Canada Day - a news day with serious highs and lows...

<span style="color: #e69138;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Over 10,000 people spent Canada Day celebrating with our soldiers at Edmonton Garrison and while it was Canada's only armed forces base to do so - the Edmonton Garrison's soldiers seemed very happy to have had the support and respect of so many. Perhaps other bases will decide to join in on the celebrations in this fashion next year as it appeared very popular with all who attended.</span></i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5706-motorcyclists-join-young-cancer-patients-fight">St Andrews New Brunswick </a>a group of riders has gotten behind a little girl with a rare form of Cancer and epilepsy. She has neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer, in addition to Dravet syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Atlanticade agreed to promote a benefit concert, headlined by country musician Julian Austin, and hold an auction to help Chelsea. "We were more than happy to lend our name," Jamieson said. Bikers in Charlotte County also held a Bikers Barbecue in St. George on Wednesday night, with all of the proceeds going to help Chelsea.</i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>With the benefit concert and auction promoted by Atlanticade still to come, Hope for Chelsea has already raised nearly $25,000 to help pay for Chelsea's treatment.</i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>"Our community has really stretched their arms out to help us and have gone over and beyond what we could ever expect," Marlene said.</i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Despite her challenges, Chelsea has remained in high spirits, and is known around Charlotte County for her big hugs and smile.</i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>"She's been quite a trooper about it, amazing," Marlene said.</i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>"She's a strong girl, (who's) always got a smile on, no matter what."</i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Doors open at the Hope for Chelsea benefit concert on Saturday evening at 6:30 at the W.C. O'Neil Arena Complex in St. Andrews, with tickets selling for $22 each.</i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>A list of locations where tickets to the benefit concert are being sold can be found at www.hopeforchelsea.ca. (From the Telegraph-Journal)</i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you are in the St Andrews region - the benefit concert tonight might be a really great way to cap off Canada Day Celebrations.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Superbike stars will be in<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5700-a-professional-motorsports-productions-a-mosport-media-conference-the-parts-canada-superbike-championship-comes-to-the-toronto-area"> Toronto next week </a>for the only stop in Toronto for the Parts Canada Race circuit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">BMW put a lot of <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5701-bmw-confirms-new-six-cylinder-tourers">journalists in the motorcycle industry</a> out of their misery by announcing that yes 6 cylinders is in the future for the brand!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In other news motorcycle accidents are again taking the fore.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A doctor <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5698-doctor-dies-in-motorcycle-crash">from Flin Flon MB </a>was killed when he lost control of his motorcycle.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In Ontario a Milton <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5699-milton-man-killed-in-motorcycle-crash">area man is dead </a>after a head on crash.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Also in Ontario a rider in Strathroy was <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5703-man-taken-to-hospital-after-downtown-collision-">taken to hospital after a  vehicle</a> turned in front of him. </span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In Red Deer AB a motorcyclist was taken to<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5702-motorcycle-crashes-into-van-on-49th-avenue"> hospital with non life threatening injuries</a> after a van pulled out in front of him. The driver of the van said he never saw the motorcycle.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In Hollywood, Actor Dean McDermott - <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5704-dean-mcdermott-hospitalized-after-motorcycle-crash">Tori Spellings husband i</a>s in ICU after a motorcycle accident - he has a collapsed lung among other injuries. The actor is expected to fully recover.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So there you have it folks - some wonderful news, some interesting news and some down right depressing news...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you are fortunate enough to be riding today...please ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you and IS out to get you. </span></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Please <b>ride proud not loud and if you get a noise ticket - please FIGHT IT!</b>  </span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <div style="color: #cccccc;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty </span></div> <div style="color: #cccccc;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a></span></div> <div style="color: #cccccc;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A MAX Award winning web site!</span></div> <div style="color: #cccccc;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">National VP of Marketing</span></div> <div style="color: #cccccc;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">F</span>oundation for <span style="font-weight: bold;">I</span>njured <span style="font-weight: bold;">R</span>iders, <span style="font-weight: bold;">R</span>ights & <span style="font-weight: bold;">E</span>ducation</span></div> <div style="color: #cccccc;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.firre.ca/">www.firre.ca</a></span></div> <div style="color: #cccccc;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bustedknucklenews.com/">www.bustedknucklenews.com</a></span></div> <div style="color: #cccccc;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.canadianriders.ca/">www.canadianriders.ca</a></span></div> <div style="color: #cccccc;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.riderfriendly.ca/">www.riderfriendly.ca</a></span></div> <div style="color: #cccccc;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bikerfriendly.ca/">www.bikerfriendly.ca</a></span></div> <div style="color: #cccccc;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.greatcanadiandayrides.com/">www.greatcanadiandayrides.com</a> <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.blogspot.com/MkykqmWUuSZSzQy9wgWg3f01WF4.txt"><br /> </a></span> </div> <div style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 13.3px; padding: 5px 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Contact Me <a _service="" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/beltdrivebetty" style="font-size: 10pt; padding: 0pt 2px;"><img alt="Linkedin" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.images.wisestamp.com/linkedin.png" style="padding-bottom: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></a><a _service="" href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/beltdrivebetty?ref=profile" style="font-size: 10pt; padding: 0pt 2px;"><img alt="Facebook" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.images.wisestamp.com/facebook.png" style="padding-bottom: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></a><a _service="" href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.blogspot.com/" style="font-size: 10pt; padding: 0pt 2px;"><img alt="Blogger" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.images.wisestamp.com/blogger.png" style="padding-bottom: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></a><a _service="" href="http://twitter.com/bdbetty" style="font-size: 10pt; padding: 0pt 2px;"><img alt="Twitter" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.images.wisestamp.com/twitter.png" style="padding-bottom: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></a></span></div>

