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Ron MartzS*s- New* Tribune Sport* Writerkcics| /Vs All in the Familyjt On the wall of Jeff Hughes' bedroom on S. Indian,. River Drive in Fort Pierce is an aging photograph of hit father,. JB„ sitting astride an old Indian motorcycle.The photograph is turning yellow, but It is a con-distant reminder to Jeff Ili«t ho is part of a tradition,' «c for his father once raced motorcycles, only to give if w- up shortly after he got married.er ’ *’l0 Jeff revived the racing fever in the entire Hughes . .iG family In March 1790, when he entered his first race M in the gruelling Moto-Crass circuit *nd won. nd Since then he has won dozens of races and is now the number one rider in Florida In the 175 cc expert class, a title lie won on Dec. 19 in Orlando, g ,lWc didn’t run the type races they have now, but •| 11 takes h lot more to ride in these moto cross races,” •• Ij Mr. Hughes said.d 'Tji the days I raced, people who rode motorcycles i were thought to be nothing more than dirty dogs. But that has changed. The races have become a family affair, and there arc a lot of nice people on the circuit/* he added.The circuit includes races almost every weekend somewhere In the state, and for the Hughes family 1t means a long day.“His father and I didn’t discourage him or encourage him to race, but we just love it now,11 Mrs. Mnrv ' Hughes said.ON ANY SUNDAYA Sunday for the Hughes usually consists of getting up early, loading the van with equipment, gasoline, and Jeff’s bike, a 175 cc Ossa, which he calls The Man,” and driving to places like Orlando, Deerfield, and An-ctytown to race on a middy, twisting track.Yesterday they got a break, for the race was In Fort Pierce at a track laid out behind the Treasure-■ Coast Speedway.There was plenty of water and mud from recent rains, and a few unforeseen hassles, like a front-end-loader getting stuck on the track and some frantic mo-., ments looking for « muffler, but Jeff was his usual cool-self before the race,-,lJ ?on’1 lH2aiIy set nervous before a race unless I'm-riding in Q)e 250 cc class, which they make me do ir A there aren’t enough 175 cc riders, or riding In a big i{ race, like the state championships/’ Jeff said, a ‘‘It's just another Sunday, another race,” he added.Arriving at the ir^ck early, Jeff took time to visff so:ne of the friends he’s made on the circuit and inspect the track while Mr. Hughes made some final Adjustments on “The Man. He was joined on his inspection trip by Jack Kind-4 ™ Ftfhn Beach, the number one rider In; Florida m the 100 cc class.3 They Inlked of Christmas presents and lasl week's ’race before discussing the track.“It's: a little muddy, but it looks good, Jeff said/-if Jeff gets stuck today, you know it’s muddy.11 ' Jack laughed.AN OLD NEMESIS APPEARSia I? li!e.^acc spotted an old nemesis;*A iteiWied by the initials J.T. on his number platesHe ran me off the track In Orlando last week. He's one of those kind of riders who just go out In win and aocsn t care what happens to anybody else, Jeff said.“I don’t know whether he meant to do it intentional -. ly or not,” Mrs. Hughes said, “but Jeff was prelfv upset about it.”. Someone suggested !o Jeff that he should gel but ; : m front of J.T. lo avoid any trouble.j “It doesn't matter, I'll be able lo pass him some-* where, ’ Jeff said.As it turned out J.T. ate mud all day, as he lound -• himself riding second to Jeff Hughes and The Man.Jeff won all three of his heats going away, coming'* out of the start in front in all but one heat, and building-., ins jean.Jeff RIso put on a good show for the local riders,,-crossing,” or lunung his body in one direction, his--front wheel in another, while letting the bike go over,.., the jump sideways. The crowd loved it.“I like lo get out Irani and run my own race. That — .way you don’t get as dirty,” Jeff .said, to RIDES HTT1I STYLEiie With the tricky jumps, pptholes, mud, water and.other riders, it may sound easy, and look easy the way ’• (e Jeff Hughes does it, but then he seems to be a natural.-, th . He P?Vcrs lhroueh lhe turns and flows through the jumps with a style and smoothness that has won him.', lhe respect of many older and experienced ridersP- r * ''^V* 50 smo?tb lt doesn,t }ook ]ike he's BOtDg fast at all, * one rider said.u '•'A'bc^'s just no competition for him around here, ' . Another added. 1Z _ Because oE his remarkable record and natural style.Jeff has acquired a following ol fans, young and old, o who come to watch him.He is still somewhat embarrassed by all the atten-hon given him, retaining the freckle ■ faced modesty that separates the amateurs from the money riders. ' -His only problem now is getting peoDle to rar^ against him. He has been encouraged to turn professional or move to a bigger bike. 'iindPlale'cycledracing Ls° ah ft '™WS' for
Newspaper Details
Fort Pierce News Tribune
Fort Pierce, Florida, US
Mon, Dec 27, 1971
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Ronald M.
USA 30 Apr 2019
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