Janine sent me a text this morning (Sunday) saying that Josiah got fifth in his last (third) moto to finish up sixth overall. Josiah didn't get a great start but is happy with his overall considering the freight train of fast kids. Janine, Josiah, Andy, Lee, Olly and Laura are now in the RV camper doing the miles to get to LLs and should get there around 11pm central time zone.
Chris
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Ponca City Oklahoma continued
Olly raced on Wednesday. He got a good start but had an off in the first lap. He got up and was making progress. Then at the end of the last lap his rear brake seized and he couldn't get the bike to move. When Andy looked over the bike, the clutch had burned out. So they took the bike to KTM USA's tent and they but in new clutch plates and got the bike sorted. Olly's classes were only 2 hours apart so he had another race.
In Olly's second class sadly he didn't even get a lap in. The rear brake seized again. Then when Andy looked at it again, there was a nut missing which was allowing another part to unwind and was slowly putting the rear brake on. So everyone was guttered.
Josiah had his 2nd moto yesterday. He didn't get a great start, was running about 8th and made it to 4th in the first lap. He finished 4th and was happy with his ride even though his result on Tuesday was better.
Olly had his second motos today. As he had the last gate pick he didn't get great starts but rode really well. He finished 13th and 14th.
We are now at a fun water park and will then go get some dinner.
Josiah has his main moto tomorrow (Saturday) morning. His race is 2nd up. Then we will head to Lorreta Lynn's Dude Ranch, Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. It is about a 600 mile drive (1,000 kms) and should take 12 hours so we will get away as soon as we can after Josiah's race.
If you go to http://www.mxsports.com/ the LL weekly schedule is all there.
Will keep trying to get photos posted.
In Olly's second class sadly he didn't even get a lap in. The rear brake seized again. Then when Andy looked at it again, there was a nut missing which was allowing another part to unwind and was slowly putting the rear brake on. So everyone was guttered.
Josiah had his 2nd moto yesterday. He didn't get a great start, was running about 8th and made it to 4th in the first lap. He finished 4th and was happy with his ride even though his result on Tuesday was better.
Olly had his second motos today. As he had the last gate pick he didn't get great starts but rode really well. He finished 13th and 14th.
We are now at a fun water park and will then go get some dinner.
Josiah has his main moto tomorrow (Saturday) morning. His race is 2nd up. Then we will head to Lorreta Lynn's Dude Ranch, Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. It is about a 600 mile drive (1,000 kms) and should take 12 hours so we will get away as soon as we can after Josiah's race.
If you go to http://www.mxsports.com/ the LL weekly schedule is all there.
Will keep trying to get photos posted.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Ponca City Oklahoma
After dropping Chris, Sarah and Joel off at Oklahoma City airport to fly back to NZ, Josiah and I drove two hours north to Ponca City to get in line for three days to get an RV hook up at a motocross track. Ponca City is the venue for the NMA Grand National and is one of the biggest amateur motocross events outside of Loretta Lynn's. We arrived Thursday so we could pre-register the RV for a hook up (it is on a first come first serve basis). Then they move the RVs in on the Sunday.
On Saturday just gone Andy, Lee, Olly and Laura arrived. It is great to see them.
The race format at Ponca City is two motos with the top 15 from two divisions going through to the final event which is this Saturday. All three motos count. Josiah is only racing one class (85cc stock bike 9-11 age) and had his first moto today with his second moto on Thursday. Josiah got a great holeshot in his moto and finished third. The kids in Josiah's age group are very fast. riders in the other division are posting phenomenal lap times. Olly is racing two classes, 65cc open through 11yrs and 65cc 9-11 mod. Both his classes are Wednesday and Friday (US time).
Posting photos at Ponca City is a problem as the internet connection is super slow so I may or may not get them on.
Will keep you all posted during the week.
Bye for now
Janine
On Saturday just gone Andy, Lee, Olly and Laura arrived. It is great to see them.
The race format at Ponca City is two motos with the top 15 from two divisions going through to the final event which is this Saturday. All three motos count. Josiah is only racing one class (85cc stock bike 9-11 age) and had his first moto today with his second moto on Thursday. Josiah got a great holeshot in his moto and finished third. The kids in Josiah's age group are very fast. riders in the other division are posting phenomenal lap times. Olly is racing two classes, 65cc open through 11yrs and 65cc 9-11 mod. Both his classes are Wednesday and Friday (US time).
