100000 Miles on the BEAST

Yesterday on the way home they “Beast” finally rolled it’s first of hopefully many 100k increments.

More Pics and Info

Upcoming Race this weekend – HS #7 Old School Dirt Riders

I can’t wait the race this Sunday, it is at my favorite properties of the season. It just rained yesterday so the course should be perfect for the weekend. It’s been a while since I have seen everyone at an FTR event so I hope to have a great time racing with my son Cody.

9th Place – Bartow, FL

This was the toughest race I have raced to date. “Rough” is an extreme understatement to try an describe this terrain. I have never seen so many riders screaming “Uncle” half way through the race, and I have to admit that I did not enjoy this race at all and am proud to have just survived it. My goal was to finish in the top 10 and I am more than happy with a 9th place finish in the new “B” class (Those guys are fast!)

Cody in his new class “C250”

Getting Ready to Race!!!!

Cody and I have been getting ready to go to our first race of the season this Sunday in Bartow. It seems like forever since we were out racing and having fun. We are planning on heading up Saturday and camping out overnight. This is the only course last year that we didn’t race so we are both excited to get started this year on a new (to us) course.

Local Practice at our track

Went to our local spot to get some good practice in… Man, was it hot!

2008-2009 FTR Championship Awards

August 1st was the year end championship awards banquet for FTR. I was presented with the class 1st place year end championship trophy and jacket. Sherry and I had a great time and a fun night at the event. Thanks to Matthews Currie Ford for all there support this year as well as Action Power Sports in Nokomis.

1st place… It’s all about the jacket!

Sherry, my biggest fan of all.

I got into this sport when I came across a website called Daveintheusa.com . It was a blog about hare scramble racing by Dave Francis who has been racing just about everything on 2 wheels most of his life. I was so inspired, I started training and racing in FTR. At the banquet a family asked if they could join us at our table and the man said “Hi, I’m Dave Francis, nice to meet you” … Seriously, How cool is that. What a great way to end the season. 

My biggest competitor and friend, Jerry Mena. The season would not have been as great as is was without him pushing me though every rut, bump, rock, tree, mud-hole, and whoop. Whoo – Whoo!    See ya’ on the line next year bud.

Not bad for my first season… 13 races 2-1st, 2-2nd, 2-3rd, 1-4th, 1-5th, 1-6th, and one 1-7th

11 trophies in a row with the overall Championship and a Championship Jacket… priceless!

Awesome Croom Ride!!

The ride to day was awesome. No other way to say it… 20+ FTR’s finest blasting our way through the woods for hours on end playing follow the leader. Great way to practice and have fun!!!!

Fun ride at Croom!!!

Jonny’s track is flooded so everyone is meeting at Croom Sunday morning for a fun ride. I can’t wait to blast the trails with some of my FTR buddies. Croom should be perfect with moist sand slightly packed and best of all… No Dust!!! I can’t wait!

Another ride at Jonny’s Place this Sunday!!!!!!!!!

Jonny Simpkins is having another ride this Sunday at his place. Awesome!!!

Quote from Jonny via FTR forums

“I will be having another ride here at my house, south of Clermont, on next Sunday the 12th. Last time we had 23 FTR racers show up for the riding, swimming and eating. It was a blast and also great training for the upcoming new season. If you think you can make it, please email me at mxracer36@msn.com I want to make sure I try to keep the number of riders around 30. I want to say it again that this course is single track, not high speed at all, some mud, some water, palmettos, roots, big spiders, face slappers, huge mosquitoes that will take you off the bike if you stop anywhere in the shaded woods. This course is not like Crooms, it is tight and tough and will work you the whole 5 mile loop. The food afterwards is always great and prepared by the perfect cook, Wendy. The pool is always full and some crazies attempt to do back flips. I just did get 2.5 inches of rain here today, so we will need to keep an eye on how much rain we get before Sunday. I will post a note here on Friday and Saturday letting everyone know if I have had too much rain to have the ride. Email me if you have questions,
Jonny Simpkins
www.jonnyjpeg.com “

James Stewart having fun in his backyard!

Jonny Simpkins Ride!!!!

Had a blast at Jonny’s place this Sunday. It was awesome to follow riders like Eric McCain, Joey Medina, Jonathan Bell, and of course Jonny Simpkins. Watching there technique, following there lines, and trying to learn from the best will help me improve my skills. I wish my son Cody could have rode with us… oh well, next time. It was good to see my friend Jerry Mena after the season, all healed up and blasting through the trails. I can’t wait till the next ride at Jonny’s!!

Jonny Simpkins group ride. I can’t wait!!

