Past Rider Spotlights

~MUDDYLENS.COM  DRIVER SPOTLIGHT~

JULIA LANDRY

#44
FULL THROTTLE RACING
(where anything less will get you beat)

If someone tells you that you ride like a girl just look at them and smile real big and say, "Thanks".

Not all women ride side saddle and that stands true for Julia Landry of the Full Throttle ATV Race Team.

In a sport dominated by men on big bore quads Julia's riding style stands out as one of the best.  Don't let her quiet personality and small frame fool you.  When she is on her 2007 Can-Am Outlander Max  that she often refers to as "FAT MAMA"  she is a force to be reckoned with. Her riding style is one that I personally love to photograph.   Her love of ATV mud a cross racing is apparent when you hear her talk about racing.  She very candidly told me that in her first race her hands were taped to the grips on her machine.  She admits she was scared to death and behind the helmet it showed.  She has the will to win and the guts to go up against some of the best in the sport.  Two things that keep her coming back for more.



Julia is 22 years old.  Her hometown is Prairieville, LA.  She now resides in Grand Bay, Alabama.

She is co-owner of XTREME MUDDIN ATV of Grand Bay, Alabama.  The company specializes in building ATV motors and installing aftermarket parts.  When she is not racing with Full Throttle she enjoys LSU football and spending time with friends and family.  Julia is a member of the Championship Mud Racing Series.



If you want to know more about Julia or Full Throttle Racing send your email to muddylens@yahoo.com



Lexi Wylie

Team Creek Bottom Racing

Ask anyone at a Championship Mud Racing Series event who the tiny little blond girl is and they will quickly tell you, "That's Lexie Wylie."  She is known throughout the series as the one who loves to get on the podium.  Lexi may be tiny in stature but don't let that fool you.  In fact it may take you by surprise when her thumb hits the throttle on her Polaris 90 or her Can Am DS250 in their respective classes.  Lexi is currently leading the points race in the Youth 1 class and is second in the Youth 2 class.  Lexi said, "I am only second for now." 


Lexi's first race was at Rocky Creek in Culloden, Georgia in the fall of 2007.  Since then you can find her lining up against the competition from Texas to Indiana.  Lexi says, "My most memorable moment in my racing career was when I received my first official pay day for racing."  I asked her what her favorite or most memorable race has been to date and she quickly answered, "When I won first place at Creek Bottom on July 3, 2008.  The CMR gave me a check for $25.00."  The Youth one and Youth two classes in Championship Mud Racing generally give out trophies for placement.  Lexi has quite a few in her collection.

I had to wonder what her most embarrassing moment has been since she has been racing.  She stated to me, "I was at Mud Creek and we were staging the bikes.  I ran through the bright colored staging lane tape and tore it down. Everyone looked at me, including Dewayne.  He looked at me and said, "Girl!"  She thanked Drew LaFontaine for helping her put it back up.  Drew just happens to be Lexi's toughest competitor.



At the very young age of ten Lexi has started a Face Book page for the Championship Mud Racing Series.  The racers in the series have commended her for stepping up and running the site. She wants to see the youth classes grow to more than straight line racing on ATV's.  She has plans of suggesting a Youth side by side class so that she can race her Polaris RZR 170.   Lexi is an ambitious ten year old girl.  Her goals for the 2010 race season are to win in both classes she races in.  "I am trying to talk my mom into letting me race in the Youth three class in the big pit," she said. 



Lexi stated to me that she would like to see ATV Mud Racing become an Olympic Sport.  Which brought me to the question of competing as a girl in a sport dominated by boys.  "Well it's not that hard since I beat them all of the time.  There is one certain boy I am trying to beat.  I am sure he knows who he is."

Lexi had a few special folks that she wanted to thank for helping her get to the races and be such a strong competitor.  She personally wanted to thank her Mom and Dad's check book and Creek Bottom Racing.  "I would also like to thank the CMR for allowing me to race in the sport," she said. 

Lexi is not the only member of the Wylie family that races. She is always accompanied by her mom Rhonda and her dad Clay. Rhonda and Clay can be found on their ATV's turning left in the mud a cross pit.   The level of sportsmanship Lexi portrays carries over to her teammates and competitors.  I think that you just may see a side by side class for the Youth and don't be surprised if you see Lexi in the big pit soon. 




Aside from Mud boggin Lexi enjoys tennis, trail riding, basketball and eating.  For more photos of Lexi Wylie just click on any of the CMR race tabs. You can find Lexi there speeding throught the Youth pit.




