Florida Trail Riders - May 2024

BRANDON LOUDERMILK

Photo by Tyler Miller

BACK

AT IT

Troy Gardner made his FTR return after several years away while pursuing a collegiete swimming career. The lifelong racer did not miss a beat as he clinched the 250 B championship at the Alligator Hare Scramble presented by the Daytona Dirt Riders.

PHOTO BY TYLER MILLER

Area Directors & Club Info

AREA #1 - Out-of-State, Panhandle

Brandon St. John (912) 674-6127 ktm21brandon@yahoo.com

AREA #2 - Hamilton, Suwannee, Columbia, Baker, Union, Bradford, Nassau, Duval, Clay, Putnam, St. Johns

James Benton (904) 589-0093 bentonracing116@yahoo.com

AREA #3 - Gilchrist, Alachua, Levy, Marion, Citrus, Sumter, Lake

Allen Pearce (352) 339-5644 Allen.Pearce17@gmail.com

AREA #4 - Flagler, Volusia

Mike McGuire (386) 871-0666 makmcguire@yahoo.com

AREA #5 - Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, West Hillsborough

Dale Ellis (727) 213-4399 dellis117ktm@gmail.com

AREA #6 - East Hillsborough, Polk

West Anderson (863) 604-1868 jetster220@gmail.com

AREA #7 - Seminola, Osceola, Orange

Will Busick (317) 507-6636 willb763@gmail.com

AREA #8 - Brevard, Indian River

Shaun Foutch (321) 390-3786 eastflorida234@yahoo.com

AREA #9 - Manatee, Sarasota, Hardee, DeSoto, Highlands

Brian Dugre (941) 893-7898 brian@mycentec.com

AREA #10 - Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Martin

George Pollard (772) 349-6354 ktmgeorge811b@gmail.com

AREA #11 - Charlotte, Lee, Glades, Hendry, Collier

Ken Redford (239) 297-7170 redford_kenny@yahoo.com

AREA #12 - Palm Beach

Austin McAfee (561) 722-1318 rkyle914@aol.com

AREA #13 - Borward, Dade, Monroe

Mickel Pares (954) 980-7369 captmickel@gmail.com

Apollo M/C

Mark Bordelon (321) 794-0993 markbord115@gmail.com

Azalea City M/C

Gary Wyatt (386) 684-2698 wyattg1@windstream.net

Big O Trail Riders

Tommy Clay (863) 532-1952 tommy_clay@yahoo.com

Big Scrub Trail Riders

Curtis Bell (386) 679-8201 curtbell@rocketmail.com

Central Florida Trail Riders AJ Stagg ajstagg@gmail.com (407) 929-2114

Columbia Enduro Riders

Ricky Dennis (803) 786-0051 mastercraft@bellsoth.net

Daytona Dirt Riders

Joe Carrasquillo (386) 615-0722 secretary4ddr@gmail.com

Family Riders, Inc.

