More Barnwell Issues?

I myself have had words with the new managers and experienced several problems. Last club run I dont think any two people were charged the same gate fee, were treated rather poorly by the new manager, and was told we didn't sponser a trail despite the big sign on the trail that says we do. The new managers seem to have an issue with younger people and ohv's. I thought maybe I just stepped on some toes and they had a personal problem with me...lets face it I can be kinda hard to deal with sometimes (wonder were I get that from) untell I saw this. http://www.texas4x4.org/showthread....84240#post84240 Seems like things are getting worse since my last visit. Whats the deal with having trail partol thats "a wrestler and knows hand to hand" is the wheeling community really this dangerous...I think not. Im no longer up north but I love bmra, I've spent a lot of time and money up there and would hate to watch such a fine park go to waste. BMRA was always to me the shining example of what an offroad park should be, great rated trails, decent price, fair rules, plenty of room and friendly people. I myself will not be trying to contact tmtc  but I've seen a few petitions being started around the web to remove the new managers. I just wanted to bring this to yalls attention since your some what close and seem to pull a lot of weight up there with the megarun.

Not sure if that link worked...try this one http://tamor.org/forums/showthread.php?t=7082

I had a long and endearing talk with Lawton over this fella and other aspects out there and its amazing what you learn from listening to the other side of the coin. I also spoke with a couple ppl(just regular folks like us) that were out there at that time. Being drunk, being a smarty mouth and showing no respect will get you your just desserts out there now. What I heard from Lawton and what I read on the texas board matched up rather well. The guy was in the wrong, period. I believe this has been blown out of proportion myself and by the looks of some of the replies from peeps that just seem to want a confrontation, I would just as soon let them stay home and make more room for those of us that want to enjoy the mountain. Getting drunk, loud and out of control is not what I want to deal with out there.   I will agree with all involved on one point.........Lawton and Karen are NOT Clyde and Linda.........never will be, so we might aught to pull up our bootstraps and tow the line like Lawton asks.

I love BMRA, but I have to agree the PM are not friendly. The last few times I have been there, I have been not been treated nicely. I'm not going to stop going, but lawton needs an attitude change rather quickly.

We will all agree that Lawton is different from the previous manager.  Yes he is a gruff old cuss.  From what I can pick out of these stories it seems that even the perp admits that alcohol was a major factor in the whole incident.  If that was the case, which everyone seems to agree on, then the rig should have been towed, and the owner should have been picked up for PI.  Seems almost every situation that gets out of control has booze involved in some way.   During last MEGARUN we received a lot of support and assistance from Karen and Lawton both.  I had the opportunity to go to breakfast with Lawton, and subsequently spend some quiet conversation time with him and Karen both.  He is a lot like some other folks I know (the guy in the mirror?).  He sees things in black and white, right and wrong.  That does not make him wrong, just different from Clyde.  Dealing with drunks is never easy and puts all of us in a bad light when it happens.  More than one night out on the mountain we have had our own members (one in particular) that abused the booze and wheeled long after posted hours.  Follow the rules, don't speed, be courteous to others.  The golden rule is a great thing to keep in mind.   Is the park and it's managers perfect?  No.  As far as I know, there has only ever been one perfect person on the face of this earth, and the Romans nailed him to a tree.  The rest of us just need to forgive and forget, do the best we can.  Do we support the effort there as we need to and help them out?  Yes - and  - No.  Policing our own is a good start, something we have not done a good job of.  We might all find a kinder, gentler Lawton and company if we extend a hand in friendship instead of conflict.   I too have had issues with Lawton in the past, and in retrospect, neither of us handled it in the best manner.  A smile and a courteous "Sorry Lawton, I should have handled that differently, let's go get some breakfast" probably would have made a huge difference in both of our attitudes.   That's my .02, and as everyone know, I am NOT an opinionnated person.   (duck, I see a lightning bolt!)      

