The SXS & ATV Roundup presented by Yamaha proves to be a huge success

The SXS & ATV Roundup presented by Yamaha enjoyed success in its first year at Brimstone Recreation, hosting the largest crowd in the park’s history. Held over Labor Day Weekend 2009, the Roundup was a popular choice for off-roaders in the Southeast. With a host of activities and events for the whole family, the crowds were in attendance all weekend. Friday night’s drive-in movie sponsored by PIAA kicked off the weekend’s festivities. The crowd was back in attendance early Saturday to get a look at the tricked out machines competing in the Kawasaki Show and Shine. Mud bogging, drag racing and sled pulling events ran all day in the GBC arena, while the Can-Am guided rides gave visitors a look at Brimstone’s amazing trail system. As the sun set behind the Tennessee hills, Country Legend Jon Anderson kept the crowd rocking late into the night on the Yamaha Main Stage. Sunday was all about racing;
the Pro Armor King of the Mountain Endurance Challenge tested the toughest racers in the region with the most hard-core race course in the country.

“If you missed out on the 2009 SXS & ATV Roundup in Huntsville, TN on September 4th through 7th, we would agree that you should never forgive yourself.” – ATV Rider Magazine

SXS and ATV Round up Huge Success!

YAMAHA RESPONSE TO CBS NEWS STORY

The following is an official statement from Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., in response to the recent CBS News story. This statement can be attributed to Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. Please go to www.TruthAboutRhino.com for more information.

Safety drives everything we do at Yamaha. We are proud of the safety record and safety features of the Yamaha Rhino, which has skyrocketed in popularity due to its exceptional reliability, safety and versatility.

Over 150,000 Rhino owners have used the vehicles safely, including the U.S. military, border patrol, and a growing number of law enforcement agencies, fire fighters and other first responders. In fact, more than 99 percent of Rhino owners have operated their vehicles safely and responsibly over millions of hours of use. The Rhino has won virtually every “first in class” award and top safety ratings in independent reviews since its introduction.

The popularity of the Rhino, and the fact that it represents a new category of off-road motorized vehicles, has made it a target for some plaintiffs’ lawyers who increasingly use the Internet, television advertisements and the news media to attract clients. As the first trial dates approach in personal injury litigation in various courts, some law firms have embarked on a misleading publicity campaign to influence potential jurors and/or the outcomes of these cases, and to solicit potential clients. Yamaha will properly deal with these cases in the courtroom based on all the relevant evidence and a fair opportunity to be heard.

Unfortunately, these law firms successfully convinced CBS News to help further their disingenuous publicity campaign, and the network aired a story on the Rhino that included inaccurate, incomplete and false information.

To begin with, CBS featured an incident involving Justin Miller, but failed to mention that Mr. Miller was driving a heavily modified Rhino. As the photo of that Rhino posted on CBS’s own website reveals and the investigating officer testified — the Rhino Miller was driving had an extended cage structure, and what looks to be a back seat bolted to the rear cargo bed. The vehicle’s owner signed a waiver for his purchase of a “Custom Rhino” stating that the vehicle has “additional third party parts and accessories not offered by the manufacturer” and releasing all claims against the dealer and “all other persons and entities” related to the purchase of the vehicle.

The CBS story also shows security camera footage of an incident involving Zach Murray, a former employee at a Yamaha dealership who is currently a plaintiff with his own pending lawsuit. In a post-incident letter to his employer, Mr. Murray wrote that he intentionally stepped out of the overturning vehicle. Although CBS was made aware of Mr. Murray’s letter, they neglected to include mention of it in their story.

In addition, Mr. Murray was not wearing a seatbelt or a helmet. He was operating the vehicle on pavement then made a sharp, high-acceleration turn, and did not stay inside the vehicle.

A more complete version of the security camera tape shows two other vehicles being driven recklessly on the same stretch of pavement where the accident occurred, suggesting that an atmosphere of horseplay existed just prior to Murray’s crash, and that the only reason for Murray to be making a sharp, high acceleration turn was to also engage in horseplay.

In a separate part of the story, CBS cites documents that discuss an early pre-prototype vehicle that had a different design than, and no relation to, the Rhino that is on the market today. Despite being told weeks ago that it would be false to imply that these documents relate to the Rhino in any way, CBS chose to include this misleading information in its report.

Yamaha was contacted for the CBS segment two months ago by Myron Levin, a freelance reporter with a long history of writing news stories that favor the plaintiffs’ bar. Yamaha provided a great deal of information to Mr. Levin, including responding to more than 40 written questions. Mr. Levin also conducted an hour-long interview with a Yamaha representative at Yamaha’s offices in California. Yamaha did not agree to an on-air interview with the reporter, Armen Keteyian, because we could not be assured that such an interview would not be selectively edited and used in misleading ways with statements taken out-of-context given the obvious plaintiffs’ slant with which the CBS producers were developing their story.