Johnny Thomas (843) 553-1463 familyriderssc@bellsouth. net

Greenville Enduro Riders

Chris Poole (864) 617-4342 info@greenvilleenduroriders.com

Nature Coast Trail Blazers

Rob Swann (813) 731-5552 naturecoasttrailriders@ gmail.com

Old School Dirt Riders

Ben Kelly (941) 650-1473 ftr90racer@yahoo.com

Palm Beach Track & Trail

Randy Rash (954) 931-5709 motodadfla19@aol.com

Perry Mountain M/C

Brad Belcher (205) 340-4298 perrymountainmotorcycleclub@gmail.com

River City Dirt Riders

James Benton (904) 589-0093 bentonracing116@yahoo.com

Sarasota Area Dirt Riders

Randy Faul (863) 244-3709 randt817@gmail.com

Southeast Florida Trail Riders

Frank Campbell (561) 951-3732 flawoods35@yahoo.com

Sumter Enduro Riders

Johnny McCoy (803) 481-5169 serma@ftc-i.net

Suncoast Trail Blazers

Cary Hunt 727-635-6228 suncoastbiz1@gmail.com

Sunrunners Dirt Riders

West Anderson (863) 604-1868 jetster220@gmail.com

Tallahassee Trail Riders

Mikey Rainey (350) 591-5386 trailriderstallahassee@ gmail.com

Treasure Coast Trail Riders

Ken Harris (772) 370-4434 khei9862@gmail.com

Who to Contact

OFFICERS RIDER REPS

PRESIDENT

Randy Faul (863) 244-3709 president@floridatrailriders.org

VICE PRESIDENT

Pete Rose (941) 270-1189 vicepresident@floridatrailriders.org

SECRETARY

Bill Toreki 352-372-1135 secretaryfloridatrailriders.org

TREASURER

Kayla Vawter (863) 381-2649 treasurer@foridatrailriders.org

HARE SCRAMBLE CHAIRMAN

Randy Rash (954) 931-5709 hschair@floridatrailriders.org

ENDURO CHAIRMAN

George Tolson (863) 698-3837 endurochair@floridatrailriders.org

HARE SCRAMBLE REFEREE

Jeff Hazeltine 941-468-7204 hsreffloridatrailriders.org

ENDURO REFEREE

Glenn Hunt (678) 231-4100 enduroref@floeidatrailriders.org

BUSINESS MANAGER

Darlene Riggs (352) 538-6291 businessmanager@floridatrailriders.org

AA/A ENDURO

Mark Mannschreck (813) 310-2067 hondamm61@aol.com

B/C ENDURO

Sam Boydstun (407) 467-3951 woodsracercfl@rr.com

SPECIALTY A/B ENDURO

Peter Magee (352) 472-6932 cr250@bellsouth.net

SPECIALTY C/WOMEN ENDURO

Elesa Berard (407) 376-7115

AA/A HARE SCRAMBLE

Ryan McCarthy (941) 234-5086 ryanmccarthy90@gmail.com

B/C HARE SCRAMBLE VACANT

SPECIALTY A/B HARE SCRAMBLE

Paul Lucas (305) 244-7531 happytimesamuse@msn.com

SPECIALTY C/WOMEN HARE SCRAMBLE

Holly Langford (954) 504-2659 hollylangford10@gmail.com

SATURDAY CLASSES HARE SCRAMBLE

Kurt Lucas (786) 385-7771 kurtlucas101@gmail.com

QUADS

Pete Rose (941) 270-1189 pwrracingktm@gmail.com

PREZ SEZ

Words: Randy Faul

Between the Arrows

So where has the season gone, wasn’t it just last month that we started? I remember back in my teenage days it seemed like time just drug along and the school days were forever getting longer. We couldn’t wait until the weekend as that meant riding with our buddies, loading up to go racing or just hanging out. As I jump from preteen to this retirement stage now, things are happening way too fast and I don’t know where the time is going as here we are closing out our season already. With a couple late scrambles and an enduro on the schedule, we are close to wrapping up another stellar season. Of course, we have the big event coming on July 20th, so hopefully we can all meet again in a little different setting.

Some of us will continue to travel with different opportunities in mind which includes you know what and some will take to the water for some different scenery. All and all the goal is to be productive, stay busy and have fun doing something. I’ve had so many friends, family and folks I’ve grown up with tell me that I need to stop riding, settle down and grow up but I’m still riding at 70 and hope to continue well into my early 80’s. Yes, I’ve had knee and back surgery, broken knuckles, toes and major bruises but I have family and friends that have done nothing and can’t even get out of the

chair. I guess where I’m going with this is staying active no matter what you do and staying in the right mindset is vital to longevity and having a productive life. Getting consumed with negativity, drama and revenge is such a waste and will affect your life. Let’s go ride our dirtbikes, atv or side by side and enjoy yourself while we still can, “Just Don’t Let the Old Man In”

Being Better

As we wind down our season and we reflect back on the year of competition, family fun and the opportunity we all have in getting away from the hustle bustle and drama that our daily lives endures, being the best we can be should be at the top of our list. This year has brought more involvement to make your weekend more enjoyable and safer by enforcing our pit riding rules with more consistency and penalties. Although FTR has stepped up our involvement, it starts at your camp, your family and the responsibility of being the parent of your child and not their friend. After hearing about a certain camp area leaving their small children alone while the parents are off racing, we have to wonder where the responsibility lies here? We can have all the rules we want, but parents not properly supervising their children is becoming an issue.

