Off to Spring Creek, Millville MN

Today Josiah left with the Hempens for Spring Creek. They will ride Sunday and Monday, Memorial Day weekend. I am taking two of the Hempens to St Louis airport in the morning which is a 3 hour drive south of where we are in Iowa. Then I will drive nine hours north to join them all at Millville. I should get there about 7-8pm tomorrow night.
The plan is to stay on at Millville until the North East regional. Most people will arrive Thursday night for practice on Friday, racing on Saturday and Sunday (our Quuen's Birthday weekend). It will be three races per class with top six going on to the Nationals. Josiah will race two classes: stock and modified 85cc 9-11yrs. Due to lack of reception at Millville, I may not be able to update the blog during the Regionals.

See ya
Janine

Lazy River MX, Dalton Georgia

Sorry for the delay updating but we just travelled back from Georgia to the Hempens in Iowa.
Lazy River MX (Dalton, Georgia) was great. Josiah loved the track and called it his favourite to date.
We arrived at Lazy River MX on Thursday about 3pm. Not many people were around until Saturday. They must have heard it was going to rain all night Thursday and be a mud bath for Friday's practice. It wasn't too bad though once the first round of practice was done.
On Saturday Josiah raced his 85cc stock class and a non-qualifier unlimited 85 class for extra track time. Each class has 2 motos. He got 4 holeshots and 4 wins. Then on the Sunday he rode his modified class and again got 2 holeshots and 2 wins. So really you can't ask for more than that.
The highlight was racing a split start in Adam Cianciarulo's supermini class and not getting lapped! Adam was racing Zac Bell and what a treat to watch - that kid can ride.
Josiah made some friends. Matthew and his dad Pat who let us use their water blaster and Mitchell and Trevor (these 2 weren't riding as Mitchell had concussion a week or so back and Trevor may have broken his wrist on the first day).
On the Saturday a van pulled up right where we were pitted. The guy that got out was wearing a Dirt Bike Mike T-shirt like the one we have. Sure enough it was Max with his wife Pam and son Carson. We met them at a mx camp 2 years ago. I went to say hi and Max turned around and said "Natzkes!" So it was great to catch up with them. We may hook up again for the Georgia regional.

Then we packed up and headed south to Albany, Georgia. We stayed at Nico Izzi's track as Chris had arranged some training with Ronnie Tichenor. The other riders were Tristan and Cody Charbaneau (Josiah raced Tristan in 2008) and Cole Varty. It was a great time and Josiah got lots out of it. Mario and Betsy Izzi were very hospitable and they have a great place where they have riders there for one week to a year! Everyone comes in their RVs and hook up.

Yesterday after training we hit the road for the long trip back to Iowa. We left at 4pm and I stopped at midnight on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee. The traffic was stop start through Atlanta at 7pm! Then I started driving at 6am and got to the Hempens in Iowa at 2.30pm. We are glad to be back and thank the Lord for answered prayer as we had offers of help everywhere on our round trip of 3,017 miles (5.000 kms). The next few days is getting ready before we head up to the first regional qualifier at the Spring Creek pro track, Millville Minnesota (http://www.springcreekmx.com/).

Will update soon
Janine

Still in South Carolina

Hi again

We went to Kyle and Michelle's and got some riding practice in so will now leave in the morning for Georgia, early. See ya

Janine

Morning
We have just stayed two nights with Jessica and Josh Tew, and their kids Caroline and Alex. Jessica and I met travelling through Europe 20years ago. It has been a really nice time catching up and I am sad to be leaving so soon. Thanks guys for having us. Hope we can hook up later with all off us.
We are off to Kyle and Michelle's soon to do some work on the bike, say good buy and head off.
Janine

We have our Plates!!

It took 4 visits to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get these plates but we have them and the RV is in my name!
We went to Miyabi's for tea tonight. It is this cool Japanese restaurant where they cook your food in front of you.
Tomorrow we will probably start the next leg of our journey to Georgia. So will post again after the weekend. Pray for safe racing. Thanks

Janine

Actiontown (Dilllwyn, Virginia) was all action!

Hello everybody. Well what a week! Just about to pack the bags and come home. But daily I remind myself the Lord is my strength and comfort.
We headed off to Virginia early Wednesday morning. The trip was long on the first day, 630miles. It was good apart from the thunder storm I had to drive through. The lightning was scary and I couldn't see well but my co pilot encouraged me on. We then spent the night in a MacDonalds car park. Up early again and arrived at Actiontown at 2ish with another 316 miles behind us.
It was nice to see the promotors again from 2 years ago.
Practice went ok for the first 3, then Josiah had an off and hurt his hand a little.
Next morning at briefing, Josiah and our neighbour's son Andrew were sitting on the top seat of the stand when another boy came up the steps and jumped on the seat the other two were sitting on. The board snapped and the 3 boys feel to the ground. Josiah whacked his head on the next step on the way down. I saw the whole thing. It was like slow motion playing out in front of me and there was nothing I could do about it. That continued a bad start to the day, as that morning the RV keys had gone missing and I had looked everywhere for them. Josiah had a rest until his first race which was an hour away. I continued to look for the keys and found them in the rubbish bin!!
In the 1st race of the stock class Josiah got a good start 2nd round the corner. He had almost done a lap and was going through the whoop section and he hit a hole and landed sideways. (I have this on video so if anyoe knows how to post to Youtube, let me know). It was a big off and the 3rd time in 2 days to the ambo. He had a DNF and was done for the day as his hand was hurt. Very bruised and not sure how bad.
I had to decide if we stayed or went on to South Carolina. I didn't know what to do so woke Chris in the middle of the night to see what he thought. We decided to stay and see what Josiah was like in the morning. He got up still sore but the ice all day and anti-inflam had really helped. He decided to try practice. That went ok so he decided to race. Josiah got both hole shots and 2 seconds. After the 2 moto's his hand was really sore but he was happy he had qualified for the Mod class, just dissappointed that he hadn't in the stock class.
We packed up and headed to South Carolina, Conway to our friends Kyle and Michelle's. It took us 7 hour and again took us through another thunder storm. This time I thought the lightning was going to hit us. This storm was over quicker than the last so that was good.
We had a few wee problems with the RV, like no hot water and some more over night like on air-con but I got them sorted today so I hope we will be good to go on Wednesday.
Today my friend Jessica hooked up with me and tonight we will stay here and have some R & R.
The photos include our neighbours at the track Andrew and dad David, who let us use their water blaster and got the hot water going. So thanks again guys. And Josiahs fan club after he smacked his head in from of everyone at briefing.
Will sign off Miss you all heaps,