Canada Day - a news day with serious highs and lows...

Belt Drive 0 7:13 AM

Over 10,000 people spent Canada Day celebrating with our soldiers at Edmonton Garrison and while it was Canada's only armed forces base to do so - the Edmonton Garrison's soldiers seemed very happy to have had the support and respect of so many. Perh… Read more »

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Good old Canadian Complacency will see us all get squashed...

<div> <span style="color: #e69138;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I hear a lot of grumbling. The chair I sit in can be alternatively entertaining, heartbreaking and frustrating.</span></b></i></span></div> <div style="color: #cccccc;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Today I am frustrated.</b></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I hear so many people who whine, snivel and complain over the new motorcycle noise bylaw in Edmonton, the proposed bylaws in Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Windsor and countless other cities across this country and yet...who is doing anything about it?</span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'll tell yah - about a handful of women on the Edmonton scene and from what I can tell - no one anywhere else - lots of noise, but no organized movements at all. (Unless I am blind and deaf I am not reading or hearing about anything concrete being done.)</span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In a recent discussion with Ivan from Medicine Hat Harley-Davidson I learned that the MMIC somehow caught wind of the fact that a federal law was about to be rewritten that would have seen motorcycle exhaust noise be limited to 86 decibels and that the MMIC intervened at the second reading and managed to get the limit raised to 96 by having the SAE create a noise standard test.  Now that somewhat contradicts what the EPS (Edmonton Police Service) memo states but hey - let's not split hairs. Having this standard set means we as a community can force the issue over semi's and their noise, vehicles with no mufflers, boom boxes, leaf blowers and law mowers! We are actually in the drivers seat here folks - we just need to grab the handle bars and so something with it but...will we?</span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I got an email from a riding club that had the answers to a survey taken of their membership which is about 1100 strong.</span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">349 people actually took the time to answer the 4 questions...</span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Here are the questions: </b></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. DO YOU THINK WE ARE PAINTING A TARGET ON US!</span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">By going to bike nights in Edmonton.Where the EPS can easily setup and wait for bikes that night. </span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Percent Response</span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>yes, 73.0%  no 27.0%</b></span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. SHOULD WE MOVE OUR BIKE NIGHTS OUTSIDE EDMONTON </span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>yes, 52.5% no 47.5%</b></span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. Should we ask Events like Toy Run to move outside Edmonton. </span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>yes, 52.5%  no 47.5%</b></span></span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">4. IF I RECEIVE A NOISE BYLAW TICKET I WILL TAKE IT TO COURT or no I WILL JUST PAY IT.</span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>YES 69.9%  NO 30.1%</b></span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now folks - this sucks if you really think about it - only about 33% of this riding club responded to an issue that affects all of us - discrimination. And I am not singling out this club - they are just the best example of what we face as a community period - no matter where in Canada, no matter which group.</span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the same complacency that KILLS riding clubs, events and charities.</span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Complacency is the enemy here folks, not the establishment - they shove these laws through because they know we will whimper and snivel and bend over and take it - <span style="font-size: large;">no Vaseline required.</span></span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">If you are not part of the solution then in this case you really are a part of the problem.</span></b></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Look at the news today. <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5683-thousands-of-motorcycles-roar-into-st-andrews">St Andrews NB</a> has the police working with them over the HUGE crowds coming to ride their motorcycles and spend their money - the community wants the tourism dollars.  <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5685-shediac-motorcycle-rally-has-high-hopes-for-2010">Shediac NB </a>is hoping for the same boon in August as is the Red Island Rally in Charlottetown PEI that same August 27/28 weekend. The Wharf Rat Rally in Digby NS sees 20K plus riders spend HUGE money in their province.</span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tourism by motorcycle is estimated conservatively to be a 300 BILLION dollar a year industry folks (only dealing with the 2 weeks of vacation a rider takes) in North America and in this economy the province of Alberta can not afford to let their police service dictate where our income comes from. Neither can any jurisdiction really. And if noise is really the issue - then let's deal with noise in some manner that actually addresses all of it, not one small, small part of it.</span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oil and gas revenues are down, forestry income is down and tourism by motor home and air are down.  