Motorsports Businesses Making a Difference

VMP ATV Park And Local Businesses Donate Polaris Ranger To Fire Department

DINWIDDIE COUNTY, VA (from 2008 Archives)

Christmas came early this year to the Dinwiddie County, Virginia Fire & EMS Department in the form of a 2008 Polaris Ranger, complete with light bar, siren, graphics and other emergency equipment. The gift was made possible thanks to the generosity of several local businesses and their hardworking staff.

The purpose of the gift was to provide the county Fire & EMS department with additional capability to maneuver through crowds, forests and rough terrain to reach injured persons. Farmers, forestry workers and outdoor enthusiasts, and others who typically work or play in remote areas are likely to benefit from the rescue capabilities provided by the new vehicle.

The Polaris Ranger, known as a UTV, has all-wheel-drive, rollover protection, three-passenger capacity and a bed capable of carrying supplies and emergency equipment such as a stretcher or backboard.

VMP-ATV Family Trail Park and General Manager, Christopher Edens, donated the 2008 Polaris Ranger to be used in the project, as well as the state of the art light bar and siren system. The Ranger was then outfitted by Polaris Industries and Colonial Cyclesports with an extra battery for power, on-road and off-road tires, and the installation of the light bar and siren system. Dreamz in Motion completed the project by adding the county decals and graphics. The resulting emergency vehicle is valued at approximately $15,000.

These businesses saw a very real need, were able to fill that need as a way of expressing appreciation for the work that the Dinwiddie County administration, employees and elected officials have been doing to make Dinwiddie such a desirable community.

The Ranger was presented to Mr. Dennis Hale, Director of Emergency Services and Mr. Tony Williams, Fire Marshall of Dinwiddie County on October 7, 2008 at Dinwiddie Fire Station 1.

The first use of the vehicle was at the Virginia Motorsports Park on the weekend of October 10th through 12th. The Ranger allowed emergency workers to weave through the crowds at this event which draws over 40,000 people to the complex.