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High-Flying Fun
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Published: March 12, 2008
LAND O' LAKES - Bob and Jolene Wood went from restaurateurs to owners of a motocross park. It might seem like a strange transition - from burgers and fries to hills and dirt - but it has been a way of life for the family for at least 20 years.
After seven years of owning Jo-Bob's Sports Grill in Zephyrhills, they sold the restaurant, and six months later they bought a swath of land at 12795 Auton Road in Dade City and created the Flying High MX Park.
"Our goal here is to actually give families a place to come and ride without going to these backwoods where they're riding," Bob Wood said. "A lot of the tracks you go to, they won't let you do the things we're going to allow here."
Although it took track builders Mark Barnett and Glen Bates only three days to construct the track, the work of getting it approved by the Zephyrhills Development Review Committee took much longer.
The Woods went in with an eight-month plan, but it took about 18 months for approval to come through. The agreement allows the track to host 12 races a year.
The park has completed Phase 1 and will begin work on Phase 2, which includes putting up a tower, concessions and restrooms.
The park also will be equipped with a full training facility, with strength and conditioning coaches and boxing training, and a team for national competitions will be assembled.
The park is open Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Spectators get in for $5, and admission for those using the track is $20. Professionals have use of the track on Fridays.
"It's the greatest feeling of all," Wood said of finally having the park operating. "We've taken every dollar we own; retirement, all of our stocks, all of our credit cards are maxed out, everything we own we've put it in there. We haven't had any financial help as far as sponsorship or anything like that. We did it on our own. It's been hard, but I hope it's rewarding."
Three weeks ago, the park hosted its first event, which featured 145 four-wheelers. The race drew more than 400 spectators.
Flying High will host the Florida Series and Quad Series and is creating its own point series. The track has been outfitted with flag wavers to help riders in corners in the event another rider falls coming off a jump. Also, on Saturdays and Sundays the track is staffed with an ambulance.
Not only are Bob and Jolene involved, but the couple's four children - Billy, 29; Jason, 20; Christopher, 18; and Dylan, 7 - are also involved with the track.
The family's participation began when Billy started riding at age 7. Since then, the other brothers have followed in his footsteps.
"My boys race, and we had the money to invest when we sold the restaurant and we've always wanted a race track," Bob Wood said. "So we just decided as a family to say, 'OK, lets go for it.'"
For more information, visit www.flyinghighmxpark.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( cynedra ) on March 12, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
It's amazing how the author of this article didn't mention how much noise carries over from the motocross to the Withlacoochee River Park. I know I went there with my families and the roar of the place was heard the entire time we were there. Who needs the sound of nature when you can have motor noises?
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