If we look at the whole situation - take a macroscopic view as opposed to a microscopic view - you will see that most people want health care, infrastructure and certain other benefits looked after. All of those things take money and if we are only circulating our money and not getting in funds from tourism because the other revenue streams are suffering - then we end up getting nowhere.</span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I read some news articles on noise complaints this morning from people who bought homes in a sub division in Leduc AB - the sub division is by a highway that has been there for longer than I have been around and I am 50.  Now folks - I hate to bring up the obvious - but - if you didn't think it was going to be noisy living next to a major highway - what the HE double hockey sticks were you thinking?  It's like those who buy near an airport, race track or sporting facility and then whine and snivel about noise and traffic congestion - people, pull your heads out of your arses...</span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Complacency in the rider community is going to see successful bylaws across the country.</span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The whiners out number us and as in anything political - the squeaky wheel gets the grease!</b></span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So folks - get off your duffers, spread the word, sign a petition and then please join FIRRe - the Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education.</span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A united voice of the some 600,000 motorcyclists in Canada will carry far more wight than the efforts of 10 here and 30 there...</span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you are not a part of the solution then you ARE the PROBLEM.</span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the news today:</span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the good old US of A there is a movement on by LAWMAKERS to <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5680-lawmakers-want-federal-traffic-safety-agency-to-focus-on-motorcycle-crash-prevention">get the NHTSA to put the focus</a> on motorcycle accidents and helmet use. </span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">An accident in <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5679-canadian-soldier-killed-in-nevada-crash">Nevada took the life of a </a>Canadian Soldier, </span>Lt-Col. Nancy Ouellet, 41, reportedly died instantly June 22 when her motorcycle was struck head-on by a car trying to pass a transport truck. Ouellet a 23-year veteran of the military, had been until recently the commanding officer of the Canadian Forces Support Unit with NORAD in Colorado Springs, Colo.</span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">In Lincoln NB <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5682-father-and-son-injured-in-motorcycle-crash-">a father and son were severely injured </a>when they collided with a car that cut them off.</span></span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another report from/on riders in the<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5684-wildman-wrecks-in-the-hoka-hey-motorcycle-challenge"> Hoka Hey Challenge.</a>.. </span></span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vintage racing will take place at the<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5688-vintage-motor-bikes-at-okeefe"> O'Keefe Ranch</a> near Vernon BC next weekend.</span></span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">There's a ton more news - so to get your dose of it tune in to <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com </a>where we sift through everything to bring you JUST the news that affects our communities and lives! </span></span></span></i></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty </span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A MAX Award winning web site!</span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">National VP of Marketing</span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">F</span>oundation for <span style="font-weight: bold;">I</span>njured <span style="font-weight: bold;">R</span>iders, <span style="font-weight: bold;">R</span>ights & <span style="font-weight: bold;">E</span>ducation</span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.firre.ca/">www.firre.ca</a></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bustedknucklenews.com/">www.bustedknucklenews.com</a></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.canadianriders.ca/">www.canadianriders.ca</a></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.riderfriendly.ca/">www.riderfriendly.ca</a></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bikerfriendly.ca/">www.bikerfriendly.ca</a></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.greatcanadiandayrides.com/">www.greatcanadiandayrides.com</a> <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.blogspot.com/MkykqmWUuSZSzQy9wgWg3f01WF4.txt"><br /> </a></span></span> </div> <div style="font-size: 13.3px; padding: 5px 0pt;"> <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Contact Me <a _service="" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/beltdrivebetty" style="font-size: 10pt; padding: 0pt 2px;"><img alt="Linkedin" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.images.wisestamp.com/linkedin.png" style="padding-bottom: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></a><a _service="" href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/beltdrivebetty?ref=profile" style="font-size: 10pt; padding: 0pt 2px;"><img alt="Facebook" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.images.wisestamp.com/facebook.png" style="padding-bottom: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></a><a _service="" href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.blogspot.com/" style="font-size: 10pt; padding: 0pt 2px;"><img alt="Blogger" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.images.wisestamp.com/blogger.png" style="padding-bottom: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></a><a _service="" href="http://twitter.com/bdbetty" style="font-size: 10pt; 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Good old Canadian Complacency will see us all get squashed...

