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The Tin Benders 4x4 Club, whose membership includes families from around the country, are donating funds to help ensure civilians can continue using the largest OHV area in the United States. The Tin Bender Jamboree attracted approximately 400 people and 110 Vehicles were officially registered for the event and therefore eligible for the free prize drawing. Roughly $10,000 was raised for the California Motorized Recreation Council (CMRC), which is leading the fight to save Johnson Valley as a premier destination for off-road motor sports events and family recreation. The Tin Benders $9,500 donation was pushed to $10,000 with a $500 donation from Mike Ruzicka who donated art work for the event T-Shirts.
"This land is very important to all of us, we need to do everything we can to protect it" said club member and Ultra 4 racer Eric Anderson.
Mike Hendrix a long time club member felt the event was the best to date, "even though attendance was down a bit this year, revenue was increased from years past. Nearly everyone who participated in the raffle had a winning ticket and came away with a really great prize."
The Tin Benders are looking forward to next year, and they're issuing a challenge to other clubs to get in gear and do some of their own fundraising to further the Johnson Valley cause. Many people are unaware that the Johnson Valley OHV area, which is the largest in the country, is under threat of becoming part of the massive 29 Palms Marine Corps base. The expansion will make it the largest base in the world - larger than the State of Rhode Island.
Eric Anderson concluded by saying "It's encouraging to see how big an impact a small club like ours can have in such a noble cause, now we hope others will join in and help us win this fight once and for all. We're not a large organization, but we felt we had to do our part to help save this amazing location. I hope others will be inspired to reach in their wallets and help protect this area from expansion".
Fundraising is not new to the Tin Benders club. Many OHV enthusiasts should remember their efforts at Paniment Valley, where the club invested over 30 thousand dollars in an attempt to save Surprise Canyon.
If you would like to follow the lead of the Tin Benders and make a donation to the California Motorized Recreation Council "Save the Hammer's" effort please visit www.savethehammers.org With your help we can save the Johnson Valley OHV area.
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