I sometimes get there early and had some talks with them and heard some stange and funny stories about happenings on the mountain.  I asked a lot of questions and guess what I received, answers(Look for my picture in the office) so if you don't understand ask. He is fighting  the gas company who by the way wanted to close the park while they drilled and other issues with the gas company, and trying to make peace with the neighbors with noise and runoff issues so like the rest of us who are totally stressed out so is he.  Like Griz said lets be a part of the solution instead of a problem.

  I guess I will throw my 2 cents in on this. I had a long talk with Lawton last time we were out there. (I had some time to kill) He told me he was "packing" now and was not gonna take any S*** off of anyone anymore. If he shoots somebody one night he is screwed. I think he is way to aggresive. He was bragging about his son being a pro wrestler to me as well. I think he needs to settle down a bit. He might just get hurt one night. All he needs to do is drive around and listen after 10. If he hears or sees somebody out (breaking the rules) he should call the cops. Thats all

if there breaking the law/or park rules he should take a few shots at them,maybe the next time people will think twice before trying to screw up our good thing.   dead men can't tell lies and go on the forums and spread them,of course this all could be avoided by just following the rules.

  Come on Mark are you serious?

most of it.   management is trying to handle problems that people bring on theirselves.if they would not try to make accuses for breaking the rules and just follow them, there would be no reason for them to take any actions.  

What is the best part of the whole story is that the guy Moabe, is a sad individual. He gets on many internet boards and makes a rear end out of himself. He acts the same way in person generally. His real name is Kody. He appears to have a drinking problem coupled with being full of himself. He has banned from places like Cowtownjeeps and the like. Everyone of you that are spreading this gabage around are giving this fool exactly what he wants-the lime light. He has attempted to get on the internet and cover his backside for his lack of maturity and responsibility. People like him are best to be left as outcasts and not even given the time of day. He is plague on the wheeling community and epitomizes all the stereotypes we are trying to break. 'Nuff said... 

Banned from Cowtown?  Whoa.....  I'm impressed....    

ORIGINAL: Griz Banned from Cowtown?  Whoa.....  I'm impressed....

    I am pretty sure he is the only one...

Don't faint Clem, but I agree with you on the individual who started that thread. For those of us who frequent enough boards, there is no explanation needed! But....from what I have read, there seems to be others who have had similar problems that were not associated with alcohol or any other rule infraction. To an outsider, there would appear a problematic Nazi mentality running amuck at BMRA. And as we all know, I feel BMRA has managment problems. But what I got from the rather long read is that the BOD has more than one small group to face with concerns over managments ability to handle on site problems.  Second, and certainly the one single comment from all of this madness that arises a deep concern with me personally, is the quote that Lawton is "packing". Now, I feel certain TMTC has rules regarding fire arms on property, except by law enforcement agencies. This alone tells me there are some SERIOUS problems that need IMMEDIATE attention. It also (if true) means to me that he has become quite paranoid . And in as such, openly admits he has mistreated enough people to feel justified in his choice. Should all TMTC members have a problem with a gun toting property manager? YOU BET! If such an unstable environment has evolved, regardless of the reason, then it is no longer suitable as a family off road park. So if Lawton feels he needs to arm himself to enforce TMTC's rules, then the off road community certainly must be full of drunken rednecks as all the anti groups are leading the general public to believe. An interesting side comment from a bystander was *Maybe he's a plant to help shut down BMRA.* Hmmm....how interesting! And we all know there are still a few folks in Gilmer that would like to see BMRA shut down. Bottom line, there were wrongs on both sides of the fence by several individuals. My hope is TMTC sees this, and the BOD can get a grip on the whole bucket of worms! I don't recall ever seeing so much controversy with the previous park managers. So I truly have to believe there is, to some degree, a problem with current managment.    

ORIGINAL: texasfrog most of it. management is trying to handle problems that people bring on theirselves.if they would not try to make accuses for breaking the rules and just follow them, there would be no reason for them to take any actions.