Posting photos at Ponca City is a problem as the internet connection is super slow so I may or may not get them on.
Will keep you all posted during the week.
Bye for now
Janine
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Mike and Pam's, Amity Arkansas bye bye
Hi
We are packing up today. It has been great catching with Mike and Pam. We thank them very much for having us stay. It has been great for Josiah to train and focus on his up and coming events. It has been great as Mike has help with the bikes and great advise and we have felt so at home. We are sad to have to say good bye but it will be see you when you come visit with us in NZ!
Here at Dirt Bike Mike's you not only learn to ride bike's, you get to learn the dozer and the bob cat!!
We have been to the local lake a few times swimming and last night Pam and I took the kids, Sarah, Josiah, Joel, Hannah and Jacob (Mike and Pam's grandkids) to the bumper boats, go kart, and mini putt park for some R&R. Pam and I were very entertained on the way home with the kids telling jokes. It was a real fun night.
Chris and Mike had their own fun changing bike engines...Not!
So off to Oklahoma City for more good buys then on to Ponca.
We are packing up today. It has been great catching with Mike and Pam. We thank them very much for having us stay. It has been great for Josiah to train and focus on his up and coming events. It has been great as Mike has help with the bikes and great advise and we have felt so at home. We are sad to have to say good bye but it will be see you when you come visit with us in NZ!
Here at Dirt Bike Mike's you not only learn to ride bike's, you get to learn the dozer and the bob cat!!
We have been to the local lake a few times swimming and last night Pam and I took the kids, Sarah, Josiah, Joel, Hannah and Jacob (Mike and Pam's grandkids) to the bumper boats, go kart, and mini putt park for some R&R. Pam and I were very entertained on the way home with the kids telling jokes. It was a real fun night.
Chris and Mike had their own fun changing bike engines...Not!
So off to Oklahoma City for more good buys then on to Ponca.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Sarah's 2nd Blog
Hello All!!! It's Sarah again :-)
I haven't been doing the same stuff as the rest of the family these last 2 weeks so I have decided to update you all on what I have been doing!!!
When the rest of the family went to Red Bud I stayed with the Hempens. On the day they left me, Jennifer, Josiah and Luke Hempen went and handed out flyers for Vacation Bible School. Heaps of the houses were really run down and it was quite sad. There was one house and the lady asked Jennifer to help her open a jar of pickles!!! It was really funny!!! That night all us girls went to church.
On Saturday afternoon Jennifer, Kenny Sr. and me went to pick up the fireworks and on the way I got to drive!!!!!!!!! It was so awesome!!!! That evening the Hempens had a party for the 4th of July (American Independence day). Some people came over and we all swam then we had a big dinner and dessert (apple pie which me and Courtney had made) . After dessert some of us went for another swim and then we had fireworks!!!! They were so cool!!!
The next morning the rest of my family got back and everyone went to church. We went to church at night as well and after the service we had homemade icecream and watched the fireworks because it was the actual 4th of July.
On Monday we were supposed to leave for Mike and Pam's but I stayed with the Hempens again so I could go to Texas with them to The Baby Conference. That day we went to Vacation Bible School and it was fun. At 8pm that night we left for Texas. It was a 16 hour drive so we stopped in the night to sleep then we took off again early the next morning. We took a bit of a detour and stopped at Three Palms Motocross track. The next day while the boys rode the girls went shopping. I got a bunch of new stuff! It was sooo fun!!!!! That evening we drove the last three hours to San Antonio and we got to our RV park at night time.
The next day we looked around San Antonio and we went to The Alamo and The River Walk, it was really cool!!! In the afternoon we signed in and the lady was trying to write me a name tag but couldn't understand my accent to be able to spell my name!! We went back to the RV park for a swim and then we went to the Convention center for the conference. It was really good!!! There was a family there called the Douggers and they had 19 kids!!!
The next morning Kenny Sr had to fix the trailer stacker so the rest of us had to catch a shuttle to the convention center. Tracy, Courtney and Jennifer went to morning tea with Mrs Dougger and I stayed with the boys at an interview with Mr Dougger while we waited for Kenny Sr. There was a man behind us and every time Mr Dougger said something (not even funny) he would just crack up laughing!!! When Kenny came back he took me and the boys for lunch at a Mexican restaurant along the river walk. It was really yum but the plates were gigantor!!!! I didn't even eat it all but I still didn't need dinner!!! The chicken song was playing and Kenny Sr. didn't know what the chicken dance was so I stood up and did it for him. The other boys were all so embarrassed!!!! We met back up with the rest of the girls and went back to the conference for the rest of the day.