Belt Drive 0 7:09 AM

I hear a lot of grumbling. The chair I sit in can be alternatively entertaining, heartbreaking and frustrating. Today I am frustrated. I hear so many people who whine, snivel and complain over the new motorcycle noise bylaw in Edmonton, the proposed… Read more »

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Happy Canada Day!

<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Happy Birthday to one of the BEST Countries in the world!</span></span></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>What does being Canadian mean to you and why are you proud to be Canadian?</b></span></div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Most of us find it hard to express that sentiment in words...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So we here at Belt Drive Betty & The Busted Knuckle have a Summer Time Contest designed to help you define your Canadian Pride in Pictures!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Belt Drive Betty's Ride Like a Local Photo Contest...</b></span></div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's Simple, Submit your favorite picture of you and your ride at your favorite attraction be it an event, a golf course, a road side attraction and you could win!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The rules are very simple.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The photo MUST be from the 2010 Riding Season,  a CANADIAN attraction and your motorcycle must be involved.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You must be a registered member of Belt Drive Betty dot Com to participate - (you don't have to be Canadian either - <b><i>we will make you an honorary Canadian</i></b>......As long as the picture features <b>YOUR favorite Canadian Attraction & Your Ride and is taken in 2010.</b></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Upload your pictures between July 1st and August 31st...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">On September 2nd we will open up the voting, votes will be accumulated until September 29th/2010 and the photo dubbed "The Best" by the riding community will net the winner a two night stay in the Hotel or Motel of your Choice as supplied by our Rider Friendly Business Association Partners OR $150 Cash - your choice!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">With Hotels and Motels in Every Province now we are sure to be able to find you the right place for a weekend getaway! If not, take yourself and a friend or spouse out to dinner, to a movie or buy some bling for your bike with a $150 cash prize....</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Come on Riders of Motorcycles in Canada - Submit your pictures today!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In the news today:</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5649--heavy-traffic-due-to-atlanticade-2010-motorcycle-festival-in-new-brunswick">In New Brunswick the police</a> are reminding motorists that traffic in to St Andrews for Atlanticade is expected to be heavy.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In Red Deer AB, the young man killed in<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5651-motorcycle-accident-victim-identified"> last week's motorcycle accident</a> is identified and his family says thank you to those who tired to aide him.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In Industry news <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5648-piaggio-mp3-hybrid-300ie-released-hybrid-scooter-claims-141-mpg">Piaggio announces a scooter </a>that they claim will get 141 MPG</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In international News - the Old Spice man is <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5650-old-spice-pitch-man-trades-in-horse-for-motorcycle">trading his horse for a Motorcycle!</a></span><br /> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></i> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Happy Canada Day Everyone - PLEASE, rider like everyone around you is blind and can not see you, IS out to get you and ride Proud - NOT loud or a fine you will be getting...but if you get a fine remember - we WANT you to fight it if at all possible!</span></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty </span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A MAX Award winning web site!</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">National VP of Marketing</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">F</span>oundation for <span style="font-weight: bold;">I</span>njured <span style="font-weight: bold;">R</span>iders, <span style="font-weight: bold;">R</span>ights & <span style="font-weight: bold;">E</span>ducation</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.firre.ca/">www.firre.ca</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bustedknucklenews.com/">www.bustedknucklenews.com</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.canadianriders.ca/">www.canadianriders.ca</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.riderfriendly.ca/">www.riderfriendly.ca</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bikerfriendly.ca/">www.bikerfriendly.ca</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.greatcanadiandayrides.com/">www.greatcanadiandayrides.com</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.blogspot.com/MkykqmWUuSZSzQy9wgWg3f01WF4.txt"><br /> </a></span> </div> <div style="font-size: 13.3px; padding: 5px 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Contact Me <a _service="" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/beltdrivebetty" style="font-size: 10pt; padding: 0pt 2px;"><img alt="Linkedin" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.images.wisestamp.com/linkedin.png" style="padding-bottom: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></a><a _service="" href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/beltdrivebetty?ref=profile" style="font-size: 10pt; padding: 0pt 2px;"><img alt="Facebook" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.images.wisestamp.com/facebook.png" style="padding-bottom: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></a><a _service="" href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.blogspot.com/" style="font-size: 10pt; padding: 0pt 2px;"><img alt="Blogger" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.images.wisestamp.com/blogger.png" style="padding-bottom: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></a><a _service="" href="http://twitter.com/bdbetty" style="font-size: 10pt; padding: 0pt 2px;"><img alt="Twitter" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.images.wisestamp.com/twitter.png" style="padding-bottom: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></a></span></div>

Happy Canada Day!

