Congrats vice pres Brian!!!  I'm sure you will exceed everyones expectations  in that position, not only for quads but for the entire FTR  organization.
     Saddle, the specialty classes are all the " old man " classes such as +30, senior, super senior, ect. Not saying that you aren't "special" because anyone that races through woods , roots, mud, sand, over trees, through ditches and creeks and palmettos for fun must be "special" !!!
    Not just being in a specialty class but being the rep is like saying "I'm not only the pres of hair club for men but also a client"!!!Or maybe it's more like being the trailer park MANAGER!!  LOL

All the dnf's were part of my political strategy. Left more time for politicing... kissing mamas and shaking babies. OOOps I meant kissing babies and shaking hands!!!!!!!!!

As of the executive committee meeting the  other night I'm the new specialty class rep for the QS series. So if anyone in these classes has questions or concerns let me know.
   James (Jimmy)  Benton
   904 338-1275  cell
  904 282-7090 home
  weldresrednik@aol.com
  Please pass this info along to anyone you know in the specialty classes.

If you didn't go you missed  a good one!!!  OSDR really put the effort in on this one especially to be their first race. The bad luck followed me again this weekend but still had fun.Low turnout for quads.. maybe 40 or 50. I think the vet line was the biggest row. Since I'm still a youngun  I can't ride vet in hare scrambles so I had to ride open b.
        I had to turn my plates around and use a sharpie to make #'s. No big deal. Start getting ready for practice and realized my wife packed one of my boots and one of my sons boots. BIG DEAL!!!!! ( Brian, if you ever ask your new girlfriend if you can go racing and she says "sure I'll even pack your stuff"  check your gear for sabotage!!!)So I borrow  some boots from Kurt that owns Atlantic Moto Sports in Jax. Ok now we have boots so no big deal. Realize left tie rod  end is about to fall apart. ANOTHER  BIG DEAL!!  Actually had tie rod ends with me so no big deal.
       Thought at practice that I was down on power but thought maybe I'm just getting older and fatter so didn't really  think much about it. Get back from practice  and checked coolant. Bone Dry!!Put in some engine ice and thought that maybe I had a bad head gasket but decided not to put much thought into it because I drove too far not to race. Let's run it till it pukes!!!
    Get ready to race and no camel back, ( goes back to check your gear). Get to the line only one other open b!!! Some kid nicknamed the flying tomato. Now with only 2 people you have to race the whole race right? Can't let the other guy put too much time on you because there is no one to blame for holding you back and people will  realize your just old and slow!!!! They gave out holeshot awards and the tomato has a kickstart so I'm thinking "I got this". Hit the button , fires up and dies. Look over he's still kicking!! Hit the button fires up and dies... he's still kicking!!!Fire up a third time and take off trying to pull a wheelie, not enough power to even get the front end up but I still beat the kicker!!  Tomato ran me down quik but I made the ole 450 about 20 feet wide. Held him off for a lap then let him by thinking he would slow down and not push me into getting tired. Wrong, tomato rides like a madman!!! I stayed back a little waiting for a mistake, he blew a corner and I took the lead. We come down a big embankment into a mud section and he puts a tire to me.k I'm thinking  wow this is getting serious so I get on the gas and about 2 miles later the motor let go. I know it had oil in it because it all came out through the air box!!!
    Only 2 of us so I still trophied and got the holeshot award!!!!
   Sunday a guy needed a radiator hose so I told him to take one off my quad. It looked like the lower hose was the best fit and when he pulled it loose there was no coolant coming out. Guessing I was spot on with the head gasket theory.
   Raced on 2 wheels Sunday afternoon and got 5th in c200 out of maybe 20 people. 1 holeshot award and 2 plaques in 1 weekend!!! 
   The track had a little of everything. Some tight twisty, wide open, some mud, and some really powdery sand. The enduro x  would have been a blast on the quad. I did it in practice on the bike and all three race laps.
 The club did an awesome jod Sunday rerouting lap after lap in the mud sections because the ruts got bad. There were bikes seat deep in ruts!! Next lap would be totally different line through the woods.
   This season I  have 1 win and 5 dnf's.My luck is so bad if it were raining women all I would catch would be the clap!!!!!!!!!

