A beautiful morning out at our track

PJRAUS
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PJRAUS
Edited Date/Time 8/31/2019 5:23am
It's the last day of winter here in Australia and its a beautiful sunny morning here at our track near Benalla in Victoria.
Track is ripped and watered, several truck loads of saw dust worked in again this week...just perfect day for riding and perfect track conditions.
Looks like another low rider tun out again today . Pretty disheartening, from what I hear, all the ride parks in Victoria are seeing lower numbers than previously...dunno..
I think people are starting to really feel the pinch financially...
Anyway...just thought I'd post a few pics for people to look at





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bvm111
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bvm111 8/30/2019 5:36pm
8/30/2019 5:36pm
Man that track looks awesome, Hope you guys had some fun on a nicely prepped track!

I am heading to Glen Helen tomorrow and excited to ride my 2 stroke again, it’s still 100-105f here in the afternoons which can be a little demoralizing! I can’t wait for it to start cooling down again and then I can complain it's too cold! 😂
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kpiper
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kpiper 8/30/2019 5:51pm
8/30/2019 5:51pm
Great Pics! Thanks for posting.
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zippytech
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zippytech 8/30/2019 5:52pm
8/30/2019 5:52pm
That's just BA.
PJRAUS
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PJRAUS 8/30/2019 5:53pm
8/30/2019 5:53pm
bvm111 wrote:
Man that track looks awesome, Hope you guys had some fun on a nicely prepped track! I am heading to Glen Helen tomorrow and excited to...
Man that track looks awesome, Hope you guys had some fun on a nicely prepped track!

I am heading to Glen Helen tomorrow and excited to ride my 2 stroke again, it’s still 100-105f here in the afternoons which can be a little demoralizing! I can’t wait for it to start cooling down again and then I can complain it's too cold! 😂
Thanks man...I dunno how you guys ride in heat like that and how they keep the track moist..
We shut here for most of summer...just too hot.
Im pretty tired from work this week and crook from a cold Ive picked up...wasnt gonna ride today ...but the teack just looks so good!

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Talltexan
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Talltexan 8/30/2019 5:59pm
8/30/2019 5:59pm
That's some sweet chocolate cake!
Thanks for sharing!
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PJRAUS
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PJRAUS 8/30/2019 6:01pm
8/30/2019 6:01pm




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stone881
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stone881 8/30/2019 6:07pm
8/30/2019 6:07pm
PJRAUS wrote:
It's the last day of winter here in Australia and its a beautiful sunny morning here at our track near Benalla in Victoria. Track is ripped...
It's the last day of winter here in Australia and its a beautiful sunny morning here at our track near Benalla in Victoria.
Track is ripped and watered, several truck loads of saw dust worked in again this week...just perfect day for riding and perfect track conditions.
Looks like another low rider tun out again today . Pretty disheartening, from what I hear, all the ride parks in Victoria are seeing lower numbers than previously...dunno..
I think people are starting to really feel the pinch financially...
Anyway...just thought I'd post a few pics for people to look at





I have been telling people in this industry for years, the old track business model is dead. MX used to be the any mans motorsport, not anymore. Time to follow the dodo bird over to the local country club.

This is how it works:

Track/golf course/ ski hill does nothing more than hope to break even.
Clubhouse/restaurant/bar is constructed that makes you a recurring profitable revenue stream.
Sell lots and/or build hotel so that fanatics like us can congregate and do what we love and you make a small fortune.

How much you want for a hectare lot? I see the USD/AUD exchange and failing OZ real estate is in my favor!

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PJRAUS
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PJRAUS 8/30/2019 6:07pm
8/30/2019 6:07pm



chump6784
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chump6784 8/30/2019 6:18pm
8/30/2019 6:18pm
bvm111 wrote:
Man that track looks awesome, Hope you guys had some fun on a nicely prepped track! I am heading to Glen Helen tomorrow and excited to...
Man that track looks awesome, Hope you guys had some fun on a nicely prepped track!

