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MAGAZINE
Emma Chambers
President Randy Faul (863)244-3709 president@floridatrailriders.org Vice President James Hill (941) 812-1247 vicepresident@floridatrailriders.org Secretary Shaun Foutch (386)214-4878 secretary@floridatrailriders.org Treasurer Allen Pearce (352)339-5644 treasurer@floridatrailriders.org
Hare Scrambles Randy Rash (954)931-5709 hschair@floridatrailriders.org Enduros George Tolson (863)698-3837 endurochair@floridatrailriders.org Enduros Glenn Hunt (678)-231-4100 ghunt350xc@gmail.com Hare Scrambles Dan Aitken (407)461-8595 hsref@floridatrailriders.org Associate HS Ref Pete Rose (941)270-1189 pwrracingktm@gmail.com
Magazine Editor Dave Dekmar (941) 356-7796 ftrmagazine@dekmar3d.com
RIDER
Enduro
AA/A Don Chriss (407)694-5614
Specialty A/B Peter Magee (352)-472-6932 cr250@bellsouth.net
decorlando@gmail.com
B/C
REPS
WHO TO
CONTACT
www.floridatrailriders.org
Specialty C/Women Jimmy Pitts (321)632-3456
VACANT
Hare Scrambles B/C Ryan McCarthy (941)234-5086
AA/A
Timothy Campbell
(561)723-4370
thetimtime@gmail.com
ryanmccarthy90@gmail.com
Specialty A/B Danny Kittell (727)244-7299 cell (727)786-8922 home kittell@verizon.net
Specialty C/Women Kerri Chambers (863)956-9140 jekchambers@aol.com
Saturday Classes Kurt Lucas (786)385-7771 ktmx16@gmail.com
Quads Pete Rose (941)270-1189
pwrracingktm@gmail.com
Scorekeepers
Hare Scramble Brandon St. John (912)729-1089 hsscore@floridatrailriders. org
Enduro CBob House (770)778-9343 cbr46@yahoo.com
Electronic Scoring Maintenance Tim Nordle score.n.it.4.ftr@gmail.com
@floridatrailriders
facebook.com/ ftr-floridatrailridersmagazine
issuu.com/ floridatrailriders magazine
FLORIDA TRAIL RIDERS
IN THIS ISSUE Page 4 Page 4 Page 6 Page 7 Page 9 Page 12 Page 18 Page 22
Executive Committee Contacts Riders Reps Area Reps and Club Contacts The Prez Says FTR Member Round up Around the pits Coach Robb's 2 Week Food Challenge GNCC Snowshoe Special Reports
SUPPORT THOSE THAT SUPPORT FTR!
Long time FTR member Emma Chambers gets into the Sportsman action at the DDR Strickland Ranch Hare Scramble. PC: Morgan Hill
New Hare Scrambles Pre-Entry Website FTR has contracted with a new company for Hare Scramble pre-entries. The website is: www.imathlete.com. •You can sign in to this website and build your profile. •You only have to do this once. •You will use the Username and Password you set up to access your account for the pre-entry. •Pre-entry will open approximately 10 days before the race weekend.
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Area #1: Spencer St. John (912)674-8871 killerktm21@yahoo.com Counties: Out-of-State, Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, Gulf, Gadsden, Liberty, Franklin, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Lafayette, Dixie Area #2: Larry Roberts Counties: Hamilton, Suwannee, Columbia, Baker, Union, Bradford, Nassau, Duval, Clay, Putnam, St. Johns Area #3: William Toreki (352)372-1135 stillbill@cox.net Counties: Gilchrist, Alachua, Levy, Marion, Citrus, Sumter, Lake
CLUB Area #10: Luis M Rodriguez (772)871-6385 luisabx@hotmail.com Counties: Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Martin Area #11 Peter Rose (941)270-1189 pwrracingktm@gmail.com pete.rose@marinemax.com Counties: Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry, Collier Area #12: Kyle McAfee Counties: Palm Beach Area #13: Paul Lucas Counties: Broward, Dade, Monroe
1 Apollo Motorcycle Club Mark Bordelon (321)794-0993 voice and text markbord115@gmail.com www.apollomotorcycleclub.com 2 Azalea City Motorcycle Club Gary Wyatt-Interlachan,Fl (386)684-2698 wyattg1@windstream.net 3 Big Scrub Trail Riders John Hawkins-Tavares,Fl (352) 516-6903 jamohawkins@embarqmail.com www.bigscrub.com 4 Central Florida Trail Riders Dave Nagle (407) 222-0050 centaurconstruction@yahoo.com 5 Columbia Enduro Riders Ricky Dennis-Columbia,SC (803)786-0051 mastercraft@bellsouth.net 6 Daytona Dirt Riders Shaun Foutch (386)214-4878 eastflorida234@yahoo.com zwww.daytonadirtriders.com
Area #4: Joe Carrasquillo (386)295-8428 fdjoec@aol.com Counties: Flagler, Volusia Area #5: Mike Belle (813)963-0657 mikebelle@tampabay.rr.com Counties: Hernando, Pasco. Pinellas, West Hillsborough
7 Family Riders, Inc. Johnny Thomas-Hanahan,SC (843)553-1463 familyriderssc@bellsouth.net 8Greenville Enduro Riders Chris Poole-Laurens,SC info@greenvilleenduroriders.com
Area #6: Jason Croley Counties: East Hillsborough, Polk Area #7: Bill Jenkins, Jr. (407)282-6056 ford3233@aol.com Counties: Seminole, Orange, Osceola Area #8: Mark Bordelon (321)794-0993 mborde01@intersil.com Counties: Brevard, Indian River Area #9: Steve Nutter (941)915-5547 snutter@live.com Counties: Manatee, Sarasota, DeSoto, Highlands
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Joe Strickland- PR Chair (904)652-5761 rcdrjax@gmail.com www.rcdr.org 14 Sarasota Area Dirt Riders Scott Bryant (941)223-9014 gbryant@comcast.net www.sarasotadirtriders.com 15 Sarasota Area Quad Riders Amanda Fronckowiak-Venice,Fl (941) 223-6974 ajc7191@comcast.net 16 Southeast Florida Trail Riders Fra n k Ca m p b e l l -We s t p a l m Beach,Fl (561) 951-3732 Seftr35@yahoo.com 17 Sumter Enduro Riders Johnny McCoy-Sumter,SC (803) 481-5169 serma@ftc-i.net www.sermaclub.com 18 Suncoast Trail Blazers Brian Coughlin-President bcoughl2@tampabay.rr.com Shane Hitz- Vice President www.suncoasttrailblazers.com 19 Sunrunners M/C Dale Ellis-Auburndale,Fl (407)467-1196 dlellis@laneconstruction.com 20 Tallahassee Trail Riders Mikey Rainey (850)591-5386 www.tallahasseetrailriders.org
9 Old School Dirt Riders Ben Kelly-Sarasota,Fl (941)650-1473/(941)650-1474 ftr90racer@yahoo.com 10 Palm Beach Track & Trail Jim Agate-Hollywood,Fl (954)562-2500 jim@agatemortgage.com 11 Perry Mountain M/C Glenn Hollingshead-Selma.AL (334)872-0619 hhollingsh@msn.com 12 Nature Coast Trail Blazers Rob Swann (813)731-5552 rswann222@gmail.com www.naturecoasttrailblazers.com
Hardee,
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13 River City Dirt Riders Woody Westbrook-President (850)320-4088
21 Treasure Coast Trail Riders Luis Rodriguez (772)801-9777 luisabx@hotmail.com
CONTACTS
AREA
DIRECTORS
the chaplain's corner
The Prez Say’s
FLORIDA TRAIL RIDERS T
his month’s article is coming from round 6 of the National Motocross series here at Muddy Creek MX, Tenn. As I sit here reflecting back from today’s racing it is absolutely mind boggling just how fast these guys are. Watching on TV is great but being here where you can run around like a wild Indian from side to side and section to section catching all the passes and dicing is a whole different experience. Of course I run into FTR friends to hang out with and chew the fat with the likes of Dylan Rash, Kurt and Paul Lucus and Billy Cone. The Rocky Mountain ATV/MC team which is run by an old FTR rider back in the day, Forrest Butler took the time out of his very busy day to get us up to speed on the goings on in the life of a team owner, great job Forrest! One of the sponsors of team RM ATV/MC is Palmetto Motorsports which also has supported FTR for many years and continues to support the sport, Thank you Todd Sandoval. While supporting Seat Concepts riders Blake Bagget and Benny Bloss in the 450 class, I had to hang out with a true hero of the sport Ryan Sipes. As he just rides for fun now doing GNCC’s and other forms of racing including some dirt track, he qualified and finished a very respectable 25/20 in both his 250 lites motos. Did I mention he did it on a 125 Husqvarna! Good stuff this sport of dirt bikes. On the FTR front, our awards ceremony is a few weeks away as Lacey and Lisa have been working their tails off getting ready to provide another great event. I hope everyone has booked their room and requested their tickets as we are almost there. FTR had a very productive BoD meeting back on June 9th
