Some hard truths about the Travesty called Sturgis North

I am still on my fact finding mission as to why so many motorcycle events in BC have been experiencing "special" treatment from the RCMP and or the Liquor Board.

One huge new FACT that came about involves the beer gardens at Sturgis North - I spoke with one of the head liquor inspectors for the province of BC and he expressed that the no chairs, no tables and no spirits sanctions that were placed on the Sturgis North Beer Gardens had nothing to do with the riders who were coming to attend the event and everything to do with the show management - Ray Sasseville and company.

Apparently - even before the event last year in Salmon Arm, the Liquor Board had dealing with Mr. Sasseville that were unsatisfactory and the harsh terms of the license were a direct result of that history.

So - another mystery solved.  The more I dig, the more questions I ask and people I talk to, the more I find out about the show management - the more I shake my head.

So for all those who attended the event and were disgusted by the treatment of we riders - lay the BULK of the blame on Mr. Sasseville and company and if you want proof positive of what I say, email me and I will give you the name and phone number of the Liquor Inspector from Victoria to speak to - the conversation I had with him was extremely enlightening.

I also asked this man, who was more than helpful and forthcoming about the "Gang" colours ban and he expressed that since there have been so many violent incidents and shootings involving gangs - and NOT JUST "Biker Gangs" that that ban is in effect everywhere, for every kind of special event where liquor is sold cause apparently gangs go to country music events and ball tournaments too.

He expressed that if the Hells Angels and other biker "gangs" were never the target of those shootings they wouldn't be included in the ban, but since they have been targets and shooters in many incidents, they are caught up in the ban as well.

I expressed to him that banning colours only puts everyone at risk and by that I mean, that if you don't want to be seen talking to a "gang" member, you have no way to protect yourself from police scrutiny if you have no clue the person beside you, that you are chatting with is a "gang" member. He agreed that the solution of banning all "gang" clothing is an imperfect one, but that because of rival gangs and the tempers that flare at times, the governments of this country feel that banning their gear in places where liquor is sold for consumption, can prevent them from identifying each other as rivals and he pointed out that liquor can make people become more brazen and fearless.

So - as I said, another mystery solved!

I will be, at his suggestion, writing to the minister responsible expressing some of my other concerns and will keep you informed as to what responses I get. As with anything governmental, the wheels of information grind slowly!

In other news we have more riders injured on the Pat Bay highway in BC and one rider is dead after a crash in Dauphin Manitoba

I am attending the Howlin' Coyote Biker's Bash in support of the Fallen Rider's Memorial that is being built in Two Hills this weekend. Hope to see a ton of you Alberta riders out for that and if timing allows I am going to try riding out to Trike Zone for their Customer Appreciation event.

Hope you ride safe no matter what event you decide to attend or if you are just going for a ride.

Have a fabulous Friday and an even better weekend!

I leave you all with a few funnies shared with me by friends on Facebook and via emails!

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider






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Equality of treatment for all....

An interesting article from Surrey Now brings up the topic of multiculturalism and rules and how ridiculous it is that we have one set of rules for one ethnicity and different rules for another.

The editor of the Now paper - Beau Simpson likens Canadians as a family of step siblings and expresses how wrong it is to treat two children who live in the same home differently and that all that comes out of that different treatment is resentment and bitterness.

He tackles the issue of Asians who ride and their wearing of Turbans while the province of BC is ticketing the average motorcyclist for wearing a beanie.

One rule, one law FOR ALL - I happen to agree with him, others may not.

The reason DOT helmets are mandated (as the minimum requirement for helmets - there are other acceptable designations like those of Snell and the EU) is the fact that we have a public healthcare system.  So my question is, why does one's religious rights over step the rights of the regular taxpayer?
According to our Charter - your rights end when they infringe on mine.

If you, for whatever reason be it religious, medical etc can't wear a helmet and it is law - then don't ride. Riding is a privilege not a right.  I used to have an exemption to ride my motorcycle without a helmet but today's technology allows for me to wear a DOT beanie and with the right bike - one with a fairing, my neck challenges are no longer serious enough for me to ride without.

I never used my exemption for two reasons - I wanted to ride, not be stopped every-time I rode without one and I just didn't feel right about it.

Having said that, the other issue then becomes noise - where does the guy with the chipped up diesel truck or the booming import car have the right to make excessive noise and not be held accountable, but motorcyclists are?

Should it not be one rule for ALL?

If the issue really is public safety and public health care then why should religion play a role in that? No where does our charter say you have to right to ride or drive for that matter.

If the issue really is about noise then why aren't all vehicles commercial and non commercial held to a similar level and enforced the exact same way?

