V o i c e - GL Homes

CLUB SPOTLIGHTVALENCIA RESIDENT RACES THROUGH BAJABy Ryan WiseIn the almost 40 years I’ve been in the tire business, I hav been ableto experience hundreds of performance-driving events designed toshow off the handling characteristics of the tires fitted on the vehicle.From Autocrosses in parking lots of malls to 150+ mph in a PorscheGT3 at Mid-Ohio, most of these events have you driving with aninstructor who is there to teach and keep you out of trouble. Butnone of those events prepared me for my latest adventure—running500 race miles wide open in a full race vehicle in the Baja Peninsulaof Mexico with BF Goodrich, the perennial overall winning tire atthe Baja 1000 over the last 20 years. I should have known this wasgoing to be special when the release form I signed stated they weren’tresponsible if I died and they needed my credit card in advanceshould I need to be treated at a Mexican hospital where my medicalbenefits didn’t apply.I arrived at the Horsepower Ranch in Encinada, Mexico and aftertwo quick laps around the compound with an instructor, I thought Iwas ready for the real stuff the following morning. For the next threedays, my co-pilot and I kept in touch with our leader and four othercars in my group via GPS and two way radio. Ninety-five of the “roads”we traveled were part of the Baja 1000 race course. The speeds weremixed between crawling over three foot rocks to 80+ mph runningon the beach and 95+ mph on the dirt roads. The leader stayed one totwo miles ahead relaying GPS coordinates for sharp turns, boulders inthe road, and oncoming traffic. By the end of the day, we were coveredwith sweat and dirt from head to toe—but it was great!! Day Two wasclimbing the mountains from the ocean to 4,000 ft. The mountainroads were scary for some, especially for my co-driver, thanks to someof my spirited power sliding around 25 ft wide sections of road with noguardrails and 100-500 foot drops. We were stopped twice by armedMexican military who searched the cars and demanded passports.There is nothing like sliding around a corner and staring at a 50 calibermachine gun pointed at you.All in all, it was truly an experience of a lifetime and I came awaywith a new appreciation for the real drivers that drive the Baja1000 at full race speed and the strain the equipment and tires mustendure to win.NEWS FROM THE VALENCIA LAKESTRAVEL CLUBBy Arlene DonnellonThe clubs membership has grown to over 100 members since theclub was formed one year ago. On April 10, the club members willbe going back in time to the Gangland Chicago era to the Capone’sDinner/Theater in Kissimmee. The décor is nostalgic style with ahint of extravagance and flamboyance and the group will enjoy awholesome show complete with all you can eat Italian Buffet andbeverages. In June, a trip is being planned for a Dinner Cruise onSt. John’s River. Do you like to go to the beach? Come join us as weget on the Beach Bus, leaving Valencia Lakes Club House on the 2ndand 4th Wednesdays during the months of June, July and August.Do you want to be at the beach at sunset? There will be two bus tripsplanned one in July another in August. You’ll arrive in time to havedinner and to relax and watch the sunset before returning back to theclub house. In August, members will be off to Key West for 3 days/2nights (exact dates TBD). The really big trip this year for the TravelClub will be the Tuscany/Italy 21 day’s trip October 17-November6. We’ll fly to Rome and spend 5 days on land before going on theRoyal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas cruise/repositioning whichwill bring us back to Miami. As of March, 30 people have signed upfor this cruise. There are still cabins available, so reserve your cabinand join us. Do you like to go on day trips, over night trips, and/orcruises? If so, come join the travel club. We meet the first Tuesday ofeach month @ 6 p.m. in the Bistro.VALENCIA LAKES QUILTING CLUBHELPS KEEP KIDS WARMBy Debbie CohenThe members of our quilting club have feverishly worked on aproject to help keep kids warm at the Mary and Martha House.The children will have something to call their own and take withthem wherever they may go.Pictured are the members holding their first completed project:Front Row: Patty Hibsher, Susan Linky, Yaffa SpielerBack Row: Mary Lynn Ray, Sally Dargle, Martha Kilbourn, DebbyCohen, Virginia Hernandez, Isabelle Berrebbi, Dara Santora, NormaSanchez. Janet Corin could not make it to the photo shoot.To all my friends and neighbors in Valencia Lakes. I want to thank allof you for your caring, compassion and concern after my foot surgery.Thanks for all the phone calls, cards, e-mails, flowers and goodies. Ofcourse, I had my private nurse, Lenny Nightingale, at my side 24/7. Andthe best thing was he didn’t have to cook for a whole week. You gourmetchefs took care of that. It doesn’t get any better than living at ValenciaLakes. Again, thank you all so much.Patty HibsherPhoto by Gary Spieler4 VALENCIA LAKES