Belt Drive 0 7:42 AM

Happy Birthday to one of the BEST Countries in the world! What does being Canadian mean to you and why are you proud to be Canadian? Most of us find it hard to express that sentiment in words... So we here at Belt Drive Betty & The Busted Knuckle hav… Read more »

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Another WILD news day in the motorcycling. community...

<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Today sees the news feeds filled with wild and woolly news that truly has one thinking about karma, community and life in general.</span></span></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In New Brunswick a <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5635-crash-victim-remembered-as-loving-dad">26 year old man named Ryan Ellis </a>was killed when his motorcycle collided with a car. This young father was involved in a high speed accident in 2003 where in he was doing over 200 KM per hour on a sport bike when he clipped another rider who died as a result, the rider was a man named Lee Barton. Ellis spent two years less a day in jail over that accident. Now a young girl is without her daddy...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There are a number of sad and tragic incidents like the one in <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5629-two-killed-in-montreal-after-driver-stops-for-ducks-">Montreal where a father and his daughter </a>were killed when the motorcycle they were on struck the rear end of a car. The mother who was riding her own motorcycle was also injured when she hit the same vehicle but not severely. The driver of the car had breaked suddenly to allow some ducks to cross the road.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Hoka Hey Challenge saw a rider loose his life reportedly due to exhaustion - Charles C. Lynn, 44, of Sorrento, Florida died in Wyoming after he reportedly fell asleep, which caused his motorcycle to veer off the road and into a median about four miles north of Douglas in Converse County. The motorcycle crashed, and Lynn, who was not wearing a helmet was pronounced dead at the scene.<i> </i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Four riders retired (From the Hoka Hey Challenge) due to an accident in the first few days of the ride with another fifty withdrew from ’stifling heat’ and more urban traffic than the riders were used to. Reportedly, the events route was kept to small state roads to avoid heavy traffic on interstates.(From <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5639-motorcycle-endurance-event-finishes-with-winners-and-tragedy-">Clutch & Chrome</a>)</i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>My heart is heavy folks... </i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><br /> </i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Then there's this whole NOISE issue - the aldermen and councilors in these cities must all take the same "stupid is as stupid does" pills before breakfast me thinks...either that or they think we complacent Canadian Motorcyclists are just gonna take this discriminatory treatment without some Vaseline...</b></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Windsor is getting really serious about <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5628-city-considers-crackdown-on-noisy-motorcycles">implementing a similar bylaw </a>to the on in Edmonton that goes into effect tomorrow and now so is Calgary. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=24628937">One Alderman in Calgary (John Mar) </a>is going rogue against his Mayor and reintroducing the noise bylaw to council for a vote on July 5th...he is pushing to see the bylaw passed and be enforced by Mid August and has nine signatures from others on council already.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yes folks, Karma is biting back in many ways. We didn't police ourselves and now look at the state of affairs. Because of a handful of attention seekers in every community across Canada and in the US, noise bylaws restricting motorcycle noise are cropping up everywhere. Our community is under siege.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Think I exaggerate? <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5636-california-lawmakers-back-epa-compliant-requirement-for-riders-of-new-motorcycles">Look at what just happened in California...</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If the new law goes through there - after market exhaust systems will be completely illegal until the after market industry can come up with EPA compliant pipes.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Under siege, singled out as the MAJOR noise offenders in a noisy urban world...that is the lot of the motorcycle community these days - <b>how do we stop the madness? </b></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When will the law makers realize that <b>they can NOT single out one community this way</b>? When will they turn their anger to the boom boxes, the screaming leaf blowers and the chipped up pick ups, cars and noisy semi's who disregard the signs and laws about the use of Jacobs brakes in city/town  limits and the vehicles with NO mufflers at all? When will that happen?</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>When - I will tell you when - WHEN WE, the MOTORCYCLE community band together, hire a really good civil rights lawyer and take these discriminatory laws to the supreme court to have them struck down - that's when.</b></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So community...you up for it or are you just gonna snivel and whine like the good complacent Canadians we are? This year for our Canada Day Celebrations - <b>we all need to look at what the people we have elected to power are doing to our county, our communities and our rights and freedoms and decide that it is time to take them back.