Like the CPSC, Yamaha takes very seriously any reported Rhino-related accident, and Yamaha has fully cooperated in the agency’s investigation of the Rhino and its request for modifications. Yamaha will continue to work to promote safe and responsible use of the vehicles, including the active, ongoing development of standards for all recreational off-road side-by-side vehicles, including the Rhino.

Yamaha stands firmly behind the Rhino and will continue to vigorously defend the product against baseless claims and distortions, whether they be from plaintiffs’ law firms or biased, inaccurate media reports parroting these lawyers’ claims. The Rhino is a safe and useful off-road vehicle when driven responsibly by licensed operators aged 16 or older and according to the instructions and warnings in our on-product labels, owner’s manuals, and other safety materials.

Side X Side Roundup’s Best Riding Club

Just like any activity riding is better with your buddies.  At the Side X Side Roundup, we want you to show us your riding club’s spirit!  The largest club that registers at the Side X Side Roundup will be featured in an issue of Side X Side Action Magazine!  Every registered member of the winning club at the roundup will also receive a free one-year subscription to Side X Side Action Magazine.  While registering don’t forget to fill out you club affiliation.

Yamaha Generator named the Official Generator of PGI Media and its consumer events

PGI Media, Inc. is proud to announce that the Yamaha Generator is the official generator of PGI Media and its consumer events.   The Dune Tour, Side X Side Jamboree, and Side X Side Roundup will be powered by the all-new EF6300iSDE and EF4500iSE Inverter Generators. With the most powerful engines in their class, Yamaha allows these inverter models to run at very low engine speed, reducing fuel consumption, noise, vibration and wear.  Yamaha is the only Generator on the market to meet these needs, and allow us to hold the largest consumer events at the most popular recreational areas in the world.

Not only will the new Yamaha Generators power our events, we will be giving away an all-new EF2000iS at each event.  The all-new EF2000iS is lightweight, quiet, and powerful.  Delivering maximum output with minimum effort, it weighs only 44 lbs and features an extra-large handle for easy transport anywhere.  It’s whisper quiet and meets the strictest invariant standards.

“We are proud to power our events with the most fuel efficient and quiet power available in today’s market” says Nick McFayden, Group Director of PGI Media.

Things to remember

1. Ice chest with drinks and snacks
2. Slime (in case of a flat tire)
3. Toe rope (you never know if you will get stuck)
4. Basic tools (wrenches, screw drivers, duck tape, etc)
5. Light jacket (it may get cold at night)
6. GPS (Not required by a good idea to have!)
7. Helmets
8. Extra Gas

Permits

You can purchase your permit at the Brimstone Office in Huntsville, TN or online by clicking the button below.

The Brimstone Permit is your ticket to fun filled adventure and exploration through miles of untamed wilderness in the Cumberland Mountains.

So come and join us on the Mountain.

2009 PERMIT COSTS:
DAILY	$15.00
WEEKLY	$30.00
YEARLY	$60.00
CHILD YEARLY (17 & Under)	$30.00

Permits are available online for one or more individuals. Each permit purchased online is only valid after completion of the following steps:

• Signing Waiver, Release, and Indemnity agreement.
• Safety briefing and screening.
• Receipt of Brimstone’s privacy policy.
• Production of photo ID card.
• Following the completion of the required information, the client possesses the right to use the land for the recreation as indicated on the card for the time period specified.

Click here to purchase your Brimstone Permit Online

Lodging

Grand Vista Hotel
11597 Scott Hwy
Helenwood, TN 37755
(423) 663-4100

Galloway Motel
299 Galloway Dr
Helenwood, TN 37755
(423) 569-8835‎

Destination: Dreams
217 N. Cross Street
Oneida, TN 37841
(423) 286-6270

Oneida Guest House Inc
103 Sheppard Rd
Oneida, TN 37841
(423) 569-3898

Tobes Motel
20151 Alberta St
Oneida, TN 37841
(423) 569-8581‎

Laurel Fork Rustic Retreat
300 Manis Ln
Oneida, TN 37841
(423) 569-5135

Laurel Fork Rustic Retreat
2243 Leatherwood Rd
Oneida, TN 37841
(423) 286-5135

The Cabins of Elk run
2165 Low Gap road
Helenwood, TN 37755
423-215-8008

Comfort Inn Pioneer
335 Howard Baker Hwy
Caryville, TN 37847
(423) 566-4400

Camping
Trail’s End Campground
Right next to Brimstone
865.617.8127
www.trailsendcampsite.com

Directions

From I-75, take exit 141 towards Oneida. Take 63 until you get into Huntsville. Brimstone Recreation’s office is on the left.

