The Best Darn Adventure Racing Company in TEXAS!

Snake charmers

a.k.a. rattlesnake racing staff

Leiza N. Morales, Head Honcho (Race Director)

Education:

Region XI Teacher Preparation Program, Special Education Certification

Besides teaching school, Leiza is a riding instructor and helps manage all aspects of the family ranch. Along with Leiza’s expertise as an instructor she is an experienced distance runner. Leiza has been running and training since 1981 with a short break to have her son, River. In 1984-85 Leiza trained with Olympic distance coach Arthur Lydiard and competed at the state level in track and field in high school. Her specialty distance was the 800 meters. (One of those crazy people.) 

Jim McTasney, Head Schmoozer (Marketing Director and Business Development)

Education:

    Master of Business Administration in Technology Management

Jim's primary role is as a high-level sales professional and engineer.  His interest in Adventure Racing and other endurance sports stems from an altered mental condition (some refer to it as insanity) and an interest in testing the boundaries of physical conditioning, mental discipline, and organizational dynamics.  These areas are dealt with on a daily basis in Jim's business situations.  For some reason, he relishes the challenge of adapting business scenarios to design adventure races.  Jim is also the one who talks Leiza into putting these events on, then dumps all the workload on her.  Contact Jim if you want to discuss race and training philosophy, marketing strategy and analysis, etc.  Jim's basic response to any question about the race will be, "shorten the bike, make the run longer."

Jim recently raced in the Raid the North Extreme race in Newfoundland, Canada and finished the Eco-Challenge New Zealand 2001.

Corey Franken, Head Go-For (Race Coordinator)

Corey is currently in her third year of Law School in Ohio and works as an intern for the attorney general .  Sometimes she takes her vacations to come back to Texas to help with races and to play with Rattlesnake racing and all of the great people she has met down here.

Education:

        Specialization in Interpersonal Communication

	Public Relations Liaison (3 ½ years). Corey developed a working marketing plan and created all publicity for the Outdoor Pursuit Center. This included press releases, flyers, newsletters and posters. She created and wrote the quarterly brochure.
	Competition Organizer (4 years). Corey acted as Assistant Competition Organizer for the 9th Annual Mideast Indoor Climbing Competition. She organized and executed the 1st Miami Rock Rodeo Climbing Competition in the capacity of Competition Organizer. She also worked as publicity coordinator and registration coordinator for both 7th and 8th Annual Mideast Indoor Climbing Competitions and Midwest Bouldering Tour at Miami University.
	OPC Outdoor Recreation Trip Staff. Corey was lead coordinator for backpacking, kayaking, skiing, hiking and canoeing trips that varied in length. She was involved in logistical, food and safety planning, preparation and execution.
	River Guide. Corey is an expert paddler. She has been a river guide on several rivers.

James River McTasney -Team Challenge Designer

Paint Creek 7thth grade

Age 12

River is our son. He helped test the race courses last year and designed several of the team challenges.   According to the racers his team challenges were some of the most trying and challenging as a team.

River with the Team Rattlesnake Racing in 2003.  He is the greatest support crew!

Zhenia McTasney -Team Challenge at the moment.  Our new daughter we adopted on June 30, 2005 from Schurmerly, Chuvashia  Russia

Paint Creek Elementary 3rd grade

Age 10

Zhenia is doing great.   She is fluent in English and has lots of friends.  Her reading has improved dramatically since transferring her to Paint Creek.  She has a grand total of 6 kids in her class and her teacher is a childhood friend of mine.  She doesn't stand a chance at misbehaving because Tammi just hits the speed dial number for me on her cell phone.  I also have to brag on Paint Creek, it may be a small school, but I know of at least 7 graduated who went on to graduate from Texas A&M, 3 of which were yell leaders at A&M, 3 were Redpots at A&M and one is the Governor of Texas.  But, I guess only Old Ags will understand the significance of this.

Send mail to leiza@rattlesnakeracing.com with questions or comments about Rattlesnake Racing.
Copyright © 1999 Rattlesnake Racing Co.
Last modified: February 08, 2008