I am heading to Glen Helen tomorrow and excited to ride my 2 stroke again, it’s still 100-105f here in the afternoons which can be a little demoralizing! I can’t wait for it to start cooling down again and then I can complain it's too cold! 😂
PJRAUS wrote:
Thanks man...I dunno how you guys ride in heat like that and how they keep the track moist.. We shut here for most of summer...just too...
Thanks man...I dunno how you guys ride in heat like that and how they keep the track moist..
We shut here for most of summer...just too hot.
Im pretty tired from work this week and crook from a cold Ive picked up...wasnt gonna ride today ...but the teack just looks so good!
How hot does it get in Victoria? We ride year round in brisbane. Ride parks around me are still getting good turnouts, day in the dirt is on at qmp and will have a big turn out.
I hear about people feeling the pinch but every time I am at the track there is not a stock bike in sight. Seems everyone is running aftermarket graphics, wheels, exhaust's etc. Also, the majority are dressed in the latest gear, most of it high end stuff It's like everyone is trying to keep up with the guy next door.
Funny thing is, go to an organised trail ride and they get over 3000 bikes turn up. Most of the bikes there are stock and a few years old, a lot of the gear is the lower end of the price range and the bikes are stock. Maybe it's the image of mx that keeps people away
PJRAUS
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PJRAUS 8/30/2019 6:20pm
8/30/2019 6:20pm
stone881 wrote:
I have been telling people in this industry for years, the old track business model is dead. MX used to be the any mans motorsport, not...
I have been telling people in this industry for years, the old track business model is dead. MX used to be the any mans motorsport, not anymore. Time to follow the dodo bird over to the local country club.

This is how it works:

Track/golf course/ ski hill does nothing more than hope to break even.
Clubhouse/restaurant/bar is constructed that makes you a recurring profitable revenue stream.
Sell lots and/or build hotel so that fanatics like us can congregate and do what we love and you make a small fortune.

How much you want for a hectare lot? I see the USD/AUD exchange and failing OZ real estate is in my favor!

🤣🤣🤣
PJRAUS
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PJRAUS 8/30/2019 6:26pm
8/30/2019 6:26pm
bvm111 wrote:
Man that track looks awesome, Hope you guys had some fun on a nicely prepped track! I am heading to Glen Helen tomorrow and excited to...
Man that track looks awesome, Hope you guys had some fun on a nicely prepped track!

I am heading to Glen Helen tomorrow and excited to ride my 2 stroke again, it’s still 100-105f here in the afternoons which can be a little demoralizing! I can’t wait for it to start cooling down again and then I can complain it's too cold! 😂
PJRAUS wrote:
Thanks man...I dunno how you guys ride in heat like that and how they keep the track moist.. We shut here for most of summer...just too...
Thanks man...I dunno how you guys ride in heat like that and how they keep the track moist..
We shut here for most of summer...just too hot.
Im pretty tired from work this week and crook from a cold Ive picked up...wasnt gonna ride today ...but the teack just looks so good!
chump6784 wrote:
How hot does it get in Victoria? We ride year round in brisbane. Ride parks around me are still getting good turnouts, day in the dirt...
How hot does it get in Victoria? We ride year round in brisbane. Ride parks around me are still getting good turnouts, day in the dirt is on at qmp and will have a big turn out.
I hear about people feeling the pinch but every time I am at the track there is not a stock bike in sight. Seems everyone is running aftermarket graphics, wheels, exhaust's etc. Also, the majority are dressed in the latest gear, most of it high end stuff It's like everyone is trying to keep up with the guy next door.
Funny thing is, go to an organised trail ride and they get over 3000 bikes turn up. Most of the bikes there are stock and a few years old, a lot of the gear is the lower end of the price range and the bikes are stock. Maybe it's the image of mx that keeps people away
It gets pretty hot...we had weeks of 40 + c last year and we arent allowed to operate on total fire ban days. Anyway most people dont wanna ride When its that hot...

Pirate421
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Pirate421 8/30/2019 8:56pm
8/30/2019 8:56pm
In New England in the US the tracks always seem plenty busy whenever I go. It would be a pretty cool idea if some of these remote tracks had some cabins for rent on the premises. We stayed at a koa campground earlier this year and the cabin was basically a shed with lights and a bunk bed and was about $75 and had a place to park my trailer. We had a blast there and it was 10 miles from the track. Track looks great btw
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Bearuno
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Bearuno 8/30/2019 11:09pm
8/30/2019 11:09pm
chump6784 wrote:
How hot does it get in Victoria? We ride year round in brisbane. Ride parks around me are still getting good turnouts, day in the dirt...
How hot does it get in Victoria? We ride year round in brisbane. Ride parks around me are still getting good turnouts, day in the dirt is on at qmp and will have a big turn out.
I hear about people feeling the pinch but every time I am at the track there is not a stock bike in sight. Seems everyone is running aftermarket graphics, wheels, exhaust's etc. Also, the majority are dressed in the latest gear, most of it high end stuff It's like everyone is trying to keep up with the guy next door.
Funny thing is, go to an organised trail ride and they get over 3000 bikes turn up. Most of the bikes there are stock and a few years old, a lot of the gear is the lower end of the price range and the bikes are stock. Maybe it's the image of mx that keeps people away
With reference to your comments on Tricked out Bikes, and Perfectly Adorned Riders : yes, there are a Lot of people with Money, and some without a huge amount, prepared to spend much of their money on their Sport / Hobby.

