Calling all Holloman ATV and dirt bikers!

  • Published
  • By Airman Sondra M. Escutia
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The 49th Fighter Wing safety office is looking for qualified volunteers with experience to teach the all-terrain vehicles/dirt bike course, along with members interested in forming a club to use the track, maintain it and call it their own.

Although officials recently announced the reopening of the ATV/dirt bike track on Holloman as a quality of life initiative, it has been put on hold due to a lack of a club to manage the track.

According to the 49 FW safety office, the track was reconditioned in August and is currently up to standards with all safety regulations, but a club will need to be formed before the track can be used again.

The reason for this, said Mr. Dan Salinas, 49 FW, is to ensure that someone will maintain the track and to provide safety and training for users.

"There was a club established in 2005 that was run by the 49th Maintenance Group and they took care of policing the area and set ground rules. They also held events on the track," said Mr. Salinas.

With the retirement of the F-117A Nighthawk, however, most members of the club were lost to reassignments.

Not only did most members leave, trainers left as well, he added.

Air Force instructions require that any base that establishes an ATV or dirt bike track must provide the proper training and all users attend.

Although they try to hold two classes a month, said Mr. Salinas, fewer instructors make it harder to maintain that level of training.

Tech. Sgt. James Fussell, 49th Force Support Squadron, has been riding dirt bikes for six years. He was a member of the club before its disbandment and is already planning to join the new club. He said he encourages everyone to try it.

"Breaking out of the mundane, day-to-day stuff keeps me going," said Sergeant Fussell. "You get the feeling of accomplishment when you push yourself beyond the limits."

Club members also get the opportunity to meet new people and get to enjoy the adrenaline rush that goes along with riding, he added.

Any member of Team Holloman who is interested in becoming an instructor or joining the ATV/dirt bike club should contact Mr. Salinas at 572-3793.