“Watch it when you ride with him; he’s reckless…” We have all heard and seen this rider. On a course, in the pits, even on the highway, we all know a rider or driver we call “reckless”. According to the dictionary, reckless is defined as “(of a person or their actions) without thinking or caring about the consequences of an action.” In other words, the reckless person goes full steam ahead without considering the danger he might encounter. Think about that… hit the starter, twist the throttle full, bang at the shifter, target the small path between the two trees and run it at full speed. Yes, you might make it through and take the lead. Or, you might discover the flavor of pine bark, and how long the Doctor will keep you in a cast. That is without mentioning the costly repairs to you bike. My point is, that the reckless person doesn’t consider or care about the possible results of their actions.
with a lot of participation and feedback. Also that morning the EC reviewed the bids for our three contracted positions. Thank you to all that applied for the positions and after reviewing some very impressive bids, it was decided to have our current positions stay the same. FTR will be establishing business hours to enable our membership to call or email the office for information dealing with FTR business; we will be announcing these soon. As our summer break is here, I hope all of you has a great summer and get your batteries charged up for the new season coming up pretty fast. Thanks for listening, Randy Faul
Now look at what happened to Jesus. He fully knew in advance (remember, He is God’s Son) what He was facing by choosing to pay the price for our sins. He completely understood and fully accepted, the beatings, the public humiliation, the desertion by the people He loved and death on a cross. He knew what He was facing to save the world (and you and me) from the penalty for our sins. He paid it all for us because He loves us. All He asks of us is to trust and believe in Him. So, when you hear about the “the Overwhelming, Never Ending, Reckless Love of God”, understand that His sacrifice for us wasn’t by accident… just out of love. We have started “The Good Race” joy service every Saturday night from 7:30 to 7:45 pm. We meet at the CMA tent on vendor’s row. We will be starting up again at the first race and hope to see you there. Blessings on and off the road, Jim and Betty Edleston CMA “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7
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FLORIDA TRAIL RIDERS 2018 Graduations
Nathan Moir DeLand High School
Garrett Willis New Smyrna Beach high School
Mariah Lacey Photo
Jesse Ansley Florida Virtual School
What did you do on the 4th of July? Monica Blahackova and Jocob Gilliam got engaged! Cogratulations to a happy couple.
Introducing Troy and Kaila Wiek. Here's to a happy future!
FTR MEMBER
R OUND UP
Presnting EMT Amber Trapnell ! Way to go and good luck in your new career.
Guess who's expecting Twin racers? Congrats Charles and Stormy. A couple PW's would be great baby gifts!
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SUPPORT THOSE THAT SUPPORT FLORIDA TRAIL RIDERS MAGAZINE
Around The Pits Dear FTR
I
t is with some dismay and a great deal of sadness that I write this farewell so soon after I wrote my introduction.
Bicycle Champion and FTR Master C Champion and was on Hell’s Canyon premier team.
A few weeks ago, at Gatorback, I got my usual hole shot but failed to negotiate the first turn successfully. After more than a little persuasion by paramedic RN, Donny Richardson, his beautiful wife and paramedic, Karin, and especially EMT BC Drymon (these guys need more credit) I took the long bumpy ride to the ER. Two days later I got out with 4 broken ribs, a pneumothorax and a hemothorax. I was unable to lift more than 10 pounds or sleep on my side. I’m looking at 6 weeks and a whole lot of pain.
I’ve raised two wonderful boys, one of whom is Jason Garrett who lost his right leg at Gatorback 3 years ago. He still has debilitating phantom pain. As I lay here on my back I feel fulfilled but my future is blank. I just want to be like Herb Doan. I can only hope to see my racing buddy, Bob Brown, you, my friends, and Still Bill again Fist Bump. ——— Out Bill Garrett
I can’t believe. Why me? Why now? I just got my AMA lifetime membership (25 years of membership) and now I can’t use it. I just bought a pair of $600.00 boots. I planned to do a lot of kicking. Now you can go kick your own d…. tires. I am a survivor. I survived Viet Nam. I was a forward air controller based at Hue’ (Whey). I was in the air when the twin towers went down. I survived Toys R Us. I was a manager trainee for the whole Christmas season. They R gone and I am here. I survived a 4th of July family motorcycle rodeo in Maryland where 6 Outlaws Motorcycle Club members were shot. I have done hare scrambles, observed trials, Toys for Tots, hare and hound, Burning Man, enduros, Key West poker run, motocross, Daytona Bike Week, cross country, Sturgis hill climb, drag races, slow races, Sheetiron 300, 6 hour and 24 hour endurance races. And I was getting better every race. Sometimes I could finish a 2 hour race in one hour. Gatorback I finished in 10 seconds. Now all my memories are behind me. I got my fair share. No more cramps, no more monkey butt, Oh MY. I was in Hong Kong when Britain ceded it to China. I was NBA Florida
BANQUET INFORMATION 2018 FTR AWARDS BANQUET SCHEDULE Doors to the vendor area open at 10AM. Armband pick up/purchase is in the vendor area. Banquet seating will open at 2PM. Opening ceremonies will begin around 230PM. PW Awards 65/Mini Awards Sunday PM Awards Highpoint and Top A/B/C Enduros Saturday PM Awards Sunday AM Awards Quads Due to people missing their awards last year, we are not posting what times we plan on doing each of the classes like we did last year. Please attend the entire banquet as a courtesy for all other racers. Any questions please contact Lacey or Lisa Nordle, 352-457-5030 (Lacey) or 352-748-4071(Lisa) or laceynordle@gmail.com
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CONTACT RANDY FAUL
randt817@gmail.com (863)244-3709
FLORIDA TRAIL RIDERS
WHAT'S HE RACING NOW? M
y own bike. Boring, huh? But it was the first race on it so I can write my impressions.
