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.
Going by for the win, really looking for a place to hide.
Pics standing at the end of the clay strip.
That close, those trucks were real loud I tell ya.