</b></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It is time people - it is time to unite and light a<a href="http://www.firre.ca/"> F.I.R.R.E. </a>in the soul of every rider in Canada. The Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education NEEDS you. We need a defense fund and we need you to sign petitions, lobby your tourism departments and your business community...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">People - remember the Motorcycle, Moped Industry Council is the Group that PAID the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) to develop the noise testing standard that is being used in Edmonton. Think about why the business community - the manufacturers paid to have this standard set just for us...Why - because they claim they wanted tickets issued to be less subjective to the officers discretion. Hmmm, either they think we don't understand the bite the aftermarket industry takes out of the bottom line for the manufacturers and dealers? Is this perhaps a way for them to get us all on new machines? Or is it a way to be seen as addressing a huge issue and being good ambassadors and helping us to police ourselves?</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have no answers, only suppositions, and in this economy, in this time in our history, I think they are looking at both issues because for them, in business that makes good sense.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>I personally think we need to start petitions asking these councils who are looking at implementing the noise bylaws against us to start enforcing what is already on the books.</b></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Transportation Safety Act does not discriminate - Noise issues are already dealt with in FEDERAL LAW in an equal and equitable manner, why won't they consider just actually enforcing what is already on the books to nail ALL offenders of the law, ticket them fairly the way the FEDERAL LAW does?</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>NOISE POLLUTION - if that REALLY IS the ISSUE at hand here, NOISE POLLUTION is created by us all, and by some more than others - treat the offenders who always go over board the same regardless which noise making community they come from.</b></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One other question I have - how can provincial or municipal laws supersede Federal Law?</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Why do they have those kinds of powers if they in fact do?  I would love to understand and I am sure many others would love to know too.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As always, I welcome your thoughts on the subjects of the day. It is ONLY through thoughtful and thought provoking dialogue that we will ever change hearts and minds.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Talk to me people!</span><br /> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></i> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you are fortunate enough to be riding today...please ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you and IS out to get you and <b>ride proud not loud.</b></span></i><br /> <b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b> <b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty </span></i></b><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A MAX Award winning web site!</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">National VP of Marketing</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">F</span>oundation for <span style="font-weight: bold;">I</span>njured <span style="font-weight: bold;">R</span>iders, <span style="font-weight: bold;">R</span>ights & <span style="font-weight: bold;">E</span>ducation</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.firre.ca/">www.firre.ca</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bustedknucklenews.com/">www.bustedknucklenews.com</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.canadianriders.ca/">www.canadianriders.ca</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.riderfriendly.ca/">www.riderfriendly.ca</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bikerfriendly.ca/">www.bikerfriendly.ca</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.greatcanadiandayrides.com/">www.greatcanadiandayrides.com</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.blogspot.com/MkykqmWUuSZSzQy9wgWg3f01WF4.txt"><br /> </a></span> </div> <div style="font-size: 13.3px; padding: 5px 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Contact Me <a _service="" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/beltdrivebetty" style="font-size: 10pt; padding: 0pt 2px;"><img alt="Linkedin" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.images.wisestamp.com/linkedin.png" style="padding-bottom: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></a><a _service="" href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/beltdrivebetty?ref=profile" style="font-size: 10pt; padding: 0pt 2px;"><img alt="Facebook" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.images.wisestamp.com/facebook.png" style="padding-bottom: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></a><a _service="" href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.blogspot.com/" style="font-size: 10pt; padding: 0pt 2px;"><img alt="Blogger" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.images.wisestamp.com/blogger.png" style="padding-bottom: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></a><a _service="" href="http://twitter.com/bdbetty" style="font-size: 10pt; padding: 0pt 2px;"><img alt="Twitter" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.images.wisestamp.com/twitter.png" style="padding-bottom: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></a></span></div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><br /> </i></span>

