Leticia Cline has been around the sport of motocross for a long time. Although she hasn’t been directly involved with the sport for a few years, she still considers it her first love. After spending the last few years doing a number of different things like modeling and acting, Leticia recently got the chance to get back riding. Two weeks ago, as part of an Ontario Tourism Campaign, Leticia and our own Ami Houde were invited to Parry Sound, Ontario to ride some Hondas on an Epic Adventure Ride. Although this event seemed harmless to almost everyone, the Toronto Star objected to government funds being used for such a campaign. We caught up with Leticia to get her thoughts on just what happened.
Q: Hey Leticia, thanks for taking my call. What is going on today?
A: Not too much, just landed in Atlantic City actually. I have to spend the weekend here and then it’s back to my home in Florida.
Q: We haven’t seen you at the races for a few years. What have you been up to?
A: I was living in New York City for a few years working as a Marketing Director for a company there. Last year I moved back to Orlando to work for a Jet Pack company. Things are going well, I’m as busy as ever and I don’t have much down time.
Q: When you look at all of the different things you do, you seem qualified in a lot of different areas?
A: Thanks, I think it’s important to diversify and try a lot of different things. It definitely helps me get new jobs. I come from a marketing background so that is how those jobs come up. I don’t know, life is short and you have to keep trying new things.
Q: Are you the type of person that gets bored if you do something for too long?
A: (laughs) That is the running joke with all of my friends. I always seem like I get restless if I do something for too long. I guess it’s true; I do like to mix it up and try different things. As I said before, life is short and you should do as much as you can before you die.
Q: I guess that’s a good way to go through life. It’s been a few years since you’ve been at the races. Do you still follow the sport?
A: Yes, for sure. I still keep in touch with a lot of people in the industry as it’s full of a lot good people. Recently I did some commentating for a small amateur race so that was kind of cool. I haven’t been to a pro race in a long time because I’m always busy when the races come to Florida. Living in Orlando though, I do get to talk about the sport a lot because there are so many people in my area that follow motocross and love it like I do, so that’s pretty cool.
Q: So you came up to Ontario two weeks ago. Was that your first time coming to Canada?
A: No, it was my second. I actually went up for the Toronto Supercross a few years ago to watch the race and hang out with my buddy Virgil Knapp.
Q: Well this time was a little different as you got outside the big city of Toronto and up to what we in Ontario call “cottage country”. What were your thoughts on the Parry Sound area?
A: It was so beautiful. Obviously winter is almost here so I can see it being a real hot spot in the summer, but when we were flying around in the floatplane I was able to see the true beauty of the area.
Q: You girls got to do a lot of different things there. How much fun was it?
A: OMG, it was so fun! We did it all: we went riding, we flew around the lake on a hovercraft and as I mentioned we went up in a floatplane. Although we were only there for two days, we did a lot and I think the campaign is going to look amazing when it comes out.
Honda Canada provided some pretty cool machines for the girls to ride. Leticia loved every minute of the scenic rides through the Parry Sound trails.
Q: Let’s talk about that for a second. So you come up here on behalf of the Ontario Tourism Board and Honda Canada to promote Ontario by doing some off-road riding among other things. Then you get home and have to read how a Toronto newspaper took some real exception it. What are your thoughts on what you read?
A: Well, they have their reasons for writing that story, that’s their job as journalists. I have no problem with the criticism. I’ve developed thick skin over the years. The thing I had a problem with was how the Toronto Star purposely deleted the positive comments people made and only left the negative ones, as if it bolstered their story. We live in a free society and people can say whatever they want, but if you claim to be a credible newspaper as they do, let everyone speak and don’t sensor it.
Q: Yes, I can see some people disagreeing with it but don’t sensor out the people who might agree with you and Ami coming up here. With more and more girls riding dirt bikes and venturing into this male dominated sport, this campaign seems very relevant to how things are now.
A: I agree. Riding a dirt bike is a very cool thing to do whether you’re a girl or a boy. Like you said, more and more girls are riding now and if I can help promote both riding and your beautiful province, I don’t think it matters that I’m an American or that I was in Playboy years ago. All I’m saying is that riding is fun. Ontario has a lot to offer as far as riding and adventure goes, and if you’re going to ride then you should ride a Honda. I thought you guys were liberal up there in Canada (laughs).
Q: Maybe it was just a slow news day at the Toronto Star. Well, thanks for your time and we’re glad you enjoyed your time in Ontario. Good luck with everything and maybe we’ll see you back at the track soon.
A: For sure, thank you for calling me and getting my thoughts on what happened. Also, I want to thank Honda and Ontario Tourism for bringing me up to Canada, and also Virgil for helping to set it up.
Photos by Virgil Knapp