It has always been that way.

And, Yes, you go to one of those big rides : Blue Light, Sunny Corner, Kowen State Forest, etc, etc, etc - and you see a sea of bikes, and riders, at all levels of std, ancient, tricked out, missmatched gear and mega dollar gear.

It has always been that way.

And, the comparative numbers have always been that way.

Hell, I've been drawn back into some of these big rides ( after swearing off them for decades - bloody hell they can be dangerous, with the vast difference in riding abilities and attitudes), and am now one of the miss matched gear mob ( mainly because I've 'grown' ever more spherical, and don't want to spend money on matched gear that fits- but hell, I need to face up to the fact I'll not get much slimmer and back into my good gear), and, a couple of decades old ( but Very Trick bike once you get past the old bodywork - yet I've got 3 sets of new plastic that I should fit) bike.

I went to one of these days that a few here complain about, a few months ago - a race event run by a Minibike Club. Just to get a mate and his son to a race, after he'd lost his license after getting nabbed by a speed trap and loosing it for a few months. Also, because I hadn't been to Dargle for many years, after having ridden it so many times in my earlier years.

And, that day, I saw all levels of bikes, riding gear, and transport / pit set ups.

It was a great day. Families having fun together, and, Kids showing tremendous sportsmanship towards each other. And, some mind blowingly fast riders, of all ages, that the general MC fan, will never know of. I'm now determined to go to one at Dargle next year: I'll be the rotund old Man, on a walking stick or crutches, getting people to hold my scruffy looking, but Trick bike while I get on it, or off it, and letting the pack go off the start, then riding as hard as I can ( which is snail like in pace) to not get lapped in the 5 lap race - but, I don't hold out much hope for that last point.

And, having, hopefully, a shedload of fun. Woohoo
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chump6784
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chump6784 8/30/2019 11:47pm
8/30/2019 11:47pm
chump6784 wrote:
How hot does it get in Victoria? We ride year round in brisbane. Ride parks around me are still getting good turnouts, day in the dirt...
How hot does it get in Victoria? We ride year round in brisbane. Ride parks around me are still getting good turnouts, day in the dirt is on at qmp and will have a big turn out.
I hear about people feeling the pinch but every time I am at the track there is not a stock bike in sight. Seems everyone is running aftermarket graphics, wheels, exhaust's etc. Also, the majority are dressed in the latest gear, most of it high end stuff It's like everyone is trying to keep up with the guy next door.
Funny thing is, go to an organised trail ride and they get over 3000 bikes turn up. Most of the bikes there are stock and a few years old, a lot of the gear is the lower end of the price range and the bikes are stock. Maybe it's the image of mx that keeps people away
Bearuno wrote:
With reference to your comments on Tricked out Bikes, and Perfectly Adorned Riders : yes, there are a Lot of people with Money, and some without...
With reference to your comments on Tricked out Bikes, and Perfectly Adorned Riders : yes, there are a Lot of people with Money, and some without a huge amount, prepared to spend much of their money on their Sport / Hobby.

It has always been that way.

And, Yes, you go to one of those big rides : Blue Light, Sunny Corner, Kowen State Forest, etc, etc, etc - and you see a sea of bikes, and riders, at all levels of std, ancient, tricked out, missmatched gear and mega dollar gear.

It has always been that way.

And, the comparative numbers have always been that way.

Hell, I've been drawn back into some of these big rides ( after swearing off them for decades - bloody hell they can be dangerous, with the vast difference in riding abilities and attitudes), and am now one of the miss matched gear mob ( mainly because I've 'grown' ever more spherical, and don't want to spend money on matched gear that fits- but hell, I need to face up to the fact I'll not get much slimmer and back into my good gear), and, a couple of decades old ( but Very Trick bike once you get past the old bodywork - yet I've got 3 sets of new plastic that I should fit) bike.

