ATV Florida Forum

This isn't on the trails, but thought I would share a good laugh.

My very first time on an ATV.

 I won two free tickets to a truck pull held at the Tampa Fair Grounds large indoor building back

in 1986. I also won the grand prize, got to take 10 more of my friends free, and was in the half

time show. That should have told me something right there, but the tall cold beers they were

selling might have clouded my thought process some. I found out I was to race the radio DJ two

laps around the clay strip. He asked me if I had ever rode an ATV and I said no, he said good. I

knew right then that this might not turn out like I thought it would. Well we took off and went

into the first turn, I couldn't get the thing to turn enough so I stopped. Twice I hit the gas and

the front wheels went into the air and off I went, headed right for a parked truck and it's

driver. I hit the brakes and stopped three feet from hitting the driver standing by his front left

tire. He stepped up, grabbed the front end and turned me, pointed his arms that a way, and the

entire crowd, all 10,000, and my girlfriend with 10 friends, laughed so hard, I mean it was in a roar. I took

off and did only a little better on the next turn but made it. And I had another lap to go. Mean

while the DJ is doing donuts in the center waiting on me. We did better on the 2nd lap and he

slowed so I would win. That's when the crowd roared again. I couldn't wait for it all to get over.

He asked me if I did all that on purpose, I had to tell the truth and say no. We laughed and off

we went for a cold one. It was all fun, so it turned out good. I didn't start riding again until 2003, didn't like em.

 After that I got to stay on the track because I had a pit pass on to race, so I took some cool

shots standing right at the end of the strip.

Before the show, had us wear a promo shirt.
Don't remember what kind of quad it was.
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/Moose-55/OLD%20PICS/86TPA1.jpg)

Going by for the win, really looking for a place to hide.
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/Moose-55/OLD%20PICS/86TPA2.jpg)

Pics standing at the end of the clay strip.
That close, those trucks were real loud I tell ya.
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/Moose-55/OLD%20PICS/86TPA4.jpg)

(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/Moose-55/OLD%20PICS/86TPA3.jpg)

(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/Moose-55/OLD%20PICS/86TPA5.jpg)

First time ever?  Hmmm, late 80s.  Up in the mountains.  "Friend" asked if I had the nerve to put it in Neutral and ride down the trail.  Well hell, of course I did!  I learned to pray in several languages during that "ride".

Bilingual. Very nice ;D ;D

I miss the old truck and tractor pulls.  Who remembers the Banter Brothers (Banter Orange and Banter Brown)?  The mini's were pretty cool as well; nothing more than engine, tires and a lot of guts! 

Honda trx 200sx, I loved that quad back in the day.