Another WILD news day in the motorcycling. community...

Belt Drive 0 7:37 AM

Today sees the news feeds filled with wild and woolly news that truly has one thinking about karma, community and life in general. In New Brunswick a 26 year old man named Ryan Ellis was killed when his motorcycle collided with a car. This young fat… Read more »

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The Hoka Hey Challenge has it's winner (s)

<span style="color: #e69138;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Two men crossed the finish line in homer Alaska together - a pact they made when the met on the road. At 4:20 a.m. Monday morning, 190 hours and 20 minutes after leaving on June 20, Frank Kelly of Prosperity, S.C., and Will Barclay of Highland, Fla., did just that, crossing at the same time under the finish banner at the Kevin Bell Ice Arena on the Homer Spit and becoming the first of<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5617-first-two-hoka-hey-challengers-finish-in-homerkelly-barclay-cross-line-together"> 500 riders to end the grueling trip. </a></span></i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><br /> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Hoka Hey was surrounded in controversy as the organizer Big Jim has had some - shall we say confusing - history. There were many in the US who said this race would never go off.</span></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>The main proponent of the scam argument is a poster named John Johnston who points to a <a href="http://www.5280.com/issues/story_for_print.php?pageID=1513" target="_blank">story published</a> by the Denver city magazine 5280 about another scam reputedly perpetrated by the main organizer of the Hoka Hey. <a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-378-Motorcycle-Examiner%7Ey2010m6d22-Hoka-Hey-Motorcycle-Challenge-generates-controversy-skepticism">Johnston launched the charge stating </a>that, "This is a CON folks..........how long until you all wake-up.....I guess when you get to the end and there is no "GOLD"...and Big Jim and his gang of hustlers are sitting on the reservation laughing at all of the white men they scammed.....AGAIN!!"(Examiner.com)</i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><br /> <h3 class="entry-title" style="font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2010/06/24/hoka-hey-motorcycle-challenge-a-possible-7000-miles-long-scam/"><span style="font-size: small;">Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. A Possible 7000 Miles Long Scam? From Cyril Huze</span></a></span></h3> <h3 class="entry-title" style="font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">It all started before the 1st of the 7000 miles was ridden Sunday morning in Key West, Florida.  Some reported that potential participants, before or after paying their $1000 fee to get a chance to belong to the long distance challenge, decided to withdraw after they realized that that organizer Big Jim (Jim Red Cloud, Jim Durham) was at the last minute changing the rules advertised on the Hoka Hey website. Only Harley-Davidson were supposed to participate but other brands were registered. GPS were supposed to be prohibited but many participants were equipped with them and are now reporting their postions hour after hour. At a meeting before the challenge, Big Jim was supposedly presenting the Hoka Hey as a race when the event was initially advertised as an endurance challenge because racing on any public streets and highways in America is absolutely prohibited. (Cyril Huze Blog)</span></i></span></h3> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">While shy of the 1000 riders they wanted, organizers got 500 and for the first race of its kind and with an entry fee of $1000, in this economy - I'd say its a pretty good start. I hope they had enough corporate sponsors to help them break even because the entries were only enough to pay out the half million dollar prize in Homer...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For the sake of the Native American Community, the riders who participated, the sponsors who got on board - I hope that this thing doesn't prove out to be a scam as many seem to think it will.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">No matter what happens - I hope and pray that the people who participated in the Hoka Hey enjoyed the challenge, enjoyed the ride and the camaraderie. I hope that the reported cheating and negativity around the event didn't take away for the majesty of the road...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>In other news:</b></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>In the last 24 hours</b> 6 Canadian motorcyclists have died. If you go to the <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/whats-hot/rider-down">Rider Down Section </a>on our web site you can read the articles giving you the information. My heart breaks every time I read these stories - most are incidents with reasons - very few are ever true accidents...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>In Windsor ON</b> the cops are <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5609-cops-to-crack-down-on-noisy-engines">cracking down on motorcycle</a> noise... </span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I<b>n Alberta:</b> Double Points Month! Cycle Works is<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5600-double-points-month-at-cycle-works"> celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year and we want to thank our loyal customers for sticking by us for 30 years</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <i><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></i> <i><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty </span></b></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A MAX Award winning web site!</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">National VP of Marketing</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">F</span>oundation for <span style="font-weight: bold;">I</span>njured <span style="font-weight: bold;">R</span>iders, <span style="font-weight: bold;">R</span>ights & <span style="font-weight: bold;">E</span>ducation</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.firre.ca/">www.firre.ca</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bustedknucklenews.com/">www.bustedknucklenews.com</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.canadianriders.ca/">www.canadianriders.ca</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.riderfriendly.ca/">www.riderfriendly.ca</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bikerfriendly.ca/">www.bikerfriendly.ca</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.greatcanadiandayrides.com/">www.greatcanadiandayrides.com</a> <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.blogspot.com/MkykqmWUuSZSzQy9wgWg3f01WF4.txt"><br /> </a></span> </div> <div style="font-size: 13.3px; padding: 5px 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Contact Me <a _service="" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/beltdrivebetty" style="font-size: 10pt; padding: 0pt 2px;"><img alt="Linkedin" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.images.wisestamp.com/linkedin.png" style="padding-bottom: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></a><a _service="" href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/beltdrivebetty?ref=profile" style="font-size: 10pt; padding: 0pt 2px;"><img alt="Facebook" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.images.wisestamp.com/facebook.png" style="padding-bottom: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></a><a _service="" href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.blogspot.com/" style="font-size: 10pt; padding: 0pt 2px;"><img alt="Blogger" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.images.wisestamp.com/blogger.png" style="padding-bottom: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></a><a _service="" href="http://twitter.com/bdbetty" style="font-size: 10pt; padding: 0pt 2px;"><img alt="Twitter" border="0" height="16" src="http://www.images.wisestamp.com/twitter.png" style="padding-bottom: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></a></span></div>

