Belt Drive Betty's Blog: 8/8/10

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National VP of Marketing

Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education

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Friday, August 13, 2010

The finishing touches...

I am in the final hours before my trip to Digby Nova Scotia and the Wharf Rat Rally.

In the morning, hubby and I mount up and head out on the first leg of our journey - Morinville & Edmonton. We are staying at a friends home in Morinville tomorrow evening and on Sunday morning we will head over to the Comfort Inn West in Edmonton to meet up with Lucien Gratton who is going to ride with us as far as Lloydminster.

Once in Lloydminster, Tami, the general manager of the Econo Lodge has a ton of stuff planned for us there! We are meeting with representatives of the Border Bike Rally and other motorcyclists in the area and on Monday, Tami and her partner are going to ride with us - maybe as far as Saskatoon where we will be meeting with members of the Saskatchewan Lone Wolves. They reportedly have members from all over the province coming out to meet with hubby and I and learn all about F.I.R.R.E.

And that's only the first three days of our trip. We will be equally busy in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, PEI and Nova Scotia! And I will be doing my best to keep you updated - I have travel blogs all set up and will be reporting as regularly as mother nature and time allows.

In all we are hitting 8 provinces and our mission is to spread the message to riders about F.I.R.R.E. - the Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education and to spread the word to those who don't ride about who we who do ride - really are. We want to put a face to us/motorcyclists - so that when drivers see us from behind their steering wheels they see something more than a helmet, and gear - they see the person and the family behind that person and to ask them to take more care when they are driving their trucks, vans and cars.

In far too many cases drivers of automobiles tend to be distracted and forget to shoulder check, they throw on a signal and start to move without realizing that the vehicle they are in command of is a weapon when not used with respect and care. Many times they just move - no signals, no warning.

Our goal, our mission is to create some awareness...for and about riders.

We have one other mission...I want to send one terminally ill child and their family to Orlando to the Give the Kids the World Village. I would love to see a terminally ill child be allowed to be a child and their family be allowed some time to enjoy - I have seen so much sadness in this world and if I can help to spread a little joy - to see a child have their heart lightened...that would be fabulous!

To donate to our Conga visit my Conga Page on the F.I.R.R.E. Web Site: F.I.R.R.E.
We have our first donation of the trip! You can specify that you want to donate for F.I.R.R.E. or for the GTWV Fund (Kids Village)

Art Torvalson made a donation to F.I.R.R.E. - thank you Art - we sure appreciate it!

If you can - join hubby and I, be it for an hour, an afternoon, a day or the whole trip - we are looking forward to learning about the riders of each region and their favorite places to ride...for me personally as Belt Drive Betty - this trip is so much about spreading and sharing the pride and the love I feel for this community - MY community - the Riding Community and I can't wait - one more sleep folks - I am putting the finishing touches today on two more newspapers (Getting the shells ready - the jokes, regular features and helmet sticker sayings laid in to each one) and I have to finish my July and August invoicing and books.

Our gear is all laid out ready to be loaded on the bikes and the last little details are being attended to today as well - like changing the pin number on some cards so I can remember the darn things...last minute instructions to the daughter about looking after my kitten and my plants and I am ready - I know hubby is ready...

Let's start a F.I.R.R.E.

In the news today:
The Horsemen in Ontario really do not appreciate the Sarnia police...

If you were thinking of heading to Truro Nova Scotia and don't have a place to stay secured - don't bother this weekend...with the Dutch Mason's Blues Fest and the Motorcycle Rally on this weekend there is not a hotel room to be found anywhere - likewise for motels, campgrounds and B & B's - the story is the same - NO VACANCY!!!!

In Merritt BC two bike rallies are competing for councils approval for 2011

In Vancouver BC - The 9th annual Music Therapy Ride will take place on September 18th, 2010. All motorcycles and cars will roll out from the River Rock Casino and Resort at 9:30am. This year they are really reaching out to the whole motorcycle community to participate - not just those who ride and are in the music industry!
For more information or to join the ride, please visit www.musictherapyride.org

Again we have crashes and collisions to report - check out the Rider Down section on our web site...

