PMS has got a hold on me...

I have been working an average of 17 hours a day since mid December and to be frank I am crabby and over tired and still far from being caught up from the time it took to heal up after my motorcycle crash.

Since the middle of December, we here in Grande Prairie Alberta have accumulated a ton of snow, have seen extreme high winds, freezing rain and tee shirt weather all with 24 hours of each other.

The Farmer's Almanac says that we will get more snow in March than we have had all winter, wow, another 5-6 feet of the white crap in March.  It's already been the worst winter for snowfall in over 20 years up here!

Mother Nature's bipolar ways have me in a PMS funk like never before.

Yes, PMS has got a hold on me like never before and I am turning to you, my community, for your help.

You see I have this Dr. named Feelgood and he says I need to see a lot of bikes for the next 90 days or so, or he fears the worst for me.  He gave me this prescription:

You are the pharmacy, the riding community...Please enter your motorcycles in our FREE - 7th Annual, Beat the PMS Blues Online Show "n" Shine.

Courtesy of CKX Helmets, Heat Demon, Kimpex, SHD Enterprises, Bagot Leather and Native Arts Tattoo we have some wonderful prizes up for grabs - with FREE Shipping this year!

It is my hopes that you guys love me enough to want to help me get through this dreary, soul sucking winter so I can ride in - May or June (I think that's how long it will take for the snow and ice to leave the North this year!)

Thank you to those who have already entered. It's going to be fun to see who wins what...for the rest of you, you have 1 week left to get your entries in!

There is a lot of manufacturer news today.

Indian has entered the market in India, there is also a first ride review of the new Chieftan
Triumph has opened a new dealership in India and plans on 9 more.
Ducati is also in the news with a Panigale 899 ride review and feature on the factory for the 1199 Panigale.

The Hells Angels are also in the news today.
In Quebec there is now a second officer being investigated for leaking information to the Hells Angels, and also from Quebec comes the headline that the Hells Angels have won a major supreme court ruling.

Remember all you Canadian riding club event coordinators - our Canadian Motorcycle Events calendars are waiting to promote your events! Get your motorcycle event added and remember that if you honour us as a sponsor with a link on your site and our logo or banner, we give you free advertising in our weekly newspaper The Busted Knuckle Chronicles, so add our banner or a link as a sponsor and then send us your poster!!!! bdbetty @ gmail.com

I got an email from Sturgis Canada promoting giveaways at the Vancouver Motorcycle Show this weekend. I guess their email marketing team hasn't purged me from the Sturgis Canada(North) mailing list even though the owners, Ray and Joan are suing me.  I want to thank Jean Cameron and the gals from the Cumberland Motorcycle Round Up and my good friend Bill Braham for running the Vancouver booth for me.

I do not think I could have concentrated on the show and my job if I would have had to be in close proximity to the people suing me.

I am still accepting donations to the defense fund as I need to raise $15K or so.  It irks my pride having to ask for help, but I have no choice, our community newspaper needs your support.

If donating isn't your thing, I'd be grateful if you renewed your subscription (We are still on the honour system for about another month until Ali gets our one component configured), or buy a patch, a tee shirt, a coffee mug or become an advertiser and help us keep spreading the news.

Have a fantastic Thursday, for those who subscribe, I hope you are enjoying our third instalment of Ride Ireland in the Busted Knuckle Chronicles and all of the slideshows and videos that are now a part of the paper!

PMS has got a hold on me and I need your motorcycle photos to help me deal with it!  

Get your photo entered today in our Beat the PMS Blues Online Show 'n' Shine - there is only one week left!!!!!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Defending your position in Australia, California and Grande Prairie AB...

Today Campbell Newman announced that his government would look at rescinding the Anti Bikie Laws in 2016.  According to the article from Yahoo News 7, Newman claims that was the plan all along.