“Planning a big ride here at my house on Sunday, June 28th. The course is tough, tight and will wear you out quick. It is not for the weak, but it will get you used to dealing with the demons that attack you during a regular Hare Scramble. It consists of palmettos, tight woods, mud, stumps, some water, a little open areas. Riders are encouraged to bring family members to enjoy the pool. If you bring a youngster, please bring a baby sitter to watch while we are all riding. Camping the night before is welcome as well. If you think this is a fun, easy, relaxing course..... then you would be thinking wrong! If you want to be ready for the first race by sweating, pushing yourself into your endurance limits with no frills... then this is it. I need to set a limit to around 30 riders, so if you want in, please email me soon. This course is really not good for Pee Wees or any rider that cannot go a complete lap of a regular Hare Scramble. I plan on having at least two more rides before the season starts, so if you can't make this one, maybe you will make the next one. Email me if you have any questions at mxracer36@msn.com I need to be ready for next season.... will you be ready?
ROCK ON!!”

HS#14 - Okeechobee, Fl - Helmet Cam

Click to Play

This is the last race of the 08-09 FTR Hare Scramble season. I managed to win 1st place and the Season Championship by 2 points.

HS#14 – Okeechobee 1st Place – Season Champion!!

I started out with a good start right behind William Campbell and by the third corner I was in 1st. About half way through the first lap of the 12 miles course I had a nasty wreck and Jerry Mena took the lead. I managed to fight my way back to 3rd place on the 1st lap and came across Jerry on the sideline holding his shoulder screaming “It’s all yours” (He had dislocated his shoulder)… I was heartbroken… I wanted to battle Jerry to the finish, but I knew I had to win this race to win the championship (2nd place would make me lose overall by 1 point to Jeff Moan) so I just focused on the rider who was in front of me. I battled back and forth with Tom Healey #630 for the next hour. With about 5 miles to go I made the pass and put some distance between us. When I came through the chicane I knew that not only did I win the race but I won the Class Championship.

William Campbell on the right with another hole shot!!

After the race, relaxing and giving Jerry some pointers on how to avoid the trees and roots! Ha Ha (I hope you get better soon)

The toughest trophy I have earned yet!!!

My bike took the worst beating of the season. I broke my left radiator cage, my left hand guard, both of my radiator shrouds, crushed my silencer, broke my headlight, and knocked a 2 inch hole in the trans cover There was actually palmetto root jammed in the hole which helped keep the fluid in. But it was all worth it!

The Final Race is here!!!

Tomorrow, Sunday May 9th is the final race of the 2008-2009 Hare Scramble season. The adjusted points for top 3 in this championship going into this race are as follows:

Jerry Mena– 413
John Wishon– 408
Jeff Moan- 406 (taking work credit for this race – auto 50pts)

So first for me beats Jeff by 2 points... second place means I get beat by Jeff by 1 point.
Jerry needs at least 2nd to beat us both, If he gets 3rd and I get 1st... we tie!
So no matter what...

I got to get 1st this race!

After 9 months, 13 races, 450 miles of trails…
To many bumps, bruises, ER visits, MRI’s, X-rays, and medications to count…

It all comes down to the last race where I have to get 1st to win the overall championship…

No Problem, No Pressure!

Thanks to everyone that has supported me through this season. My family, friends, and sponsors. (Matthews Currie Ford, DeCal Works)

HS#13 – Bunnell, FL – 2nd Place – 1 more to go!

What a great tough race… I got a great start at about 3rd (important to be up front because this one was going to be dusty) and in the 3rd corner Jerry had a nasty dirt sandwich to put me into the trail in 2nd. When I came around the first lap I looked at the counter and I was in 2nd, 30sec behind the leader. At about the 5 mile mark I caught the lead rider and passed him, 6miles later I came through the chicane expecting to see first… 2nd!! what the @#%$! Everyone was screaming he’s right in front of you (I am still not sure how that happened when I was never passed by any rider in any class this entire race). In the middle of lap 2 I caught the lead rider, again! I screamed for him to move over (Whew Whew Whew), again! When he did, I passed him… again!, and then I made sure I pulled away from him, after 5 miles or so with the magical lead rider way behind me I came into the finish and saw… “2nd Place!” WHAT THE %$@#!!.. He some how mysteriously finished a minute ahead of me… (Of course the first race without my helmet cam)

I just hope that those 3 points I lost doesn’t cost me the championship in the long run. Oh well! That’s racing! 

Shaking hands with Jerry Mena (secretly plotting to block Jeff Moan) at the start.

Jerry just getting the jump on me at the start…

Jerry being nice enough to wait for me at the 3rd corner… (ouch!)

 

Me thinking “how nice of Jerry to throw himself in front of the other riders to let me go by” ;)

One note… Jerry managed to catch up and finish 3rd… With a possible broken leg!! You are the man Jerry!
Get well soon!

Coming around for lap 3… no Jerry of Jeff in sight!! Whew!

