Been awhile since I posted here.  I have been riding a little bit but it is the off season now and my riding club is just starting to put together a new race course for our Sept Hare Scramble event.  It is on some stunningly beautiful property in Bartow, Florida.  I bought a 2003 Yamaha YZ125 from a club member.  Should be picking it up on Friday or Sat.  Pictures and video of the HS layout will be coming soon!

Been away too long

Been awhile since I have posted.  I will get after this soon.

New Season

Started the New Season with an Enduro at Croom.  It was hot, humid, and full of endless sand whoops, tight trees, small tricky hillclimbs.  I pooped out but rode as far as I could.  I met Jon Belle at one of the checkpoints.  He is a great rider and has posted some great videos on his website.  http://www.jonathanbelle.com

Here is some enduro video.
http://vimeo.com/30055301

The Move to Florida

My current move to Florida started in Ohio. My wife Jana and I lived in Ohio for 27 years and we put up with brutal winters and a distinct lack of sunshine. It was time for a change. We visited friends in Florida during a cold winter and decided we would move down to the sunshine and warmth of Lake County Florida.
We arrived in the Florida wintertime. This turned out to be a good thing because if we would have hit here in August, we might not have survived.

First thing we did was search for a house and ended up in the Plantations of Leesburg Florida.

I joined the Florida Trail Riders M/C club so I could compete in organized races all over Florida.

I brought my 1990 KDX200 with me to start racing. I bought it cheap, put good tires on it and went to have some fun!

I am racing in the "master C" class which is 50-58yrs old. I have trail ridden alot but riding fast is a WHOLE lot different. Dang, you can get tired....

First Race  -   Brooksville
I was scared to death.  They give you one practice lap....  Didn't realize it was 14 miles.  THEN you have to go at it again for two hours straight.  I only made one race lap.  I was tired and way out of racing shape.
http://vimeo.com/18605064

Next up Brighton Florida
http://vimeo.com/19151435

I got a bad start but it really didn't matter.  I rode this one trying to learn how to navigate sandy conditions. There were some "exciting" mud sections...

Sandslinger HS at Ona, Florida
http://vimeo.com/20226294

This was a fun track.  A little bit of everything.  This was my first real experience with Palmetto roots.  Nasty things they are...

Razorback II HS near Lake Ockeechobee
http://vimeo.com/22050001

This was my first taste of heat during racing conditions.  Lots of sand whoops and a long track if I remember right.  I think it was about 90 deg.  Not used to the heat of Florida yet.  Did I mentions sand whoops?

Gatorback HS in Gainsville, Fl
http://vimeo.com/22020000

This track included an outdoor MX and SX track mixed with sand in the woods and some nice steep uphills and downhills.  A very tough track.  I found out that while I enjoy watching SX....   I don't like steep jumps...

Hard Labor Creek HS in Chipley, Fl
http://vimeo.com/22725068

Last HS race of the season.  This was a dust bowl.  Very dry track.  It was a long drive to get there and I didn't care much for the track.  It was dry, dusty, worn out and over used.  Maybe some new trail next year.