Begin Quote: "Premier Campbell Newman on Tuesday said his government intended to repeal tough legislation targeting outlaw motorcycle gangs after a three-year review." End Quote

Also out of Queensland comes an article from a former senior police officer turned lawyer, who recommends that motorcyclists videotape their encounters with police as it puts them in a much better position for a half decent stop.

Begin Quote" Adam Macgill said video evidence would show alleged targeting of innocent riders was “not a figment of these people's imaginations”, following the case of a Wynnum motorcyclist whose encounter with police has been viewed more than 487,000 times on YouTube.....He (Macgill) told Fairfax Media it was unlikely motorcyclists pulling out cameras would reduce the chances of being stopped by police, but “if you know you're on video, you play cricket with a straighter bat”.
End Quote.

Australia is the only democratic country in the world that does not have a Charter of Freedoms and Rights and as a result, there is very little for protection for the average rider from the anti bike laws.

If it really was the plan of Queensland Government to repeal the laws after the three-year review, why has he waited until now to announce that?  Did the YouTube video from the rider who was stopped over 21 times have anything to do with Newman making that announcement? I guess we'll never know.  Some positions simply can't be defended and harassment like the rider in the video has experienced is one of those.

By making that announcement, I wonder if Newman is hoping that people will look at the Anti Bikie laws and think - Short term pain for long term gain.  What do you think?  I'd dearly love to know.

Also in the news today, comes word of a massive rally in California at the state capitol.

The Motorcycle Rider Unification Rally was held to protest the diminishing of freedoms and rights by motorcyclists as well as the NHSTA's push for conspicuous clothing among other things. The riders gathered at the rally represented every kind of rider from Hells Angels and outlaws to the independent.  Every race, every brand and pretty much every kind of patch was on hand.

These people are defending their right to ride, to be a part of the motorcycle community and to do so peacefully.

It would sure be nice to see Canadian bikers get together in this fashion to protect our rights and freedoms that are diminishing just as fast here, as they are south of the border.  

I wonder if I will live long enough to see that become a reality.

There is also an article on a man who is now doing jail time over a little ride he took with his son.

The father took his 22-month-old son for a motorcycle ride and coming around a corner lost control. Both of them went flying about 50 feet, neither of them was wearing a helmet, according to the police the man panicked and locked up his front brake.  The child died as a result of head injury and the man was charged with aggravated child abuse among other things.

According to the article Moore defended his actions - Begin Quote: "Moore testified he'd taken his toddler and older sons for dozens of rides without trouble." End Quote

The man was sentenced to one year in jail. 

Where do you stand on this issue, what do you think of his defense?  Should he be in jail?

So here's where things stand with my defense:

• My lawyer has filed my statement of defense in the Sturgis North, Ray Sasseville, Joan Hansen lawsuit.  
• Ali has added my statement of defense documents to the Belt Drive Betty defense page.  
• Because of the support of this community, I have rounded the first corner in what could prove to be a lengthy court battle.  I say lengthy because the lawyer from the other side has been replaced by Ray until a new lawyer comes on board.

Not only has it been a very humbling experience to have to ask this community for help, but it was also very humbling to talk to my banker and to be reassured that this situation would not affect my business loan. When she read the lawsuit document, she couldn't believe that a lawyer would actually file this kind of lawsuit. 

Because 4 of us are sharing the same lawyer, I have been told that a realistic goal for my defense fund would be $15-$20,000 if this drags out at all. 

These people have nothing to stand on, the lawsuit against me is groundless, frivolous, a nuisance, an enormous drain on time and resources - but I have to defend myself and go through this exercise.  

I'd counter sue if there was actually a hope of collecting, but based on the Michael Smith win, I won't bother. I fear I would just be throwing more good money down the tubes. 

I am looking forward to my day in court though. The fight was brought to me and I won't back down and because of you, I don't have to.

From what I read on the Vancouver Motorcycle show website, it's a good thing that I have volunteers running my booth in Vancouver, as those who are suing me will be there.