2nd Place… 1 more race to go for the season championship

Current adjusted points into the last race. (Too close to call)

Jerry – 413
John – 408
Jeff - 406

See you guys at HS14 !

HS12 - Senior C Helmet Cam

Click to Play

This is up to the middle of "The BEACH" on lap 1... That's when a tree ripped my helmet cam off.

HS#12 – Ona, FL – 7th Place

This is a race that I shouldn’t even have raced… I went into this race sick with bronchitis and slight fever. Not to mention my back had been bothering me pretty bad (racing with the massive herniated disk against doctors suggestions). But as stubborn as I can be I raced anyways. The points championship is to close to not give it my all. Well I got a good start 3rd place and within the first 5 minutes I was in 2nd with a pretty good lead. Then my body started letting me know that I shouldn’t be out here. I could got get into my groove, my hands were weak, forearms were killing me, short of breath, and the whoops were killing my back. After a few minutes Jerry Mena was right on my ass yelling for me to get going or move. I didn’t think I would make even 1 lap. Well, after 3 - 10mile laps of the most insane sugar sand whoops I have ever seen I managed to pull a 7th place finish (my worst in the last 8 races). Since the race I have been in bed sick as a dog for 3 days straight…. I hope I can recover before the next race or I can kiss my chance of beating Jerry and Jeff for the championship goodbye!

Some different views of the Enduro Cross section

 

  

 

New Graphics for the YZ450

New graphics for Cody’s YZ450…. Sweeeettt!!

OSDR HS#12 Preview

Click to Play

This is a preview of the Old School Dirt Riders Race this weekend Apil 11th and 12th in Ona. FL

My first Holeshot - FTR HS #11 - Samasula, FL

Click to Play

FTR HS #11 - Samasula, FL - 6th Place

My first holeshot of the season... after 10 races of just missing it... I finally got it! Got a good lead then let evey one catch up in the first mud section when my bike decided to take a nap in the mud. After explaining to my bike that this was not the time to be laying down on the job... I spent the next 8miles battling Jeff Moan back and forth for the lead. That was when my rear brakes went out!!!!! I ended up finishing 2 laps in 6th place. Congrats to Jeff Moan for his 1st place finish!!! This season is getting to close to call. I started this race with an 8 point lead... now here is the calculated points standings with 3 more races to go!!!

Jeff Moan - 322

Jerry Mena - 321

John Wishon - 321

HS#10 – Bartow, FL – 5th Place

What a race!!! The hardest earned 5th place I have ever got. This was a dusty, rough 3 lap 12.5 mile course that just beat the hell out of me. As always… I loved it! I also managed to pick up a couple more points for the season championship which is looking like it is not going to be decided until the last race (4 more to go). Right now, only 10 points separate the 3 top riders (Myself, Jeff Moan, and Jerry Mena) Good luck to you guys and I will see you at the next one.

“B” - Official FTR Promotion

I received my letter from FTR that I have earned my promotion to “B” class. This was my goal at the start of the season. I will finished this season in C class due to the tight points battle for the C class season championship. After 4 more races I will start wearing my “B” with pride.

FTR HS 9 - Gatorback - Senior C - 02/2009

Click to Play

This is the start of the race and the pile up at the first hill.

HS#9 – Gatorback Cycle Park – Gainesville, FL – 3rd Place

Got off to a good start right on the rear fender of Jerry Mena in 4th… came around to the first hill and 1/2 way up I got taken out by another rider and spent 2-3 min underneath everyone's bikes. Then spent the next 10 miles trying to catch Jeff Moan and Jerry. This was a monster of a race 4 laps and 40 miles later I ended up in 3rd… My son Cody who ran Open-C on his 450 finished 3 laps and ended up 16th in his class… (his class is a hell of a lot harder than mine) Awesome job Cody!!!

My son Cody on the track section of Gatorback

Cody taking a break on the first lap… Ouch!!!

Way to dig deep Son!

HS#8 FTR - Myakka, FL - Senior C Helmet Cam

Click to Play

HS#8 – Myakka, FL – 1st Place

What a grueling race! I got a bad start again… coming off the line in about 12th place. I knew this was a nasty course with deep mud, deep sand, and tight woods with bad roots to try to overcome. The course was about 13 miles long and I knew that it was going to be a long tough 3 lap race. After the first lap I had moved my way up to 8th place and on the second lap I had climbed to 5th. Jerry Mena once again gave me a run for my money and kept us both at a blistering pace. We spent the last two laps going back and forth with each other fighting for the lead. This time I managed to get the edge and at the very end when Jerry got hung up on someone stuck in the mud and I made my move and got the pass and the 1st place win. Yea Baby… 1st place!!! Sounds so good!!! Congrats on 2nd Jerry… See you at Gatorback.

My buddy Jeff never made it out of the Mud Hole!!