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.