Right before HS 8 I traded my yz250 for this yz450 so I could race A-Open in enduros next season. My only seat time on it was 30 minutes or so at croom with Monika the day I got it. The 2014 bike is as basic as it gets. All stock besides a big tank and some bark busters. I didn't change a single thing on this bike other than ignition mapping. Moto4Play had already revalved it for the previous owner who is significantly heavier but less aggressive so it felt exactly how I wanted it. I really like that the tank is under the seat for a lower center of gravity. I also like that the easy access to the air filter, although when you're on the gas sometimes the sound of that intake can be very loud. It took 2 kicks to start on the line which put me in last place for the start. I made some pretty good time getting up to 2nd but I didn't have enough speed to catch Shawn who beat me by over 5 minutes. The
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power of these 450s has to be plateauing soon. At 58 hp, I've already hooked up the GYTR tuner up and changed the ignition mapping to make the bike slower. Now I'm reading that the new KTMs are 63 HP? When will it be too much? As fast as this bike is, it wasn't easy to get by Scott Moore on his late model CR250R. He gets on the gas early and holds it. It took him turning around for double greens for me to get by him for 2nd. I got a front flat this race but still managed to finish 8th overall. I wish I could write more about it but there isn't anything that really stands out about this bike. It is a great bike and I'm glad to own it. The spring suspension is worth the few extra pounds and I'm positive I can keep this bike up front next season in A-Open for enduros. Engine 10/10. Blazing fast Brakes 10/10 Suspension 10/10 You can't go wrong owning a 2014 YZ450F
What do dirt bike racers do when it starts raining? They do what they always do and go racing! Super Senior A racers Ronnie Hames and George Paulsen launch off the line at a very wet Daytona Dirt Riders Strickland Ranch Hare Scramble.
FLORIDA TRAIL RIDERS
Coach Robb's 2 Week Food Challenge
W
elcome to day one of the 2-Week Food Challenge. Making healthy food choices should be easy, right? But we often don’t recognize all of the things put in our food that negatively affect our health in so many ways. We are surrounded by packaged and processed foods and sometimes we inadvertently get off track. The 2-Week Food Challenge is designed to help you get clean – from the inside out – and get you back on track to leading the healthy lifestyle you deserve. Whether you are looking to shed a few pounds or increase athletic performance, the Challenge is a great way to “tune up” your body. Used once a quarter, the 2-Week Food Challenge will help you look better, sleep better, be more mentally focused, and feel more energized. The 2-Week Food Challenge was created by Dr. Phil Maffetone, doctor and coach to six-time Ironman Hawaii winner Mark Allen. The Challenge will help stabilize your blood sugar levels and determine if you are carbohydrate intolerant (CI). CI is a common problem in many populations and the diseases associated with this condition are reaching epidemic proportions. Common symptoms of CI include sleepiness after meals, intestinal bloating, increased body fat, fatigue and others. Early stages of CI include elusive problems associated with bloodsugar handling, such as fatigue, intestinal bloating and loss of concentration. Middle stages include a more serious conditions including hypertension, elevations of LDL, lowering of HDL, elevated triglycerides, excess body fat and often obesity. Long term CI manifests itself as various diseases, including diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Final stages include a condition referred to as Metabolic Syndrome. This stage is includes disorders such as: hyperinsulinemia, Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity, Polycystic ovary, Stroke, Breast Cancer, Coronary Heart Disease, High Blood Cholesterol and Triglycerides.
Step 1: Evaluate
Evaluate if you experience any of the following (check the circle if applicable so that you can reference if the symptom(s) still persist after completing the Two-Week Food Challenge): •Physical Fatigue – Overall feeling of fatigue; morning through lunch or even all day. •Mental Fatigue – Inability to concentrate; loss of creativity, poor memory, poor grades, various forms of “learning disabilities.” This is more pronounced immediately after a meal or if a meal is delayed or missed. •Blood Sugar Handling Issues -Fluctuations in blood sugar are
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normal during the day, but are amplified if meals are not eaten on a regular schedule. Feeling jittery, agitated and/or moody (symptoms that immediately subside once food is consumed). Craving for simple sugars, chocolate or caffeine; bouts of dizziness. •Intestinal Bloating – Suffer from excessive gas; antacids or other remedies are not successful in dealing with the gas levels; gas tends to be worse later in the day and into the night. •Sleepiness – Feel sleepy immediately after meals containing carbohydrates, particularly a pasta meal or meal that contains bread, potatoes or dessert. •Increased Fat Storages & Weight – For more individuals, too much weight is too much fat. In males, abdominal fat is more evident and in females it is more prominent in the upper body, upper thighs and in the face. •Increased Triglycerides – High triglycerides are not only found in overweight individuals. Individuals with high triglycerides are the direct result of carbohydrates from the diet being converted by insulin into fat. •High Blood Pressure – Most individuals dealing with hypertension produce too much insulin and as a result are carbohydrate intolerant. For some, sodium sensitivity is common and eating too much sodium causes water retention along with elevated blood pressure. •Depression – Because carbohydrate adversely affect the levels of neurotransmitters made in the brain, feelings of depression and/or sleepiness can result. Sugar has been promoted as if it is a stimulate, but in actuality, has the opposite effect. •Addiction – Individuals who are addicted to alcohol, caffeine, cigarettes or other drugs often have many of the above mentioned symptoms.
Step 2: Measure
Open the Body Measurements spreadsheet and capture your numbers prior to starting the food challenge. Go to YouTube and search Coach Robb: Body Measurements to watch a video on how to correctly capture your body measurements for accuracy.