Something that should be automatic has become something that we have to be told

to do or reminded that this is your family. I’ve had a lot of conversations with seasoned members, members that have come back after several years off, that say they are amazed by the way people have changed since they were gone. Lack of judgment, responsibility and feeling entitled are the main topics I continue to hear about how people act now with being disrespectful and lack of appreciation for opportunities they have. Leaving trash at their campsite including broken grills, chairs and even broken parts has become the norm. FTR members, we have to do better than this and help do your part. Every club can relate to the mess that is left in the camping/ pit area after the event and it boils down to the irresponsible adults that think that since I paid my gate fee, I am entitled to have free reins feeling I can do what I want over the weekend.

Members, we didn’t used to be like this and when the clubs get tired of dealing with your attitude, stupidity and foolishness they will step back and walk away. We are so very fortunate to have these opportunities to be with our families, friends and to ride our bikes/quads at these events that we don’t want to take for granted. Let’s stay in check, take care of our family, be responsible and be appreciative of the opportunities we have as society and the influx of development is trying to smother us.

As I said earlier, a lot of older members are coming back to FTR after some time off as life sometimes has different plans and gets in the way of us having fun and they are shocked to see what the members have become. Whether you think you are a Pro or not, rider etiquette has taken a turn for the worst with course cutting, missing arrows, aggressive riding to the extent of hitting other riders whether it be men, women or even young girls. This sport is dangerous enough as it is without adding additional risk by endangering your fellow rider. I applaud the riders that have the ability and knowhow to make passes or even stop to check or lend a hand for a downed rider as you guys are a prime example of how we all should act.

I know this is pointing out a lot of areas for improvement and sometimes we don’t realize we are guilty as it becomes easy to let things slide, but realizing and making the proper steps to make changes and improvements goes a long way not only at our race weekends, but in life in general. As the old saying goes, “What goes around, Comes around. Think about how you can make a small change in your life and set an example, Be a Better Person.

Thanks for listening

Randy Faul

CHAPLAIN’s CORNER

Words: Jim Edleston

Starting Line to Checkered Flag…

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

Betty and I are members of the Daytona Dirt Riders (DDR). We are the first and last people you see when you attend our race as we are the gate crew. While most members don’t like working the gate, I have always found it enjoyable.

Our property is located deep in the woods. Many riders arrive at the gate giving reports of sighting deer, turkeys, hogs and sandhill cranes right in front of them as they drove in.

The property owner (now with Jesus) used to throw feed out every day for all the animals on the land. I have even seen him hand-feed the deer as they fully trusted him. It was amazing to see. God is like that with us. He promises to love us in all circumstances and through all situations and we can trust Him completely. In Matthew 6:24-34, Jesus said,

“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

“Has anyone by fussing in

front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch?

All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference?

Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. God’s promise (!!!) and He cannot lie ever. He loves us and only wants the best for us. Open your heart to His love by accepting the invitation to take Jesus into your heart. Your life will never be the same!

Blessings on and off the road,

Jim and Betty Edleston CMA

Línea de salida a la bandera de cuadros...

"He peleado la buena batalla, he terminado la carrera, he mantenido la fe". 2 Timoteo 4:7

Betty y yo somos miembros de los Daytona Dirt Riders (DDR). Somos las primeras y las últimas personas que ves cuando asistes a nuestra carrera, ya que somos el equipo que los recibe en el portón. Aunque a la mayoría de los miembros del club no les gusta trabajar en el portón, siempre lo he encontrado agradable.

Nuestra propiedad está ubicada en la profundidad de un bosque. Muchos competidores llegan al portón dando informes de avistamiento de ciervos, pavos, cerdos y grullas canadienses mientras entran a la propiedad.

El dueño de la propiedad (ahora con Jesús) solía tirar comida todos los días para todos los animales en el área. Incluso lo vi alimentar a mano a los ciervos, ya que confiaban plenamente en él. Fue increíble verlo. Dios es así con nosotros. Él promete amarnos en todas las circunstancias y en todas las situaciones y podemos confiar plenamente en Él. En Mateo 6:24-34, Jesús dijo: 24 »Ninguno puede servir a dos señores, porque odiará al uno y amará al otro, o estimará al uno y menospreciará al otro. No podéis servir a Dios y a las riquezas. 25 »Por tanto os digo: No os angustiéis por vuestra vida, qué habéis de comer o qué habéis de beber; ni por vuestro cuerpo, qué habéis de vestir. ¿No es la vida más que el alimento y el

cuerpo más que el vestido?

