Posted May 23, 2008

Q & A with Bill Kaeppner

Bill Kaeppner of Logan, Ohio, is a Life member of the AMA and one of the unsung heroes in the fight to protect your right to ride.

ATVAonline: How long have you been riding ATVs, what was your first ATV, and what do you ride now?

Bill Kaeppner: Over 40 years. I have always had an interest in bikes and carts. My mom would not sign for a motorcycle so I had to wait until I married in 1967 to get my first real motorcycle to ride on- and off-road. It was a Honda S65. There is nothing more exciting then a "lean" 220-pound Marine on 65ccs of screaming motor! I rode it for two years then moved up to a Honda 350 Scrambler. Now, 40 years and a ton of neat bikes later, I ride a Suzuki 400 DRZe.

ATVAonline: Where do you like to ride?

Kaeppner: Everywhere! Ohio has the best dual-sport, enduro and adventure ride roads there are, like the Hanging Rock 200 and the Nutcracker 200. If you can competently ride in Ohio, you can ride anywhere!

ATVAonline: What are some of the clubs and organizations you are involved with, and why?

Kaeppner: I am president of Buckeye Dualsporters because I love my friends and family and it gives us a great reason to ride. I am a charter life member of the AMA because I believe in our right to ride and the AMA is the front line in the battle. I am ATV congressman for District 11 (Southern Ohio) because I believe in the day-in day-out struggle we face and this responsibility is an asset in that struggle.

I'm president of OMTA—the Ohio Motorized Trails Association. This is Ohio's group for all motorized recreation.

ATVAonline: What should ATVers do to protect their rights?

Kaeppner: Folks need to be political but folks confuse "partisan" with "political." Making your opinion known is a political statement. Campaigning for someone is a partisan action. These are, "in fact," political statements that all ATVers who want to keep riding must make: Join their state organization, and join the ATVA/AMA. If they have a club their club should join too.

They also should call their representative's offices at least once a year and give the person who answers the phone "Please tell (reps name here) that (your name here) lives in their district (your address here) and rides off road (bikes quads whatever). You and your family and friends need more opportunity. Tell them the (your state organization) and the AMA represent us!

Call back when ever there is an issue that affects your sport positively or negatively. Phone minutes are cheep to free and pack a big punch. Call often enough and they will call you! The folks who hate us call.

ATVAonline: Tell us about Kaeppner's Woods.

Kaeppner: Kaeppner's Woods is 200 acrs of woods dedicated to renewable resources and recreation. We provide the Buckeye Dualsporters with a place to have hare scrambles, off-road poker runs and dualsport/adventure rides like the Nutcracker 200. We host special events, music festivals and have camping and access for bike groups who like to primitive camp with their bikes.

Yes we are motorcycle friendly and available to rent. www.kaeppnerswoods.com.

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