Step 3: Purge
Purge your cabinets and refrigerator of the following: •Breads, rolls, pasta, pancakes, cereal, muffins, chips, crackers and rice cakes •Sweets and products that contain sugar such as ketchup, honey, etc. (read the labels to ensure there is no sugar) •Fruit juice
•Processed meats that contain sugar •Fat Free, Skim & 2% Milk, half and half •Fat Free or Low Fat Yogurt •Energy Bars and Energy Drinks •All soda, including diet •Alcohol, except dry wines
Step 4: Stock Up
Time to go shopping to stock up with what you will need to get this challenge under way! A few considerations: 1.Note: don’t consume anything on this list without prior approval from your doctor. NO EXCEPTIONS! 2.Plan ahead so that you are never without sufficient food 3.Avoid becoming hungry – unlimited amounts of food are available to you, eat every two hours 4.Don’t focus on the volume of food you are consuming – just eat 5.Take the time to chew your food completely – this will aid in the digestion and absorption of your food 6.Consume enough vegetables (at least six servings per day) to maintain fiber intake (and avoid constipation) Drink cold filtered water at a rate of .5 ounces per pound of body weight Example: 150 pounds x .5 ounces = 75 ounces per day Food you can eat in unlimited amounts: •Steamed or raw vegetables (avoid white potatoes and corn) – organic ideally •Fresh fruit – organic ideally •Nuts and seeds – organic and free of any oils and salt •Almond butter – organic ideally •Extra virgin olive oil •Balsamic Vinegar •Whole fat mayonnaise •Whole eggs •Non American yellow cheese – look for hard cheeses like Swiss, Provolone, etc. •Meats (beef, turkey, chicken, lamb, etc.) – free range and sugar free (read the label here!) •Fresh Fish (cold water Atlantic) – salmon, sardines, albacore white tuna (nothing out of a can) •Fresh Shellfish •Tofu •Mustard (as long as there isn’t any sugar added)
Fish and Meats
•Pot roast cooked with onions, carrots and celery •Roasted chicken •Chili made with fresh meat, and a variety of vegetables such as diced onions, celery, peppers, zucchini, tomatoes •Fish (not fried) with any variety of steamed vegetable
Snacks
Celery stuffed with nut butter or cream cheese Guacamole with vegetable sticks for dipping Hard boiled eggs
Step 5: Eat & Train
Time to eat and train! As mentioned before, eat every two hours (even if you are not hungry). During the next two weeks, keep the majority of your workouts aerobic, which means eliminating any and all weight lifting (it is anaerobic by nature) and any strenuous workouts (above heart rate zone 2). What to expect during the first week: •If you have been eating lots of sweets or other carbohydrates, you may experience cravings for sugar for the first few days. •You may experience a headache associated with withdraws – strive to use manual massage to relax the muscles in the neck and upper shoulders. •You may find yourself falling off of the program, not because you intend to, but rather due to the realization that processed foods are everywhere. If you eat something that is not “approved” you need to start over and this is ok! Step 6: Stay Consistent Stay consistent with both your food and aerobic training. Maintain a food intake log along with a detailed training log – specifically energy levels, average and max heart rate with each workout.
Now, let’s begin the challenge! Until next time, Train smart not hard! -Coach Robb
Coach Robb has been working with riders and racers since 1987 and is the founder of the Complete Racing Solutions Performance System, the Mental Blueprint of Success, the MotoE Amateur Development Program, the MotoE Educational Series and Nutritionally Green Supplements based out of Orlando Florida.
Helpful Suggestions:
Eggs
•Omelets: any combination of vegetables, meats and cheeses •Scrambled eggs with guacamole, sour cream and salsa •Scrambled eggs with a scoop of ricotta or cottage cheese •Boiled or poached eggs with spinach or asparagus
Salads
•Chef-leaf lettuce, meats, cheese, eggs •Spinach-with bacon & eggs •Caesar-romaine lettuce, eggs & parmesan cheese •Any salad with chicken, tuna, shrimp or other meat
Salad Dressings
•Extra-virgin olive oil & vinegar with sea salt and spices •Creamy-heavy cream, mayonnaise, garlic and spices
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FLORIDA TRAIL RIDERS Photo by Ken Hill How did riding/racing start for you? I started riding dirt bikes when I was 10 years and started racing around age 14. I stopped riding all together due to finances at age 16 and didn’t start again until age 31. I am 45 now so I have been riding for the past 14 years. I raced MX for one year in 2008 and then started racing FTR in 2009. Ironically, I was always a dirt bike guy and didn’t by my first quad until 2006. You've been racing the GNCC series and jsut finished Snowshoe. How was it for you? Snowshoe was bunch of highs and ended on a low. I started up front, made no mistakes, so I was able to push my way through the rows ahead of me in the first 2 laps. In lap 3, there was carnage everywhere and somehow I was able to get through all the stuck lappers without any major issues. Unfortunately I could feel my Rekluse clutch starting to slip and by the end of lap 3, it gave out and I was stuck on an uphill 600 feet from the scoring chicane. I sat there for over 10 minutes before I saw anyone from my class so they must have gotten caught up in the lappers where I was able to slide by. I had to wait for over an hour to be towed out. Thoughts on Saturday as the rain came. We walked Howard’s Hole Friday and saw pics of it Saturday morning so we knew that the conditions were going to be incredibly difficult. My biggest concern with Snowshoe is getting stuck in a bottle neck and although my race got cut short, I was super stoked I was able to climb through all the stuck riders without getting caught up. Definitely a lot of luck was involved. Race Day prep on the bike/quad? We tape up the whole radiator and put mud guards on the handlebars. I run Scott Prospect roll offs and after 3 laps, I still had my goggles on and I was about a half mile from pitting where I was going to get a fresh pair. This is my first year wearing the Prospects and I think they are awesome. On yourself? What goes through your mind going into a race that is a muddy soupy rooted slippery mess? Mike Terango, an FTR Quad-A rider and longtime GNCC rider frequently reminds me to be patient and make seeing the finish line flag my primary objective with every GNCC race. Starting on the road instead of grass, how does that feel or change your mind set of a regular race? Starting on the road is pretty easy. The worst part of Snowshoe is that everyone starts with their motors running so it takes the reaction time of starting your bike out of the equation. I also prefer the FTR format of requiring Quad riders to put their hands on their heads which provides additional opportunity for me to get a better start than another rider who doesn’t have as quick a reaction time. First lap thoughts? Make passes when they are available but don’t try to win the race in the first lap. I ride better after I loosen up so I try to remind myself to be patient and remember that the race is 2 plus hours long. First pit stop any big change of plans or parts? My riding style is pretty fuel efficient so I only need to pit once. I also try to avoid any unnecessary roost so I preserve my goggles and I don’t pull my roll-offs until I absolutely have to. Ideally, I would like to keep the same goggles for the entire race so I want to make sure I don’t run out of roll offs. As the race went on how hard was it to maneuver through the course? The course itself wasn’t the issue. It was the fact that I had to get past about 75-100 lapped riders by the 3rd lap. It caused me to take some lines that were deeper or had bigger rocks but it was either that or sit there and wait. I didn’t take a line unless I truly believed I could make it
and there wasn’t anyone blocking my exit. How heavy does the mud get on you and the bike? The bike and gear get unbelievably heavy. At Steel Creek, I had so much mud on my helmet that it was pushing my goggles down near my mouth. I have since learned on how best to get it off my helmet without getting my gloves muddy and also how to get it off my gloves if I need to. How does your bike handle all the mud and how much longer does it take to clean? Are you able to get it off before the long ride home? What do you use on your bike to clean it? What detergent do you use on your clothes? The bike seems to handle fine but getting a quad clean is definitely a whole lot more work than a bike. Fortunately, I hired BNR racing to bring my quad to every race so they handle all pre and post-race prep including cleaning the quad. If it weren’t for them, there is no way I would be able to complete a full GNCC season. I fly to the far races and my bike is waiting for me when I arrive. The time and fuel saved makes using BNR the ideal solution for me. I do have to bring and clean my own gear which includes a lot of hosing off and a heavy dose of Oxy Clean. The first half of the season is over, how did it go for you? Any special moments you would like to share? The first season has included a lot of fun moments and a ton of learning. The races that were relatively fast and not super technical, I did really well and took home the win. The races that were muddy or super technical, I made a bunch of mistakes or I had mechanical difficulties. When I started racing FTR, I made a bunch of mistakes and when I switched to GNCC, I found myself making mistakes due to the different terrain, the number of other riders, having to start on row 3 instead of row 1 and the additional 45 minutes of racing. I also lost 2 races due to a Rekluse clutch issue so I will be switching to a Hinson clutch for a remainder of the season. What are your expectations for the second half? I am tied in points with a longtime GNCC rider so I need to ride smart and hopefully not have any additional mechanical issues. I feel like I have the speed so if I can run my own race, I am confident that I can bring home the championship. What advise would you give to other riders? Definitely start racing FTR. It’s an amazing organization with great venues and an awesome racing community. I would also put Donny and his EMT team up against any other racing organization including GNCC. GNCC is something everyone should try but it’s really tough to do the whole season due to geography. I would however recommend starting out by hitting a few of the southern races in the Carolinas and Georgia. They will give you some incredibly challenging courses without the 15-20 hour drive. How did your FTR Season go this year? How did you finish? Favorite track? Are you in a club? This was the first year in my 8 years of FTR racing that I missed a bunch of races. I had a bunch of obligations that caused me to miss some races early in the season and then I had a miss a couple due to them overlapping with GNCC. I hope to put in a stronger effort next year and hopefully my time at GNCC will make me a better FTR racer. I am also a member of Big Scrub Trail Riders and help build the Gatorback racetrack. Who would you like to thank? Merrill Lynch, BNR Racing, D4 Powersports, Fox Racing, Walsh Race Craft, Maxxis Tires, Factory 43, Super Cool Bike Shop & Mototrim Seats.