26 Mirad las aves del cielo, que no siembran, ni siegan, ni recogen en graneros; y, sin embargo, vuestro Padre celestial las alimenta. ¿No valéis vosotros mucho más que ellas?

27 ¿Y quién de vosotros podrá, por mucho que se angustie, añadir a su estatura un codo? 28 Y por el vestido, ¿por qué os angustiáis? Considerad los lirios del campo, cómo crecen: no trabajan ni hilan; 29 pero os digo que ni aun Salomón con toda su gloria se vistió como uno de ellos.

30 Y si a la hierba del campo, que hoy es y mañana se quema en el horno, Dios la viste así, ¿no hará mucho más por vosotros, hombres de poca fe?

31 No os angustiéis, pues, diciendo: “¿Qué comeremos, o qué beberemos, o qué vestiremos?”, 32 porque los gentiles se angustian por todas estas cosas, pero vuestro Padre celestial sabe que tenéis necesidad de todas ellas. 33 Buscad primeramente el reino de Dios y su justicia, y todas estas cosas os serán añadidas.

34 Así que no os angustiéis por el día de mañana, porque el día de mañana traerá su propia preocupación. Basta a cada día su propio mal. Esa es la promesa de Dios (!!!) y Él no puede mentir jamás. Él nos ama y solo quiere lo mejor para nosotros. Abre tu corazón a Su amor aceptando la invitación de llevar a Jesús en tu corazón. ¡Tu vida nunca volverá a ser la misma!

Bendiciones desde la carretera y el monte,

Jim y Betty Edleston, CMA

In Loving Memory of Josie and Luis Rest in Peace

WHAT’s NEW?

2024-2025 PROPOSED SCHEDULE

9-1-2024

9-14/15-2024

10-12/13-2024

10-26/27-2024

12-7/8-2024

1-4/5-2025

2-1/2-2025

2-15/16-2025

3-13-2025

3-15/16-2025

4-6-2025

4-12/13-2025

6-8-2025

PHOTOS BY JAMEY PERDUE

THE MELON BASH 10

RACE REPORT

For the second time this season the FTR faithful headed to Southwest Florida for The Melon Bash 10. Originally the Old School Dirt Riders (OSDR) had plans to hold the race on a different part of the property but conflicts with hunting season forced the club to use the same piece as their race held in December. The club does an amazing job of using the small strip of woods this property has to offer but there was no way possible that the tail could be all new. Having two races in one year is hard on the trail and it showed for this edition of the Melon Bash. The trail was gnarly, the back sand sections were DEEP, I felt like I was back at the River Ranch GNCC at some points. I did enjoy the layout as the club broke up the rough sections with some fun fields and the Sunday only stuff on the other side of the creek is always top notch.

The club put in an endurocross section which was a treat for the spectators, I can’t say the same for the riders. That section was tough as it was super dry, so traction was at a minimum. I watched some of the best riders in FTR really struggle through there, the bypass was long which I loved because it made it that much more important to risk it on the obsta-

WORDS: KURT LUCAS

cles. They also left the section open for the Saturday racers and even the quads, which was quite the site

I know some members have mixed feelings about this property, but to me it is one of the best in the series. We have been coming here for years now and each year OSDR raises the bar and finds some new real estate for us to rip. To me, this property has it all from your typical Florida sugar sand, rough and challenging palmetto sections, creek crossings, hard packed at time and multiple pasture sections.

