financial reach, and will be for another three or four years (until I buy my next house). But it’s something to work toward. I remember that Wes Wilcox was working toward a similar thing but it never seemed to work out.   You only need a few acres, and it's usually land you can't build anything on. 

Who's interested?

Bent

If the  right find is found I would be interested   something near Baraboo or Richland center  would  be good.

I just bought some.

Perhaps there is a way to have the state fund the land purchase.  We are all buying gas to put in our trials bikes.  A large portion of the cost of our gas goes to the state, in the form of tax to fund road repairs.  Since we are paying excess money to the state to ride our off-road bikes - I believe we have the right to organize and ask for the money back in the form of off highway vehicle designated land.  I will look into this at the April 14th OHV meeting in Portage.  It would save each of us the $350/year member/purchase fee.

On the other hand, if we went the private purchase route, how would just $350/year per person be able to fund such a purchase?  How would the downpayment be made and who would make it? If there is a loan, who would be liable for it? Would the land be owned by a newly formed not-for-profit corporation? If someone dropped out after a few years, would the others have to buy him out?  If so, how would the price be determined? Years down the road, if the membership decided to sell the land, who would get the proceeds from the sale.  This is a very interesting idea.

Dave

 HI there is an additional line in underwriter if land has water hazard FRANKIE

One thing that comes up every few years in different groups is the concept of forming a group of private investors and buying some land. This is what the guys in fond-u-lac did.  Can’t remember the name of the group but mitch is a member.  They basically bought a 60-acre chunk of old quarry, set a limit on the number of members and everybody pays $350 a year to ride as much as they want. Mostly hare scrambles guys I think (which, with the loud 4-stroke exhaust, got them some noise problems with the neighbors..  that’s a problem you’re not ever likely to have in a trials area..)

Not that I don't love riding at Noel's. And Jim's. I do, but there seem to be a lot of small quarry's in this state abandoned.  I like fishing, but we already have plenty of lakes.  And we all know that land opportunities are diminishing.  If our sport is going to continue we need to make sure it has places to continue.

So that’s been on  my mind for years, but was beyond my financial reach, and will be for another three or four years (until I buy my next house). But it’s something to work toward. I remember that Wes Wilcox was working toward a similar thing but it never seemed to work out.   You only need a few acres, and it's usually land you can't build anything on. 

Who's interested?

Bent

One thing that comes up every few years in different groups is the concept of forming a group of private investors and buying some land. This is what the guys in fond-u-lac did.  Can’t remember the name of the group but mitch is a member.  They basically bought a 60-acre chunk of old quarry, set a limit on the number of members and everybody pays $350 a year to ride as much as they want. Mostly hare scrambles guys I think (which, with the loud 4-stroke exhaust, got them some noise problems with the neighbors..  that’s a problem you’re not ever likely to have in a trials area..)

Not that I don't love riding at Noel's. And Jim's. I do, but there seem to be a lot of small quarry's in this state abandoned.  I like fishing, but we already have plenty of lakes.  And we all know that land opportunities are diminishing.  If our sport is going to continue we need to make sure it has places to continue.

So that’s been on  my mind for years, but was beyond my financial reach, and will be for another three or four years (until I buy my next house). But it’s something to work toward. I remember that Wes Wilcox was working toward a similar thing but it never seemed to work out.   You only need a few acres, and it's usually land you can't build anything on. 

Who's interested?

Bent

The Manitowoc OHV club is the group that Bent is talking about.  Rick Anschutz, the D16 Hare Scrambles ref, was their president and might still be.  I was racing HS at the time they bought the land, and BADLY needed a place to practice, so was willing to pay the $300 annual membership (at the time) to join their club.  But I ended up only getting to ride there twice over the that year because right after joining they had to close down riding due to a law-suit from some neighbors.  Long story short, they eventually started riding there again but not before I was long gone.  They got me for $300... my fault for not doing my homework and for not being more patient. 

So, I'd personnaly be very leary of being part of something like that again, especially if the land being used had never been used for riding before and there was another house within a mile of the property boundary.  If you buy land just to ride on it, make sure you make nice with your neighbors and figure out a way you can keep them happy.  In todays litiginous world, they can make your life miserable.

Contact Rick through his website, rpaoffroad.com, if you want info on how they worked this out. IIRC, each person in the OHV club (30+ people?) putting in $300 per year for several years, which built up the equity needed for the down-payment on the land.  The annual dues after that paid the taxes/loan, etc. 

The Manitowoc OHV club is the group that Bent is talking about.  Rick Anschutz, the D16 Hare Scrambles ref, was their president and might still be.  I was racing HS at the time they bought the land, and BADLY needed a place to practice, so was willing to pay the $300 annual membership (at the time) to join their club.  But I ended up only getting to ride there twice over the that year because right after joining they had to close down riding due to a law-suit from some neighbors.  Long story short, they eventually started riding there again but not before I was long gone.  They got me for $300... my fault for not doing my homework and for not being more patient. 

Well, they certainly didn't set out with bad intentions. And ultimately it seemed to work out alright. And of course, your continued patience would have cost you a continued $300.  And then maybe you wouldn't have started riding trials, which would have been a crime.

So, I'd personnaly be very leary of being part of something like that again, especially if the land being used had never been used for riding before and there was another house within a mile of the property boundary.  If you buy land just to ride on it, make sure you make nice with your neighbors and figure out a way you can keep them happy.  In todays litiginous world, they can make your life miserable.

Contact Rick through his website, rpaoffroad.com, if you want info on how they worked this out. IIRC, each person in the OHV club (30+ people?) putting in $300 per year for several years, which built up the equity needed for the down-payment on the land.  The annual dues after that paid the taxes/loan, etc. 

Good points, and Dave has a lot of good questions. Which we can work toward answering over time.  Ironically, I'd imagine if the Manitowoc area had been trials only the neighbors might never have known they were there.  Of course, I ride more than trials too, so that's not realistic. But some degree of separation from the neighbors is vital.

Bent

I just bought some.

To 2whlrcr,

So, you bought some land?  Is good for trials riding? What county is it in?

Dave

I just bought some.

To 2whlrcr,

So, you bought some land?  Is good for trials riding? What county is it in?

Dave

Yes, it's perfect for trials.  Dubuque county.

I'm currently a member of the Manitowoc club that bought the abandoned gravel pit (66 acres). As an acoustic engineer I and another NHV engineer at H-D volunteered to represent them on the noise issues in court and did in fact attend and testify for them twice. We did a property line noise survey using sound equipment loaned by H-D that was very pursuasive in court. Our bill to the club was free memberships rather than the thousands we could have charged.

The one owner nearby wanted to buy the land himself and was very annoyed when the club bought it. He is appealing our win but we now have local groups supporting us such as the county board of realtors. They hate strict zoning rules in their business and have filed a brief in support of the club.

The club is able to survive with 35 members paying $300/year. There have been no noise complaints this year and the club purposely moved the trails to be further away and out of sight from the neighbors. We expect to win again in court. As a good will jester I will be offering to teach free OHV classes (ATV or dirt bike) to the local board, so they get to see what this OHV stuff is all about. I have also helped the club have their grounds accepted as a certified MSF and ATV training site. It's hard to critisize when the cub is offering "Safety" courses to the public.

Alex Bub
MSF and ATV Coach
NOHVCC Wisconsin State Representative
www.wisconsinoffroadadventures.com
   

Nice work Alex. You continue to inspire me!

Bent