Belt Drive Betty

A MAX Award winning web site!

National VP of Marketing

Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education

Contact Me

Thursday, August 12, 2010

A variety of information out there today...

If you are in Vancouver, check out the Gas Town Show 'n' Shine being hosted by BCCOM.
The gals from the Swan City Charities have their new 18 month calendar on sale...it will benefit the Vancouver Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society. The ladies are reporting that just as many if not more women buy their calendar that men do!

The ABATE in Ontario is planning on going ahead with their plans for a campground. They were recently denied their permit to hold a motorcycle rally on their property because they didn't have their rezoning papers in on time but held their event anyway.
The Mayor is upset and so are a bunch of the neighbors. Because the 50 acre parcel is in a fragile eco area with wetlands and is also zoned as rural a number of the area horse farmers and others do not want to see a private campground in their community.

The ABATE - according to its neighbors and the various articles in the news has in many ways violated the local bylaws by allowing people to camp on their property. According to one neighbor there has been camping on the property since May.

According to the news reports, Local Pastor Daniel Cudney and his wife Bev would like to see some negotiation happen between the community and the ABATE as neighbors as they feel the good done by the rally for the local economy is very important.

Their application for re zoning will be heard soon, I wonder if going against the mayor's and councils wishes with regards to their rally will put them in tough or help them? We shall be watching and waiting to hear what happens.

As always, your feedback and input is ALWAYS very welcome...

In the news:
In the US of A a Texas motorcycle officer apparently dumped his bike during a motorcade for President Obama because of a pothole....

Friday the 13th in Port Dover is tomorrow! The town is bracing for record numbers as they get ready to host the 50th Friday the 13th celebration since the events inception!

In BC - The Gas Town Show 'n' Shine is this weekend...Visit our events calendars for more event information for right across the country! If your event isn't listed - get on it - it is FREE to do!

Old Aged Pension reform is in the news again - what do we have to do to stop these people and their ridiculous ideas???

If you are traveling - please be careful of this scam - it is simple and catches many people unaware...Credit Card Scam

And again - sadly we have more accidents and a death to report...please visit the rider down section of our web site

Ride defensively, ride your own ride - do NOT let peer pressure get the best of you...Ride like everyone around you is BLIND, has an UNSAFE load and IS out to get you and please - ride Proud not Loud - invest in a 140 DB Air horn instead!

Belt Drive Betty

A MAX Award winning web site!

National VP of Marketing

Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education

Contact Me

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Honda says it has an image problem...

In Canada, Honda has said that they have hit rock bottom in motorcycle sales and that their Powerhouse stores have an image problem...this according to Warren Milner, the senior marketing manager for Honda Canada's motorcycle division.

The way he sees it the problem here in Canada for Honda is two fold: Honda has been selling its motorcycles cheap in order to fight against the recession and the lack of cash out there for a discretionary product like a motorcycles, and its image sucks. Although it's been getting rid of its back inventory at fire sale prices for the last year or two, it really hasn't been selling much new 2010 product and isn't making any money.

In it's quest to re brand its image Honda actually asked consumers who ride this question: "The problem with Honda is..." The answer according to consumers: There are some holes in the lineup, but that's easy to fix. They don't like Powerhouse and they don't like 'Honda.' They feel it's run by a bunch of car people who don't care about motorcycles. We have an image problem"

At a motorcycle show a few years back one of the marketing guys from Honda asked me why they were less popular than other brands, why had people not embraced the Fury the way they thought they would etc. I told him then what the experts have finally figured out - Image and Lifestyle - both suck unless you own a Gold Wing.

One of the reasons that Harley-Davidson is so popular, so Iconic...like McDonald's - their name, their brand - it's on everything.

Harley-Davidson understands one thing about it's consumer - they RIDE. They want souvenirs - and there is no shortage of them. If I rode a Honda and went into a dealer in Florida, I am not going to come away with a cool souvenir or tee shirt that says I was at XYZ Honda shop in Florida...the same holds true in Calgary, or Montreal...

