NOHVA’s 20th Anniversary

By Dan Nitzel

          NOHVA celebrated it’s 20th anniversary on November 11th 2007.  We originally formed the organization as the TBQ Sport Club, Inc., and we still use that name for legal purposes.  We are incorporated as a Nebraska not-for-profit organization under the TBQ name.  TBQ stands for Trikes, Bikes and Quads.  Our group was originally founded in Grand Island by Dan Nitzel and Gary Gibbs.  We started with about 20 riders and now have over 3000 members. 

          Our original purpose of the TBQ Sport Inc. has changed little over the last 20 years.  Our original goals were to fight laws that would ban ATVs and dirtbikes and to find and develop new places to ride.  A goal at that time was to run a moto-cross race track near Gibbon, and we no longer do that.  Jamborees replaced the races in 1991.

          In 1986, groups of citizens interested in safety and various environmental groups wanted ATVs and dirtbikes banned in the US.  The Sierra Club announced that it was one of their main goals to ban motorized recreation from all public lands by the year 2000.  As ATV and dirtbike users we did not want this to happen and we knew that something had to be done.  Thus, the beginnings of what is now the Nebraska Off Highway Vehicle Association (NOHVA) became a reality.

          From 1988 until 1991, we operated the TBQ Raceway, located eight miles north of Gibbon Nebraska.  Gary Gibbs ran the races with the help of other club members, friends, riders and local dealers. 

          In 1988, members of NOHVA organized the first ATV safety training courses in Nebraska. 

          In 1989 TBQ/NOHVA became involved in the Headworks OHV Park near Genoa.  In 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994 and 1995 we worked to formulate agreements and partnerships with Loup Power District and the Nance County Sheriff’s Department to avoid permanent closings of the Headworks OHV Park near Genoa.    Today, we continue to have a great partnership with the original two agencies in involved in the Headworks project since 1990.

          In 1991, we defeated proposed laws in Lincoln designed by the Sierra Club in Nebraska aimed at banning ATVs from nearly everywhere in Nebraska. 

          In 1995, members of NOHVA wrote 300 letters to the Nebraska National Forest Service asking for ATV and dirtbike trails.   The Dismal River Trail, Nebraska’s first and only multiple use trail was the result and it was built by volunteer NOHVA member ATV riders in 1999 for use by ATVs, dirtbikes, snowmobiles, horses, hikers and bicycles.   We continue to work for more trails at the Nebraska National Forest and donate labor and materials to help maintain existing trails that exist there now.  

          To find and develop more places to ride in Nebraska, we encourage state senators and state government to become involved in motorized recreational trails.    

          Members of NOHVA have served on various state committees to help steer the state toward recreational ATV and dirtbike trail development.  Dan Nitzel and Gary Gibbs served our states original Nebraska Recreational Trails Plan and Dan Nitzel served on the Nebraska Recreational Trails Program (RTP) committee.   Currently, NOHVA members Chris Didamo and Dennis Walz serve on the Nebraska Recreational Trails Committee representing ATV and dirtbike riders. 

          NOHVA works with various groups across the country to discover and learn about new and existing trails and learn how to manage them better.    NOHVA supports legislative efforts of the American Motorcycle Assn. and the All Terrain Vehicle Association (ATVA), and we are club members of the BlueRibbion Coalition, American Trails, and Tread Lightly!  Other groups or agencies we work closely with include the U.S. Forest Service/Nebraska National Forest, Loup Power District, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the National Off Highway Vehicle Conservation Council.

          As far as our future in concerned, we want to continue our work to help keep Headworks open and continue our projects at the Nebraska National Forest.  We hope to continue our efforts to help other motorized recreationists in Nebraska to become organized to find new places to ride.  People who enjoy motorized recreation need to become involved and we need to let our state and local government representatives know that we want programs to provide us places to ride!

 

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This page was updated on Sunday, March 01, 2009