I decided to ask a few other racers what their thoughts were on this particular race:

“I thought the track layout was great and I enjoyed the new Sunday strip of woods along the road, as well as the endurocross. I wish it would have rained some because it was brutally hot and dry out there. I struggled with the heat but did my best to find a flow in the fun spots of the track.” –

Ryan McCarthy, 250 A

“The woods coming back towards the finish line flowed nicely and the dirt in that section of property is primo. Overall, a fun track with

challenging sand sections that were deep due to how dry the property was. The endurocross section was very entertaining” –

Seth Robbins, Pre-Modern A

“Melon Bash round two was an awesome event put on by OSDR! The weather was perfect all weekend and conditions could not have been better. The course was very fast and fun, with sections that were quite technical at times, including two creek crossings. During the Sunday morning practice, the creeks felt like ice water before sending you into an old Florida palm tree hammock which provided some shady single-track sections. The optional endurocross section made for some fun spectating all weekend.” – Dustin Kato, Open B

As you can see the racers enjoyed the course layout and diversity. A huge thank you to the members of the Old School Dirt Riders for doing double duty and putting on two great events this season. If you check out the proposed schedule for next season you can see two races down in Punta Gorda, put on by OSDR. So, get ready for another two rounds down south next season!

KALEB COSTAIN

PHOTO BY 412 MEDIA

THE MELON BASH 10

PHOTO REPORT

PHOTOS: 412 MEDIA

MOTO PT IMPROVE YOUR MOVE

WORDS: MATT DAUGHERTY

Unveiling the Reason Behind Your Chosen

Clutch and Front Brake Finger: The Juncturae Tendinum and Motorcycle Racing

Hello FTR Family,

We are almost there! At the time of this writing, we are heading into our last hare scramble and enduro of the 2023-2024 season. At the end of the season, we know that season long championship battles can come down to the smallest of factors, and every movement counts. From leaning into turns to executing precise maneuvers, a racer's agility and control are paramount. While much attention is given to your race machine and riding technique, an often-overlooked factor in racing performance lies within the intricate mechanics of the hand. Specifically, the juncturae tendinum, or tendon junctures, play a crucial role in how riders manipulate the clutch and front brake, influencing their ability to navigate the track with finesse and speed.

The ED is the primary muscle that extends your fingers. It runs all the way from your elbow to the very tip of your fingers on the back of your hand. Juncturae tendinum are fibrous connections that link the tendons of the extensor digitorum (ED) muscle in the hand. These connections serve as bridges between the tendons, enhancing their stability and facilitating coordinated movement of the fingers. In the context of motorcycle racing, the juncturae tendinum plays a pivotal role in transmitting force from the muscles to the fingers, allowing riders to modulate the clutch and front brake with precision.

Controlling the clutch is essential for managing speed, acceleration, and gear changes during a race. The juncturae tendinum contributes to this process by ensuring efficient transfer of force from the extensor digitorum muscle to the fingers. As riders engage the clutch lever, the juncturae tendinum helps distribute the pressure evenly across the tendons, enabling smooth and responsive clutch modulation. The juncturae tendinum can also determine which finger(s) you use on those controls.

Once you progress past beginner riding technique, most racers use one to two fingers on the clutch and front brake. For the single finger racers out there have you ever wondered why some people prefer the index finger vs. the middle finger? Oftentimes it is the easier finger to extend based on the tension of your juncturae tendinum (fibrous connections) between each tendon of your ED muscle. Try this experiment: make a closed fist with your left (clutch) hand. Now extend each finger one at a time, and independently of the other fingers. With your right hand, hold all other fingers closed in the fist position. What you might notice is that when you extend a certain finger it will not go as far as the others do and when you

really try hard to extend it you feel a pulling sensation in your hand. That finger is least likely to be the one you use for clutch control. If this happens to your index or middle finger you will notice you use whichever finger moves the most freely with this exercise or you use both fingers. This way you are working around the limitations of the juncturae tendinum. Personally, it is the reason why I would never be able to use my middle finger in isolation to operate the clutch or front brake.

You can switch hands and perform the same isolated finger extension exercise on your right hand to gain insight on the finger(s) for front brake usage. Precise application of the front brake can make the difference between a successful maneuver and a potential disaster. Here again, the juncturae tendinum plays a critical role. By optimizing the connection between the extensor digitorum muscle and the fingers, these tendon junctures enable riders to apply the front brake with accuracy and consistency. Whether scrubbing off speed before a tight turn or trail braking through a chicane, riders rely on the juncturae tendinum to deliver the necessary braking force with confidence.