Honda, like all of the Japanese manufacturers has relied on its product alone and sorry boys and girls in this day and age you have to be constantly promoting yourself, reaching out to your consumer and engaging your consumer. The fact of the matter is you need to host ride nights and get involved in the community. I know some Honda Powerhouses that do that and do it well and they have a loyal consumer following - those that don't well they are looked upon by the riding community as what they are...big box car stores that attempt to sell motorcycles...

So yes Honda - listen to your consumer and listen well because you do have an image, a perception problem - but it's a much deeper problem that I think you are seeing...
And that is my humble opinion.

As always - I welcome your feedback and input - keep me on the straight and narrow folks - I always learn lots when you do!

In the news today...and there is a TON of it...

In Industry News, Viper Motorcycles is moving to Auburn Alabama

In Rider Down news there are sadly a number of accidents and a death to report again:

A BC rider was killed in a Washington state accident and a man from Comox was hurt
in another crash in Washington state.
In Ontario a well loved volunteer is in critical condition...

The MRFD is rolling in to Trenton tomorrow...
In Ontario - the Ride for Sick Kids is coming up.

In the US - Pee Wee leads 300 riders into Sturgis on the Legends Ride and some moron stole a raffle motorcycle in Kentucky that was autographed by a bunch of country singers - the motorcycle was meant to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research.

Ride defensively, ride your own ride - do NOT let peer pressure get the best of you...Ride like everyone around you is BLIND, has an UNSAFE load and IS out to get you and please - ride Proud not Loud - invest in a 140 DB Air horn instead!

Belt Drive Betty

A MAX Award winning web site!

National VP of Marketing

Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education

Contact Me

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Collisions, accidents, death and destruction

No matter what word you put to it be it a collision, crash, wreck, accident the end results are the same death and or destruction.

This morning we wake to hear of more lives lost in Canadian motorcycling and more accidents and injuries.

In Montana, an Alberta rider took a drink of water and ended up in a coughing fit that saw him crash into a median - he and his passenger were taken to hospital and in another crash - a Coaldale man is dead after he failed to navigate a left hand curve...

In BC a 55 year old Surrey rider is dead after going over the side of a 300 foot embankment on the Hope Princeton Highway at 40 Corner.

Also in BC a 51 year old man in in serious condition after he lost control on highway 33 near Kelowna and crossed the centre line.

And in Alliston Ontario a pair of 70 year old riders was hospitalized after they failed to negotiate a left hand turn and were thrown from their bike.

There is a similar theme to all of these accidents/collisions/wrecks...(The experts would prefer we call them collisions) None of them were the fault of another motorist.

When I hear of these kinds of accidents that cause death or severe injury I wonder at the cause. In the case of the Coaldale rider - was it target fixation? What cause him to fail to navigate the curve?

The same question arises with the Surrey rider, what caused him to fail to navigate 40 corner?

AM I alone or do you also wonder at these things? It bothers me every time I hear about a fellow rider loosing their life or being injured - it bothers me hugely when the fault of the situation lies in the hands of those who are in motor vehicles but it bothers me worse when the cause is unknown or rider error...

My heart breaks every time - that does not stop my mind from asking the hard question - WHY...sometimes we find out what happened and it puts things into perspective, other times we are left to wonder....

My prayers go out to all the families who love these people be they injured or no longer with us...I wished sometimes that I could do more than pray.

As always - you feedback and input is extremely important to me - I love to hear from you - even when you don't agree - or maybe especially when you don't agree with me because it is only through thoughtful dialogue that we grow and learn....

In other news:
Port Dover is getting geared up and if you can't be there to see the action live - the next best thing is to view the street cams! You can do that right here: Port Dover Street Cam

And of course the 70th Annual Sturgis Rally is underway - follow the action on the street cams if you can't be there...Sturgis Street Cam

The Cross Canada Tour of the Motorcycle Ride for Dad had a great day in Ottawa..

The Mother Daughter ride is having some challenges - it would appear that Murphy has taken up residence...

Ride defensively, ride your own ride - do NOT let peer pressure get the best of you...Ride like everyone around you is BLIND, has an UNSAFE load and IS out to get you and please - ride Proud not Loud - invest in a 140 DB Air horn instead!