Catching Up
With
Michael RelyEa
FTR's Michael Relyea getting down and dirty at the 2018 Snowshoe GNCC.
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FLORIDA TRAIL RIDERS GNCC Special Reports
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utside of the Florida Trail Riders, many of our members also race the Grand National Cross Country series, better know as the GNCC. One of the most popular races is the scenic Showshoe Mountain Resort in West Virginia. Arguably the toughest, most spectacular race on the whole GNCC circuit Snowshoe is unique in that the racers start on the pavement and end up having to navigate the rocky inclines that lead up and down the famed ski resort. Usually all types of terrain will be attacked but due to heavy rains this year, leading right up to he drop of the flag, the racers faced a sticky muddy mess making 2018 one of the most challenging Showshoe races to date. We got a chance to get some feedback from some of FTR's members that have been taking on the challenges that is GNCC Racing and Snowshoe in particular.
Blake Yahrus is dad raced cars & his moms family raced FTR & motocross. So naturally Blake Yahrus started racing at the early age of 5. (Personally speaking the writers at the FTR magazine would like to add that Blake has one of the best attitudes around. Win or loose his presence and reaction is one that sponsors dream of.) FTR MAG: The first half of the GNCC season is over; how did it go for you? BLAKE: Next year I will be in YXC1. Since I'm a Florida sand rider :) My parents and I decided to call this our "learning season" so I can get used to the tracks and learn the different terrains. Right now, I'm sitting 6th place in points, I am looking forward to putting in the work over the summer to try to get some podiums in the second half of the season. FTR MAG: Any special moments you would like to share? BLAKE: I am enjoying all the time I'm spending with my family driving to all these new places. And to give a shout out to those who have been there since the beginning, My mom & dad, Ricky Skaggs, Uncle Jr, Uncle Thomas and my Papa Ed Wilson!! Also, a shout out to those at the top of my list that have taught me the most, my Mom & Dad, Tom Fleming, Jesse Ansley and Papa. FTR MAG: How was Snowshoe? It was a long drive up but it's fun spending time with my family and seeing all the beautiful views in the mountains. Saturday as the rain came and the Quads took over, I realized it was going to be a survival race! I knew I needed to ride smart and keep it on 2 wheels. Starting on the pavement was pretty cool but since it had rained and was foggy it was really slick! Going into the first lap I knew I needed to push hard but again ride smart. My vision was good for the first lap then it went downhill after that. The first pit stop we had bike issues right off the start, we think we may have gotten water in the bike. My dad tried to do some carb adjustments to try to get more air to the bike so hopefully the bike would run better. It did help a little. The course was slick and with my bike running the way it was made it very frustrating. I wish my bike was running better, besides the wet slick conditions it was a fun course! MUD. Up north I've learned that it's a very sticky, clumpy mud, with clay in it. It sticks to everything and your boots, helmet, and even my bike doubles in weight!! The mud pushes me to dig! You can never give up!! Any points are
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better than no points. The Checkers. I was happy I was able to finish but frustrated because I knew I could have done better. FTR MAG: How did your FTR season go? Starting in FTR has been a huge help for racing in GNCC. It gives you a chance to learn every aspect of racing from winning to losing, to be a good sport win or lose and staying humble when you have a good season. FTR has also taught me how to find better lines, pass people and not follow etc. I had a great FTR season this year! I finished 1st and earned my 2nd Mini A championship in a row. FTR MAG: What advice do you have for young riders. Blake: NEVER give up!! Keep pushing and have fun!! FTR MAG: Who would you like to Thank? Blake: I would like to thank my Mom & Dad without them I wouldn't have the chance to do this! TF Racing Suspension, Jesse Ansley, HBD Motografx, Seat Concepts, KLIM, Skaggs Steel Buildings, Tom Wilson Auto Repair, Plastrd, EW Services, Elliott Services, DekDef, and all the people in our inner circle The Moores, The Kosters, and The Dinkels. •
FLORIDA TRAIL RIDERS Bonnie Benard hen both your parents have raced you are pretty much going to be riding very soon. Bonnie at 4 years old had her first dirt bike and she couldn’t even rider her bicycle yet. Bonnie raced from age 4 to 6 starting in Tennessee and some in Florida. She got back into racing with FTR when she was 14. She raced Motocross and Hare Scrambles for a season. It was the beginning of the 2016-2017 season that she started again. FTR MAG: How was your Snowshoe experiemce? The drive was long considering we didn't leave until late Thursday night after everyone that was going was off work. It was one of those trips that seems to take forever because you are just ready to be there, but once the sun came up and we had just one more state to go through, the excitement started setting in and realization that I was actually going to race Snowshoe. Being able to finally see the beautiful scenery was just wonderful. We walked just a couple of short sections of track on Friday and could tell it was completely saturated and was going to be a difficult race, especially devil's downhill for me. At that point, all I could hope for was no more rain, so we could have at least some dry areas and maybe the mud wouldn't be too deep. Unfortunately, that was not the case. When the rain came in Saturday, I just knew it was going to make the track even worse than I had anticipated and one of the most difficult races I have ever raced with the mud, slippery rocks, and steep up hills and down hills. FTR MAG: How did you prep for race day? We put Evan's coolant in the bikes. Being that it is not water based, it keeps the temperature lower. This would help when stuck in mud and on roots to not over heat. On race morning, we went to get the bikes ready and they would not start. Once we did get them to start we had gas pouring out of the carbs. At this point, I was getting nervous if I would even be able to race. Luckily, my team mate and sponsor, Kevin Neff, was able to get it to stop. The only thing that we can contribute both bikes doing this to is the high altitude. Personally, I drank a protein shake and pickle juice to try and stop cramps. I wore extra gear and a bigger chest protector that also protected my shoulder. I just tried to keep my nerves calm and focus. Starting on the pavement is definitely different and was a concern. Honestly, the only thing I could think was don't give too much gas taking off and looping out or going to fast into the first corner and sliding out and hitting the curb. After getting on the actual course in the woods and muck I started thinking I might have chewed off more than I was expecting due to the extra wet conditions. At this point, my main thought was keep it on two's and finish. At the first pit stop I was still good on gas and water in my camel back, so took some encouraging words from my team and took off. The one mistake I made during this stop was taking off my gloves. They were water logged and completely saturated and I thought I would do better without them. I realized two corners after the pit that was a bad idea. Once my grips and hands got muddy, again, I could barely grip the bars or turn the throttle. I was to the point that I would have to stop and use someone on the side lines rag to wipe my hands when I could. The race got harder. The more tired I got and the rougher the course got, the harder it
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was for me to keep it on two's as planned. The mud is so heavy! At one point I spent a good 20 - 30 minutes stuck because it was so heavy. On the last lap I was completely exhausted, drenched, and beat up. All I could think was I can't quit. I came up here to race this race and finish. I have to finish. When I came around the last corner before the checkered I saw my boyfriend standing there with his arms up to let me know I had made it. As soon as I saw him I started laughing and crying. Not that laughing until you cry, but truly laughing and crying. I had so many emotions, such as I couldn't believe it was over and that I actually made it!! I just completed the toughest race. I did it! I took my ktm 250 xc-w that is too tall for me, but it has electric start, which I knew would be a benefit when being stuck in mud, compared to my kx125. It was a trooper. It handles as good as could be expected in the situation and never failed me. I would like to thank my Dad, Jim Benard, foremost for always being there for me and believing in me, my mom, Carol Benard, for buying my first dirt bike and being the racer, I always wanted to be growing up, CC Riders for sponsoring me, Kevin and Marissa Neff for being my track mom and dad when my dad can't be there, my boyfriend Jake for putting up with my racing. •
