It has been announced there is a new organization in motorsports: the International SideXSide Association (ISA). Much like the AMA for the motorcycle industry, the ISA looks to positively organize and support the UTV/SXS industry for UTV manufacturers, aftermarket manufacturers, retailers, race organizers, event organizers and, most importantly, recreational enthusiasts.
With a newly elected board of directors, the non-profit ISA will quickly begin to assist in areas surrounding the UTV/SXS recreation and race markets. With the fast paced growth of the UTV/SXS industry, ISA organizers saw the need to put in place the foundation for a solid organization for the industry to lean on for assistance when it came to organization and safety. The ISA will also fight for the issues surrounding the Side X Side community. The ISA's goal is to see the UTV/SXS industry thrive and grow in a strong and positive way, becoming an asset to the off road community as a whole.
Newly elected as chairman is Jeff Knoll, creator of Ultra 4 Racing and also a founder and organizer of the famed "King Of The Hammers" off road event. Knoll is always looking for a challenge and had this to say about helping pioneer the new International SideXSide Association and what he ultimately envisions the ISA to become. "I am simply amazed by the potential of this growing off-road community," Knoll said. "It is the perfect platform to introduce off-road recreation, backcountry exploration and racing to the next generation of enthusiast. With a smaller environmental footprint, higher fuel economy and availability through an expansive dealer network, I believe SXSs will continue to capture market share. The ISA will help foster responsible use of our public lands, encourage safe family recreational activities and promote national racing standards through its industry associates."
The ISA will immediately begin to provide support to those who are organizing recreational and enthusiast based events. The ISA will help in offering organizers a set of safety rules when it comes to riding/rallys as well as offering assistance in the realm of helping organizers ensure that their events comply with both state and local laws. In addition to providing assistance to the enthusiast-based events, the ISA has plans to offer race promoters a unified set of UTV class rules to select from depending on the type of racing they are hosting.
The unified rules will also help competitors in building race UTVs that will comply throughout multiple race series, giving race enthusiasts the ability to compete in a host of organized UTV race series. Ultimately the ISA hopes to establish a national and regional points standing throughout multiple classes of UTV racing. The ISA will provide and assist with the direction of safety and technical inspection and vow to always stay up with the current and future of UTV development.
Elected as vice chairman is Mike Lasher, who has been involved in the UTV/SXS industry since the beginning, in every aspect from media to organizing events to racing. He had this to say about his role in the ISA. "I'm excited to be a part of the ISA and look forward to growing the Side X Side community as a whole. I have been entrenched in the UTV community since the beginning and think that it's great to be able to give something back to the UTV community. I also believe that with the support the ISA has received we will be making a difference for years to come."
The ISA introduced the organization this month at the Tennessee Brimstone SXS Roundup event for the East Coast and at the annual Sand Sports Super Show on the West Coast. This gave recreational and professional UTV/SXS enthusiasts an opportunity to learn firsthand about the ISA and how they could join to be a part of the future of the UTV/SXS industry.
For more information on the International SideXSide Association (ISA) visit www.isxsa.com.
