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"A Family Tradition for 132 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, November 17, 1998 - 9 By Chris Hall Port Perry Star With over 200 kilometres of groomed trails locally and access to most parts of Central Ontario, the Port Perry Snowmobile Club is where you want to be this winter, says president Charlie Harper. Formed in 1970 by a group of local enthusiasts, the club has grown in leaps and bounds, he said last weekend during the sixth annual Sno Show. Affiliated with the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs and the Central Ontario Regional Snowmobile Association (CORSA) since 1974, the Port Perry club is now linked with four other area clubs and averages more than 1,500 permits each year. "We've really grown over the years: it's been exciting to watch the interest in rid- ing go up and up," said Mr. Harper. Two large groomers now maintain a 210-kilometre trail system that extends as far north as Little Britain, west to Uxbridge, and to about five miles east of Burketon, said Mr. Harper. This is all done for the 1,540 club mem- bers -- the people who buy their annual trail permits from the local snowmobile club, he said. Of that number, approxi- mately 75 families are full-fledged mem- bers of the club. Members are involved in social functions, and help maintain the clubhouse and trails. "Anyone who buys a trail permit is a member of the club," he said. "But the permits only cover about half the cost of maintaining the trail systems. The vol- unteers look after the rest. "All the cleaning and maintaining is done by them. They're the ones who get the landowner's permission. The club is a Sled Heav With 200 km of great riding and access to more, Port Perry's snowmobile trails are the place to sled this winter en user-pay system; we get no tax dollars from the government for this. We're not dependent on anyone, except for the rid- ers. Besides looking after the trails and providing a comfortable meeting spot, the local club also holds safety training class- es. "It's generally for those aged 12 to 16 who want to go out with their parents; the only way to learn properly is to go out and learn," said Mr. Harper, adding that non-members can also take the six-hour course, which runs at a cost of $20.50. "We teach them about accidents, pre- vention, the laws of snowmobiling and Just what's expected of them. What to wear, how to sit... things like that." The course guidelines are set out by the Ministry of Transportation and are usually held twice a year at the local club. Anyone interested in the program can call the club at 985-7824 or Marion Lee at 985-3598. Trail systems marked by the province's snowmobile clubs are the safest place you can ride, said Mr. Harper. "The safest place to ride is on estab- lished trails. We get out there and we sign them and groom them; we try and take the danger out of riding. We take the pitfalls out of riding when you stay on marked trails and that makes for very few accidents," he said, urging people never to stray from marked trails, to stay off roads and lakes, and slow down when riding after dark. "Snowmobiling is as safe as any other sport. You just have to follow the rules and use your common sense. Accidents happen when these boundaries are breached." Changes are always being made to £ Port Perry Snowmobile Club President Charlie Harper says sledding on local trails is safe and fun. The local club is growing each year, he says. ensure the area trails are as safe as pos- sible. This year, in co-operation with the Durham Regional Police, the Snowmobile Trail Officer Patrol (STOP) program will be in full force on local trails. "These people will be out on the trails and they'll be watching for people speed- ing, trespassing and just being reckless and dangerous," said Mr. Harper. Police officers and deputized citizens will have the authority to stop riders if deemed necessary, he added. The Port Perry Snowmobile Club is also active in local charity efforts. Close to $8,000 was raised last year for the 'Easter Seals campaign during the 1998 Snowarama event at the Great Blue Heron Casino. And, with the riding season usually lasts anywhere between nine and 11 weeks, Mr. Harper says most people try to get the most out of one of winter's most popular activity. "People love to ride, I love to ride. I like travelling, getting out in the snow and travelling through the bush and see- ing places you could never see any other way," he said. "It's exhilarating to get out there on a machine and just go. We can travel from town to town; it's great for businesses because most riders just travel with their machine and wallet and buy everything else." 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