Janine

Off to ActionTown Dillwyn Virginia

When we got back from Walnut, the motorhome had been delivered. We had a quick look late at night but were off to bed.
Monday was a fun day...not! It poured with rain all day and into the night. I had trouble starting the RV. Then once Kenny jnr had helped me sort that, we couldn't get the generator going. With much frustration I had to wait for Kenny senior to get home. A problem simply fixed. Because the generator and the RV both run from the petrol there is a cut off for the generator when the tank is at 1/4 full.
So with that all sorted we went for a test drive in the rain, thunder and lightening with a wicked wind. It was a little scary at first but I managed to get back safely.
Today was another busy day getting all we needed to start our trip. We got the trailer all sorted to tow. It looked very empty with only one bike (as the modified bike engine didn't arrive in time) I said to Kenny it seemed silly to take such a big trailer with next to nothing in it. I said it would be good to just put the bike on the back of the RV. Kenny said well actually, he had something that might do it.
That set into motion, action to try and get the bike on the RV so I didn't have to tow the trailer. About 4 hours later we were loaded, with bike on the back.
Now it is 11pm so as my trip will be about 18-20hrs, I must get to bed.
I will post again after Action town.
See yall Janine

Sunset Ridge MX, Walnut IL

It is 10.30pm and we have just got back from our first area qualifier. We arrived at Walnut Thursday evening. Set up camp and got ready for bed. In rolled the clouds and we had a wicked thunder and lightening storm. It rained all night and blow a gail.
In the morning it finally stoppped raining but the damage was done. Out came the heavey machinary and practice was back on but not until just after 2.30pm.
Josiah's bike was going well until the last practice when it started bogging. Josiah and Kenny went to work to find the problem which was mud in the fuel pipe which comes from the tank. With that sorted it was good to go for racing the next day.
Saturday was the stock class. Race 1 was a 4th and race 2 was a 2nd. That gave Josiah a 3rd over all. The track was great as the wind all day dried it really quickly. The wind though was freezing. Reminded me of a cold winter and windy day at Taupo.
Sunday was the Modified class. Josiah was a bit worried about this as he was on his stock bike. I said it's just like riding your small wheel against the big wheel. He got the hole shot in both races and finished 2nd in both. That gave him an overall of 2nd.
A great weekend qualifing for the regional in both classes.
Our friends Josiah and Luke had a good weekend too. They had already qualified at prior qualifiers so rode for the practice.
Well much to do tomorrow so bye for now. Keep posting comments as we look forward to hearing from you. Janine

We have arrived and it has been all action

We took 23 hours to get to LA. Then it was a quick night in a hotel before getting up at 4.30am to catch our connecting flight to St Louis Missouri. Kenny and Tracy were there to pick us up. No waiting around like we had anticipated. Then the three hour drive to their place. It was a quick drive as Tracy and I had lots of catching up to do. I travelled with Tracy in her car and Josiah travelled with Kenny (Kenny had been buying cars in St Louis for his car sales yard). Josiah had a nap on the way. It was very exciting to catch up with all the family including Courtney, Little Kenny, Jennifer, Josiah and Luke.

The boys couldn't wait to get out on their bikes so after tea it was all action after they had run in the bikes and done some maintanence.

The engine and forks for the mod bike won't get here in time for the weekend so Josiah will have to ride the stock bike in both classes. We will be at the first area qualifier (Sunset Ridge) this weekend. Practice is Friday, stock class Saturday and mod class Sunday.

Tracy and I went shopping for a phone and I set up a bank account. Our motorhome will get here on Friday so next week we will get everything organised for our big trip to the east, the south and back.

Thanks to the Browns for your good wishes. I will keep updating as I can.

See ya Janine

About to leave

Me and Mum are about to leave and are rearing to go.
I've had my ears lowered(a haircut)and I look like a bald person.

I won't be able to post for about 2-3 days.

Thats all for now
see ya. Josiah

One more sleep

One more sleep to go and I know what I am going to put in my carry on luggage.

Me and Mum leave at 6 o'clock tomorrow evening. We have bought Ben & Lucy Townley's RV and are going to travel around in it. We will arrive in Los Angeles, stay the night then fly to St Louis (Missouri). Once we get to St Louis we will travel three hours to Iowa and stay with our friends, the Hempens.

That's all for now.
See ya, Josiah.

Packing. Two more sleeps to go!

I've started packing and am nearly ready to go, except for my carry on luggage. I am still not sure what I am going to pack, but I'll have to make up my mind sooner or later.

I will be posting as often as I can.

See ya. Josiah