Kris Fregia
25 years old
Hull, Texas
Team Bad Company
2008 Can Am Renegade X


Meet Kris Fregia.  A twenty five year old from Hull, Texas.  Kris has been riding since he could barely walk.  "My dad tells me that I use to cry until he would take me for a ride on our three wheeler when I was around two or three years old." Kris said as I asked him to take me back to his first memories of riding ATVS.   Those rides started a passion for ATVING.  The first ATV Kris owned was a 1985 Honda 350x three wheeler.  It was a Christmas present when he was five years old.  "It wasn't until this year (2009) that I finally decided to get into some sort of competitive sport that consisted of something I loved that much and that was riding four wheelers." His first race was the Rural Shades Racing Series.  That is where he first met the members of Team Bad Company or TBC as they are known in the ATV racing world and the team of I-45 racing.


photo creditJACOBS ATV MAGAZINE  photo credit CHELSEY CARR PHOTOGRAPHY


When Kris lined up against Seth Russell at the Can Am Nationals this year he told me it was his most memorable moment in his racing career to date.  Kris had to compete against Seth in a pit that he designed.  "I looked over at Seth and asked him how in the world am I going to beat you in a pit that you designed and built?"  That by far was the most fun I have had at any racing event so far.
Kris ended up taking first place at the Can Am Nationals and beat Seth in his own pit. "I was pretty proud of that because it was my first podium of the year and of course my first time to place first in my racing career," Kris said.  Not too bad for a rookie!




A few things that most people do not know about Kris is that he served in the military (ARMY) with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum New York.  He also served a one year tour in Iraq.  He is now employed as a Battery Tech for Interstate Powercare.  A brand of Interstate Batteries.





I wanted to know where Kris thought that he wanted to see the sport of ATV Mud Across Racing go.  His reply took a moment.  "I love the sport as it is now.  But with that being said there is definitely room for improvement."  He also would like to see a few more series get up and running.  There is a close nit group of racers including men and women that Kris truly has a respect for and loves.  "I have made so many friends along the way," he said.  He went on to mention racers such as Dakotah Kein, Cale Saunders, Mark Wise, Bruce Cline and of course Seth Russell.  "People like this have so much to offer in a sport community that is trying to grow and as long as we keep guys like that around the sport will have no choice but to grow," he replied.  His mentors have inspired him to stay with the sport and to do his part in keeping it going.






Kris is a young rider who is quick to ask questions.  He is learning what it takes to race a busy series such as the Championship Mud Racing Series (CMR) as well as local races. I officially met Kris this past weekend at a race but I have watched him race numerous times.  He has definitely been watching, learning and developing a riding style all his own. Most of our conversations have been through emails, but he always comes back  to the question of what do I need to do to impress or secure sponsors.  I have given him my advice and truly believe from the looks of things he is taking that to heart.

For more information about Kris you can email me at muddylens@yahoo.com


photo credit MUDDYLENS.COM





MUDDYLENS VENDOR SPOTLIGHT~

MEET MUD DIVA

     Full time mom,wife, and home maker.   Full time business owner, part time race wife/mom/team sponsor.  Donna Tarter of Mud Diva Tees and Donna’s Decorated Apparel, ETC..  in Picayune, Mississippi is one busy lady.  Yet she manages to get it all done.   You have to ask yourself, “How?”   But instead I asked the Mud Diva herself.  Her reply was, “Thank God for my mother and my husband.”  In the day-to-day grind of owning her own business Donna has the help of her mother and her husband Brandon when he is not at his full time job.  “ I start out early in the morning checking emails and then it is time to get the kids ready for school.”  Donna would be talking about Reed who is ten and Brandi who is seven.
    

    A little about Donna’s business.  Donna’s Decorated Apparel, ETC… does screen printing, embroidery, direct to garment printing and vinyl applications such as team ID and stickers.  Her business targets a wide range of markets such as non-profit organizations, school clubs, sport organizations, church organizations, sub out work for local businesses and special occasions such as family reunions, weddings and birthdays.  Her services are available to small businesses and individuals.    WOW!! What a busy lady.  For more on Donna’s Decorated Apparel ETC.. you can go to www.dda-etc.com.

TOTE BAG



     Front of Shirt                                     Back of Shirt                                      
              
     Donna made a promise to God and her family when her son was born that she would quit working in the public sector and be a stay at home mom.  She did so when Brandi was one.   “I started out with a small table top embroidery machine making things for Brandi.  Word got out and soon I went from that small machine to a large commercial machine and started adding services to my business,”  Donna told me. Digital garment printing is great for your print on demand needs. If you need only 1 tshirt or if you don't  want to buy in bulk Donna's company  can fulfill your needs with the most up to date in garment printing technology.

     Donna’s mother is in charge of quality control.  Donna told me that she is her right hand.  To keep it in the family both of Donna’s nieces have helped in the business and Brandon helps with screen-printing.  “Brandi is also learning the business,” Donna says. 