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Bryce Koster
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ryce Koster is another one of those riders who were born into racing. Along with his brother, Bryce’s Dad started the newest member of the family racing at 4 ½ years old and has been going strong except for a two-year break in 20132015. FTR MAG: How's your GNCC season going? The first half of the GNCC season has gone really well for me. I was able to get my first ever GNCC win at my favorite track the Wild Boar at the opening round, which happens to be in the Florida, so close to home. I was Top Amateur for the first time. That was a day I won’t forget for a while. I was pumped to back up my Florida Top Amateur with another one in New York, which was a little sweeter for me since I did it so far from home. FTR MAG: How about Snowshoe? Coming into snowshoe I spent the week up in North Carolina at Trevor’s house riding some gnarly trail to get ready for the race. I knew it was going to be muddy after watching the forecast all week and when the quads raced Saturday I knew it was going to be a rough one. We didn’t change much to the bike just a normal race day prep and prep for myself was the same as always, just some stretching before I go to the line and trying to stay calm. I knew it was going to be a long day and all I needed to do was survive and get to the checkered flag. Starting on the road always throws me off a bit and especially this time because it was pouring down rain, so I just took it easy through the first few turns and got going when we got into the woods. First lap went good, Ben parsons had caught me pretty quick, so I hung with him and we had a good pace going. First pit stop I grabbed some fresh goggles and just about every time I seen my dad I grabbed goggles because this race was torture on your vision. I felt the track got somewhat easier as the race went on with more water coming down on the track. I lost my rear brakes about halfway into the race. From there I was really just trying to survive the mountain. I had many close
calls but I made it to the checkers and I was pumped to finally see them after 3 hours. My bike handled really well in the condition and I felt really good I just wish we didn’t have the brake issues so I could have pushed through. It took me about 2 hours to get everything cleaned up, I hate the mud. I use Ol’ red bike wash to get everything cleaned up. FTR MAG: How'd you FTR season go? My FTR season went well this year, I got a few wins and had some good battles at almost every race. I don’t think my results really show where I am now because I opted out of a few races, but I will be going for that championship next year for sure. This season 2017-2018 I ended up 3rd in AA and 3rd Overall. I have finished in the top 3 overall the last 3 years so I’m pretty happy with that. FTR MAG: What kind of advice do you have for young riders? My advice to young riders is to have fun, sometimes you get all caught up and stressed out about racing and forget to step back and think “we are just out here riding dirt bikes” I still have to remind myself till this day. •
Cole Tucker
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ole Tucker is a name you're going to hear a lot about in FTR for years to come. This kid does not give up and knows how to win a race on his #119 Quad. FTR MAG: Sounds like Snowshoe tried hard to break you but you wouldn't let the mountain win. How'd it go? Snowshoe Mountain chewed my quad up this year. I got off to a late start, then narrowly missed getting caught up in a crash in the first turn. I pushed hard to make up ground and found myself battling with the class leader and climbing the overall. By the end of lap two I was nose to tail running second in class and sixteenth overall. I started having some issues with steering and control and ended up having to stop for repair on lap three. By the time I got back to the top of the mountain on lap four my quad was overheating billowing out white smoke from coolant. I kept getting waved on by Dad, so I ran it till it gave out on the last lap. We smoked a motor but in all that salvaged second place out of seven. We cracked the left and right engine cases, the head and cool head. We cracked the frame completely through in three places and damaged the swing-arm. Thank goodness we have the summer break to rebuild! There is still a lot of racing to
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do this fall to decide my class, but I am heading into the break with the points lead! FTR MAG: How was your trip there? The scenery in the mountains on the drive up was amazing as always. We stopped at Walmart and accidentally locked the keys in the truck losing an hour of our trip but we still got to Snowshoe at a decent time on Thursday evening. FTR MAG: How did you prep for this race? We covered the bumper and the rest of quad in Maxima SC1 to help keep the mud out, and a quick test to make sure it was running well before I brought it to the start line. To prep myself I hydrate, stretch at the starting line, and get myself pumped up. I was excited going into this race because not only do I like the Snowshoe track, but I like mud races. My mind set for the start at Snowshoe is to get a good start but don't wreck considering that we're on asphalt compared to where I would usually try to be very aggressive going through the first few corners on a grass start. On the first lap I ran with the leader the whole time. Making my way to 15th overall when I came through to score my first lap I felt very good about the race. During a pit stop, we had to rip off the right mafia mitt
because the bolt came out holding it in with the hand guard. Since the hand guard had to stay on the bike it was flopping around and was getting caught under the plastics a few times, stopping me from steering. The mud pushes me because a lot of people are conservative in the mud, but I go all out to try to make up time on other riders. My Scott Goggles gave me the vision I needed and to race at my fullest potential. My quad handled the mud very well. FTR MAG: Who do you want to thank? I would like to Thank God, Mom, Dad, Sister, and family, PR2 Racing Engines, Twin Air, BRM Offroad Graphics, Scott Goggles, Motowoz Shocks, Atlas Braces, Gforce MX, Fly Racing, Blommel Motorsports and Dusty Robinson. •
Ken Hill Photo
Ken Hill Photo
Gus Montoya went for a pass. Around 5 miles in I hit a rock and blew the front right tire. Ididn’t know it was flat cause of all the mud. Mile 9 came into a bottleneck and I chose the same line from lap 1, then disaster. I started pushing hard and picked the wrong line and flipped the beast completely over landing on me. Not good! The flip ended up breaking my exhaust off and bending a few things. The day came to an end. The mountain conquered me for a second straight year. When I got back to the staging area and loaded up, the quad, looked beat up and tired..lol. She and I had, easily, 30-50 pounds of mud to take home with us. The ride home was exhausting and hard because of the bruised up ribs, but I would do it all over again. GNCC racing is on a whole different level, very challenging... Snowshoe is and was on my bucket list. Like I said. Gnarliest racing you will ever do. #conquerthemountain
Ken Hill Photo