To those who have already donated to the Belt Drive Betty defense fund, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I still have a ways to go, but with your help I know I'll get there.

To those thinking about donating, I ask you to consider either subscribing to our newspaper or advertising with us if you are a rider who owns a business.  When you advertise with us, you help the Busted knuckle Chronicles to spread the news farther a field. All the events and charities win, the riding community wins and so do the businesses of our community.  I really like win-win-win situations. I really dislike taking donations - I deeply appreciate them, but there's a bit of pride swallowing involved that just doesn't sit right.  I hope you understand what I mean...

I have been thinking about what to do should I find myself with extra money that is not used to defend myself.  

My question to all of you is, what do I do if I find that more money to support the newspaper and myself comes in than I need? 

I have to declare all donations as income and pay tax on it, so how should I handle this situation do you think. It's purely hypothetical at this point, but I'd rather be proactive and have a plan in mind.

Your ideas would be greatly appreciated.

In closing I want to thank the CVFR (Canadian Veteran Freedom Riders) of Calgary for doing such a great job of running my booth for me so I could stay in Grande Prairie and deal with everything that is on my plate. I needed a break from all of the work that goes into the shows. Last years aggressive riding season coupled with some bad luck like a bike wreck has taken a toll and I need to nurture myself and my family.  This coming weekend in Edmonton, the Northeastern Alberta Motorcycle Tourism Association is running the booth and I know they too will do a great job too. I'll be there on Friday filming for season 2 of "Ride Like a Local" on Eastlink TV. I have to hightail it right back to Grande Prairie so that I can build the newspaper so I'll only be there the one day.

The gang from the Cumberland Motorcycle Round Up and my old friend Bill Braham will be running the Vancouver booth for me. Stop in and give these volunteers a pat on the back for me please!

Without the love and support of this community I could not continue to do the work that I love so much - promoting and supporting the riding community - I love you guys.  THANK YOU.

That's what's fit to print today.

Stay safe and warm - oh and Air Canada, thanks for the apology over the service dog issue. A little late, but better than not at all.

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Belt Drive Betty,

Editor & Rider

To the bottom of the bucket list...Queensland & all of Australia

I used to fantasize about going Down Under on a motorcycle vacation.

Australia and most specifically Queensland, are on the bottom of my bucket list nowadays.

I'd still love to experience the country, but the more I look into the policing situation there, the more I know it will be many years, if ever, that I go there.

In following this situation and researching all kinds of video, it appears to me that this country really needs a charter of freedoms and rights and that the police services in Australia have a real problem.  They are not only harassing motorcyclists. Just go to YouTube and do a search - you'll find stuff there that will curl your hair. (Assuming you have any to curl)

Watch the video below and then tell me how you would feel about the number of police officers who stopped this guy.  His plate and information taken down by two officers - separately. 

If I was a rider living in Australia and I had been stopped as many times as he has for nothing, I'd be moving.  Sure makes me want to go to Australia - NOT!

What are your thoughts on this video?
Riders stopped for being in a funeral cortege - and they called in before hand.

Veterans Clubhouse is Raided:

A recreational rider explains the situation over having to call in when you go for a ride:

Recreational riders being harrassed:

Queensland Australia and all of Australia for that matter - now officially on the bottom of this rider's bucket list - how about yours?

Would you ride in Australia?

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

Between a rock and a hard place.

Things are really heating up in Australia.

If you are a member of a prescribed motorcycle "gang", and you are an electrician, you will be loosing your job.  Regardless if you have a criminal record or not and quitting your club is no guarantee you will be able to keep your license.

READ THE ARTICLE by CLICKING HERE

It appears that the government of Queensland has targeted industries where they feel gangs have used them as a front for other "business".

There are two main trains of thought on this topic:

They became members of those prescribe clubs, live with the consequences.

OR

The charter of freedoms applies to them like any citizen and you are innocent until proven guilty.

But guess what, Australia doesn't have a charter of freedoms and rights.

