~Muddy Lens Rider Spot light~

 LaFontaine Racing
 “ Race hard, race fair and always be a good sport about it.” 

Timmy LaFontaine       Can Am 800 Max Open Class

                                     Can Am 400          (Lite Class)

                                     Suzuki 700 King Quad  (single cylinder class)

Juana LaFontaine       Suzuki 700 King Quad  (single cylinder class)

                                    Can Am 800          Women’s Open

Ethan LaFontaine       Can Am 800         Super Pro

                                    Can AM 400        Lite Class

Drew  LaFontaine       Suzuki Ozark 250   Youth Mini 2

                                    Can Am 400             Youth Mini 3

HOME TOWN       Pass Christian, Mississippi

SERIES RUN         Championship Mud Racing Series  (ATVs) and Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series (Race Cars)

     When is the last time you coached your wife or mom on how to do water wheelies on an ATV in a pit of mud and water?  Can’t answer that question?   The men in the LaFontaine family can.  Meet the LaFontaine Racing family.  Timmy, Juana, Ethan 18 and Drew 14.  Every member of this family has a racing story to tell.  As you continue reading this article you will soon learn that every member of this family plays a vital roll on this team.

Juana LaFontaine

     Racing runs deep in the veins of Timmy LaFontaine.  Husband to Juana and father to Ethan and Drew.  He grew up barrel racing horses, training and racing thoroughbreds and quarter horses, helping his brother with drag race cars and building late model dirt track cars.  He spent 20 years around dirt late models.    Fast forward to 2006 and he is racing ATV’s in the Champion Mud Racing Series.   In 2008 he ran two series one with his racecar and one with the ATV.  He did all of that and finished 8^th in the State of Mississippi Series.  “One year we logged 15,000 miles on our truck and trailer racing both series,” Juana told me. 

Timmy LaFontaine

     The family first started riding ATVs on the trails before Timmy and Juana married on a Honda 300m 3 wheeler.  Ethan and Drew cut their ATV riding teeth on electric four wheelers but moved up quickly to Kazuma 50’s and then on to the race bikes.  I asked Juana what brought her family to race ATV’s.  She credited Steve and Pam Ladner for inviting them to watch a race.  After that her family instantly wanted to race ATV’s.  “We raised two boys spending family time around the shop.  We spend more time in the shop than we do in the house.”  Juana’s boys were no longer satisfied with working on racecars that is one reason she stated to me that they went into racing ATV’s.  Juana said it was very hard racing two series.  The family took a vote on whether to race the car or the ATV’s and at the time ATV’s won.  Timmy says, “It was not me, but I love racing anything. I still have the car and will race again. But at this time I will race as a family instead of just me racing.” 

     Ask Ethan what he loves about racing ATV’s and he will tell you, “The adrenaline of the launch in a race.”  “I also love spending time after the races with the all of the racers.”  Younger brother Drew told me, “I like having fun with friends and family. When I get to race in bigger pits I get to ride water wheelies.”  Drew has been in Mudder’s Magazine, Dirt Wheels Magazine and ATV Rider’s CMR 2009 round one video.  Ethan can add Fisher’s Atv World Two part television spotlight of Highlifter Mud Nationals 2008 to his appearance arsenal along with Mud Life Magazine, and ATV riders CMR 2009 Round One video.  I would also like to brag that I have hundreds of photos of them on the Muddy Lens website in the photo gallery.  You cannot take your eye off of them for a minute when they are racing.  Those around the ATV racing scene know that the LaFontaine boys are stand up guys and great role models for younger, up and coming riders.  Drew gave his trophy and monetary winnings to Reed Tarter at a race held at Rocks Bottom ATV Park after Reed loaned him is ATV so that Drew could stay in the points running.  Both Reed and Drew displayed the utmost sportsmanship that day.  A lesson that I hope went a long way in the racing community.  My props to all of these guys. 

 
Drew with Reed Tarter                                                     Drew on Reed's Ozark


     Logging 10,000 miles plus a year in a truck, or spending 20 to 30 hours a week has kept the LaFontaine family close.  When I announced that I was featuring them on Muddy Lens not one person had a negative thing to say about this family.  I cannot tell you the countless times that a team has needed something and I heard, “Go ask Timmy.  He probably has one in his trailer.”  My thought was, “Better yet ask Juana she keeps inventory of the trailer.”  I later found out that this is a must when you run a car racing series and an ATV racing series.    Brandon Tarter, fellow racer stated, “They are a great bunch of folks and a great bunch of racers too.”  Clint Smith another fellow racer said,    

“They are a great family.  The boys are so well mannered.  Ethan is really showing people what he is made of on that 800 can am. ” Clint and his daughter Riley Jo have also enjoyed their company and racing against them he told me.

Drew LaFontaine


Drew LaFontaine


     Juana says that the family coordinates a calendar full of ATV racing, sports activities along with juggling football and baseball season.  WOW!!!!  My question to her was, “You don’t do it for the money, why do you do it?”  She simply replied, “ I do it for the family time.  I like to have my family with me in all of my sports.  It would be nice if it paid for itself.”

     The LaFontaine family would like to see ATV racing go as far as NASCAR has.  I know that is the wish of most people who race.  “We need to support the sport and do what we can for it,” she said.  “I would like to see it evolve to a spectator event such as Mud jam or Rodeos.” 

     Juana told me that being involved in this entire racing of cars and ATVs has taught her boys a lot.  “They have learned to say that “Daddy can fix it,” but all jokes aside they have learned that you must race hard, race fair and always be a good sport about it.”   A lesson that her boys have learned very well. 

Ethan LaFontaine

Ethan LaFontaine
     Around the ATV racing scene I have learned that each one plays a vital role on the team.  I don’t think I have ever seen one of them sit still before a race.  Juana explained to me that everyone in the family has multiple roles and has to do his or her fair share of the work.  One thing I have personally witnessed.  Timmy is the chief mechanic, team manager among many other things.  Juana’s role is first and for most MOM, secretary, finance manger and countless other tasks.  Ethan and Drew work hard doing weekly ATV maintenance, loading the truck and trailer or cleaning the truck and trailer.  Let me tell you they are one heck of a pit crew.  Not only will you see them helping out mom or dad with their ATVs you will see them at other pit areas helping opposing team members with last minute prep.  

Ethan helping out fellow racer Julia Landry of Full Throttle Racing

     Competition Sports, Suzuki City, George Mills and Son and Lightening Bolt Racing Wheels sponsor LaFontaine racing.  You can learn more about them at www.LaFontaineracing.com.  But if you really want to get to know more about Timmy, Juana, Ethan or Drew just walk right up to them and start up a conversation about racing.

       The family supports any event that they possibly can for Brooklyn Davison.  A little girl who most of you readers know holds a soft spot in the heart of the Muddy Lens family.  The family helped tremendously with the Boggin for Brooklyn ride and Race and Boggin in the Back Forty.  “We also support charitably fundraisers held by the Mississippi Misfits Classic Car Club,” Juana told me.  Such and all around great family.  I urge you to meet them and learn more about them at the next racing event you see them at.