     When not working at her business Donna can be found around the shop or the practice pit of Full Throttle Racing.  Full Throttle is an ATV race team from Picayune that Donna’s business sponsors and her husband and children race for.  “ I get so excited when they race,” Donna said to me.  Take it from me you can hear Donna cheering her family and Full Throttle on at every race they attend. 

     “Brandon always enjoyed trail riding ATV’s, but I did not get back into it with him until the summer of 2007.  He met a great group of people.  That group just happens to be members of Full Throttle Racing.  We all rode together after that.   The group had not yet gotten into racing but when they did we missed them terribly.  “So we joined them,”  Donna said.   Donna  told me, “We love them all like family.  Joining in on racing has opened the door to many other wonderful friendships.”

Brandi, Brandon and Reed Tarter
Photo courtesy of Donna Tarter
 
     With racing and trail riding comes MUD DIVA TEES.  Donna started this part of her business for the girls that like to ride ATVs and get muddy.  “I really have fun with this project,” she told me.  If you are looking for something fun to wear when out on the trail or cheering on your favorite mud racing team go to www.mud-divatees.com.  Donna does quality work and is very prompt with delivery.  “Mud Diva Tees came through for The Championship Mud Racing Series with promotional shirts when another company could not fulfill their commitment,” said Jeff  Pounds CMR official.  Everyone loves Mud Diva Tees.  They are a hit at all of the events.  From the color of the shirts, to the sayings and graphics the ladies and some men always walk away with a few Mud Diva items. 

 

You may also contact Donna at :
601-798-5856

EMAIL:

suzette1970@att.net


3362 9-26-09

Randy Miller
NOT YOUR AVERAGE COWBOY

Randy Miller

Randy Miller Racing

34 Years Old

Kaufman, Texas

When I first met Randy Miller it was a cold morning in Winnsboro, South Carolina. It was my first Championship Mud Racing event. I had driven all night and was tired. We were staying there with friends and they knew that Randy had a warm dry place rented for the weekend that we could rest at. The events of that morning unfolded into laughter and racing stories that I will never forget. Randy Miller was a person that I needed to know more about. So over the last few months I have gotten to know this racing cowboy. Ask anyone on the ATV racing scene about him and they probably have a story or two that they will share with you. I thought, “This guy travels all the way from Texas to South Carolina alone just to race an ATV? ALONE!” But there was more to it than I knew.

Randy Miller is the captain of Randy Miller Racing of Kaufman, Texas. He mans a nine-member team. If you have been at a race you have probably seen that cowboy hat somewhere at the pit. His team members include: Randy Miller himself, Jonathan Fulton, Rob Thibodeaux, Katie Perry, Robbin Miller, Destyne Pounds, Parker Muse and last but not least Randon and Ross Miller. I asked Randy what his major role on the team was and he said, “My job is to stand up for my team mates and help them to become the best that they can be at this sport.” You will often see Randy or his teammates holding a trophy at the awards ceremony.

It is a well-known fact that Randy loves Mountain Dew, horses and country music. The biggest love of his life is his family. His sister Robbin has just started bogging while his nephews Randon and Ross travel to many events with their uncle and Grandfather Roger Miller. Randy told me that he contributes much of his racing career to his father. “He has pushed me to be the best at whatever I chose to do and has stood behind me with everything this sport has put me through,” he said.

Randy started racing when he was 15 years old. He drove a dirt track car. He enjoyed it but his family really could not be a part of it. “All they could do was sit in the stands and watch,” he told me. “ I was very good at it but one night I grew tired of it after I crashed under and red and yellow flag. So the next day I decided I wanted out of it. I wanted to get into something my whole family could be a part of.” So he took a $10,000.00 car and traded it for a $3,500.00, 2001 Honda Rancher. He built a 2 inch lift kit and put 27 inch Outlaws on it. That would begin his ATV racing career. One that I have been happy to follow this year I might add. Randy’s first race was in 2002 at Rabbit Creek. He placed 2^nd. “I was hooked from there,” he told me.

Randy raced for team High lifter/Polaris. Soon he and Scott Smith decided that was not the team for him anymore. So on his own he headed to BIDS (boggin in the dirty south). He was asked what his team name was and the person signing him up said that Randy Miller Racing sounded like a good team name. Randy Miller is a popular name at all of the racing events. Randy was in more magazines that any other racer last year. He told me that his picture was the poster in QUAD for February 2008. I know for a fact that if you race like a winner you will be in the magazines. Randy has a riding style all of his own. You will notice his pink and black race gear with the pink and black Rebel flag on the front. Watch him and you will see his riding style stands out.

