Saturday, October 18, 2008

Here we go again....

Why is it that the main stream press and the police services find it necessary to use the word Biker or Outlaw MC instead of saying what they mean?

How hard is it to use the term 1% Outlaw MC?
In my world that term "1%" makes a lot of difference - does it in yours?

What is the difference between an Outlaw MC and a 1% Outlaw MC?
Do you know?

What is the difference between bikers and and Outlaw MC members?

What is the difference between a Riding Club, and a Motorcycle Club?

So many in our own community don't even know the difference!

It is tough to get non motorcycling people who don't really care who we are to educate themselves to know the difference, so when police services spokespeople from the Surete du Quebec - like the gal last night on the CBC National News say and I quote " This is biker related"

What the hell is Joe Q Citizen supposed to think about us and our community?

OK, so some guys from a 1% Outlaw MC stole a whole bunch of explosives - what has that got to do with bikers?

1% ers live a very different lifestyle from those who ride with Outlaw MC's, AMA sanctioned MC's, Social Riding Clubs and independent riders.

The poem and video "You didn't See Me - I was just a biker" (When you click the link go to the bottom of the page to see the video) tries to put a face to the rest of us however the police services and mainstream media keep muddying the waters and confusing people by using the term "BIKER/S" in inappropriate ways and I get so fed up.

Maybe a class action discrimination lawsuit would change the way our community gets talked about...just a thought.

And that's my tirade for the day...

PLEASE - ride like they are out to get you...stay safe.

Belt Drive Betty

Friday, October 17, 2008

Forging Ahead

MSN is shutting down their groups and offering to transfer them over to something like Facebook - I haven't looked at this new offering but have been told it's not really very nice.

Ali and I have come up with a strategy to help out all the rider forums that are affected by this so if you have or are part of an MSN Forum and looking for a new home we have 2 options to offer so email Ali at ali4evr@gmail.com or myself at bdbetty@gmail.com.

Other than that we are just working away at working out the little quirks and kinks on the new sites....man I am pleased and I know they are just going to get better with time!

Ride like they are out to get you...be safe

Belt Drive Betty

Thursday, October 16, 2008

WOW

I am very pleased with the look and feel of the new web site...Ali, I know we still have an enormous job ahead of us, BUT - WOW - Thank you....we riders have some pretty cool digs now...

We still have our riding club links and archives to sort and re name and starting next week we should be able to update the event calendars for 2009 as many clubs will have settled on dates by then...yes - there's a lot to do and we need YOUR help!

www.beltdrivebetty.com/Motorcycle_Media - Please - if something acts weird or doesn't look right - let ALI know... ali4evr@gmail.com

If you are looking for your daily news fix from a riders perspective you'll need to go to www.beltdrivebetty.com/Motorcycle_Media as we are no longer going to update the news on the old site. When Ali gets the last few major kinks fixed we will be closing down the old sites.
That should happen in the next few days.

If you are lucky enough to be riding today...please ride like they are out to get you.

Belt Drive Betty

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Working on the new web site...

Ali has been working like an eager beaver to get all of the membership and the news articles etc moved over to the new web site. We have a number of people who are working on testing and have discovered some interesting kinks.

As soon as she gives us the go ahead that the kinks we have found are worked out we'll unveil the new site! I am excited and nervous...

Excited because I know the new site is going to be awesome, nervous - because there is always something that goes a wee bit sideways when you are transferring over 20 thousand pages of information! We have two days left to work out the little anomalies that we have found!

When we do re launch we are really going to need your help. We will be asking everyone to send us feedback on anything strange that you come across....Your patience and assistance WILL be needed!

If you are lucky enough to still be riding - PLEASE, ride like they are out to get you!

Belt Drive Betty

Monday, October 13, 2008

A mixed bag of emotions

A weekend to give thanks...

Gary Christie and son Jodi of Roz-GarRacing would have to agree that they have lots to give thanks for. Young Jodi, 16, the Canadian National 600 Amateur Champion was elected for Red Bull Rookie 2009 Team! Congratulations to Jodi and the team!

We have some tragic news this weekend making it very much a mixed bag of emotions...
Okanagan Sun running back Janson Towers is dead after a motorcycle crash on the way home from a team practice. The 21 year old had just received the Marty Cullen trophy as the most inspirational player during the team’s awards dinner four days earlier.

One set of parents is celebrating and one is mourning....as I said it's a mixed bag of emotions.

My heart goes out to those whose lives have been touched and altered by Janson's death.

If you are riding today...please be alert, ride like they are out to get you and before you leave home, remember to tell the important people in your world that you love them.

Belt Drive Betty