We are all used to seeing golf carts travel on flat or slightly hilly grades on well-manicured golf courses, but not over something as challenging as say, the Broad Mountain in Nesquehoning.

But that's what will happen this Saturday (Oct. 9) when a group of golf cart enthusiasts take off on a relaxed pace over the off-road trails on the first annual Fall Foliage Ride. The event is intended for all levels of golf carts, from stock to custom. Electric Karts will need a full charge while the gas karts will need full tanks to handle the course.The event is hosted by KME Corp. and the International Golf Kart Recreation Association, Inc., an organization formed to promote carting enjoyment for the entire family. Participants not only enjoy the race but the company of others involved in the hobby."It's not often you have the opportunity to be part of a first-ever happening," said Kunkletown's Bill Parks, an IGKRA enthusiast who coordinated the event. "Lets hope folks realize that and take this opportunity to come out and join in the fun and fresh air in the beautiful Nesquehoning Valley."Parks credits KME Corp. with setting the scenic stage for the event."There's no words to describe how gracious the Kovatch family and Kovatch Corporation people have been to IGKRA," Parks said. "Without their cooperation none of this would be possible."Parks got his first cart nearly 17 years ago and quickly realized what a versatile vehicle it was."I don't golf, but my property is spread out over a hillside and going from place to place can be both tiring and time consuming till that first cart arrived," Parks remembers. "My wife and I both used it for hauling horse feed, removing rocks from the pastures and everything in between."That first cart served them well until it had to be put out to pasture last spring due to frame rust.After a dedicated Internet search for just the right replacement for his retired 4-wheeler, he found his second golf cart in Purchase, N.Y. Since it was used on a golf club by the maintenance crew foreman, it was well cared for and didn't look like your average 15-year old cart.Parks did a complete makeover, adding his own personal touches. While searching the Internet for information about this cart, he stumbled onto the website called 'Buggies Gone Wild'. After reading the hundreds of threads covering all aspects of Golf Carts and their care, Parks kept noticing how folks all over the country were personalizing their carts and improving their performance. Through the years, his own carts have both been gas models and usually need their 5 1/2 gallon tanks filled two to three times a year.The more Parks read and studied, the more he quickly realized the limitless possibilities for golf carts. There was already an organization for Golf Cart Racing (National Golf Kart Racing Association), drag, dirt, hill climbs etc., but that wasn't his interest."I liked driving around my property at a slow relaxed pace and seeing all the beauty there was to behold and not tear anything up in the process," Parks said.It was about that time the International Golf Kart Recreation Association started advertising on the Buggies Gone Wild site for members. Parks became member number 6, which at that time made him the only member in Pennsylvania, or in the Eastern United states for that matter. The group quickly found exposure through some drag race sponsorship events but were also looking to expand their family-oriented activities.Parks then approached them with the idea of a Fall Foliage Ride for Golf Carts only in northeastern Pa.The top IGKRA official liked the idea and put it in Parks' hands. His first task was to secure property for the event, one that would provide the spectacular fall colors and views, but not be too remote that golf carts could not navigate in it.When Parks tried pitching the idea to other business interests in the region, most of his calls never got past the receptionists. When a call did get through, it was usually met with a reply like, "Are you serious? Nobody would allow something of that nature in today's sue-happy world. Sorry."After more than two weeks of searching for a site for the proposed event, Parks started to draft an e-mail to IGKRA headquarters stating that his attempts to find someone to grant permission for a ride were at a dead end. About halfway through drafting that e-mail, he received a phone call from Steve Cormier, attorney for the KME Kovatch Corp., who wanted to know more information on the cart ride. Parks had been on an organized Jeep Club ride on Kovatch Family lands years earlier and made them his first contact."I stuttered and stammered around on the phone with him for five minutes," Parks said.After hearing the details, the attorney stated, "I don't see any problem, I'll have somebody contact you to set it up."Since that initial conversation with Cormier, Parks has been contacted by John Kovatch IV on a number of occasions. He even guided Parks over sections of their Broad Mountain property to assist in choosing just the right trails for the Foliage Ride."All that remains now is to see if people are adventurous enough to come out to this free, first-ever event and test themselves and their golf carts," Parks said. "This could be IGKRA's 'Woodstock!'"(Note: Participants in this Saturday's ride will sign in between 8:45-9:45 and assemble at 512 Industrial Rd., Nesquehoning. The ride begins at 10. Riders can bring a bag lunch and non alcoholic beverages. Parks can be reached at ParksWR@ptd.net.)