Published: July 19, 2008 09:41 pm         

Manchin: State becoming tops in motorcycles, ATVs

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — Longtime motorcycle enthusiast Gov. Joe Manchin believes West Virginia is becoming one of the premier spots in the nation for leisure motorcycle and ATV riding.

“Every group that I know for whatever charity they are riding for always looks for a way to come through West Virginia,” Manchin said during his Spa City stop while traveling with the Kyle Petty Charity Ride last week. “Motorcyclists know they are welcome and everybody pours their hearts out for them.”

Manchin rode into town on his 1998 Road King Harley Davidson and praised the Kyle Petty charity drive which helps chronically ill children who attend the Victory Junction Gang Camp in North Carolina. In its 14th year, the event has raised over $10.5 million for children’s charities while logging more than 7.2 million miles. Manchin connected with the group as it drove through Beckley on its way for the first time to White Sulphur Springs.

“Motorcycle riders give more to charities than any other group in America. A lot of people don’t know that,” Manchin commented.

Manchin said motorcyclists and ATV riders from across the country travel to West Virginia specifically to ride over mountains and view the state’s spectacular scen-ery. West Virginia is also becoming nationally known for its ATV trails, Manchin said, much like Burning Rock, which recently opened in Raleigh County.

“We have to connect up these public lands and private lands when people will allow us to do it,” Manchin said. “We are working very hard to expand off of that and the whole Hatfield-McCoy ATV trail experience. They come from all over the country now looking at West Virginia as one of the best riding states in the nation. It’s a tremendous venue when you ride on these trails and you ride safely with your helmet on and you have safety precautions.”

Did the governor abide by all the state’s laws and wear his helmet while traveling? Manchin has long held that the state should relax certain helmet laws for motorcyclists.

“Yes, I wore my helmet,” he said with a grin. “I had to.”

— E-mail: cgiggenbach@register-herald.com