The Hoka Hey Challenge has it's winner (s)

Belt Drive 1 5:49 AM

Two men crossed the finish line in homer Alaska together - a pact they made when the met on the road. At 4:20 a.m. Monday morning, 190 hours and 20 minutes after leaving on June 20, Frank Kelly of Prosperity, S.C., and Will Barclay of Highland, F… Read more »

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A tragic weekend - 5 riders dead, one in critical condition in a strange accident

<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><i>Sunday proved to be a fatal day in the Lancaster Pennsylvania region. Police have not been able to figure out what happened or why but what is known is 3 motorcycles with 2 people on board - EACH ON hit the same van in different spots!</i></span><br /></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i> ("It's really hard to tell who was going which way because the van was hit in three different areas," he said.Penn Township police had identified most, but not all, of the five people killed as of 9:30 p.m. Sunday, according to King.  "Nobody has come forward that actually saw the crash itself, so if anybody did, I'd appreciate a phone call," King said. Anyone with information should contact Penn Township police at 665-6959.  </i><i>Read more: <a href="http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/262127#ixzz0s96LjGxO" style="color: #003399;">http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/262127#ixzz0s96LjGxO</a>)</i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My prayers go out to the families and loved ones and I pray that an answer as to what happened is found.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In Gander NL - the Ride for Sight has <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5590-gander-nf-ride-for-sight-2010-video">officially concluded for 2010</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In Ottawa ON two riders are in the hospital after <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5584-two-sent-to-hospital-after-motorcycle-hits-pickup">hitting the back end of a truck.</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In Timmins ON riders <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5596--riders-hog-wild-about-helping-kids-toys-collected-at-4th-annual-rally-">collected Toys in their</a> Annual Toy Run </span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Optimists Clubs of Ontario are holding a <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5597-another-procedure-a-new-bead">motorcycle rally to help raise money for the Bravery Bead </a>Program</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For those familiar with American Biker Politics - one of the most staunch defenders - <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5587-texas-motorcycle-rights-champion-sputnik-passes-away-">Sputnik died </a>of a massive heart attack. Sputnik was head of <a href="http://www.tmra2.org/index.shtml">The Texas Motorcycle Rights Association.</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In Maine the funeral of Outlaw MC Member Thomas Mayne took place without incident - <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/5586-services-for-slain-outlaw-go-on-without-incident">police had feared that violence could erupt .</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have decided on the Outlaw Bikers DVD Series and while I agree Liane Langlois deserves huge cudos for her work on gathering signatures for the repeal of the Edmonton Noise Bylaw and I will send her my copy - I want the giving of these DVD Box Sets to be about getting more people involved and Liane is about as involved as one can be!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So - to that end, I am going to take Poet's suggestion from my Face Book Group and I am asking you to send me a write up on WHY you deserve this set in your DVD collection.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You MUST submit it to me at (bdbetty @ gmail.com) Fix the spacing folks - Must be a minimum of 500 words - I want it in by July 10th...I will make a decision on the winner then - in the mean time - Poet, you win a set for giving me the idea - contact me so that I can get E1 Entertainment to send it to you.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you are fortunate enough to be riding today...please ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you and IS out to get you and ride proud not loud.</span></i><br /> <i><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></i> <i><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty</span></b></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A MAX Award winning web site!</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">National VP of Marketing</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">F</span>oundation for <span style="font-weight: bold;">I</span>njured <span style="font-weight: bold;">R</span>iders, <span style="font-weight: bold;">R</span>ights & <span style="font-weight: bold;">E</span>ducation</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.firre.ca/">www.firre.ca</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bustedknucklenews.com/">www.bustedknucklenews.com</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.canadianriders.ca/">www.canadianriders.ca</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.riderfriendly.ca/">www.riderfriendly.ca</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bikerfriendly.ca/">www.bikerfriendly.ca</a></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.greatcanadiandayrides.com/">www.greatcanadiandayrides.com</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.blogspot.com/MkykqmWUuSZSzQy9wgWg3f01WF4.txt"><br /> </a></span> </div> <div style="font-size: 13.3px; 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A tragic weekend - 5 riders dead, one in critical condition in a strange accident

Belt Drive 0 5:45 AM

Sunday proved to be a fatal day in the Lancaster Pennsylvania region. Police have not been able to figure out what happened or why but what is known is 3 motorcycles with 2 people on board - EACH ON hit the same van in different spots! ("It's really… Read more »

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