Nefarious James

Gary was into computers in college and in 1999 he created a program for a friend who was a tax collector. The Internet was just getting started and Gary found a way to develop a program that allowed people to pay the government online. All payments could be taken over the Internet for the first time. Gary is also a pilot and flew all over Florida, showing tax collectors how the program worked. The venture turned into quite a successful company and Gary sold it back in 2006 when he got an offer he couldn’t refuse.

After traveling and seeing the world for a few years, Gary got involved with the Tailwheels Etc. Flight School and took that company from three to over 30 planes, training pilots all over the world. Gary even had a cool place for pilots-in-training to stay while getting their training in. “I started up a place called the Aviation Inn that had 16 rooms and a condo that we rented to would-be pilots,” Gary tells us. “Aviation Inn received $500 average per person, per 16 rooms per week. It was the most fun $500 per week vacation and training you could ever have imagined.” Most people got their pilot’s license in two to three weeks.

“About then, my cousin Jerry wanted to retire from 30 years with Publix and we had the idea to create an indoor farmer’s market,” Gary says. “We started My Farmer’s Mart and that eventually

“Like Father like Son Ben learned his love of all things mechanical from his Father and he can fix or repair pretty much anything”

Another thing this father and son team enjoy is motorcycles. Ben is currently 16 years old and got himself a job learning to be a mechanic on boats and bikes at Barney’s Powersports Superstore. “Ben is an incredible rider,” Gary confides. “He learned a long time ago to ride with agility.”

When Ben first started riding we had a game to see who could go the slowest. We would especially practice in the thickest sand we could find. Ultimately, knowing how to go slow is the best way to know how to go the fastest. Interesting how that works with everything in life, huh? While Ben enjoys riding and racing motocross, Gary is happy on his Goldwing and riding trails on his Honda 250R with Ben. “Ben of course talked me into a 250R instead of a 250F,” Gary says. “He explained that the 250R has better suspension, more power and is much more responsive. I’ve come to agree with Ben.”

The love they share for motorcycles and building stuff will never die. Happy Father’s Day, Gary. We hope you and Ben get out for a ride together on that special day.

GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNIN’!

IIt is unbelievable how fast this year is going by. But man, there’s some cool stuff on the way down the pipe. We are getting closer and closer to July 24. What’s going on July 24 you may ask? Well, it’s going to be the Great American Motofest in Plant

City. This event has been groomed to be one hell of a premiere event that you are not gonna wanna miss.

This is one of those motorcycle events that doesn’t come around often. There’s a

little bit of everything for everybody. But I think the thing that’s going to be the most unique about it is Motorfest will be bringing back the motorcycle rodeo. That’s right, people doing rodeo events on two wheels. The best part about this entire deal is that anyone can participate. This isn’t like one of those “pro” events where you go in and just watch. At Motofest, you get to actually get on your sled and ride in the biker rodeo games.

If you know one of those guys or gals that sit around and say how great they can ride and how they can out-ride anybody that they know, this is the time to put it all on the table. Tell them to put their money where their mouth is. And if the excuse

is, “I can’t go because I have nobody to watch the kids.” Well, surprise. There’s going to be things for the kids to do as well as couples’ events. This isn’t an adult only event, this is a “bring the whole family” event. I guess you could say it’s almost like going to a carnival but you get to be the main attraction.

There’s gonna be barrel racing, sled pulls, slow races and way more on the list. Every brand, make and model of motorcycle is encouraged to participate

This is not a single manufacturer event. How cool is that? I’m sure everybody who has ridden for a long time is familiar with the old magazine rodeos from the past. Well, some of those events are going to be at The Great American Motofest as

well. Not only do you get to participate, but who knows, being a part of Motofest might even make your famous. It’s my understanding that Born To Ride will be doing live videotaping as well as various news agency coverage during this event.

I’m really hoping that there’s going to be a good attendance at this event because they don’t come around very often and it would be nice to do this annually. And as we know, the only way things become an annual thing is my having people showing up and showing that they want these type of events around. This is a great time to socialize as well as stylize. If you want to be seen, this is the place to do it.

So for those who haven’t realized the

obvious, ladies, there will be plenty of men there. And gentlemen, there will be plenty of ladies there. That’s not to mention all of

the motorcycles, rat rods, vans and elive ntertainment that’s going to be wrapped up in one place all at once. I know that usually my articles are a little more edgy, but I’m really excited about this event and I think you should be as well. I’m hoping to see a lot of you out there and hope to see a lot of you participate in these games of skill.

