Preliminary inquiry in fatal motorcycle crash scheduled for June

Out of Victoria comes news that the preliminary hearing for Tracy Dawn Smith who is charged with impaired driving causing death begins June 19th. Jana Mahenthiran, a 47-year-old information technologist, was killed when his motorcycle was struck by Smith's Lexus.

Apparently, Ms Smith is still in Rehab and had to get changes made to here bail conditions in order to be transported to trial.

You are being urged by BCCOM and friends of Jana to attend the hearing if at all possible - the more riders present the better. Visit the Facebook Event Page for more information by clicking here.

Also in BC, Kreater Customs Rock 'n' Ride hits the road this weekend and MotocyGalz has a great article in the Vancouver Sun about Jeff VanderZalm & the Rock 'n' Ride 

The Great Canadian Bike Rally has a Like us to win contest happening on Facebook

Members of the Finks MC in Australia have been given suspended sentences in their brawl with the Angels in Adelaide Australia.

In Germany, the police have conducted raids on the Hells Angels.

In Belgium a new survey shows that motorists there do not like motorcycles.

In Alaska an FBI informant admits he ran drugs for the Angels

Check out the Sports Tab and the Lifestyles Tab in the feeds today, there are a variety of news items that you may find interesting there!

Visit www.beltdrivebetty.com where our work is keeping you informed!

It's a busy day in my world today so I will sign off leaving you with some funnies shared by friends on Facebook and through Email...

Enjoy your day and remember, no matter where you ride or what event you attend this weekend,  to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you!

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

The Hells Angels, Picton, Missing Women and cops that don't share information

Apparently the lawyer for two dozen family members of murdered and missing women - Cameron Ward has accused the Vancouver Deputy Chief - Doug LePard of hiding the fact that the Hells Angels were under investigation for their attendance at Picton's property and the police did not make the information public because they did not want to appear to be bungling the case...

Begin Quote:
The inquiry has already heard that a property separate from the Pickton family's farm, called Piggy's Palace, was well known as a partying place for members of the biker gang.

"You deliberately did not mentioned the Hells Angels by name to avoid the difficult questions that would surly ensue that the families and members of the public might have," Ward asked LePard.

"How in the world, if the Hells Angels were active on the Pickton properties and they were being monitored, (did) the police miss it?"

LePard, who wrote a report on the missing women's investigation concluding police made many mistakes, denied he excluded any evidence about police investigations into the Hells Angels on the Pickton properties. End Quote

According to testimony by Gary Bass, the former RCMP deputy commissioner in BC, many police operations were focused on the Hells Angels in the Lower Mainland at the time.

I for one am getting sick of the RCMP and the way they purposely avoid answering questions and who appear to be covering up their wrong doings at every corner.

Begin Quote:

Ward suggested the women were taken to parties at Piggy's Palace, given drugs and later killed on the Pickton farm.

"The RCMP's organized crime agency was simultaneously conducting intelligence operations on the Hells Angels members and the associates who were frequenting the area. Does that sound accurate?" Ward asked.

"I've never seen any reports or had any briefings that indicated something like that was happening," Bass replied.

But the records created by the many RCMP agencies investigating the gang haven't been made available, Ward said.

Bass agreed that would be the way to confirm the claim.

"I suggest none of those records that may have indicated what was happening in that neighbourhood of Port Coquitlam ... have been produced to this inquiry have they?" Ward asked.

"I'm not aware of any," Bass replied.

"The RCMP was ... focused on addressing that organization's trafficking of illegal narcotics and trying to stop it wasn't it?" END QUOTE

I get that these people are just human beings, but the positions they signed on for come with the expectation that they will be held to a higher standard and will lead by example. 

SO.... If you made a mistake - ADMIT IT.

It's no wonder so many of the youth of today appear to have little or no respect - how can they?

In another case - unrelated to the motorcycle community - and RCMP officer who has been convicted of horrible conduct towards female counterparts is not being fired from the RCMP.

HOW SWEET IS THAT FOLKS?  

WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY?

Our Prime Minister wants to get tough on crime - perhaps he needs to start with the people who are supposed to uphold the law? Is he scared that there won't be enough police officers to do the job so he is happy to have warm bodies that give the appearance of having enough cops?

(I do realize there are good cops out there.)

Seriously - we are not talking young cops or cops who have only been on the force for a few years - these are seasoned cops we are talking about - what the hell are they teaching those moving up in the ranks?  No wonder there are so many police officers under scrutiny right now - the picture that is being painted, news article after news article is a very, very scary one.

BE AFRAID CANADA - BE VERY AFRAID...that's my viewpoint - what's yours? I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW!!!!!!

In other news, Merritt BC is mourning the death of the Merritt Mountain Music Festival, the article goes on to say that ticket sales are slow for the Great Canadian Bike Rally. Read the article to find out why....

Under the Travel Tab on the home page of www.beltdrivebetty.com there are many articles of interest regarding upcoming motorcycle events including the upcoming Hells Angels Run taking place in Saskatoon.