Randy told me that he has been racing for a long time and this is the only racing that he has done that you can go out and have fun racing and not have to look over your shoulder when the race is over to make sure no one is going to blind side you. “Everyone helps each other no matter what team they ride for,” he said.

While Randy is not sure how many miles he travels every year to the races he is glad that is father Roger travels with him some now. He use to travel 16 and 17 hours by himself. His mother and father attend as many races as possible so that they can stand on the sidelines and cheer on their children and grandchildren. This is just more proof that ATV racing can be a family oriented sport.

I asked Randy what he thought he contributed to the sport. The answer I got was, “ It is hard to say. I have poured my heart and soul into this sport. There is very little that has gone into it that I have not helped with in some way. I have entered more mud bogs than anyone in this sport and I am the only single rider with 85 trophies in one year. 2008 was a very good year for me.” WOW!!!!

In January of 2009 Randy decided to leave Shreveport, LA and head back to Texas. “That is where I belong,” he happily said. In March of 2009 he opened R & R Performance ATV. It is located at 2210 South Washington Street in Kaufman, Texas. You can reach R&R at 469-383-4354.

The last question I had for Randy was one that he answered quickly. I asked him what was the one thing in life that you have never done but have always wanted to do. His reply to me was simply; “ I would like to go on a real cattle drive with my dad.” There is no doubt in my mind that Randy will do just that.

RIDE'M COWBOY! 

Randy would like to thank Way-Way for contributions to his success in the 2009 race season.


_______________
11-29-09 
04650



 


 

~Muddy Lens Rider Spotlight~

Casey McGinnis
33
Picayune, Mississippi
Full Throttle Racing                                
Can Am Outlander 800
Super Pro Class



When you meet Casey McGinnis you have a friend for life. Ask anyone who knows him in the ATV racing world and they will tell you that he is one stand up guy. Casey can be seen helping out members of his team at their pit or even helping an opposing team member fix their ATV so that they can make the race. I first met Casey out on the trails of Rattle Snake Hill ATV Park. He was the subject of a prank that since has made a lot of money to help the family of Brooklyn Davison. Brooklyn is a child that has neuroblastoma and has a special place in his heart. Since that day Casey has been an important part of the Muddy Lens family.

Casey has been riding since he was a child. In fact his first off road machine was not an ATV at all. It was a kit mini bike that was passed on to him from a family member. “I started trail riding when I was young on property that belonged to my Aunt and Uncle in Sandy Hook, Mississippi. I crossed a creek on a Honda Big Red and I have been hooked ever since.”

Casey is entering his 3rd season of racing. With a love of trail riding with friends and family he took it to another level racing across ponds at Rattle Snake Hill ATV Park in Poplarville, Mississippi. “Greg and I would line up and race each other across the ponds. We attended a few rides and watched the races and we decided we could do that.” Casey is speaking of Greg Thompson a fellow Full Throttle team member. He credits a push from Barry Ladner, Randy Miller and Blake Mann to his love of racing. Casey told me, “They really turned up a fire and kind of dared me into racing.” I asked Casey where the most helpful advice comes from on the racing scene. He quickly replied, “ The most helpful comes from the entire community of racers. We trade information all of the time to help each other out.”

On the racing seen you will notice that Casey will sign up for and compete in every racing event he can. “I compete in as many local events as I can in an effort to help promote the sport of ATV racing”, said Casey. While he stated to me that he is not good at talking about himself his actions in the atv racing world speak volumes. If your ATV needs tuning he can do that for you. If your ATV is going belly up in a race pit he will be one of the first ones to jump in and help you save it. Ask him to help raise money for a child with cancer and he is there with no questions asked. Once you meet him you will realize what a big, generous heart he has. He opened up his team’s practice pit to raise money that would take his team on a few long haul races. Proceeds from donated raffle items were donated to Brooklyn Davison and her family.

In the summer of 2008 Casey started Bitmore Performance. Tuning ATV’s on the side allowed him to help support the team he races for. Bitmore Performance does miscellaneous ATV performance enhancements, ATV accessory installations such as snorkels and lift kits along with custom EFI tunes.

Click on the logo to go to the Bitmore Site

All of the proceeds go into racing, as his company is one of the team’s sponsors. The team I am speaking of is Full Throttle Racing. He offers advice to his teammates and accepts theirs with a smile. He is active with the youth on his team as well. Brandi Tarter, an up and coming youth racer on Full Throttle says, “Mr. Casey makes my bike go faster.”

Above photo courtesy of Shannon Price


You can learn more about Casey McGinnis and Full Throttle Racing at
www.teamfullthrottleracing.com



05686 2-11-10