I went to one of these days that a few here complain about, a few months ago - a race event run by a Minibike Club. Just to get a mate and his son to a race, after he'd lost his license after getting nabbed by a speed trap and loosing it for a few months. Also, because I hadn't been to Dargle for many years, after having ridden it so many times in my earlier years.

And, that day, I saw all levels of bikes, riding gear, and transport / pit set ups.

It was a great day. Families having fun together, and, Kids showing tremendous sportsmanship towards each other. And, some mind blowingly fast riders, of all ages, that the general MC fan, will never know of. I'm now determined to go to one at Dargle next year: I'll be the rotund old Man, on a walking stick or crutches, getting people to hold my scruffy looking, but Trick bike while I get on it, or off it, and letting the pack go off the start, then riding as hard as I can ( which is snail like in pace) to not get lapped in the 5 lap race - but, I don't hold out much hope for that last point.

And, having, hopefully, a shedload of fun. Woohoo
I just think back to when I got started in the sport in the mid nineties. Unless people had serious money or were really fast they mostly ran stock bikes other than performance mods. It was mostly stock wheels and graphics and one set of gear per rider per year. This is from club level, SE QLD titles etc.

I took 7 years off from the sport from 2002 and when I got back into it things were different. Seemed to be a lot more money being spent on bling than before. Sure there are still stock bikes in the pits but I'd say they are now the minority rather than the majority
PJRAUS
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PJRAUS 8/31/2019 12:51am
8/31/2019 12:51am
Well Saturday is done...only about 25 riders today, but everyone had a good time, most travelled from a long way away to get here , so thats nice..
The boss has done his track work on the bobcat, the track will be ripped again first thing in the morning and we will be watering from 7am til 10 am and its on again..
I rode today and the track was great but a little boring, there were not a lot of riders today and no fast riders on 450's ,so there were no ruts and it never got rough...oh well...fathers day tomorrow and it was busy fathers day last year..
Time for me to go sit up on the hill...drink some nice beers and watch the sun go down...think Ill ride my 450 tomorrow...




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Jake-247
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Jake-247 8/31/2019 1:21am
8/31/2019 1:21am
Looks great! Looking at doing a big roadtrip down to vic one time and check out some of the tracks on offer down there, will have to add this one to the list!
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Tim271
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Tim271 8/31/2019 1:28am
8/31/2019 1:28am
PJRAUS wrote:
Well Saturday is done...only about 25 riders today, but everyone had a good time, most travelled from a long way away to get here , so...
Well Saturday is done...only about 25 riders today, but everyone had a good time, most travelled from a long way away to get here , so thats nice..
The boss has done his track work on the bobcat, the track will be ripped again first thing in the morning and we will be watering from 7am til 10 am and its on again..
I rode today and the track was great but a little boring, there were not a lot of riders today and no fast riders on 450's ,so there were no ruts and it never got rough...oh well...fathers day tomorrow and it was busy fathers day last year..
Time for me to go sit up on the hill...drink some nice beers and watch the sun go down...think Ill ride my 450 tomorrow...




Looks great out there mate, iv been meaning to make the road trip up to check this place out haven’t had time lately, will definitely be making sometime soon to get up there
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PJRAUS
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PJRAUS 8/31/2019 2:40am
8/31/2019 2:40am
Jake-247 wrote:
Looks great! Looking at doing a big roadtrip down to vic one time and check out some of the tracks on offer down there, will have...
Looks great! Looking at doing a big roadtrip down to vic one time and check out some of the tracks on offer down there, will have to add this one to the list!
Absolutely! The 4 main rideparks in Victoria are very well run by very proud people..they all do a fantastic job...all 4 tracks are always perfectly prepped, they are all quite different from one another too...Vic is a great state to live in if you are into mx!!

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PJRAUS
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PJRAUS 8/31/2019 2:43am
8/31/2019 2:43am
PJRAUS wrote:
Well Saturday is done...only about 25 riders today, but everyone had a good time, most travelled from a long way away to get here , so...
Well Saturday is done...only about 25 riders today, but everyone had a good time, most travelled from a long way away to get here , so thats nice..
The boss has done his track work on the bobcat, the track will be ripped again first thing in the morning and we will be watering from 7am til 10 am and its on again..
I rode today and the track was great but a little boring, there were not a lot of riders today and no fast riders on 450's ,so there were no ruts and it never got rough...oh well...fathers day tomorrow and it was busy fathers day last year..
Time for me to go sit up on the hill...drink some nice beers and watch the sun go down...think Ill ride my 450 tomorrow...




