The January meeting was well attended and it was good to see people who had not been around for a while.
The Beebes: one of the columns of the club! We missed you guys!
Mark looked fit
, Misty was finally smiling and pain free (YEAH!) and Cameron is SO TALL!
He is interested in racing hare scrambles this year and he has outgrown his bike, so somebody please buy his old bike! It is for sale on the forum. Whoever buys it will make two people happy: his own kid who will get a good bike, and Mark, who will get his KTM back (yes, Cameron has been riding it while waiting for a new bike of his own).
Another old friend who made an appearance was Rocky who is back after a stressful interlude with work commitments. Unfortunately, he is bikeless at the moment, but this unfortunate condition will soon be cured. The man has plans! Welcome back Rocky.
Mr and Mrs Renstrom and Renstrom Jr. graced us with their presence. They shared the exciting news: Nathan's wedding is being planned for later in the spring and their first grandchild will soon be born for their other son. Congratulations!
Great to see Mike and Jewel Snyder. Mike, we are counting on you to lead our rides in Osceola now that general gun hunting is over. Get your map ready!
Bill Newman made an appearance and he is almost completely healed after his traumatic accident of November 2011. It has been a long struggle but I have never seen anybody as determined as him. If I have heard him right, the specialist admonished him not to melt down the exercise machine... or something to that effect. I guess they call that"Type A personality". You may want to put a radiator on that stationary bike, Bill!
Quick as a wink, Jim Harker roped him in to help with the Azalea Hare Scramble this weekend. Jim is a dangerous man who will stop at nothing to marshal the resources he needs. Sort of a Mundy-type, but not grumpy.
And speaking of Azalea Hare Scramble, Jim Harker can use a few more people as course marshals for this weekend's race. That's a fun job. Jim told me confidentially that it is ok to use a slingshot to take down the racers who cheat and cut corners. ;D Fun fun fun! Give Jim a call if you can help him at Bostwick Saturday or Sunday.
Jeff Lewis of Jacksonville Powersport shared with us some of the initiatives in which he is involved at the state level. His committee wants to make sure that the $ from our green stickers are used for the purpose intended: i.e, to acquire and maintain riding areas. In these tough economic times the state of Florida has been raiding the funds for other purposes but his committee has managed to stop the practice and redirect the money to Croome and other trail projects. He also gave us some interesting statistics about the growth in ATV and OHV registrations vs. the steep decline in motorcycle off road registrations.
He also commented on the new motocross track in Chaffey, real close to town. It is not yet open but it promises to become a national level facility. Maybe we can get a discount for a "Club ride day" when they finally open it. It would be fun just to play. There is a triple with my name on it..... just kidding !!!!!
Barry Miller gave us a report about what is going on in racing at the national as well as the state level. Some of our club members are doing quite well in racing this year. Barry mentioned his own recent win against our national enduro champion Jerry Bean, another club member : congratulations Barry!!!
Although I heard a different version today straight from Jerry .. . Anyway, the rivalry Barry-Jerry will be fun to follow in the coming races. Very different riding styles, great people... stay tuned !!!
And finally, somebody please help me with talking to Alex. (See my latest report on Pizza Day at the Lease). I do not want him to get hurt.... after his most recent riding episode he told me he is going to get better boots. Yes, that will help, but the main thing is
not to use own's foot to actually brake the bike!! Besides the concern for safety (amazing how many bones are in a foot) according to the rule of the IRSA* if feet are used as brakes it must be BOTH at the same time.
See you all at the next meeting! Ride safe
* International Slow Riding Association