Maximizing the potential of juncturae tendinum in motorcycle racing requires proper training and conditioning. Riders often incorporate specific exercises targeting hand strength, flexibility, and coordination to optimize the function of these tendon junctures. Grip strengthening exercises, finger dexterity drills, and proprioceptive training can help improve clutch and brake control, allowing riders to harness the full capabilities of their hands on the racetrack.

If you have any questions or comments, please email me at contact@motopt.com, or call/text 904-395-5379. Let's IMPROVE YOUR MOVE so you can ride pain-free with MotoPT. I will see you at the races!

References

Chinchalkar SJ, Barker CA, Owsley B. Relationship Between Juncturae Tendinum and Sagittal Bands. J Hand Microsurg. 2015 Jun;7(1):96-101. doi: 10.1007/s12593015-0172-8. Epub 2015 Jan 17. PMID: 26078512; PMCID: PMC4461641.

Dr. Matthew Daugherty

PT, DPT, OTR/L, MOT, DBA

Associate Professor

Board-Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist

Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual

Physical Therapists

Manual Therapy Certified Dry Needling Certified

FLORIDA TRAIL RIDERS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

INTENT

The Florida Trail Riders established this scholarship program to provide a means to supplement educational expenses for its members and their dependents. FTR acknowledges that the scholarship will not provide a member with complete reimbursement of educational expenses; however, it may make the difference between someone furthering their education or not being able to attend college or trade school.

The FTR scholarship is reliant on the donations of clubs and individuals, so the amount varies from year to year. The minimum amount awarded is $500.00. The scholarship can only be used for actual educational expenses (tuition, books, room and board, laboratory fees, computers, etc.). Receipts must be presented to FTR for payment within five years of award. Any unused portion will be returned to the FTR general fund.

The FTR encourages its members to continue their education and hopes this program will be beneficial.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Must be a FTR member or a dependent of a FTR member. A dependent is anyone the member contributes 50% or more support (step children, foster children, etc.). The FTR member must be a member in good standing at the time of application and at the time of award.

• Must be a high school graduate, a graduating high school senior (school year 2019-2020) or a GED recipient.

• Must have a minimum 2.5 grade point average on work attempted (high school or college).

• Must be accepted by vocational/technical school or college prior to award. Note: not necessary to be accepted prior to application, but award will not be made until accepted.

• May be eligible to receive the scholarship more than once.

USE OF SCHOLARSHIP

• Can be used for actual educational expenses: i.e., tuition, books, room and board, etc. Computer will be considered an actual expense.

• Cannot be used for other expenses: i.e., transportation, clothes, etc.

• Can be used for either vocational/technical school or college.

• Money shall be paid to the recipient once receipts have been submitted to the FTR Business Manager.

• Excess shall be returned to the FTR general fund after five years

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

• Deadline for applications and all supporting documents is June 13, 2024.

• Application, forms, Items A through E and other documentation are to be submitted to the Scholarship Committee Chairman via email (ovine2@ aol.com) or via mail (Jenni Lamb, 4251 Careywood Dr, Melbourne, Florida, 32934).

• The applicant shall identify if any information to be considered will be under separate cover.

• Provide copies of transcripts, test results, and/or reportcards.

• Transcripts should be the most recent transcripts that are available.

• If the applicant is a high school student and cannot provide the appropriate paperwork, then an information form completed by a high school guidance counselor must be submitted.

• If the applicant is a college student and cannot provide the appropriate paperwork, then an information form completed by a college guidance counselor or admissions office must be submitted.

• If the applicant is not currently enrolled in school, an information form can be completed by a person in the community that has knowledge of the applicant’s academic abilities. Additional information must be provided to explain the applicant’s situation. Note: If not currently in school, the

applicant should have his/her previous school provide the information.

• Renewal applications shall include a follow-up statement from the applicant as to how the previous scholarship helped.

• If a completed application (forms, Items A through E, supporting documents) is not received by 11:59 P.M. on June 13, 2024, the submittal will be considered incomplete and will not be processed for review.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The following points system will be used by the Selection Committee to determine the best candidate(s):

Academic records/ Test scores 1 – 25 points

Career objectives and Goals 1 – 25 points

Extracurricular activities 1 – 10 points

FTR Experiences 1 – 20 points

Involvement with FTR 1 – 15 points

Completeness of application 1 – 5 points

Maximum Score* 100 points

*If applicant has received an FTR scholarship before, 5 points for each time the scholarship has been received will be subtracted from the total.

