On weekends, John Stafford sheds his suit and tie and takes to the highway on his $32,000 motorcycle. His ride? This lifelong Harley fan last year purchased an American IronHorse Outlaw. The customized chopper has a 107-cubic-inch mega-motor, a five-speed transmission, "gladiator wheels" with a dagger effect, and a custom orange, red, blue and yellow flame paint job to match his 1940 classic car, a Ford Sedan Delivery.
"The Outlaw is a great-looking bike," says Stafford, president of Suncoast National Bank in Sarasota. "You can't ride it comfortably for long periods of time, but it looks really neat."
That kind of "oooh" and "ahhh" factor, says Sarasota motorcycle dealer Rick Rossiter, is fueling the popularity of customized bikes. "There's nothing like pulling in and having people come over and oooh and ahhh over your motorcycle."
Rossiter started carrying American IronHorse bikes a couple of years ago because of customer demand. "They're on the leading edge of what's hot and what's going to be hot."
This year's trends: Extra wide rear tires, big engines (the bigger the better) and six-speed transmissions.
Fort Worth, Texas-based American IronHorse plans to roll out a redesign of its Stalker this year with new signature components designed by legendary motorcycle designer Arlen Ness.
Horsing Around
Fox hunting has attracted quite a following in Florida. There are about six hunt clubs scattered statewide. One, Misty Morning Hounds in Gainesville, holds hunts twice a week October to March. It costs $500 to join for the year; non-members pay $40 to participate in a single hunt. The club has corporate memberships for companies that want to offer fox hunting as a perk for employees or clients.
"We get people from all walks of life: Doctors, lawyers, Realtors, housewives and policemen," says Alexis Macaulay. A former interior designer from Jacksonville, she turned her riding hobby into a profession when she started Misty Morning Hounds along with her husband, Walter, eight years ago. They own and train their own foxhounds, about 25 pedigreed hounds, some with bloodlines dating back to George Washington's kennels. They also set up the hunts at various properties throughout northeast Florida in places like Micanopy, Bronson, Harbor Hills in Lake County and Snooty Fox Farm in Alachua.
For horse-riding enthusiasts, fox hunting offers an adrenaline-pumping alternative -- with breathtaking views of nature -- to trail riding. "You get to see places you wouldn't otherwise see; they're spectacular," says Ocala Realtor Lynn Johnson, a member of Misty Morning Hounds hunt club.
Misty Morning Hounds spares the fox -- as do the other Florida hunt clubs -- offering what's called a "drag pack," meaning participants don't hunt a live fox but rather scent a trail for the hounds to chase. The hounds' "kill" is a bag filled with dog food and treats.
FLORIDA HUNT CLUBSCLUBLOCATIONFour Winds FoxhoundsDelray BeachLive Oak HoundsMonticelloLonesome Palm HoundsMorristonMisty Morning HoundsGainesvillePalm Beach HoundsWellingtonSouth Creek FoxhoundsDade City
For Equestrians
A new equestrian center is in the works at Cecil Commerce Center in Jacksonville. Construction started in November on the 4,000-seat, 123,130-sq.-ft. indoor center, which will also include an outdoor arena, practice rings and 150 stalls. The city hopes to draw regional and national equestrian events once the facility is completed later this year.
Water Power
Thirty-five-year-old Miami telecom exec Dino Morra admits he has "the heart of a 15-year-old." That's why on weekends you can find him on his Yamaha wave rider. Morra, who's been competing on the Pro Ski circuit for seven years, is ranked No. 1 in the Southeast. He prefers the Yamaha 701 Super Jet, which retails for $6,400. His version -- after modifications -- costs $20,000.
WHAT'S HOTAmong the recreational set:
The three-seat Sea Doo GTX 4-tech.
Price: $9,500
Among racing enthusiasts:
The Yamaha 701 Super Jet.
Price: $6,400
Sailing Away
More than 300 sailboats -- at least 30 owned and sailed by Florida skippers (including this writer) -- converge on the Conch Republic for one of the premier winter regattas, the Key West Race Week starting Jan. 20.
The race draws some of the top skippers and sailboats from around the world, including super-fast Farr 40s, J-boats and Melges, as well as diehard weekend warriors who enter just for the thrill of racing. Acclaimed skipper and J-boat designer Rob Johnstone can often be found aboard one of his designs.
There are both one-design and PHRF (handicap) racing.
Website: Premiere-racing.com.