Tim271 wrote:
Looks great out there mate, iv been meaning to make the road trip up to check this place out haven’t had time lately, will definitely be...
Looks great out there mate, iv been meaning to make the road trip up to check this place out haven’t had time lately, will definitely be making sometime soon to get up there
Yeah do it! You will love it...a lot of work goes into making the track conditions perfect every weekend...the family that runs this track takes a lot of pride in what they do and they never slack off..
Bearuno
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Bearuno 8/31/2019 2:48am
8/31/2019 2:48am
Fathers Day : yep, hopefully a good showing for you guys PJRAUS : a few blokes might be let off their leashes Sunday.
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PJRAUS
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PJRAUS 8/31/2019 3:33am
8/31/2019 3:33am
Bearuno wrote:
Fathers Day : yep, hopefully a good showing for you guys PJRAUS : a few blokes might be let off their leashes Sunday.
Yeah I sure hope so mate...I know that I will have a great day for sure!
Deja New
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Deja New 8/31/2019 4:41am
8/31/2019 4:41am
PJRAUS that looks awesome I’m a little jealous wife’s away skiing and I’m baby sitting the kids so I can’t go ride. Hope it was a great day riding.
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PJRAUS
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PJRAUS 8/31/2019 5:23am
8/31/2019 5:23am
Deja New wrote:
PJRAUS that looks awesome I’m a little jealous wife’s away skiing and I’m baby sitting the kids so I can’t go ride. Hope it was a...
PJRAUS that looks awesome I’m a little jealous wife’s away skiing and I’m baby sitting the kids so I can’t go ride. Hope it was a great day riding.
Yeah it was....I didn't ride as much as I wanted..had to do overwatch a bit as the boss took most of the day off...will ride a lot more tomorrow.....the weather has been amazing...hope we get heaps of riders tomorrow...
Had a group here today that drove 2 1/2 hours up from Melbourne...lots of people like coming here simply because its such a lovely and scenic place.
Hoping that soon I can take a day off from helping with the track and go down to park 4...really like that track and Boydy does an awesome job...haven't ridden anywhere else but here in probably a year! Thats not a complaint though..
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Deja New
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Deja New 8/31/2019 5:38am
8/31/2019 5:38am
Got my sons JR50 all fixed up and got him some new gear got my bike ready now I’m itching to get out. Up here in QLD weather is perfect suns out but it’s not to hot yet. Hope you have a great day tomorrow!
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Natester551v
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Natester551v 8/31/2019 5:51am
8/31/2019 5:51am
Track looks amazing...what a great way to spend the weekend!

I do find myself riding my mtb more than ever, and it's easy to see how moto can slowly slip away in the hustle and bustle of life. It's certainly not an easy or convenient sport, but it really does transcend all others...one ride and I'm back in it....lol
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Kenny Lingus
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Kenny Lingus 8/31/2019 6:05am
8/31/2019 6:05am
Looks great. Fueling up the private jet right now, see you soon. 😜
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PJRAUS
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PJRAUS 8/31/2019 6:33am
8/31/2019 6:33am
Natester551v wrote:
Track looks amazing...what a great way to spend the weekend! I do find myself riding my mtb more than ever, and it's easy to see how...
Track looks amazing...what a great way to spend the weekend!

I do find myself riding my mtb more than ever, and it's easy to see how moto can slowly slip away in the hustle and bustle of life. It's certainly not an easy or convenient sport, but it really does transcend all others...one ride and I'm back in it....lol
Absolutely!
PJRAUS
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PJRAUS 8/31/2019 6:35am
8/31/2019 6:35am
Kenny Lingus wrote:
Looks great. Fueling up the private jet right now, see you soon. 😜
No worries mate...I can set you up on one of my bikes...just park the jet down in the paddock with the sheep!😀
Kenny Lingus
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Kenny Lingus 8/31/2019 6:48am
8/31/2019 6:48am
Kenny Lingus wrote:
Looks great. Fueling up the private jet right now, see you soon. 😜
PJRAUS wrote:
No worries mate...I can set you up on one of my bikes...just park the jet down in the paddock with the sheep!😀
Deal!

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