Open up this PDF and read an eyeful:
http://www.australiancollaboration.com.au/pdf/Democracy/Charter-human-rights.pdf

Or read this blog: http://evatt.org.au/papers/charter-rights-australia.html

So the citizens of Australia have ZERO protection from overzealous politicians, police etc. and appear to be between a rock and a hard place.

It's no wonder the every day ordinary rider over there is reluctant to ride.

It's no wonder there have been funeral processions held up and riders checked out.
It's no wonder there has been a funeral procession where the riders checked in with the police before hand and still got jacked up.
It's no wonder there are riders reporting they have been stopped 10 and 11 times in a week
It's no wonder the police want you to check your group in with them before you go for a ride.

There have been a number of cases reported where criminal motorcycle "Gang" member or regular citizen riding a motorcycle are being treated the same and when you read the law and how it says you are considered "connected" if you have attended several functions prescribed gangs attend, you can and will find yourself really between a rock and a hard place.

I am more certain now than ever before that it will be a long time before I go to Australia, I just don't think I'd want to check in with the police just to go for a ride.

What say you?


Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

January 10th is coming soon and I need your help

The deadline to file my response to the lawsuit filed against me made by Sturgis North, Ray Sasseville and Joan Hansen is January 10th, 2014. As of today's date I have raised $1,620.00 with promises of 2 cheques in the amount of $500 each being in the mail.

For this first round of this suit I need to raise $5,000.00.  I want my day in court to face Ray and Joan and prove that what I have had to say is true. That what I have gathered for evidence shows a certain pattern of behaviour.  I want the documents I have becoming public record, I want to clear my name and protect my community.

I have come, helmet in hand to ask the motorcycle community to help me defend myself.

For those of you who don't know the history of Sturgis North here is a quick glance at what has transpired since the first event held in 2011.  The first event was a financial failure and faced a number of challenges because of the way the venues were laid out, communications and organizational issues. Depending on which set of documents you read, the debt from 2011 was between $200,000 and $975,000

2012 - the event moved to Vernon's Motoplex and was again a financial failure, the venue was terribly laid out and it again had communication and organizational issues.
To visit Vendor Alley you had to pay $20
The liquor control board put huge sanctions on the beer gardens.
The BEU was everywhere.
The 2012 event left close to $400,000 in debt.

The 2013 event was cancelled and during the down time it was rebranded it to Sturgis Canada.

I started out as a supporter and sponsor of the event. I became a detractor about 2 minutes after I rode into the Motoplex venue the second year when I saw how things were laid out.

I started investigating the event and the policing situation after having gotten some emails from unhappy people asking for help over the policing situation.

As it turned out, that investigation took some serious turns and I learned a lot of things that made me uncomfortable about Ray Sasseville in particular.  
I published some of those the findings here in my blog and again in our newspaper the Busted Knuckle Chronicles.

Because I have again brought their event to the fore front of people's minds, reminding them of the history, I am being sued along with 6 others for slander, libel and defamation.

Next to being reduced to asking for financial support for my defense, having to revisit all of the evidence I have, is the most painful thing I have had to do in a while, but I have been doggedly working to pull it all together into a chronological format for the lawyer.

I decided to revisit some of lawsuits against the above mentioned parties after reading Martha Wickett's articles in Salmon Arm Observer the other day to see if anything new had transpired.
I sent my research assistant off to retrieve the documents on the Ministry of Justice web site.

Besides the case Sasseville et al have initiated against myself and 6 others, there are lawsuits that were initiated by Michael Smith, Warren McKay, Okanagan Aggregates, Robert Lopez,and Marjorie Paula Sasseville that are still active and a couple that were withdrawn or dismissed and one that indirectly involves Sturgis North. You can purchase the documents at: http://www.gov.bc.ca/justice/  under Court Services. Just search Sasseville, Sturgis North.

As I read the documents of the Michael Smith case over, my memory was refreshed and I realized I had known about this case, I had just forgotten it.

