Who We Are
GHORBA Board of Directors 2006
Michael Lutomski
Mike has been a Rocket Scientist at NASA for the past 20 years. Mike started riding a $80 modified 10-speed with 26” wheels and a single speed coaster break back at the University of Michigan riding to class in over ice, sleet, and snow. Decades later he was introduced to the “official” sport of mountain biking and downhill racing while living in Moscow Russia. There he learned the “art” of biking year-round in rain, snow, and mud (did I say mud?).
He also learned how to curse in Russian when falling down large crevices and hills surrounded by natural hazards. Upon returning to America where there were more than 37 bikers and actual bike trails, he learned about Cross Country Racing, how to ride trails that were dry, what a closed trail was, and even trail maintenance from IMBA.
Mike rides, races, and camps with his three children around Texas. The picture above is from the last-ever Kelly Creek Classic 2004 $100 Downhill race that he won on his 39th Birthday riding his daughter’s 20” wheeled bike valued at just over $60. He beat a field of 24” and 26” bikes over rocks and jumps.
Mike wants to make the greater Houston the best off-road biking area in America, ensure access to existing trails, work with other steakholders to build new multi-use trails systems, & encourage sustainable trail maintenance.
Kevin Highfield
Kevin is an ex-Brit who now lives in the NW1960—Champions area. Kevin and his buds ride at trails all over town and can be seen at most TMBRA races, competing in the Expert category.
The above picture was taken at the 2005 Warda Race mudfest—please don’t normally ride in conditions like this! He looks so happy because he had a good race and is covered in the brown, sticky stuff.
Kevin is using contacts he has developed with local government agencies to advance a number of new projects in the Greater-Houston area.
Kevin is married with 2 teenage daughters and is a Master Mariner by trade, working as a marine consultant and has lived in Houston since 1992.
Clay Fenton
Membership Director & Trail Steward, Memorial Park
Clay bio
Brian Thigpen
Trail Steward, Memorial Park
Race Director, GHORBA Big Ring Challenge
Brian Bio here
Veljko Roskar
Veljko (“vel-co”) is a Croatian from Zagreb, who’s lived in Houston since 1996. Back in the late 80’s, he brought over from the US the first mountain bike to Zagreb, a Specialized, which his friend still rides (today, Zagreb is considered one of Central Europe’s best towns for mountain biking).
A chemical engineer, on rainy days he is busy maintaining the GHORBA website and communications, or wrenching bikes for his teenage son and his son’s friends, who are into dirt jumping.
Veljko occasionally races in the TMBRA series but has nowhere near the skills nor cojones like his son for trials and hucking.