That's my thought for the day - I would love your opinions!

In other news we are on a membership drive at www.beltdrivebetty.com  we are giving away a few prizes for the various benchmarks we have set. First one: the 5,000th person to register on our site is going to win a $20 gas card, so will the 5,500th and the 6,000th person will win some BDB Swag - wait till you see our new teeshirt line that is coming out!!!!  Then we will be holding competitions within the web sites membership to win gas cars, tees and other gifts - so come one folks, help us reach our goals!

Today is newspaper delivery day, hope you enjoy this week's Busted Knuckle Chronicles - our community news and stories told our way!

Lots in the mainstream news feeds today so check us out at www.beltdrivebetty.com where our work is keeping YOU informed!

I leave you with a couple of funnies shared with me by friends on Facebook and via emails....

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider.

Idiots - we appear to be surrounded by them....

I am awarding the idiot of the week award to Wayne Aucoin, 43, of Edmonton for texting while RIDING.

People and their conduct never cease to amaze me.  Riders have the nerve to "bitch and whine" about cagers, about texting and driving and then we have one of our own being the ultimate in stupid.  I am so angry I could spit nails and build a house!

The next idiot of the week belongs to our supposed Justice System.  
Why? How about a $260 fine for a failing to stop ticket given to a man whose actions lead to a rider having his leg amputated.

And then there is the Queen's Cowboys - the RCMP - can one get any more disgusted by the behaviour of some of these people? Sadly YES would be the answer...

An officer in Bridgewater NS is on charges for sexual assault and more...

And the commanding officer in Digby NS has to earn an idiot of the week award for investigating a complaint made by a 76 year old citizen against none other than the commanding officer in question!  
Un Freaking Believable!  Staff-Sgt. Phil Barrett is the commanding officer in Digby and is now under investigation for his conduct on 2 counts.

And how about all of the lovely sexual assault complaints made by some 200 female officers...the Superiors of the Mounties are making statements like this fine one: “The RCMP has a responsibility to protect itself against unproven and harmful allegations, and those to whom the RCMP is ultimately accountable expect nothing less,” she said. “If, after investigation, there are cases found to have merit, the RCMP will give them the appropriate consideration.”

I have also got two personal idiots of the week awards to deliver to members of the Queen's Cowboys.  

On my way from Golden to Drumheller last week, I called in a dangerous driver - a semi operator from Orbit Trucking who could not keep his wheels on HIS SIDE of the road. 
I called in and made the complaint at the visitors centre in Field and got a call about a half hour later that the officer did not go after the driver but would instead call the trucking company.  Seriously? The man can't stay in his own lane - is gonna kill someone with the way he is driving and you can't be bothered to go and find him? 
What is the point of calling it in?

And the other is a result of a 911 call I made when I witnessed a Pontiac Grande Am slam into the ditch at the Albright Community Hall just west of Beaverlodge on Saturday night.   
I called in, gave the officer in the call centre the information; plate number of the vehicle, location etc.  I left the scene when the parent's of the young girl who had crashed her car had arrived.  I got a call 15 minutes later from an officer in the Beaverlodge Detachment stating he didn't know where the hall was and couldn't find the car.  
Seriously?  WIth all of the technology available inside a squad car and in the 911 call centre LIKE A MAP - you are going to tell me that you couldn't find the hall?  
It's like 4 KMs outside of Beaverlodge and you serve in that detachment...

You attempt to do the right thing, be a good citizen, attempt to make a difference and this is the kind of response you get from the RCMP - it is more than un nerving.

So - tell me, who in your world deserves an Idiot of the Week Award?

I'd LOVE to hear from you!

There's a ton of news in the feeds today that may affect your day, your life as a rider - visit www.beltdrivebetty.com where our work is keeping YOU informed - to check it out!

I leave you with a couple of funnies, shared with me by friends on Facebook and via emails...laughter - I need some real laughter cause the jokes I have been experiencing aren't so funny!

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

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider

I'm back...and it's a bitter sweet feeling!

I just completed a very successful 36 day road trip.

How do I define the success of a road trip?

I clocked 9,000 KMS on this trip, I attended some10 motorcycle events, I added up 8 hours of rain, I visited a ton of Rider Friendly Businesses and I stayed with a ton of friends. I took thousands of photos and lots of video!

And I made it home in one piece.

Yes it was a wonderful road trip but I am glad to be home.

I missed my hubby and my cats and am thrilled to have attended by husband's stepson's wedding on Saturday in Fort St John BC and even more thrilled to be getting ready for my daughter's wedding in Mexico.

Before I head to Mexico however, I have one more event to attend - the Howlin' Coyote's Biker Bash in support of the Fallen Rider's Memorial in Two Hills AB!