And as Martha Wickett stated in her article, Michael won his lawsuit by default judgment on August 16th, 2012.

The next lawsuit Martha alluded to; the Motoplex one:
Okanagan Aggregates DBA Motoplex Speedway is suing Sturgis North Encore Productions, Ray Sasseville and Joan Hansen for $398,567,34. According to the documents, on July 20th, 2012 the plaintiff agreed to advance the defendants $539,023, on the 25th of July 2012, the amount advanced had been reduced to $454,11.72. A guarantee had been signed by both Sasseville and Hansen.
The plaintiff recovered some of the money that had been advanced, leaving the outstanding debt at $398, 567.34.

Sturgis North 2012 was held July 18-23, 2012.

Ray, Joan and Sturgis North Encore Productions Inc are counter suing and allege that they never had an agreement with Okanagan Aggregates regarding the advance of funds. They also claim, among other things, that the Motoplex took all of the ticket sales money and converted it for their own use.
They want the judge to dismiss the Motoplex suit.

And I did discover something new - a lawsuit filed by one Marjorie Paula Sasseville filed on Feb.12th, 2013.

Whoever this Marjorie Paula Sasseville is, Ray's wife Edith, has power of attorney for her.  And Ray's wife on behalf of Marjorie, as Power of Attorney,  is suing Ray for $140,000.00 alleging that Ray signed a promissory note for $140K at 12% interest.  What is most interesting to me is that Marjorie lives at the same address as the plaintiff.  Interestingly enough, it is the same address that has always been identified as Ray and Edith Sasseville's home address.

Ray's Address on the lawsuit documents regarding myself.

Address of plaintiff and defendant are the same.

Please support my Defense Fund if you can, and if you can't, please consider sharing my story.
With your support, I will be able to continue the work I do in the riding community.
I deeply appreciate your help.

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider

Thanks to you all...

I want to thank everyone who has donated to my defense fund so far.

(http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/community/bdb-defense-fund)

Because of you, my husband and I were able to have a reasonably peaceful Christmas.

The Sturgis North Entertainment, Ray Sasseville, Joan Hansen suit alleging slander, defamation and libel against me was pushed aside for a few hours because of your comments of support and for those who could, their donation.  Knowing I have the support of my community made a huge difference in the day.

It had been suggested that I put up a donation thermometer so that people could see how close to the goal I am.

Right now, beyond the retainer and some immediate support staff help, I have no idea what the goal should be.

I can tell you that I have raised close to $1,500.00 so far and have been promised 2 -  $500 donations to come by mail.  I know that I will need about $5,000 for my share of the lawyer initially and that I have to pay other people to do research gathering, and time line creation.

I know how much time of mine this is consuming and how it means that other things that I have to do are falling farther and farther behind, and because of my crash in October, they were already behind.

I have no idea where I go after getting through this initial time.

Is $10K the right amount to attempt to raise?
Is 20K and what happens if I raise more than I need.

What then?

I have no idea - none.

I know that my sales are suffering as is my invoicing etc. I know that proposals I have to do are suffering.  All I can do is deep breath and work as steady at it all as I can for as many hours every day that I can.

If anyone has time to help here in Grande Prairie, I could sure use the donation of a few hours of your time! It's tedious and time consuming work reading through the gathered evidence, chronicling it all and having to revisit all of those feelings.  It's a total nuisance that is taking up time and resources that could be put to better use else where. But it is what it is and somehow, I will find a way to meet all my deadlines and keep on keeping on. I just have to.

Someone asked who the lawyer of record is in this lawsuit for the Plaintiff:

Gerhard A. Pyper has been their lawyer since early 2013 at least

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and I hope that 2014 brings you all that your heart desires.

And again, thank you for the words of encouragement and the support, whether you are able to donate or can only share the information about the defense fund, I am deeply grateful.

I am honoured to be a part of this community and the help I am given I promise I will pay forward into the community.