SELECTION PROCESS

• The Scholarship Committee Chairman will mark through all references to applicant names to prevent a bias review and forward copies of the applications to the selection committee for review.

• The selection committee members evaluate each application and forward their results to the Committee Chairman.

• The following is guidance on what the Selection Committee is looking for in each selection criteria category:

• Academic records/ Test scores (25 points) –Determined by information shown on provided transcripts, test results and “Information Form”. If any of this information is missing, an explanation should be provided. If an applicant has not been enrolled in school for more than 10 years and academic records/test scores are unavailable, the Selection Committee will proportionately increase the other categories’ points so that the maximum score is still 100 points.

• Career objectives and Goals (25 points) – Points

will be given based upon information provided in Item B of the Application.

• Extracurricular activities (10 points) – Points will be awarded based upon information provided in Item C of the Application.

• FTR Experiences and Involvement with FTR and/or affiliated clubs (35 points) - Since this is the FTR Scholarship, the largest portion of points is allocated to FTR experiences and involvement. Twenty (20) points will be based upon the applicant’s experiences in FTR, what FTR means to the applicant, and the impact FTR has had on the applicant’s life. Points will be awarded based upon information provided in Item D of the Application. Fifteen (15) points are based upon the applicant’s involvement whether in FTR or FTR affiliated clubs. The applicant should provide detailed information on these activities. Points will be awarded based upon information provided in Item D of the Application and on the “Involvement Form”. A listing of how many races the applicant has attended and/or raced is not what these points will be based upon.

• Completeness of application/Overall presentation (5 points) – This criteria category is self-explanatory. It should be noted that the selection committee is inclined to be more favorably impressed with informative paragraphs that exhibit proper grammar and spelling.

• The selection committee members evaluate each application and forward their results to the Committee Chairman.

• The Committee Chairman will compile the results and determine the top three applicants based on total scores and rankings.

• All applicants will be notified by email or telephone prior to the Awards Banquet.

• Award/awards presented at Awards Banquet.

• Check/checks will be mailed to the recipient after the recipient has submitted receipts to the FTR Business Manager.

The application forms are available on the Florida Trail Riders website.

200 A racer Cody Johnson keeps focused towards the end of a long, hot, and dusty race down in Punta Gorda. The Spring Hill native would go on to finish 2nd place aboard his Beta motorcyele.

Tunnel Vision

PHOTO BY 412 MEDIA

A Thank You to Can-Am,

As we work our way through the 2023 – 2024 season, I want to take a minute and give a huge thanks to CanAm. For many of us racing/riding is not just a hobby, but it becomes a lifestyle. We pack our home on wheels, load our racing machines and make our way to a cow pasture to spend another weekend with our racing family. We all know that this sport can be dangerous but that never stops us. Unfortunately, we do have racers and even some spectators that get injured or ill during the race weekend. Central Florida Powersports – Jason Ennis reached out to me before the season started to let me know that Can-Am was interested in providing the safety team with a side by side. From the start, the dedication to improve racer/spectator safety from Can-Am was evident. We received a 2023 Can-Am Defender XT HD9 to add to the safety team’s arsenal of tools to provide care to Florida Trail Riders members. This unit comes to FTR at no cost to the organization which is a huge benefit, and it was delivered to the team at the first race of the season. So why is this a big deal? The addition of this side by side provides another means in the ability to provide rapid response of medical crew and equipment to an emergency. It furthermore provides a secondary means of transporting the injured/ill racer/spectator back to camp. As we all know when an injury or illness happens, seconds count. Being able to emergently get to that person can be the difference between bad and really bad. Our hope is that you never need to ride on it but know that we have you covered should you need it.

So again, a huge thank you to Can-Am for their dedication to membership safety. Also thank you to Jason for his work with this endeavor. Would also like to give a shout out to HBD Motografx – Ronnie for the EMS wrap.

See you all at the track. Braaap!!

Donny Richardson - FTR Rider Safety Coordinator

PHOTOS BY JAMEY PERDUE

2023-2024 EVENT SCHEDULE