The next moring we got up early to go to the first 2 sessions starting at 8.30am. The first session was really sad but the next one was really funny. In between we got some books and me and Josiah were running up the down escalator and running down the up escalator but then we got growled off by a lady so we stopped. It was quite the workout!!! After the 2 sessions we went to lunch at a gigantor buffet it was sooo huge!!!! The food was really yum as well!!! After lunch we went back to the RV park and packed up and then we headed back to Iowa. On the way I had to get dropped off to Steve and Beth Crowe. I was so sad to say goodbye to the Hempens and I can't wait to see them again!!!! The next day me, Steve and Beth met up with the rest of my family at Applebees's (Mt Pleasant, TX) for lunch. Then we said goodbye to Steve and Beth and now we are all at Mike and Pam's in Arkansas. I have to do school now. It isn't very fun.
So yeah, that's what I have been up to!!! :-)
I haven't been doing the same stuff as the rest of the family these last 2 weeks so I have decided to update you all on what I have been doing!!!
When the rest of the family went to Red Bud I stayed with the Hempens. On the day they left me, Jennifer, Josiah and Luke Hempen went and handed out flyers for Vacation Bible School. Heaps of the houses were really run down and it was quite sad. There was one house and the lady asked Jennifer to help her open a jar of pickles!!! It was really funny!!! That night all us girls went to church.
On Saturday afternoon Jennifer, Kenny Sr. and me went to pick up the fireworks and on the way I got to drive!!!!!!!!! It was so awesome!!!! That evening the Hempens had a party for the 4th of July (American Independence day). Some people came over and we all swam then we had a big dinner and dessert (apple pie which me and Courtney had made) . After dessert some of us went for another swim and then we had fireworks!!!! They were so cool!!!
The next morning the rest of my family got back and everyone went to church. We went to church at night as well and after the service we had homemade icecream and watched the fireworks because it was the actual 4th of July.
On Monday we were supposed to leave for Mike and Pam's but I stayed with the Hempens again so I could go to Texas with them to The Baby Conference. That day we went to Vacation Bible School and it was fun. At 8pm that night we left for Texas. It was a 16 hour drive so we stopped in the night to sleep then we took off again early the next morning. We took a bit of a detour and stopped at Three Palms Motocross track. The next day while the boys rode the girls went shopping. I got a bunch of new stuff! It was sooo fun!!!!! That evening we drove the last three hours to San Antonio and we got to our RV park at night time.
The next day we looked around San Antonio and we went to The Alamo and The River Walk, it was really cool!!! In the afternoon we signed in and the lady was trying to write me a name tag but couldn't understand my accent to be able to spell my name!! We went back to the RV park for a swim and then we went to the Convention center for the conference. It was really good!!! There was a family there called the Douggers and they had 19 kids!!!
The next morning Kenny Sr had to fix the trailer stacker so the rest of us had to catch a shuttle to the convention center. Tracy, Courtney and Jennifer went to morning tea with Mrs Dougger and I stayed with the boys at an interview with Mr Dougger while we waited for Kenny Sr. There was a man behind us and every time Mr Dougger said something (not even funny) he would just crack up laughing!!! When Kenny came back he took me and the boys for lunch at a Mexican restaurant along the river walk. It was really yum but the plates were gigantor!!!! I didn't even eat it all but I still didn't need dinner!!! The chicken song was playing and Kenny Sr. didn't know what the chicken dance was so I stood up and did it for him. The other boys were all so embarrassed!!!! We met back up with the rest of the girls and went back to the conference for the rest of the day.
