Headworks Update

Headworks Update

by Dan Nitzel

Published November 2003 in the Nebraska OHV Advisor, a quarterly newspaper for NOHVA members..

So far this year, things have been running fairly smoothly at the Headworks OHV Park. As always, there have been a few reported accidents and only a few ambulance calls for the Genoa Rescue Squad.

The estimated attendance for both Jamborees is estimated at 2,648 riders for both events, with 1,247 in the spring and 1,401 in the fall. Jamboree expenses were at least $9972 for 2003. After the jamboree, NOHVA membership is estimated to be 1,244 memberships covering 2,400 members, an increase of about 12% over last year.

So far this year, NOHVA has spent about $6500 on items such as the new comex storage shed, signs, legal fees, fences and such. I estimate that NOHVA members will donate about $8,000 to $12,000 above and beyond the voluntary membership fees in services, supplies, and equipment for the area. Loup Power has certainly spent some funds on maintaining the area and the Nance County Sheriffs Department has had some expenses as well.

We estimate that there will be about 20,000 visits to the Headworks OHV Park by ATV and dirtbike riders in 2003, and those who visit the area will spend least $3,000,000 to $4,000,000 on those visits on food, fuel, lodging and beverages while at the area and on the way to and from the area. It is estimated that NOHVA members consist of about 25% to 35% of those visits, while 65% to 75% of the riders are not members. There is a significant growing number of riders who want to see NOHVA barred from any involvement at the area.

As of this writing, there are few problems that people can assist with. There has been some complaints from people who live close to the area about the increasing amount of noise from ATV riders. There has been some talk about trying to enforce current laws on noise and there may be some new laws that limit noise on the horizon.

Please try to keep you machine down to a reasonable noise limit. If you plan to purchase an after market pipe for your ATV or dirtbike, I suggest that you investigate a pipe that meets the possible up coming new sound limit of 96 dB.

Just as an example, the sound check on my Yoshimura piped Yamaha Raptor is about 102 dB with the race spark arrestor insert. With the TEC insert which consists of the next step smaller spark arrester in the end cap, the sound level is 95dB.

For my Banshee, the sound level with Toomey pipes is about 100 dB with no spark arrestors. Toomey makes a Hush Kit that is attached onto the back of the existing silencers, It reduces sounds by 12 dB, yet increases top end power! I know this because I have one.

Remember, for every 3dBA reduction the human ear perceives the sound level cut in half.

If you are planning on purchasing a four stroke new pipe, I suggest that you look at the new FMF Q series silencers or White Bros pipes. Moose Racing has some new quite pipes that see great power gains. For two-stroke owners there are a wide variety of reasonably quite pipes on the market from FMF and Toomey. All of these pipes can be purchased at one of the dealers who advertise in this newspaper. There are other manufacturers out there as well who produce 95dB or less pipes.

In my opinion, pipes to avoid to keep your noise down are CPI drag pipes for Banshees, low cost four stroke pipes from RCM, Cobra, and DG, just to name a few. Some people think that more noise equals more power. That’s not always the case.

Riders are leaving LOTS trash in the parking area and in the riding area, and this is becoming a BIG problem. Our organization spent about $500 to provide an additional trash receptacle in the parking area. At one time, Headworks was one of the cleaner areas in the nation. That is no longer true.

Another problem involves riders traveling down stream from Headworks on the Loup River. We have received NUMEROUS complaints about ATV riders in the stream bed between Genoa and Headworks. Complaints to NOHVA increase during deer hunting seasons. The stream bed is private land, and some land owners do not like ATV riders on their land that is the stream bed. Also, the state owns a large amount of land and stream bed along the Loup. Please try to get permission from the land owner before you ride on their land.

Concerning future jamborees, we are making plans for them for 2004. There were some complaints from non-NOHVA members about the Jamboree being held at Headworks, or having to be members of NOHVA and being asked for a donation to watch the events or to participate in the events during the Jamboree. These complaints, if they continue, will force us to have only one jamboree a year, or discontinue the jamborees all together.

The $10 donation we ask for from riders barely covers our expenses of about $10,000 a year. If we can get someone to donate about $15,000 a year to cover the jamboree expenses, Headworks maintenance expenses, and to cover the club’s operating expenses, we would open the Jamborees for free! Any takers?

I would like to thank all of those who have helped make the Headworks OHV Park a success! Thanks to Loup Power, the Nance County Sheriffs Department, volunteer NOHVA members, and Curry Bros. Motorsports.