So with that being said, y’all be safe, get those bikes ready, charge those camera phones and get ready to wear some of the rubber off of those tires. This thing’s going to be a friggin’ blast. Start practicing and Let the Games Begin!! Until we see each other again,

“THIS ISN’T AN ADULT FAMILY EVENT, THIS IS BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY EVENT. I GUESS YOU CAN SAY IT’S ALMOST LIKE GOING TO A CARNIVAL BUT YOU GET TO BE THE MAIN ATTRACTION “.

“A SPECIAL ONE INDEED”

So many of us remember times spent with our dad’s in various projects we did together throughout the course of many years. This Father’s Day Tribute is a very special one indeed where a father-son duo work, play, ride, as well as eat, sleep, and dream about Cushman Scooters and Mustang Motorcycles! This is a fascinating story and one that you will enjoy reading here in Born To Ride magazine!

To start out, this is NOT a business story; it’s a hobby story! Richard Jr. explained, “My dad is 73 years old. He has a bad hip and has had knee surgery. Now, he’s not able to ride a Harley anymore. When he was a kid, he used to do a paper route throwing the papers from a Cushman Scooter. In order to earn the money to buy that Cushman, Dad cut grass with front yards for $1 and back yards for $1 in his neighborhood back in the 1950s. Now that he can’t ride the heavier two-wheeler, he decided to get back into the Cushman.” Both Richard Reese Jr. and his dad, Richard Sr., travel all over the country buying old Cushman’s and the parts to them, restoring, rebuilding, and riding them together!

Richard Junior was born in Augusta, Georgia. In 1992, the family moved to Florida. When did the Cushman passion actually start? “We’ve always had a passion for motorcycles. We used to build Harley’s and tinker with those. Dad wanted a Cushman for years, but they are rare and hard to find. Dad heard about these Cushman meets and we started attending them.”

Currently, they have seven Cushman’s that are ready to ride and enough parts to build an additional six more! “We also have two antique Mustang motorcycles, too!” Dad always wanted one of them when he was a kid.” Currently, they are in the process of restoring a 1952 Cushman Eagle barrel springer and a 1957 pony.“Dad rides to the store every day, uptown, and just all around the area on his Cushman. Most Cushman’s run 55-60 mph wide open. We have a couple modified ones that run 80-mph.” When I asked Richard Junior if he rode the modified Cushman, he laughed and said, “Dad and I both ride it!”

Speaking of family, Richard Junior’s two girls help in the restoration process; 12-year-old Alexus and 10-year-old Teagan have absolutely no problem getting in there and helping their dad and Papa! It’s a nice, full circle of love and passion focused around the Cushman Scooters and Mustang Motorcycles!

A funny story Richard Junior shared with me about dad taking the Cushman Scooter and sidecar rig to town! “My dad put a sidecar on a scooter. On his way into town, he had a malfunction with the sidecar. The scooter went out of control and road into a ditch. The scooter was submerged underwater in the ditch – and his dog was in the sidecar! We pulled the scooter and sidecar rig out of the ditch (the dog was fine!) and brought it back to the house. My 10-year-old daughter said, ‘We have to fix Papa’s scooter.’ She refused to stop telling me we had to fix dad’s scooter. She wouldn’t stop, and I finally said, ‘Go fix it!’ She went out there and fixed everything on her own, refusing to let me help her do anything!”

Almost like a repeat of history, Richard Junior’s grandfather had a Mustang motorcycle! “My grandfather had a Mustang motorcycle when my dad was a teenager and dad used to ride it. My grandfather used to help my dad work on his Cushman when dad was a kid. My dad got his first Cushman at age 13. My grandfather rode an Army 45 Harley through hostile territories during WWII. He was a messenger in the war. It’s crazy to think my grandfather’s job in the military was riding through hell from one area to another, on that Harley to deliver messages!” Richard and his dad will be attending a National Mustang motorcycle Meet in Texas.” He added, “These bikes are very rare, and parts are very hard to come by.”

Winding up an already great conversation, Richard Junior said, “It’s just a passion for me to be able to spend time with my dad since he won’t always be here with me. He enjoys it and can’t do it without me unloading and loading the scooters, the hard work at events in picking up heavy totes and engines, etc. My dad is the greatest dad in the world and the one thing he said to us many times over (which has always stuck with me) is to always have fun and enjoy life while it’s still here because one day you won’t be able to. To this day, he lives his life that way and has taught me to live my life the same way.”

You can visit with the Reese father and son duo at the Fun Bar in Bartow, Florida. They will also be at the Webster Westside motorcycle swap meet held on the first Sunday of every month! Be sure to tell them that you read their story in Born To Ride magazine!

“So many of us remember times spent with our dad’s in various projects we did together throughout the course of many years. This Father’s Day Tribute is a very special one indeed”