  Management is gonna get hurt or killed when he runs up aganist the wrong person one night waving a gun around! Get real man. Do you want somebody to get shot or beat up over this hobby? Several people have an issue here not just me. I guess you think I am a Hell raiser or trouble maker. I dont drink,dont dope, not a smart mouth and leave before it is dark out there.I have never had words with Lawton or his son. I have never be in any trouble in my life. But I wont stand for some over aggresive person acting like these guys have acted in the past. They are not the police on Barnwell mountain. If there is a problem they should speak nicely to the offender. If after that trouble is brewing,report it to the sheriff and that is it! Nothing more. If there is a fight started out on the trails by Lawton or his son both parties are guilty by mutial combat in Texas. NOBODY WINS in this situation. BRMA gets a black eye as well as ALL the membership. This would be a lose ,lose for everybody that goes out there. If such a thing did go down the place would most likely close up. That would really show them huh? Just think about it....Jim

And so I have taken my own past advice, and the current advice of others, and am sending a letter to all TMTC officers and user reps. I would advise every member of this club to do the same. Express you concerns, complaints, and compliments in a straight forward fashion. Keep it honest and factual to the best of your knowledge. Oh...and proof read it! Nothing personal guys, but a few folks around here really need to run spell sheck and look for typo's. I know my fingers get ahead of my brain too! AND...let it sit overnight, then read it again to see if you still agree with yourself.   As I have mentioned before, it will take more than one or two voices to get their attention and get these problems resolved. Even if you have good things to say about the managers, go for it. They need to hear that too. OK...at this point I feel as the TMTC reps do. It's time to quit posting about this stuff and e-mail the reps and officers.

All I am saying Jim is if no one does anything wrong or follows the rules of the park there should never be a problem.   I don't think we should be trashing anyone for trying to do there job.I am not saying he is handling it in the best way,But he is an old man and he is in fear of himself getting hurt.You know as well as anybody what can happen in a group that have been drinking and how it can get out of control.Before their was some who did not think the management did enough and now people are saying they are going over board. Why not find better answers for the real problem that exist and that of people breaking the rules and how the make them stop? If people that use the park had more respect for the park and it's rules there would never be any reason to have anyone police the park,it's just that simple.   I am not picking on anyone about this ,this is just a open discussion and my thoughts.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe there is a no guns allowed sign at the front gate. As a holder of a CHL I am required by law to do one of two things. 1 Turn around and go home 2 Not take a gun past that sign. If he is "packing" a gun he is breaking the law and TMTC rules and should be fired without notice and the local sheriff should then arest him for having a conceled hangun. If he is in fear for his safty he should just quit. We do not need a fear craised old man running around the moutain with a gun and sooner or later shooting someone. I do arree that everyone should follow the rules but if the managment feels the need to have a gun in order to inforce TMTC rules he needs to be kicked off the moutain quickly. If indeed he is "packing" a gun I would incourage everyone to write a letter to TMTC and inform them they will not be renewing their membership and will not visit BMRA untill this SERIOUS problem is delt with. I have in the past had problems with small kids on motorcycles and the offenders not being ask to behave. I don't think it takes a gun to take care of the problems out there. Simply telling most offenders to stop will take care of the problems and the local sheriff will handle the rest. There in no excuse the for property managment to carry a gun. If the man in not "packing" a gun then all the above does not apply and I withdraw all comments. Also read laura's thread, it just may be the answer to the problems.

So, has anyone actually seen his piece? Or is he making threats only? Either way, it is all bad and should be immediately addressed by the TMTC.   I know if any of the rest of us made comments about carrying at work, we would be out on our collective ears and recommended to a good shrink all in one move...

I guess I missed the point of this whole thread,I was under the impression that we were trying to come up with a solution of rule inforcement and how they should have been addressed.     seems more like a lynch mob on Lawton to me.