Yall want a good tip. If it looks like a monsoon is coming break your quad in practice and borrow one to race in the rain!!!!!!! If your real lucky they will flip it twice while they are on it and can't blame you for bent or broken parts!!!!!!!!! Just kidding I felt guilty racing someone elses quad in that mess and quit after 3 laps. Southern let me know what needs replacing and I'll get it on it's way. Again I appreciate the ride.
     Not sure about the chair but consider it rent for the roof over my wifes head.

First of all I'd like to thank Darren of Southern Outlaw Team for loaning me his quad. Takes onehelluva guy to loan his race bike in good conditions much less in those conditions!!!!!!! Take note on the maintenance tips .. I rode the Jacksonville race course last Sunday to check the water level. Evidently if you ride in water you need to clean bearings or it will lead to certain failure leaving you without a race ride unless you are lucky enough to know someone like Darren.
   Seconly anyone that finished or even did 2 laps Sat afternoon is a true racer. I like adverse conditions and even wanted some rain.. that was a little much. Still had a great time.
    The worst part was the course cutters. TRX450, that was me that asked how you got in front of me. Classic answere " I don't know!!". I apoligize for assuming you were simply a cheater. Takes a big man to step up and admit that kind of mistake. You have now gained alot of respect from me and several others I have talked to by admitting that. We need more like you. Can't wait to shake your hand at the next one!! I don't know if it did any good but I spoke to Dan and Amanda today to see if rather than DQ'ing you if they can put you in last place or dock a lap or something to salvage some points for you. Hopefully you can count this as a drop but at year end a few points may help. The good news is since it is after protest period  you may not be able to DQ yourself. They are finding out what to do. I can't see penalizing you with no points for an honest mistake.
  As for the ones that cut EVERY lap you are a bunch of no good sorry peices of whammy. You know that if the same people are passing you every lap you are doing something wrong. This is not beginner class, we have all been doing this a couple years now. I know of one person that I passed 3 times that never passed me and made me earn it every time. He also stood there when they posted the scores while me and several others talked about this # quad cutting. Never spoke up and said anything. Didn't realize who it was till sunday morning when I saw them loading their quad or I would have called him a cheater to his face.
     I'm going to leave this alone now but cheaters beware I am in this for fun, and I don't mind losing legitimately. I don't like being cheated!!!!!!! I will leave this weekend behind me and race everyone clean. If the people that cut every lap EVER cut and get in front of me you will be yard sailed!!!!!!!!!!!
   Thanks for letting me vent and I'll see everyone in 2 weeks.
   YEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Your right it is a bummer . However I had a few things I wanted to do but did not have the time. Now I will mention it to the trail boss and if I get the ok I will be adding a little sumin sumin for those that  want it!!!   We appreciate everyones support and we will make it up on our new date.
 

Not sure of the lug pattern but I do have Yammy wheels but I also have a polaris trail blazer. If need be I'll pull the wheels off of it and bring them. It is at my parents quad shop in ocala but I'm going there tommorrow to pick up some stuff . Call me if you need the wheels 904 338 1275. I can also have my mom bring them sat morning if you don't read  this in time.
   I also ordered several # plates and will have them at the race Fri if anyone needs them. I'll sell them for the same thing I paid but without shipping or taxes. I will have black plates , white plates and red backgrounds. If anyone needs a different color let me know and I'll try to get it on time.I also have several numbers.
  As far as tech ... you can race on rims if you want!!!!!!!!!!!   
 YEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWW

I was directly behind Phil  when it happened. He hit a stump with the rear right tire and the quad bucked  high left. His foot came off and hit the ground right before the nerf bar hit his ankle from the side. It then bucked back right and he appeared to shoot the fuel to it cuz it staightened out and he rode it out. He then pulled over and grabbed his ankle which was attached to a foot that was about 15 to 20 degrees the wrong direction. Brian Vis told me last night that Phil had gone into surgery so it is apparently pretty bad.
   Our prayers are with you Phil and Jen.

It has Elkas and +1"  a arms with a + 2 axle but its still top heavy. Should be alright if I lower it a little . Just don't want to spend the money on a bike that still will not be competative.

What kind of turnout average are you guys getting at most races? Also what is everyone riding? I race xc but I have my old raptor sitting in the shed collecting dust.I know that there is a huge difference in the handling on mx and xc tracks from the raptor to my 450 but if I lower the raptor and add swaybars would it be ok?Any info is appreciated.

How many of you guys are planning to run the new quad only hare scramble series this year?

Just wondering how many people are planning to ride the new quad only hare scramble series in the FTR ? Have a class for every age and type of quad!!!!!!!!!!!