Well after hitting up Waterloo a few weeks ago (NOT a good practice for me) I was pretty much still intimidated by ALL THE PEOPLE and of course the jumps. For some odd reason, my quad didn't want to leave the ground.

BUT after two full days of shooting quad nationals, that really lit the fire back under me again! I was READY TO ROLL! With a disheartening cancellation of Walnut's practice I was really wondering if I was EVER going to get out there (yah Waterloo OHV is closed till June also).

So my friend Zach invited me out to his track for Sunday for practice! A lot of people were there, but it didn't bother me at all this time! I was 100% focused on RIDING!! First few laps were a pure adrenalin rush that almost made me sick, but that phased out quickly the more I got used to the track. I picked up speed and jumped the tabletops - one double still has me rolling over it (yah... I suck lol) but next time I go out there I"M GOING TO DO IT I swear!

Still trying to get used to the new suspension - seriously I really cannot even tell the difference between the 220 lbs and the 120 lbs. idk - but my new tires kick butt for sure!

Anyways I rode for more than 2 hours and then we left because Sara was bored, but that's okay, because I'll be even more confident the next time I go out there!!!!

Best part is... my knee didn't bother me at all!! My braces had to go on the outside of my gear though lol - they're like way big for my gear lol~

So yah - I'm back  -

Well yah, I did race Walnut August 23 - it was sweet and actually stayed up generally with the pack - got an official 3rd place (don't ask anymore questions lol). I also raced at Montezuma October 18 and had an awesome 1st moto - but didn't have enough energy (um yah - it's called eating food) for the 2nd moto so my concentration was ZERO and after killing it in a huge rut after the downhill I was definitely ready to call it a day!! It has been quite the learning and racing experience this year!

Made it up to Waterloo Sunday (Nov. 16) with my buddy and coach Benda and hit all the table tops and of course, rolled ALL the doubles out there the 1st two laps. Well, thanks to Benda, he gave me the encouragement I needed at the very 1st double 3rd lap he was sitting there circling his arms like "you better do it now" so I did, I hit the gas and told myslef "this is it" - I jumped not just the ONE double but the OTHER TWO that were right after that!!!!!!!! What can I say but what an adrenalin rush!!!!!! You gotta understand that these were NOT big doubles, but mind you - when I tried my very first one a few months ago I cased it big time and wrecked (see pix) so yah - it's been a HUGE mind game for me ever since and I have finally won! :)

If I get the chance to ride anymore this year I now have new goals to acheive as in braking in mid-air to control my nose a bit more and of course speed is all good too. I'm hoping to get my chance to hopefully at least make it up to the Sandbox once this year to race.

So yah - I'm loving life right now and loving the fact that I've gotten my confidence back to learn some more, ride some more and of course race some more :)

I hope to have my suspension dialed in by spring - the 220 lbs. it's at right now is a bit much for this 98lb. girl, but you gotta admit it's one hell of a workout. SO yah - I'm doing the best with what I have! ;) Thanks to EVERYONE who's offered me advice, (oh yah - ESPECIALLY suspension advice) - I sure appreciate it and it's always welcomed!!!!!!!

Wow - what can I say!! What an experience that's for sure! Practice was okay - I was so nervous that I basically "forgot" everything, I didn't do any jumps and just basically rolled everything. 1st moto - without the help of Paige and Brianne, I probably wouldn't have even made it out there lol~ Just sitting there at the gate I was so nervous... my mom and dad were there taking pix and my daughter was videotaping and of course I'm trying not to let down my trainer by not "killing it at the gate" or getting "hung up on the gate" so all my focus was "on the gate" and not the holeshot or even the rest of track! SO what does Missi do??? I have a DEATHGRIP on the clutch and did not feather it for 1st OR 2nd moto so yah.. I was off the line last while the others already made it through the holeshot practically lol - at this point I didn't much care other than making it through it! 1st moto went pretty slow didn't think about giving it too much throttle ANYWHERE got some baby air made it through the whoops section without dislocating anything and got lapped by Brianne!! woohoo!!! I was totally okay with that because it truly felt like I was the only one out there! 2nd moto - (refer to the above gate story again) ran a little harder (not by much) but tackled a few more jumps and at least got lapped by Brianne a little later in the race than the 1st moto so it actually felt like I got 2nd place!!! lol ~ I had fun out there, I just need to really focus totally on the track and leave the "nervousness" at home. Thanks again to Paige and Brianne for all of their help and support! Well, back to full fledge training again and focus focus focus...See ya at the races... still shootin'.... still ridin'....

