#Yamaha

Yamaha has approved more than $85,000 through its OHV Access Initiative in the first quarter of to organizations across the country.

“Yamaha has approved new GRANTs (Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation’s Trails) to support organizations that span the country, from California to Vermont, serving the mission to promote safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable riding areas,” says Steve Nessl, Yamaha ATV and SxS marketing manager. “Yamaha’s reach through the OHV Access Initiative is national, but the heart of the program resides in the local communities that enjoy increased family fun and economic development through safe, responsible OHV access.”

As part of its support of National Hunting and Fishing (NHF) Day, Yamaha has given away a Rhino 700.

Nancy Watkins of Eau Claire, Wis. won the 2012 NHF Day Sweepstakes and was one of more than 42,000 people who entered.

The Rhino 700 FI donated for NHF Day – including Genuine Yamaha hunting accessories – is valued at more than $13,000. The Rhino, along with all of Yamaha’s 4×4 products, is assembled at the company’s manufacturing facility in Newnan, Ga.

“Yamaha is proud to be a fifth-year sponsor of National Hunting and Fishing Day and to support outdoors conservation and recreation,” says Steve Nessl, marketing manager for Yamaha’s ATV/SxS group. “Congratulations to Mrs. Watkins for winning the Rhino, and thanks to everyone who showed up at a National Hunting and Fishing Day event throughout the country this fall.”

Yamaha ATV Racers have earned 2012 season championships in motocross and cross-country, from North America to the Southern Hemisphere, all aboard the YFZ450R.

Yamaha employees gathered outside of the company’s U.S. headquarters in Southern California to celebrate their champions and make their annual Feed the Children food drop along with the Star Touring and Riding Association. This year Yamaha helped raise more than $27,000 through employee donations and corporate fund raising efforts that will provide food and essentials for approximately 2,000 families across the country through next year.

Among the champions in attendance for the Yamaha celebration and food drop were Chad Wienen and Traci Cecco-Pickens.

GBC Motorsports is returning as a sponsor of the 4th Annual SXS & ATV Roundup presented by Yamaha. The event is scheduled for August 31 – September 2 at Brimstone Recreation in Huntsville, Tenn.

Each year the SXS & ATV Roundup attracts visitors from across the country to Brimstone Recreation to partake in a multitude of SXS & ATV events, live music, and the fabled King of the Mountain Challenge.

The event kicks off on Friday, August 31 with guided trail rides of various skill levels followed by a Meet & Greet, Can-Am Sled Pull and “Deuling Drag Race” and the Yamaha Drive-In Movie.

Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., made its annual donation to the Feed the Children charity Friday, Nov. 18 at Yamaha’s corporate headquarters in Cypress, Calif. Company officials presented two checks totaling $25,000 along with a truck load of donated items to the organization. As part of the festivities, Yamaha also celebrated a successful 2011 racing season with several championship-winning Yamaha Race Team members in attendance.

“The annual Feed the Children and Race Team celebration is something everyone at Yamaha looks forward to each year,” says Bob Starr, Yamaha general manager of motorsports communications. “As we move into the holiday season, it’s a great time to reflect upon the hard work and donations collected over the year that have a direct impact on families in need. Thanks to all of the Yamaha employees and the Star Touring and Riding Association for their efforts.”

ATV racing champions Dustin Nelson and Walker Fowler were on hand to celebrate their successful ATV racing seasons. Both Nelson and Fowler boasted perfect campaigns: Fowler closes out the 2011 GNCC series with the XC2 championship, going undefeated and notching a record 13 straight wins. Nelson was also perfect and clinched his fifth QuadX Championship after winning all eight races in the series.

Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. has partnered with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) to help support its mission of ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat.

Through the partnership, Yamaha becomes the exclusive sponsor for the RMEF’s “Ride Right” program that delivers safe, responsible outdoors recommendations through BUGLE magazine, the foundation’s official publication.

“Yamaha is proud to partner with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and their efforts to communicate safe, responsible messages to sportsmen,” says Steve Nessl, marketing manager for Yamaha’s ATV/SxS group. “Yamaha is the leading ATV manufacturer involved in the outdoors industry, and the Ride Right campaign perfectly aligns with our goals of fostering responsible public messages and ensuring lasting access to our public lands.”

Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. prides itself on its role in supporting safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable riding areas by GRANTing nearly $2 million through its OHV Access Initiative since 2008. This financial support has proven critical in areas such as building bridges over fish-baring streams, improving thousands of miles of trails, and renovating staging areas.

In addition to financial support from the OHV Access Initiative, Yamaha employees out of the company’s Cypress, Calif., headquarters have taken on a personal obligation to support this mission as well.

Earlier this October, more than 60 employees, family members and friends convened in the San Bernardino National Forest (SBNF) volunteering more than 200 work hours and kicking off a long-term restoration project at the popular Cactus Flats staging area near Big Bear Lake. Volunteers reached some initial restoration goals through weeding, grubbing, seed collecting, planting native shrubs, watering and other important clean-up projects.

“It’s exciting to see so many Yamaha employees volunteer their weekend and get their hands dirty in support of our local mountains and OHV areas,” says Steve Nessl, Yamaha ATV and SxS group marketing manager, who participated in the volunteer project and helps spearhead the OHV Access Initiative. “The San Bernardino National Forest Association has a model OHV program that garners thousands of volunteer hours every year. We’re happy to do our small part for our local trails, and we encourage OHV enthusiasts across the country to continue to keep their riding areas safe and sustainable, as well as look to our OHV program for support.”

Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. has launched its 2011 National Hunting and Fishing (NHF) Day sweepstakes.

Yamaha, a multi-year partner of NHF Day, is donating a 2011 Grizzly 450 Auto 4×4 that one lucky outdoorsman will win. The sweepstakes is being promoted at NHF Day events nationwide and anyone can enter to win by simply registering online at www.yamahaoutdoors.com/nhfday through the end of November 2011.

“As the leading ATV manufacturer in the hunting and fishing industry, Yamaha supports many programs that are focused on the preservation of these outdoor activities,” says Steve Nessl, marketing manager for Yamaha’s ATV/SxS group. “Yamaha is proud to continue its partnership with National Hunting and Fishing Day and happy to donate an ATV to help support and promote outdoor conservation and ethical hunting and fishing.”

Scheduled annually on the fourth Saturday of September, this year the celebration of hunting, fishing and conservation is set for September 24. NHF Day serves as the most effective grass roots effort ever taken to promote outdoor sports and conservation. Yamaha, through its relationships with organizations such as Ducks Unlimited, Safari Club International, Buckmasters, NWTF and NHF Day, among others, is a continued supporter of conservation efforts for outdoor recreational enthusiasts.

Yamaha is rolling out an industry-first promotion with One Industries to give new buyers in select states the opportunity to order a free customizable graphics kit. For now, anyone in Arizona, California, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington who buys a new Raptor 700, YFZ450R, YFZ450X or Raptor 250 model ATV can order this free kit here.

There are seven unique kits available for each model in different colors, styles and designs. Riders even have the option to customize their own kit by adding their name or race number. Photos of the kits and more information about this limited time promotion can be found here.

“Yamaha sport ATV customers now have a new option to customize their rides with an exclusive One Industries design,” says Steve Nessl, Yamaha ATV/SxS marketing manager. “As the leader in the sport ATV market, Yamaha is always looking for innovative ways to offer our customers something different. This new promotion with One gives Yamaha riders an exclusive, free option not offered anywhere else.”

More information and photos are can be found below the jump.