Vanilla Ice Chillin' on the Race Circuit

Racing and rap music are in Rob Van Winkle's blood. Van Winkle, more affectionately known as "Vanilla Ice" left his mark on the music business after his hit single "Ice, Ice Baby" sold 13 million copies in 1990. What many do not know about rap singer "Vanilla Ice," however, is that he is now leaving his mark on the jet ski ® and motocross racing world.

In 1993, Van Winkle was ranked sixth on the International Jet Sports Association Tour and sponsored by Kawasaki. Not bad for a guy who has a day job.

The rap musician turned jet ski racer actually started out racing motorcycles on motocross courses. Motocross is a form of motorcycle racing in which riders negotiate natural terrain on a race track that includes hills, bumps and jumps.

"I have been racing motocross about twenty years, " Van Winkle said. The jet ski racing came along when I moved to Florida in '89. I rode at night. I did it for fun and then I went to a local race to compete. Then I started winning, eventually on the national level."

Van Winkle likes the way he is treated on the racing circuit. "The other racers treat me as a racer not the singer ‘Vanilla Ice’. I am just like one of them. They might want piece of me on the racetrack because of what I do, but it doesn't bother me. I love it and I just try to stay in one piece."

Despite his hectic schedule, Van Winkle has not put his music career to rest. On October 20, 1998, his new album "Hard To Swallow," hit the stores. The music, with a skateboard rock vibe, takes a cue from the popular extreme sport and is different than his old hip-hop style.

Van Winkle told me, "It's high energy music…the stage diving, body surfing type of music. This music is very popular with motorcycle racers, too."

If you happen to be at a motocross or a jet ski race and see his trademark platinum blonde hair blowing from under the helmet, there is a good chance it's the motocrosser, turned rap musician, turned professional jet ski racer. One thing is clear: Van Winkle sets out to be the best in whatever he does.

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