My Street Glide has been treating me well, Black Betty and I have logged over 96,000 KMS since I got her in 2007, which by the end of this season will be somewhere around 100,000 or 20,000 KMS per year.  Not too shabby considering the workload I have!

I myself have logged well over that number as I have attended events where I was on a rental or borrowed bike.

Many have commented to me that I have the world's best jobs and I have to agree I am one of the luckiest people alive as I have a job I adore!

It has it's downside too though.

As I said, I miss my hubby and the cats when I am on the road, but when I get home, I am generally buried in paperwork and that can make things tough too. Balancing business and family life has always been a challenge for me, even when I worked for other people.
I love to work and if it is something I truly believe in, I throw myself into it 110%.

I have a ton of articles to write not just for my own publication but for others as well, a ton of video to edit and I have a ton of invoicing and books to do - I am grateful to do it.

It's a trade off yah know!

I work to ride just like everyone else out there. But I also ride to work which means the perks in my job are many.  I get to meet great people, ride incredible stretches of highway and my brain comes home feeling vibrant and alive even if the body is tired!


It's a great feeling - growing a community newspaper, helping others to communicate what's happening in their region, enticing others to come visit Canada and experience one of the greatest play lands out there!

But again, it has it's down side as I also have to report on the sad things and the frustrating things that affect our community - like the deaths of many of my extended family and the police harassment and profiling of our community.

I attend events that are hosted by for profit businesses that are really only started to make some promoter rich - and make the community feel fleeced...

This is such a vast country with such a small population and so many who host events - trying to imitate the big events of the US miscalculate what the size of the touring and cruising aspect of the Canadian Motorcycle community is - they see how successful these big American events are and think they can replicate that here!

And I attend community based events that are meant to help and assist their towns and charities. It's wonderful to see the impact these events have on the charities they support and I love sponsoring them, attending them and seeing them flourish as the result of the hundreds of man hours the volunteers put in.

With my riding season winding down I experience that bitter sweet feeling that comes with knowing I have, like most Canadians a long cold winter ahead of me - the videos, photos and articles written by myself and other riders will be what gets me through that the same as it does for every other rider out there.

I am looking forward to the fact that I will finally have help here in the office for a while! I have a gal that I have known for a long time coming to assist me with getting our 2013 Rider Friendly Phone Book ready for print. In 2012 we printed 15,000 copies and we ran out - I did not even have enough to send to all of the business partners - so this year we are looking to print 25,000.

We give the book away for free unless we have to ship them out and Canada Post sure takes a big enough chunk of a $10 bill for their role in getting them out so we really encourage everyone to come to the bike shows or go to one of our partner businesses to get their copy.

Yes - everything in life is a trade off isn't it! Work hard, ride hard and love lots!

Speaking of love and it's bitter sweet aspect...

I have some sad news of a personal and business nature that I must share - our writer William Perry - the former Catholic Priest turned RCMP officer - now retired and battling cancer is loosing his fight.

William was struck from behind by a rogue Kawasaki at a dealership in London England about 10 days ago.  He has been battling prostate cancer and the broken leg he received in the crash which happened while he was walking into the dealership to go rent his grand daughter a bike has caused the cancer to travel into his bone marrow and we are told it has shortened his life expectancy.

William has gone to his ancestral home in Ireland in preparation for his passing.

What makes this sad tale even sadder is the fact that William only found out a few months ago that he was the daddy to a beautiful little 6 year old girl. His first wife had passed away many years ago and he had never remarried. He had a relationship with a gal from Spain about 7 years ago and the mother of his child had never told him she had given birth as a result.  When he found out about his daughter, he asked the mother, a woman he loved as a friend, to marry him. They married and sadly she died a few short weeks later in his arms. Now this pretty little girl is going to be without benefit of her father too.

I have grown to truly love William as a friend and I feel so torn up inside by this news.
It's selfish that I want him around for a long time. He has so much wisdom to share, so much warmth and love to offer - he is one of the good guys and our world needs more of them.

My heart breaks for his family and again selfishly for myself as I will miss his missives, his council and his friendship - but I also count myself lucky to be among his friends.

I close off today asking everyone in my circle of friends to pray for this man - he is a friend and family man with a big heart - I pray for God's comfort for him and his family and friends, I pray for a miracle...

There is a ton of news in the feeds over at www.beltdrivebetty.com where our work is keeping YOU informed....I invite you to visit our site and find out what might affect your day and life as a rider.

I am going to leave you today by sharing a few funnies shared with me by my friends on Facebook and by emails, cause I need some laughter to balance the pain I feel.

Ride safe please everyone,

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider.

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