FTR MAG: How was your Snowshoe experience? My trip to Snowshoe was everything expected with my Wife, Son & travel buddy Kike!! We left on Wednesday morning and arrived on Thursday. We stayed at a beautiful home at Camp 4 on the mountain. Trip was a little over 1k miles each way. The day we arrived we just hung out and went to bed early. Friday came along and I participated in the ISDE golf tournament at the Raven Golf Course. I got to meet a lot of nice people. By the 15th hole Mother Nature took its toll and hammered down, wouldn’t stop raining all day & night. FTR MAG: How did you prep? My quad was prepped by the DERISI RACE TEAM and ready for the mountain, we got to hang out with our Florida crew the night before the race. It is mentally difficult to prepare to face the gnarliest race you can imagine. We had a good dinner and called it quits for the night to get some good rest. Race day mind set was concerned on the reality of the course & I just kept telling myself to ride smart and finish. At 9:30 my wife hopped on the back of the quad and we rode to the start and the nerves kicked in! FTR MAG: How about the race? Starting on the road is very different plus the live engine starts are awesome. ! I got the hole shot on my row and let’s go.... I caught up pretty quick to the row in front. So far everything was as expected, then we get into the mountain and boom, the first bottleneck. I picked a good line and passed around 15 quads from different classes, as soon as I punched it, after the bottleneck I lost power steering. I stopped and checked everything, adrenaline is going so you just want to keep going and couldn’t see anything, but the quad felt wrong, power steering was acting up at different speeds. I came over the bridge to start the downhill into Howard’s Hole. Now if you ever go to Snowshoe you must visit this place; one word... CRAZY ! I made it thru Howard’s Hole and kept having issues with steering. On the 2nd lap, I started pushing really hard and
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Ryan Maz
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s many rider’s stories start out, Ryan also got into the sport because of his Dad at the age of six that has continued throughout his life except for a few years while he was off at college. FTR MAG: How was your trip to Snowshoe? I travelled with the Gallo family and we drove through the night on the way up which was rough. On the way back, we stopped at Hatfield McCoy and rode some more technical trails, which was awesome to make a week long trip out of it. We rode the track Friday and it was pretty apparent that, no matter what, the track was going to be slick. Truthfully, the rain was a good sign cause the track never dried out enough for ruts to form. FTR MAG: How'd you prep? My goal was just to let everything settle in the first lap, figure out how to ride the terrain and then try to get faster each lap that followed. I wanted to make sure I didn't treat it like a race but just focused on learning and just having fun on different terrain. Starting on the road instead of grass was cool, the energy at that start was way different than I've ever experienced with so many rows revving their bikes and looking around at the views. FTR MAG: What were your first lap thoughts? I just wanted to make it through and then start trying to push after figuring the track out. It was actually way less technical than I was expecting after hearing all the stories. Once I settled in I was having a blast, the mud wasn't all that rough, the hardest part was trying to pick through bottle necks
which was a fun challenge. Vision was almost nonexistent with non roll off goggles in the hazy/rainy conditions, so I ran without them most of the race. Ultimately going without goggles was a horrible choice after getting hit in the eye with a clump of dirt I had to pull off. FTR MAG: Who would you like to thank? Thank you to Waterfront services, The Gallos and Michael Relyea. FTR MAG: What advice can you give someone racing Snowshoe? Lessons learned. Roll offs are key, always check your jetting (was way too rich on top) and the more fun you have the faster you'll go. •
Ben Parsons
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ens Dad and two older brothers who raced, so naturally in the life of a race family, Ben also started at a young age, racing started at 4 and he has been hooked ever since. Riding ever since except for the 2016 season because of an injury. Ben’s amazing family has helped him the most, they have had his back from day one. FTR MAG: How's your GNCC season going? The first half of the season wasn’t bad, I definitely wanted to start getting some wins earlier on, but we were close each time, even if we didn’t win. I’d say the one thing that sticks out this season was the X-Factor.(Round 6 Peru, Indiana) I was having a great day, leading Top Amateur all day until the last lap where I fell back to 2nd in class, and 4th Amateur. It stung, it was one of my first races back and I just didn’t have the endurance built up yet, I’m going to remember that race and learn from it for a while. FTR MAG: What was your Snowshoe experience? The drive to snowshoe wasn’t bad at all, I left from Thad’s house in West Virginia, so the drive was only about 3 1/2 hours, plus my girlfriend came and rode there with me so it went by pretty fast. Saturday as the rain came and the Quads took over, Oh man, I didn’t know what to think! (Laughs) Snowshoe is gnarly enough as it is, so when you add all those elements it really makes the race interesting. FTR MAG: How'd you prep? Luckily for me I had all my prep done before hand, just prepped some goggles and relaxed on Sunday before the race, but mentally, you just have to stay calm, don’t let the
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circumstances psych you out. Anything can happen on days like that, so I just focus on having fun and taking it turn by turn. FTR MAG: How was it at race time? Starting on the road instead of grass is actually refreshing. The first turn at a race is always stressful enough, so having a live engine start, with only 5 guys beside you instead of 30-40 really makes it feel like a walk in the park (laughs). On the first lap I jumped into 2nd pretty quick and felt good, first lap was nice and smooth. As the race went on it almost got easier, being from Florida, you’re adapting and learning in the terrain the whole time, so for me the more time on the bike the more comfortable I feel, so the track did get tougher, but I was having fun learning so it wasn’t too bad. FTR MAG: What did you think of the mud? I wish I had a scale after the race because I ask myself the same question everyone else asks! The weight is definitely noticeable, it changes so many of the bikes characteristics! Cleaning up, it’s my least favorite part about the sport! (laughs). It takes an entire day to get everything clean, then more work after because it is really important to tear your bike down and give it a good and detailed look over after a race like that. FTR MAG: What were your last lap thoughts? Well I actually had the most fun on the last two laps. For about an hour, in the middle of the race, I had no goggles. It was raining and muddy and it seemed useless to put any new goggles on. When the rain stopped, and I got a new set
and could see great, so I dropped the hammer and was really enjoying myself the last two laps. At the checkers I was pumped! My mom & dad and girlfriend were all there waiting for me, so we were all excited and giving out high fives! Snowshoe was my first win since my injury. Going into the second half I just want wins, I know I can be a top runner in the class, so winning races and having fun is what my expectations are. FTR MAG: Who do you want to thank? THANK YOU to My mom and dad, my brothers, my girlfriend, the Duvall family for all they do for me, FXR gear, Pro Circuit, HBD graphics, Bell Helmets, Sidi Boots, 100% Goggles, Mobius, XC Gear, Mika Metals, Rekluse, Seat Concepts, Twin Air, IMS, and everyone else that helps me out thank you! FTR MAG: What advice do you have for young riders? Just remember why you started riding! Keep it fun, that’s when you go your fastest. I say start in FTR, there is so much to learn before racing GNCC. I think FTR has given me an advantage, I grew up racing some fast kids in Florida, and some tough tracks! •
Wayne Mossbrooks
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challenging this race was. Congrats to all the racers that participated in this race and a special shout out to my buddy Gustavo Pereira we had some mechanical issues, flat tire and a nasty crash ... hope you’re feeling better! FTR MAG: Who would you like to thank? Thanks to all my travel/race family (Mike Terrango, Mike Ferguson, Dylan Terrango, Josh Jeffries) that is making my GNCC experience amazing. Sorry for Michael Relyea and James Gallo on their mechanical issues plus a special thanks to Denise Julia Guthrie for all of her support and love ! Special shout out to Santo DeRisi for all he does for us. My suspension is spot on and has carried me to the podium on all 9 of my races this year ! DeRisi racing for all of you XC needs.