Map to event
Brimstone Recreation 2860 Baker Highway Huntsville, TN 37756 423-663-HUNT Click Here For Google Maps

Performance by John Anderson

Biography

The story of John Anderson and his platinum-plus album, Seminole Wind, is the story of the country music “come-back” of the decade.  It’s the true-to-life, yet larger-than-life, saga of one of the most dramatic career turn-arounds of the 1990’s.  It’s the story of just reward for a singer who originally took country music by storm and helped keep it true to its roots back in the early ’80’s.  His memorable hits from that musical era included Wild and Blue, I’m Just An Old Chunk Of Coal, 1959, I Just Came Home To Count The Memories, Black Sheep and Swingin’.  Swingin’ was not only the Country Music Association’s 1983 Song of the year; more recently it was cited by the A.M.O.A. as one of its all-time top-forty jukebox hits–right up there with Hey Jude and other perennial favorites by The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Patsy Cline, George Jones, and The Rolling Stones.

Straight Tequila Night, the lead-off single from Seminole Wind (Anderson’s debut album for BNA Entertainment), went to number one across the board on every country chart.  It was his first bona-fide chart-topper since Black Sheep in 1983.  When It Comes To You, the second single, reached number two, while Seminole Wind, the heartfelt title tune soared to number one when released later in 1992.  Jay Orr, a noted music writer for the Nashville Banner, was one of several critics to list Seminole Wind in a top-ten album round-up for 1992.

Seminole Wind is a vivid personal statement which Anderson wrote after visiting his 95-year old grandmother, and after driving around Florida observing the drastic ecological changes that time and progress wrought on his native state.  Its accompanying video was shot at a cypress preserve in the Florida Everglades with assistance and participation of the region’s native Seminole Indians.  It too leaped to the number one spot on national video charts.

Those of us who’ve followed the vicissitudes of Anderson’s recording career aren’t particularly surprised at his “rediscovery” in the wake of Seminole Wind.  This is, after all, the vocal genius who won the Country Music Association’s 1983 Horizon Award and helped lay the cornerstone for the late 1980’s neo-traditionalist boom with his aforementioned early ’80’s stone-country hits.  Those hits which showcased Anderson’s arresting, instantly recognizable vocal style; a provocative mixture of honky tonk fervor, rockabilly/outlaw gusto, sly, tongue-in-cheek humor, and just a hint of rock n’ roll swagger.  The Anderson we hear today is merely the new and slightly mellowed adult version of the stylistically headstrong, fiercely determined 17-year old who hit Nashville running in 1972.  He clawed his way up the ladder one rung at a time, from $5-a-night gigs in the honky tonk closets of lower Broadway and a day job tacking shingles on the new Grand Old Opry house at Opryland.

John followed Seminole Wind with five more critically acclaimed albums, spawning hits like, Money In The Bank, I’ve Got It Made, I Wish I Could Have Been There, Let Go Of The Stone, Bend It ‘Til It Breaks, Mississippi Moon and Somebody Slap Me.

John Anderson is a seasoned and improved model of the same tried-and-true, dyed-in-the-wool country vocalist who critics lauded more than a decade ago for having brought, “renewed beauty and elegance to the twin-fiddle, steel guitar tradition of the old-time honky-tonk balladeer.”  The editors of Country Music Magazine, in celebration of the magazine’s twenty- fifth anniversary, compiled their individual choices for the best twenty records of the past twenty years, three of Anderson’s early albums made their respective short lists.

Other awards include a Grammy Award in 1996 for Amazing Grace:  A Country Salute To Gospel.  In 1994 the Academy of Country Music honored him with their “Career Achievement Award.”  The same year he received the Country Music Association “Album of the Year” for Common Threads:  The Songs of the Eagles.  Swingin’ won the CMA “Single of the Year” in 1983.  He has also received numerous nominations for Grammies, ACM’s and CMA’s and has several gold and platinum album certifications.

Recently, John has released “Anthology” on his own JA Records, distributed by Audium/KOCH Entertainment.  This 30 song collection is a culmination of all the hits in John Anderson’s spectacular career as well as a few important songs that have been popular in his road show and frequently requested by his loyal following.  John states, “This project has great significance to me as this music and the musicians who played on it have become a big part of my life.  I love and appreciate my fans and thank all of the people that have supported my music!”

John Anderson…an influence to many of today’s country artists, a colorful character and truly a country music treasure!

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