The next moring we got up early to go to the first 2 sessions starting at 8.30am. The first session was really sad but the next one was really funny. In between we got some books and me and Josiah were running up the down escalator and running down the up escalator but then we got growled off by a lady so we stopped. It was quite the workout!!! After the 2 sessions we went to lunch at a gigantor buffet it was sooo huge!!!! The food was really yum as well!!! After lunch we went back to the RV park and packed up and then we headed back to Iowa. On the way I had to get dropped off to Steve and Beth Crowe. I was so sad to say goodbye to the Hempens and I can't wait to see them again!!!! The next day me, Steve and Beth met up with the rest of my family at Applebees's (Mt Pleasant, TX) for lunch. Then we said goodbye to Steve and Beth and now we are all at Mike and Pam's in Arkansas. I have to do school now. It isn't very fun.
So yeah, that's what I have been up to!!! :-)
Monday, July 12, 2010
Mike and Pam's, Amity Arkansas
Chris, Josiah, Joel and myself have been at Mike and Pam's for the week. It has been a week of catching up with our friends and a busy week for them as from Thursday they had family staying until Monday morning.
Josiah has doing some been training but the weather is playing havic with the track. Joel has been burning around on a Honda CRF50. Chris has been working with Josiah and doing bike maintenance. I have been doing washing and running here and there getting jobs done.
The highlight for the week was shooting Mike's rifle (303). We all had a go. Joel was the keenest but had a little help from Mike and Chris (Mike to aim/hold and Chris to block his ears). The rifle was real loud and kicked like a mule.
Sarah spent another week with the Hempens. They went to a camp in San Antonio in Texas. She had a blast and was very sad to say goodbye to them.
Steve and Beth Crow helped with the pick up of Sarah as they picked her up from the Hempens as they came through Dallas on Saturday night. Then on Sunday we drove from Arkansas to Mt Pleasant Texas where we meet Steve and Beth for lunch and a catch up. Steve and Beth came from Plano (near Dallas) to pastor at our church in NZ for 3 years and returned to their home land (USA) last year.
This week will be much the same. Then next week we will head to Oklahoma City to take Chris, Sarah and Joel to the airport to return home. Then Josiah and I go to Ponca City to race in the NMA Grand National. We are excited to catch up with Andy, Lee, Olly and Laura. Olly will also be racing at Ponca.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Back at the Hempens and onto Red Bud...
Hello
We got to meet Kenny's sister, Tanya and her husband Chuck, and their family whilst at the Hempens. They left on the Tuesday for a 32 hour drive back to Portland Oregon. We then had another one of Roger's (Kenny's dad) carnivor dinners. It was great to have steak and pork when we have been living on mince and fastfood (McDonalds or Subway). Thanks Roger.
We left on Wednesday for a days travel to Red Bud MX in Buchanan, Michigan. Sarah opted to stay with the Hempens as there plans weren't able to fit in with Red Bud. We arrived and got settled and met our neighbour Neil and his son Lee from Ohio. We were also rudely awaken out of bed on Wednesday night when a quarter stick of dynamite went of just in front of our camper. The explosion put a nice hole in the grass and put us on edge. We caught up Neil and Lee the following night and had smores over the camp fire. Neil also gave me a lift to the grocery store as we were out of food! Thanks.
On Thursday it was practice for the amateur riders on the Red Bud pro track and racing was on Friday. Josiah got 2nd in one 85cc class (7-11 age) and 4th in another 85cc class (9-13 age group). Red Bud is an amazing track with lots of technical sections and big jumps. These include a sandy whoop section followed by the 80foot Rockstar tabletop and then the infamous La Rocco's Leap. This jump is a 120 foot triple that would send the riders at least 30 feet into the air. When the pros are racing not all of the 450cc bikes do this jump (of the 250cc class we saw Barcia case this jump in practice and not do it again). The dirt on this track is a mixture of soil and sand and gets very rough.
On Saturday we watched the pros ride. The crowd was crazy at Red Bud (you will hear the chant "Red Bud" continuously throughout the day). We cheered on Ben Townley. He was leading the first race and tipped over half way through the last lap. He got the third overall. We briefly caught up with him and Lucy as they were about to leave for the airport.
We packed up Saturday evening and started the long trip back to Iowa on Saturday night, watching the 4th July fireworks as we drove past Chicago. Chris drove until after midnight. We stopped for the night at McDonalds and finished the trip early Sunday morning. We went to church with the Hempens and after went back to their place for lunch. As it was the 4th of July it was a day of celebaration for them. We returned for the evening service and following that was a night of food and fireworks to finish off the days celebrations.
Tomorrow we head to Dirt Bike Mike's (Mike and Pam) place in Amity, Arkansas.
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