Ken Hill Photo
ayne took his Can Am Utility Quad to West Virginia and had, what sounds like, a very memorable Snowshoe GNCC. FTR MAG: How was your Snowshoe experience? Had a good start to the race! Started out in 2nd place. Took over the lead in the first mile. Got into the woods and boom must have been a hundred quad bottleneck. I got myself far into the bottleneck then looked back and saw the bulk of my class go off trail to get around. I was yelling at a sport quad to make a hard right and jump off the mountain to get around the traffic. Finally, we were able to make it around about 70 quads and I now had to play catch up! Started picking off quads one by one making my own path around all the stuck quads..... did pretty good not getting hung up or stuck .... until. Last lap. On lap 5 I tried making my way around 5 stuck quads and high sided my quad on some logs. A spectator and myself used downed trees to lift my bike off the downed trees this took 14-16 mins. Once I got freed it was hammer down! Near the end of the race I passed someone in my class but with all of the mud I couldn’t tell who it was. I came through the chicane and met all of my pre race goals; Finish, don’t break quad, have fun and don’t injure myself anything else would be bonus! We loaded the trailer and I was asked how I finished. I replied 8th or 9th if I was lucky. Well, as I’m showering my buddy yells in that I was 3rd. By the time I got out of shower and all scoring was in I was actually 2nd. I am super excited with my finish considering how
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Jimmy Moore mmy Moore is on track to be one of those outstanding names that will be in the history books of FTR. He has won so many jackets that he started ordering them in different sizes for a new family member each year. Jimmy is active in both of his hometown clubs, SADRA and Old School. He also will start McIntosh Middle School this year where he recently was accepted into the HAWKS program. (An advanced program separate from the normal learning curriculum).
J
Riding started when Jimmy was only four. His Uncle Greg talked his dad and brothers into racing and Jimmy followed along. He's been riding ever since. His sister, Jessica, also races FTR. FTR MAG: The first half of the GNCC season is over. How did it go for you? Pretty good. I got 2 wins and I'm currently 3rd in points. FTR MAG: Any special moments you'd like to share? My first win was at Big Buck GNCC South Carolina! My first full GNCC of my first full season and I won! I was really happy and my parents were really emotional. FTR MAG: What are your expectations for the secong half? Win, win, win! hopefully I can pull out the championship if I dig and keep focused. FTR MAG: Tell us about your Snowshoe trip. How was the drive over? It was long, rainy and mountainous. The mountain roads were very different. No guardrails and a long way down. I thought it was pretty neat. Flash flood warnings and trees in the roads nade the final stretch to Snowshoe pretty interesting. Once we got there it was good to meet with Jesse and Adam McGill and train a little before the rain started again. The weather was constantly changing...rain, wind, cold, sun, hot, muggy, and foggy. Really odd! I thought the track would be really slick, muddy and rocky. It keeps it interesting. Blake Yahrus and I walked the track late Saturday. It was just as tough as I thought. I thought to myself that I need to keep it on two wheels, never give up and keep digging at this race. Starting on the road the goal was to try not to fall because it could anything on the bike and my race would be over. i was also thinking I need to get a good start, let her eat, don't hit a tree and go fast. I felt I learned the course as I went on as it actually became easier. FTR MAG: What did you think of the mud? The mud didn't make a difference unless the front wheel would have clogged but I kept up a good speed so that didn't happen. Mud can be fun. It can also be 28 www.floridatrailriders.org
bad too. I had tear offs so there was no problems. My vision was better than my Go Pro's. My bike handles great in the mud but it's no fun to clean. FTR MAG: What were your last lap thoughts? On the last lap I just thought to myself, keep charging and don't make any mistakes. When I saw the checkers I said, YES I DID IT! Third in my class! FTR MAG: What is your favorite GNCC track so far? Camp Coker Bullet...I won and the place is great. Lot's of fun. FTR MAG: What advice can you give to other young riders? Keep trying and never give up. One of the best parts of all this racing is the time I spend with my family and friends and now with the GNCC races the adventures are really great. I get to spend so much time with my dad and I am very lucky for that. FTR MAG: What top five people have taught you the most over the years? My dad, my uncle, my brothers, Jesse Ansley(he gives me professional tips), and Tom Fleming..he really helps me a lot. FTR MAG: Who would you like to thank? My mom and dad, Tom Fleming and Jesse at TF Racing, my brothers, my sister, Central Florida Powersports, Seat Concepts, Dave McDaniel, Lisa Oldenburg, and the Kosters for helping us all the time. •
FLORIDA TRAIL RIDERS 2018 Quad Champions Word Search
Cody Ellison Chris Kenny Anthony Davidson Dominick Ferritto Don Johnson Robert Novak James Hayes David Racer Steve Johnson Kenneth Harris
Parker Merrill Kayla Vawter Debra Gartland Dylan Terango Madison Snider Austin Wilson Quad AA Quad Veteran Quad Women Veteran Quad Super Peewee A
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2018 2019
08/26
Enduro # 1
Big Scrub Trail Riders
9/01
Enduro # 2
Little Brown Jug (Sat Only)
9/08-09/09
HS #1
Daytona Dirt Riders
TBD
9/22-09/23
HS #2
Central Florida Trail Riders
Bartow, Fl
9/30
Enduro #3
Suncoast Trailriders
Croom, Fl
10/06-10/07
HS #3
River City Dirt Riders
Bostwick, Fl
10/20-10/21
HS #4
Azaela City Dirt Riders
Palatka, Fl
11/03-11/04
HS #5
Sarasota Area Dirt Riders
Bartow, Fl
11/04
Enduro #4
Perry Mountain
Out of State
12/01-12/02
HS #6
Old School Dirt Riders
Punta Gorda, Fl
01/05-01/06
HS #7
Suncoast Trail Riders
Brooksville, Fl
01/19-01/20
HS #8
Sunrunners
Bartow, Fl
1/27
Enduro #5
River City Dirt Riders
Seville, Fl
02/02-02/03
HS #9
Palm Beach Track & Trail Riders Okeechobee, Fl
02/24
Enduro #6
Central Florida Trail Riders
Richloam, Fl
03/02-03/03
HS #11
Big Scrub Trail Riders
TBD
03/03
Enduro #7
Sandlapper
Out of State
03/14
Enduro #8
DDR Alligator Enduro
Daytona, Fl
03/16-03/17
HS #12
Treasure Coast Trail Riders
TBD
03/30-03/31
HS #13
Nature Coast Trail Riders
Dade City, Fl
04/07
Enduro #9
Apollo Motorcycle Club
Samsula, Fl
04/13-04/14
HS Rain Date
05/11-05/12
HS #14
Apollo Motorcycle Club
Samsula, Fl
05/11-05/12
HS Rain Date
05/25-05/26
HS Rain Date
30 www.floridatrailriders.org
Lochloosa Out of State