A retrospective on the concept and development of the Great Pine Trail Riders.

            Recently Brian Helliwell asked me to do an article for OFTR/OFORM on how to start a bike club. I found this request to be a challenge, because quite honestly, there was no plan. Instead, I thought the best way to cover the issue was to look back on the last
2 ½ years.

            In the fall of 2002 a casual discussion happened at an end of the season Enduro that I had attended as a worker. The focus of the discussion regarded the fact that there was no off road club in the Ganaraska area that did not have a large competition aspect. We had all done our racing, and just wanted to ride. We also had a goal of improving the perception of the sport with the ideal of preserving our right to ride in the forest. Over the winter months a number of emails were exchanged and phone calls made to exchange ideas.

In the spring of 2003, Paul Mooney put up postings on the OFTR and ODSC sites, inviting anyone that may have an interest to get in touch. A group of 11 met at Paul's home to discuss what we wanted from this new club, and what our singular vision would be. It was a very positive meeting, one I volunteered to chair. We decided to create the Great Pine Trail Riders as an unofficial "loose" group of rides that would communicate via the internet.

As the months went by we found ourselves established with the OFTR, getting recognized by the other off road clubs in Ontario and gaining more and more membership interest. I took the job of being the club communicator, letting everyone know what was happening within our little group, and in the world of Ontario Off Road. As part of this duty, I established a relationship with the GRCA recreation technicians. In August of 2003, with approval from the forest, we completed a trail repair in the west forest, which effectively saved a section of trail from being closed due to its crossing of a wetland area. This project cemented our new relationship with the GRCA, as they were now able to recognize us as a serious club that was more than just a name.

In the fall of 2003, we were being called upon by the forest to become more involved, a challenge that our members were happy to take up. A result of this was a lot more work for me, and it became apparent that our little club was getting larger, with membership up to almost 20. In November we held a meeting and appointed an executive, with yours truly be named President. We drafted up a set of rules to operate under, and held our first meeting in January of 2004. At that time, we were requested by our members to incorporate as a non profit group, both for legal purposes and to give us credibility inside and outside the sport. By May of 2004 we were a legal entity. We decided to run a trail ride to raise funds to support the club and to fund projects in the forest. In August we held our ride, with an expected turnout of 60ish riders. What a surprise when 105 riders turned up!!!

The monies raised were used to cover club startup costs, to do maintenance on the previous years trail repair and to cover a portion of Paid Duty Police patrols within the forest.

Another project that we have initiated is signing of single track to notifiy ATV riders of sections closed to their vehicles, a program that has been very popular with all users of single track, including equestrians, hikers bicyclers etc.

What has over the past year? More of the same! Memebership grew this year to over 40, due to incentives, and display booths we ran at the ODSC and OFTR meetings. A lot of our members join just to support our mission, and many others make it out to help with projects. Our second trail ride was another success with over 90 riders coming out. We encourage families to come and ride with us; We educate all forest users on proper behavior within the forest; We preserve and enhance the off road image within the community by being ambassadors of our sport.

Was it easy? Yes….and no. All volunteers have to give up something personal to commit, as I know I did, and so did the other executive and club members. Is it satisfying? Hell yes.

Now, to answer Brian's request;

How to start an offroad club.

• Find some riders that have a common interest
• Get them communicating in some fashion (Internet is easiest)
• Get a consensus on what your goals are and just how much you want to develop your new club
• Elect (or appoint) an executive to operate the club. If you want it to last more than one season, your going to need help.
• Get financial support from an umbrella group to help get you going. We got help from OFTR to fund our first trail repair, which helped set us up as contenders within the Ganaraska Forest.
• Delegate. Try and do it all on your own and you will burn out.
• Sell your club; get out to bike shows, swap meets, etc and setup a table to show off your club, so you can build membership.
• Talk to other clubs and let them know who you are, and what your about
• Never, never, never forget what your goals; Stay focused
• Lastly, ride lots and have fun!

I had the great honor of helping to found the GPTR, and am proud to have handed over the lead to Kellee Irwin as the 2006 President. I know our club will prosper under her leadership. Best wishes to all of the GPTR's 2006 executive.

Ken Gardner

GPTR President – May 2003 to November 2005