After being thrown out into an ALL QUADS practice at WALNUT for my 1st REAL seat time on my quad, I got my second lesson yesterday called "2nd gear pinned". Out in a corn field and pasture and then on a practice track - I had a BLAST!!!!!!!!!!!!! Getting my left boot broke in so I can at least FEEL myself FINALLY shift - practiced my starts and corners and "speed" and was forced to learn how to do a wheelie (darn!!!) Which of course once I started that I wanted to keep doing one..... then off to the practice track - another cornfield away (GOTTA LOVE FARMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!) with one really nice tempting double jump which I circled about ten times and was told "NO" lol~ that's my 3rd lesson lol~ so anyway I got to rip it up on a track with a really nice mudhole on the corner (you will see in my photos!!!!) Needless to say Baby Quad was 100% totally unrecognizable afterward!!! And I believe I was too! My strongpoints I believe to be my corners, my weakpoints - KEEPIN' THE DANG THING RUNNING!!! Lol - not so much running but NOT KILLING IT taking off in 1st gear.... hmmmm.... doing okay with line starting but not just regular starting (what the heck????) it'll be okay - that's why they call it LEARNING- so after about 5 times of killing it - my kickstarting is DOWN TO A SCIENCE! Not bad for 2 1/2 hours worth of practice and only 2 breaks :) Needless to say... I'm ready to do it again :) 

I DID IT!!!!!

No camera.....looked at the track and the riders in a TOTALLY DIFFERENT SENSE - one I have NEVER experienced....

Showed up at Walnut at around 11 - didn’t really think I was going to be able to do it. Felt very sick to my stomach and then found out they were running all the quads together!!!!

For those that don’t know: This would be my 4th time EVER on a quad - I’ve only ran my quad ONCE in November (so my 2nd time on MY quad)

I have NEVER been on a track and never rode in a practice session!!

Talk about OVERWHELMING!!!!!!!

Cozine’s were there and I can NEVER thank them enough for their SUPPORT before the practice!!!!!!!! It helped me SO MUCH!!

Needless to say I went out there all 4 practice sessions and I did it!!!!!!!! I used all the "tools" that I learned from my riders and from just "watching" while shooting - I was 100% right lane 1st gear the whole time lol :) . After the 1st session Cozine’s were there to tell me GREAT job coming off the track - I never felt so proud or so happy and so thankful!!! And then 2nd session they were out there cheering me on!!!! WOW what a feeling!

I want to be able to tell anyone who has never raced or ever done a practice session to DO IT and to NOT let it overwhelm you!! If you don’t do it, you WILL regret it and I thank GOD that I did do it!!!

Again, I want to thank the Cozine’s for being there to support me before, during and after the practice - I could NEVER thank them ENOUGH - I was almost in tears each time I talked to them - it meant THAT MUCH TO ME!

I also want to thank John Benda for draggin’ my a** there and breakin’ me in REALLY GOOD lol ~

I have A LOT to learn before the July 19 race on my birthday, but I tell you what - if I can get out there and just DO IT - I will not have ANY regrets.

Being LAST OFF THE TRACK each PRACTICE SESSION NEVER FELT SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pix (just on my quad) are in my baby quad photo album :)

Residing in Manchester, Iowa, I specialize in Motocross and Hare Scramble photography.

I also do private shoots on land and tracks and hill climbs and Pet Photography, Outdoor Portrait Photography. I also create Special Memories and Memorials, Collages, Special Effects and Photo Restoration.

I am a member of the AMA and ATVA, Iowa OHV and Trailblazers Off Road Club and a District 22 Club Council Board Member.

I am a proud sponsor/photographer for the Fun Valley MotoX Series, Sunset Ridge MX, New Hartford Racing and Iowa ATV Hare Scramble Series AND of course you can find me at the other tracks also!!

What I value most is my sponsorship of over 150 riders for the 2008 season. After all, it's all about the rider and the promotion of the sport. I am 100% dedciated to all of my riders and do my best to be fully involved with the sport.

Be sure to visit my sites http://www.thedephotography.com and http://www.thederiders.com

Looking forward to a GREAT season!!!