Wednesday, October 15, 2003
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Wednesday, October 15, 2003 |
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Local racers to race for six days in Brazil By MICHAEL BOYLAN Russell Bobbitt and Heidi Landon are going to Brazil for the 78th annual International Six Days Enduro Race and Bobbitt’s mother, Bonnie, is doing everything she can to help finance the trip. Both Bobbitt and Landon will race on motorbikes approximately 160 miles a day, through all sorts of terrain. The race starts in Fortaleza, Brazil, and racers have to maintain an average speed and hit their checkpoints exactly on time. The racer with the fewest points at the end is declared the winner. Bobbitt will race in the U-24 division for the United States, while Landon will race with the U.S. Women’s team. Bobbitt is a 17-year-old senior at The Heritage School in Newnan. He is a lifelong Fayetteville resident who started riding at the age of four years old. He competes every weekend with the Southeastern Enduro Trailriders Association. In addition to his passion for riding, he enjoys playing soccer. Landon is a Palmetto resident and is new to the area. She has been racing for eight years, in both endurance races and the National Cross Country Series. The race in Brazil will be her first International Six Days Enduro Race, but she is looking forward to it. She is engaged to a mechanic for Kawasaki and is looking to enjoy a racing career before settling down to raise a family. “The cost of going to the Six Days Enduro is easily five figures,” estimated Bonnie Bobbitt. In order to help raise some money for her son, who is not fully sponsored by the U.S. Team, she is riding in a Century Ride this Saturday, starting in Brooks. One of the main costs both Bobbitt and Landon face is shipping their bikes to Oregon. The U.S. team will pay to ship their bikes to Brazil from there. Other ways Bobbitt’s mother is trying to raise some money is by selling baked goods at Cycle Specialty, which is owned by Bo Bobbitt, and is also where Landon is employed; having a garage sale and selling things on eBay. Bobbitt and Landon will be leaving for Brazil at the end of the month. The race will take place from Nov. 3-8. If you are interested in following the race from the Internet, there should be information on www.isde2003.com or www.skunkworx.net. if you would like to donate to Bobbitt or Landon’s journey to Brazil, phone Cycle Specialty at 770-461-3541.
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