Who are the good guys and how can you tell them from the bad guys?

The police services in this country are under fire as the Toronto Star investigates cops who lie, mislead and conceal information and evidence right across this country. They have uncovered 120 cases of cops lying/misleading and concealing...

The article is a damning statement of what is wrong with our police services in this country and I urge you to read it for yourself and draw your own conclusions.  After having read it and based on my own personal experiences with the police services in this province (Alberta) I will find it even harder to trust a police officer than I did only yesterday. My faith in them has been that badly shaken.

The Hells Angels are in the news again for a number of reasons, the most notable - they are suing MTV and Fantasy Factor host  Rob Dyrdek for infringing on their copyright of the famous death head logo.

I am uncertain as to why anyone would think that infringing on the Hells Angels Trademark is a good idea. Now the kids who bought that stuff thinking it was cool and bad assed just may find themselves being roughed up and having their fancy tee shirts ripped off their back, and MTV could find itself under new management - at the very east they will be firing their current legal council one would hope.

As for the brainchild behind this blatent and highly public intellectual property theft - well, I doubt he'll be a TV host for much longer. The Hells are going to make a piss pot full of cash for their defence fund and if there is any justice in this world - MTV will be bankrupted for their stupidity. That's my not so humble take on this situation - but I have a question - who should get the Darwin Award for this stunt? MTV or their host?

There is a TON of news in the feeds again today, everything from a Hells Angel associate being denied access to his child because of his lifestyle and associations to the German police force stomping on "biker gangs"

In sports news, Rossi is sticking by Ducati, in business and industry news, women are fuelling Harley-Davidson, in Baltimore, they are having trouble with illegal dirt bikes on the road and are calling for help regarding a 6 year old being injured.

Yes the news is wild and woolly this morning!  To find out what's happening in motorcycling that might affect your day or life as a rider, check out www.beltdrivebetty.com where our work is keeping YOU informed.

I leave you with a few giggles, shared with me by friends on Facebook and through emails...laughter really is the best medicine!

Have a fantastic Friday, a fabulous weekend and remember, if you are riding - PLEASE, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you, use respect with that right hand and most of all, have fun.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Are you a fan of Sons of Anarchy? Then get out the popcorn.......

Cause Kurt Sutter is promising his newest TV series is going to make SOA look like Sesame Street!  Discovery has 6 episodes that will begin airing May 14th.

Begin Quote: The series will examine crime organizations such as the Crips street gang, the Irish Mob, a Latin American crime family, the Aryan Brotherhood and, yes, outlaw bikers. Each episode will include interviews with a criminal organization’s current and former members, some of whom are in hiding, and tell tales that Sutter promises will “make Sons of Anarchy look like Sesame Street.” End Quote

Well - I guess we will all find out soon enough if his predictions are true!

I do have a question for you all about the whole outlaw bikers on TV thing - do you think that these programs hurt the motorcyclists image with the mainstreamer who does not really know our culture or our history?  I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject!

In other News:
A Winnipeg police officer is in the hot seat for his conduct during an investigation

Ted Laternus defends loud pipes in his Globe & Mail article

The new Victory Judge is reviewed by Motorcyclist Magazine

French Trials rider Julien Dupont stunts his way through Rio de Janeiro

If old motorcycles turn your crank, then check out the three Crockers up for auction at Bonhams

There is a lot in the news feeds again today, visit www.beltdrivebetty.com where our work is keeping you informed!

It's a busy day here today, so I am going to leave you with a few funnies, shared with me by my wonderful, bent and warped friends, either through Facebook or by email...

Have a fantastic hump day...
Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Three Crashes, three different results - one thing in common

This morning's news has stories of three crashes involving Canadian riders.

The first is about the crash that has Saskatchewan native & Superbike Competitor/Champion Brett McCormick in hospital with a broken neck. 

Begin Quote: 
Reaching speeds of 269.6 kilometres per hour, the 20-year-old continued to whip around the track, until he was passed by another rider on a turn.

The manoeuvre by his competitor caused McCormick to alter his line as he took the turn wider than he otherwise normally would have.

“I ended up off the track and I hit some of the water,” said McCormick. “I crashed at a really high speed.”

The winner of the 2011 Canadian superbike championship said he was thrown off his bike and “did a bunch of rolling.” End Quote

The second crash report is from Leduc where a 22 year old rider died of his injuries after loosing control and hitting a guardrail. My heart goes out to his family.

And the third article is out of Calgary, where a rider is in hospital with life threatening injuries after a crash on Memorial Drive at the Deerfoot. Police suspect alcohol was a factor on the rider's part.

Brett McCormick was riding in a closed track competition environment, had great care on scene and takes this risk as a professional every day of his life...one mistake cost him dearly.

The rider from the crash in Leduc, he lost control and hit a guardrail and sadly, one mistake cost him (and his family) dearly.

The rider in the Calgary crash - chose to drink and ride (I hope the cops are wrong) but if that is the case, one mistake cost him dearly.

People, we riders make mistakes just as often as cagers do, the biggest difference is that when WE riders make mistakes and or poor choices - we pay with our bodies and lives in a way few riders stop to consider.

It is up to us, to each rider to respect the fact that ONE MISTAKE is all it takes to forever alter our lives...

Think about that the next time you get on your machine - YOUR SAFETY is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

There is a TON of news in the feeds today:

Under Lifestyles - Oldtimers - the world's oldest Indian sold for $155,000

Under Motorcycle Reviews: The Star Raider SCL & the H-D Softail Slim

Under Lifestyles - International Motorcycle Events: The Biggest Bike Run in SE Ohio

Charleston West Virginia is slated to host their first ever ALL bike rally & there is a nationwide call in the US to Support the Troops through the Give Back 24 events.

There is a ton of Sports news, not to mention some interesting Law & Politics articles...

Check it all out at www.beltdrivebetty.com

I leave you with a few funnies shared with me by friends on Facebook & through emails - after a morning like this, laughter is seriously needed.

PLEASE - if you are riding today, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you and wants into your lane!

Belt Drive Betty,

Editor & Rider

Can you imagine?

Can you imagine being a father and riding with your 15 year old son?  It's a thing many fathers feel huge pride in doing. Now imagine, being on a trip with your son - you on your motorcycle and he on his and you watch him die, in your mirror.

That is exactly what happened to a father in Lubbock Texas.  The father an son duo were riding home to Lubbock after a trip to Oklahoma. The father passed a semi, and watching in his mirror, saw the semi veer into his son.

I can not imagine the heartbreak this father has to be feeling. His son was an accomplished rider with 10,000 miles under his belt at 15, riding on a learners permit that allowed him to ride with a licensed rider (his dad).

My heart and prayers go out to the family and to the father in particular. I can not imagine how this man is going to cope.

In other news:

A rider in BC is dead following an ill fated U-turn. According to the article in the Times Colonist:in
"Duaine Roger Schlack is believed to have been making a U-turn at the intersection of Headquarters and Smith roads when he turned into the path of the vehicle that had been travelling behind him, Comox Valley RCMP said."  The article also refrences an accident that this same rider had last year. Again, my heart and prayers go out to the family and friends of this rider...

People, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE - ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you and that they want the lane position you are in.  

This is just the very beginning of riding season and we are seeing far too many crashes and too many are fatal crashes.

The news feeds are quiet this morning save for motorcycle sports news, we will be checking them on and off all day as some of the feeds were down for maintenance...

I leave you with a few funnies shared with me by friends on Facebook and through emails.

Have a fabulous Monday

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider