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Sustained forests; sustained profits
evolving since March 30, 1999

Project Pivotal-Rig
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Enterprise 39

The 4 x 4 Group

  

The concept of the 4 x 4 Group grew from a student organization at Virginia Tech in 1999. Members participated in US Forest Service planning.

Members of the Pivotal-Rig Project believed could become incorporated, rather than remain a self-centered temporary, always-changing group of students with variable leadership as it has been over the years. Effective in some years, almost disbanding in some years (as other student groups) the Group could adopt a concept of the profitable enterprise. That could be guided there and at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville (with some competitive elements).

As an enterprise, rather that a student group, it can become the basis for student income, motivated learning, advanced meaningful student projects, increases in student resumes, and in some cases it will provide an opportunity for employment in a field of great interest after school or involvement within Group. Some students may pick up on concepts and proceed through graduate school, even return after grad school to lead the Group and find other related employment.

Markets are suggested in maps and services.

Profit oriented, the Group initially may engage in:

  1. Developing a procedure for scoring trails and routes
  2. Developed a software unit for locating and selecting areas within large parts of Virginia and West Virginia. for desirable use of 4-wheel drive vehicles
  3. Developing a GPS unit for use within vehicles
  4. Developing an open organization with newsletter and meetings for 4-wheel drive enthusiasts
  5. Developing a tagging program, offering a tag for vehicles based on special inspections (at reduced rates for members)
  6. Arranging for a special insurance with reduced rates for members or those who have taken a course
  7. Conducting a course for fees (safety, first aid, repairs, emergency work, driver safety, driver health)
  8. Developing trails or routes with maps and advice for members.
  9. Conducting trail rides (for fees) with educational stops, and catered meals at destinations (winter and fall rides are highlights)
  10. Conducting night rides (in connection with Owls Group and Coyote)
  11. Conducting shows (for fees)
  12. Conducting contests (entrant fees)
  13. Being available for rescue missions
  14. Being ready for fire-fighting assistance
  15. Conducting reduced maintenance and care with 1-2 garages under contract (with discounts for members)
  16. Conducting instruction in road layout, erosion control, care and maintenance for bulldozer operators, loggers, land owners (in connection with forestry dept.)
  17. Selling parts
  18. Selling special paint products and services
  19. Creating and selling software
  20. Selling publications
  21. Selling advertisements at annual conferences or events
  22. Creating and managing a web site with sales of memberships, books, supplies, trips, tours with other groups, vehicle parts, videos of driving, safety, insurance, vehicles themselves (the e-auction).
  23. Developing a new program of "rest-rotation" of the vegetation and soils of 5 areas, each used every 5th years for active contests and rides that tend to be destructive of vegetation. Re-vegetation on a 5-year schedule can be beneficial to many bird and mammal species.
  24. Inspecting road sections and filing reports on conditions in the local news or over the web for members…and security forces.
  25. Lobbying (supported by vehicle sales groups, parts retailers, etc.)
  26. Research grants (overhead) in connection with Tech, with results plowed back into the enterprise.
  27. Commissions on parts sales inspired by the Group.
  28. Becoming the major transportation unit for Pivotal-Rig within System Central

It may be that a dealership of corporation, given a business plan, might invest, provide the venture capital to help pay a few people to get it started. All members could participate. The current voluntary student "club" could continue. It could be separate from or within Pivotal-Rig, Inc.

There are concerns, of course. The Bureau of Land Management (11-16-99) want to restrict the dramatic increase in all-terrain vehicle use in cross-country travel on federal lands.There are claims that cross-country travel can spread noxious weeds, cause erosion, damage cultural sites, disrupt wildlife, and create conflicts among landusers. The proposed group works to reduce such negative influences, restrict entrance to some areas and encourage it on others, improve back-country road design and maintenance, and to allow continued use of various lands.

See the potential exercised in India.

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Last revision June 26, 2002.