HISTORY OF THE RANGE RIDERS CLUB
RANGE RIDERS ATV CLUB Inc. Is one of the longest operating, continuously active clubs in Minnesota. Starting from humble beginnings in the early nineties, meetings would often number less than ten persons. The small troop of riders from in and around the Marble area began meeting and has continuously met the second Monday of each month. These fellows decided to formalize their riding by forming a club. The like minded riders banded together and RANGE RIDERS was incorporated in 1993.
RANGE RIDERS meeting place has moved through the years. The Marble Community Center began as home base. The Wauk In Cafe, in the City of Nashwauk, was later used because of its more central Range location. Members were attending from as far east as Virginia. The Nashwauk area proved to be good for attendance and soon larger quarters were sought. Meetings are presently held in the Nashwauk City Hall, side entrance. Presently meeting attendance can number over twenty.
One of RANGE RIDERS most popular rides continues to be the Spring Ride. April was the month of the Spring Ride in the early days. Attendance then was open to anyone wanting to ride. The group enjoyed the outing so much that soon camping was included by many. The rule to restrict participation to RANGE RIDERS members only came soon after the year well over 100 machines showed up at the parking area of Bear Lake Campground. Many took notice of the tracks being laid by the club and members decided to ask for the support of those attendees with a membership. This increased the rolls by quite a few. Not long after, the DNR started looking at the potential for environmental damage. The idea to move the locality of the ride to different areas was then discussed. The location of the spring ride began changing from year to year. This also introduced new and interesting riding areas to the club. Pressure from the DNR soon made the club postpone the ride each year. The potential for damage from large numbers of ATVs traveling over thawing trails caused concern. The club permanently changed the ride to June, when the ground is a lot more stable. Presently a spring ride and campout is held, check the clubs calendar for time and location.
The RANGE RIDERS Annual Meeting is now our best attended event of the year. What began in January, 1997 as a late Christmas party, has grown into a fun gathering of the membership each year. The evening begins with a social hour. After dinner is served; a short meeting with elections precedes the raffle fun.
RANGE RIDERS is active in our communities as well as proactive on the trail scene. In 1999 the Ride for Food was first born. The local food shelf needed help, RANGE RIDERS members took to the streets of Nashwauk with ATVs and trailers and held a door to door food drive. With heaping trailers full of food the group descended upon the local food shelf and deposited the collection in a big pile in the middle of the floor. This was done in March to make good the State of Minnesota's matching funds. The spirit has continued with RANGE RIDERS making a monetary donation each year, instead. RANGE RIDERS is an active member of the Nashwauk Chamber of Commerce. You can find the RANGE RIDERS booth at the Nashwauk Home and Sport Show each year. Stop in for a visit.
Spring is clean-up time and RANGE RIDERS takes an active part. RANGE RIDERS members pick up litter twice a year, along their Adopt-a-Highway section of Highway 65, in the Buck Lake area. The month of April is a busy time for the RANGE RIDERS. You can find the Club on their Grant in Aid ATV Trail, cleaning and maintaining the 42 miles of ATV/snowmobile trail. The Club attained the rights to administer the Alborn/Pengilly ATV Trail in 1996. Large amounts of litter and trash have been collected, from the length of trail, each year. Signs are replaced as needed and grading is periodically done to keep the trail in good shape.
In 2003 the club celebrated its ten year anniversary with a campout and ride. The group returned to the Bear Lake campground in honor of Bob Cass one of the founding fathers of RANGE RIDERS. Bob was presented a plaque thanking him for his efforts toward the betterment of ATVing and support of the RANGE RIDERS throughout the years.
The first priority of RANGE RIDERS has been to ride ATV and have fun while doing so. The education of the club members in environmental issues has put the club and the DNR into a more friendly relationship. Rider Safety is another priority of RANGE RIDERS. Safety of our riders and others that may be using the same area is always at the forefront when rides are taking place. Training of our youth has become an ever important subject. A large number of RANGE RIDERS members are Certified ATV Safety Instructors. These instructors have held many classes since the instruction began in 2002. A large number of area youth have been taught the safety basics of ATV riding. This class is a requirement for today's youth, twelve and over, to be able to ride an ATV in Minnesota. Check the safety training area on this web site to find out how you or someone you know can apply for these classes.
RANGE RIDERS ATV CLUB Inc. is still holding strong at well over 100 memberships. We have many business members that support us loyally, please support them also. We thank those businesses for their devotion to us and the sport we love.
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Thank You Margaret Barr On the great job you did on writing the History of the Range Riders Club.
Great Thanks Go To Bob Cass :
He Started The RANGE RIDERS ATV CLUB!!