Under the Law Tab is, amongst the other articles -  an article on Michigan getting rid of their helmet law.

Under the Sports Tab, there is an article about the first World Trails Championship to take place in Australia...

Under the Lifestyles Tab there is an article on the new Triumph - Steve McQueen clothing line I thought people might find interesting - there are many other lifestyles article to read as well.

Under the Manufacturers Tab, there is among the other stories, on Carl Fogarty's 1998 Ducati 996 being listed for sale.

Thankfully nothing under the Rider Down Tab yet today...

Under the General News Tab, H-D has a new mid control kit for Night Rods available, there is a reminder about Ride to Work Day, News from BCCOM and more that will help bring you up to speed.  Visit www.beltdrivebetty.com where our work is keeping YOU informed!

I leave you with a few funnies, shared with me by friends on Facebook and via email.

Have a fabulous Thursday and for those reading the Busted Knuckle, hope you enjoyed your National Newspaper...

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

It's good to go but it's also good to come home

I just returned home from a four day trip to Charlevoix Quebec and I had a blast. The Charlevoix Tourism team members showed me a fantastic time that included lots of riding, wonderful sights, hotels and FABULOUS food - I can't wait to get my photos edited and my articles written to share with you!

Travel is a wonderful thing, it expands your mind and tantalizes your senses but it does one other thing - it gives you an appreciation for your home and your own bed!

There has been so much going on in the news and I am sad to report that the long weekend saw two riders in New Brunswick killed in separate crashes, another killed in Ontario and one killed in Edmonton Alberta. For information on the crashes visit the Rider Down tab on www.beltdrivebetty.com

My heart aches for the families and friends of these riders.

I have a busy few days ahead of me as I get ready to leave for Toronto and the Heroes Highway Ride.

The purpose of the Heroes Highway Ride, a free event for all riders, is to show our troops, the men and women who fight for our rights and freedoms that they are loved, respected and appreciated. It is meant to honour the sacrifices that our troops and their families make.

I want to address some of the concerns that have been expressed about this year's ride and the changes
to it and how they will relate to the safety of 3-5,000 motorcycles being on the Highway of Heroes - the 401.

The route this year is from CFB Trenton to Toronto and YES, there are changes to the ride.

In the past everyone left in one solid procession, escorted by the OPP Golden Helmets with intersections blocked by the OPP for the safety of all.

This year, the same as last year, the OPP will be leading the ride, however the ride is being somewhat broken up in that there will be one large pack of 200 VIP riders, members of the military, press and others who have been invited to ride lead, that will be heading out first. There will be a short 5-10 minute break and then the rest of the riders will be sent out in groups of 25 leaving at 1 minute intervals - according to Lou, the organizer, the OPP feel this will reduce the accordion effect that can happen in large rides and the police believe that this type of staggered leaving will reduce negative public perception on large rides and reduce the potential for crashes etc. 

The OPP will still be blocking intersections at both the beginning and end of the ride to ensure riders can enter and exit the highway safely with minimal interference from other motorists - as has been done in the past - the major difference this year is the staggered leave.
Please remember that this ride is taking place on the busiest highway in Canada and is entering the largest city in Canada and there are huge safety concerns for riders and motorists alike - do I like the changes?

I will reserve comment until I see them in action.

Regarding patches and the wearing of them, as in years past, all patches are welcomed by the organizers as the attitude among the organizers is that every Canadian should be allowed the right to say thank you to our troops for the job they do defending our country. 

There will be a dissemination of how the HHR went off between the organizers and the OPP - what went wrong and what went right will be discussed afterwards and potential tweaks may take place for next years ride a result of what is learned. I am told that the OPP are looking at this event, the largest one day ride in Canada in support of our troops, as the proving grounds for standardizing the safety aspect of all large motorcycle events in the province of Ontario.

Some people see the changes to this year's ride as police interference and while that may be true on some levels, the police insist that these changes are for the safety of the riders and the motoring public and nothing more - I guess we will find out on June 2nd.

Although I have talked to a member of the OPP (Constable Leon) regarding this event I also have a call into the officer in charge of this particular event to find out more about the changes and the reasoning behind their implementation and will make sure that when I have those answers that all of you are kept informed as this is going to affect every other large ride in Ontario at some point in the future.

So, in closing, for those who attended last year - you will not notice much of a change - the only aim here, is an attempt to deal with the large volumes of traffic on the Highway of Heroes (the 401) and to keep the riders of the HHR as safe as is humanly possible.

For those who are thinking of attending - it is the most emotional ride you will ever be a part of, so come on out and support it!

There are a ton of articles in the news feeds that may be of interest to you and may affect your day and life as a rider, I invite you to check it our at www.beltdrivebetty.com

I leave you with a couple of funnies shared by friends on Facebook and through email and one American photo that may give us all pause for thought...

PLEASE REMEMBER THIS PHOTO on JUNE 2nd when you ride in the Heroes Highway ride - it may be American but the sentiment is the same for any soldiers family...no matter where they are from.

Have a fabulous Tuesday and remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider