Going beyond just a hobby...

I went to my first IXCR event in Brazil IN over the weekend. Seems like a quality organization that closely mimics GNCC. Although the open areas were a bit dusty, the woods were basically perfect with a lot of ups and downs that I struggled to memorize until late in the race. I rode “A” +30 so I spotted some of guys 20+ years and midway thru the race, I was starting to regret it. I was locked in a battle for damn near the entire 2 hours and 23 minutes. With a couple laps to go, I was tired, starting to cramp, and looking for the checkered flag. Fortunately (I guess) I was able to suffer thru it and make an aggressive last lap pass to get the class win and finish 9th overall. That’s about as far into the red zone as I’ve been in a while and I definitely felt it today. Big thank you to @woodrum941 for a super quick splash of gas, a prime parking spot, and sweet pics. #franktour23 #actyouragenever #paindonthurt 

Celebrated a “proper” Independence Day Weekend with @cjpratt45 . Red Bud National MX on Saturday - it’s always impressive to watch the best showcase their talents. Drove thru rain and wind looking for a Sunday race. It took 4 tries and several extra miles but we eventually landed at the @worn_racing event in Tennessee. Really fun layout and the rain made for a fairly technical track. I got the win in the “A” +40 and finished 8th overall. CJs day wasn’t quite as good as mine . Got some rain in Missouri too, making the Tuesday morning motos “all time”…..until it got hot. #franktour23 #redddbuddd #wedrove26hours   

Raise your hands if you’re happy that the Snowshoe GNCC is over! For sure not my favorite round of the series but I much prefer the conditions we were served this time rather than a dry one on the mountain. I got a good start (who doesn’t like a live engine start on pavement) and led some of the race, but to say the course and conditions and multiple start rows and bottlenecks don’t make for a confusing race, would be an understatement. The last half of my race was solid and smooth but I got beat by 8 seconds and finished in 2nd. That was good enough to clinch the GNCC class championship in +50 “A” so overall, it was a good day. Big thank you to @proudsis45 for making the trip with me - it was just like the old days! Also thank you to everyone who continues to be a part of my program. Your never ending support does not go unnoticed. #franktour23 #3years3titles #arrowsorstaplesnotboth  

Had a solid day at the Mason Dixon GNCC in PA. A horrendous start had me fighting thru traffic and dust for the first lap. I made my way into the lead just before the end of lap one and was able to keep it together the rest of the way. Happy to have a race without a mud-hole to sink in this week. P1 in +50 “A”. #franktour23 #californiawashjob #mystartssuck  

I thought by Wednesday I would have come up with a list of positives to take away from the Penton GNCC in Ohio. All I’ve got so far is:

1) 5th place (my worst GNCC result since I started riding the age classes)

2) did NOT have to get towed in 

3) lost only 1 pair of Scott Prospect goggles (with roll offs)

4) got dug out of a sink hole by the dude on the Penton (after he took a leak)

5) drove in and out of the parking lot without assistance 

6) realized I don’t have any more Ohio races to attend this year  

7) beat Grizzle in the OA (which means he had a suckier day than me)

my bike only weighed a few pounds over 300 

9) my boots weighed almost the same as my bike 

10) it’s over

#franktour23 #tellmewhywedothis #thoughtiwassmarterthanthis 

The Hoosier GNCC…….it’s was pretty tough. Rain during the night made for wet, slick, rutted, sticky, and difficult conditions. Things went pretty good for the first two laps - no huge mistakes and swapping the lead position back and forth several times. But the third lap was about the most “trying” lap I’ve ridden in quite some time. I quit counting the number of mistakes I made. The biggest one was a failed attempt at climbing a small hill and it felt like I was there for 10 minutes trying to get going again. It was really probably only half that long, but each minute I really questioned why I unloaded my bike that morning. Talk about a struggle……Somehow managed to finish 2nd in +50 “A” and really, really glad that one is over. #franktour23 #goodtillitwasnt #feltmyagetoday 

Probably my favorite GNCC on the schedule, Camp Coker in SC, delivered once again. The soil there is soooo, good! I doubt that I could have gotten a crappier start - about 21st out of 21 - but I had a quality first lap and moved into the lead by the nine-mile mark. From there on, I had an insane battle with Scott Phelps that lasted almost all the way to the end. The traffic was an issue the whole race - 590 riders on a 11 mile course will do that. It was constant revving, yelling, and passing while trying to “race” for much of the 2 hours. Felt fortunate to make the final pass of our battle and win the +50 “A” class. Thanks again to everyone who is a part of it! Hey @gncc_racing - how about splitting the AM race at the next round - it’s gonna be a big turnout if the past is any indication - just sayin’…….

#franktour23 #whitegearrules #likeyoustoleit

Scuffed up a new one at the Pratt Compound over the weekend. #franktour23 #wheresthebarbedwire #ifoundthebarbedwire  

Tiger Run GNCC in SC was challenging. I ran among the top 5 early on but really got going the last lap when @griz154 reeled me in (from a minute back). His line selection was superior to mine and I let him show me the way before finding my way past him and into 2nd in +50 “A”. Yes - Griz beat me in the OA. Until next time…..

2-3 weeks prior was the Daytona Bike Week “three-fer”. 

Wild Boar GNCC - 3rd +50 “A”

Alligator Enduro - 2nd +50 “A”

General GNCC - 1st +50 “A”

Once again - thanks to everyone who has my back.

#franktour23 #alwaysastory #justkeeptrying

The 7th edition of GRINduro was, as its founder says - “All Time”. Had an absolute blast getting to ride with some of my very best dirt bike buddies and occasionally pushing my absolute limit just to hang with them. This right here, is why we do this! Already working on plans for our Missouri version of this event - The Ride - in March. #franktour22 #grinduro7 #scareyourself 

 The TORN race course this weekend was absolutely “all time”. First of all, it was super fun. Then the conditions were as perfect as they could get. Throw in class wins both days (2nd OA Saturday & 3rd OA Sunday) and it doesn’t get much better. @cjpratt45 tagged along with me, echoed my thoughts, and matched my double win with two of his own. #franktour22 #thegoodshit #winterracingtexasstyle  

Super grateful to everyone who helped layout, run, and tear down the 12th running of The Offroad Cup. Their never ending help allowed me to participate in this years event on a team with my nephews @cjpratt45 and @coltonpratt45 as a tribute to my dad and their papa. Our team name was simply “Franks Boys”. We rode the Pro class and going in we knew we were severely outclassed. But that didn’t matter. The goal was always to do what Dad always asked for - ride hard and don’t quit. We finished the event in 6th overall out of 97 teams - rode hard and didn’t quit. Remember, it’s about the journey, not the destination. Thanks for riding with me boys!

#franktour22 #likehewould #makingmemories