Belt Drive Betty

A MAX Award winning web site!

National VP of Marketing

Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education

Contact Me

Monday, August 09, 2010

5 Sleeps until we begin to light a F.I.R.R.E.

5 more sleeps - I am nervous, excited and drowing all at once!

After getting home from seeing my brother who is terminally ill with Cancer, I discovered that my two wheel therapy is down. Hubby had taken my tires and rims over to a local dealer to put the new tires for our trip on - he had ordered the new drive belt I needed from the Harley Dealer in Smithers and it came in - he put it on the bike and then went to get the wheels - got them on only to discover that both rotors were bent. It appears that the person who put them on used tire spoons to remove the tires but didn't have the wheels secured in the tire machine - or at least not secured properly because he bent not one but BOTH rotors.

Apparently they are going to be in today - I sure hope so... I have my marketing materials for F.I.R.R.E. done, my banner should be here today - my new sales binder is pretty much done and I am working on the skeletons of 4 weeks worth of news papers...today is all about doing two months worth of invoicing and the rest of the week is dedicated to all of the last minute things that need to get done for a trip of this magnitude. 35 days on the road - takes some logistics that for sure....

I am gratified as to how many riders are going to be meeting hubby and I along the way.
In Morniville we are hooking up with some of the veterans, in Edmonton Lucien Gratton is meeting us and riding with us as far as Lloydminster, in Saskatoon we are meeting up with the Saskatchewan Lonewolves and the whole trip is shaping up that way.

I am grateful for the opportunity in that North Bay region of Ontario to be hooking up with my old buddy Lou DeVouono of the Prefect Pigs MC and the Highway of Heroes Ride - Lou is bringing friends with him... Thunder Bay is where we hook up with Canada's largest chapter of the Retreads for a pie and coffee run! In Ottawa - the Biker's Church is holding a pig roast and hubby and I are going to get to meet about 600 riders!!!

As long as Murphy stays on the back fender I will be very grateful - I hate loosing sight of that little trouble maker cause the minute you forget that that little PR is there well all HE double hockey sticks breaks out!

Our Awareness Conga for F.I.R.R.E. is being sponsored by a number of tourism regions and businesses...

In all we have MotoRescue/MotoLimo providing road side assistance for hubby and I.
Travel Alberta North & Grande Prairie Regional Tourism, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and Charlottetown's Tourism departments along with a number of properties from Pacrim Hospitality and Choice Hotels. I am so grateful to all of theses businesses and tourism departments for seeing the value in what we are doing!

Between riding, writing - doing photography and video we are gonna be two very busy and tired people but guess what - if we can raise some money to send on terminally ill child from Canada and their family to Orlando...if we can light a F.I.R.R.E. in the souls of the riders we meet and have anything over 10 riders become members of F.I.R.R.E. and make one person who is a non rider go hmmm and become a safer driver - well I will feel blessed and fortunate and like we will have done a pretty good job for our first time out of the gates. You heard me - I am planning on doing this type of trip again - maybe for the same causes, maybe to create awareness for other causes but regardless the Awareness Conga will be an annual event if I have ANYTHING to say about it!

If you haven't checked out our itinerary to figure out where you can join us - visit: www.firre.ca and click on the Awareness Conga Link - I hope you will join us be it for an hour, a day or the whole trip....

In other news:
The Cape Breton Thunder in the Highlands was an enormous success according to the article.

A racer in West Virgina died this weekend. He survived the first collision only to be hit by another racer...

In Pictou County a lady rider was taken to hospital with non life threatening injures after her motorcycle experienced a drop in tire pressure.

In Regina a rider was cut off by a drunk driver and the rider sustained a broken leg...

And Jordan Szoke made SuperBike History! A perfect record of 7 for 7, that has NEVER been done in the 30 year history of the Canadian National Championship Races!

Ride defensively, ride your own ride - do NOT let peer pressure get the best of you...Ride like everyone around you is BLIND, has an UNSAFE load and IS out to get you and please - ride Proud not Loud - invest in a 140 DB Air horn instead!

Belt Drive Betty

A MAX Award winning web site!

National VP of Marketing

Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education