Belt Drive Betty
Rider & Editor

The BEST Christmas Present EVER!

When I got the papers for the lawsuit served to me last Friday a number of things went through my head.

Like many things in life, there are phases of emotions and thought patterns that we all go through.

My very first thought was:
How the hell do I tell my husband?
MS patients do NOT need worry in their lives, that only accelerates the disease's progress.

Then I wondered do I keep this to myself, or do I do the right thing and report on what is going on after all, it is Canadian motorcycle community news and the documents are public record.
Do I announce it to the world and risk loosing advertisers who may not know the whole story?

After those thoughts rolled through my brain, others started flooding me...

Why aren't the other reporters who have been following and reporting on this story been sued?
Why am I included in a lawsuit with so many others?
I thought to myself, why would Sturgis North (which is now Sturgis Canada), Ray Sasseville and Joan Hansen really want to sue me?  They know that my business is just a little community based business and that I really don't have anything, so why? Do these people really consider me a threat?

These are but a few of the questions that have rolled around in my head.

Then came that self pitying time.
What great freaking timing - #&^@%@$
GREAT CHRISTMAS PRESENT.
I'm barely recovered from my motorcycle crash and the costs of that and now this, throwing good money after bad to defend myself. What a nuisance!

Then a calm settled over me.

I decided to listen to my gut and just put the facts out there the way I have done with everything I report on and to ask this community for help.  As that decision settled in my heart, the gut wrenching emotions went away. I was able to get down to the business of gathering the facts.

After I talked to one lawyer friend and sought some initial advice, I spoke with some of the other defendants and began the work of going through the list of the people I had interviewed to do my initial pieces on Sturgis North and Ray Sasseville.

I revisited emails, started copying and filing things for the lawyer.
I did google searches to find all the articles I have done and I uncovered even more news about Sturgis North and Ray Sasseville.

Then I asked my web mistress to build me a defence fund page and link as much of the information as possible all in one place.

On the Belt Drive Betty Defense Fund Page you will be able to read my blog posts, the comments made by others and my responses.
You will be able to see the four pages of the legal documents that pertain to my involvement in this law suit.
And I made a video to explain how I feel about the Sturgis North, Ray Sasseville, Joan Hansen lawsuit against me.

On the Defense Fund page, I offer you the facts as I know them, links to information and ask you to form your own decisions.
(There is so much that I cannot share publicly, the private emails from people asking me for help over money owed to them, the documents that were shared with me, the phone calls from hurt and angry people - all of this needs to stay privileged until they come out in court.)

Then I swallowed my pride and asked you, my community, to support me.

I have already received a number of donations and I am deeply appreciative and blown away by that.
I have received emails, Pm's and phone calls from people willing to swear out affidavits.
I have received emails and letters of support from people who cannot afford to donate to the defense fund but are sharing the story far and wide because they believe in me.

The support and comments have eased my husband's mind immeasurably and they have warmed my heart. It is deeply gratifying to know that the work I do for this community answers a need and really adds value to people's lives.  That alone has made my heart lighter.

I slept really well for the first time in a while, last night.  It's amazing how when you are angry, the sleep you get never makes you feel rested or ready to tackle the day.

To every individual who helps me, I want you to know one thing:
The help you give me today - I SWEAR TO YOU I WILL PAY FORWARD into our community 10 fold.

If you are a rider who owns a business, instead of donating to our fund, perhaps you'll consider becoming an advertiser and help us really spread the news of the Canadian Riding community.

What I am asking for is a hand up - not a hand out.

Belt Drive Betty Media CAN offer you good value for your money, so please, consider becoming a member of our Rider Friendly Business Association as opposed to donating.
Together we can make long term change by helping the riding community get the news it needs.

To all you riders - from now until January 5th - every person who registers on my web site will get a free one year subscription to our newspaper.  Let's grow our communications network wide open.

Get all your friends to REGISTER on my site - www.beltdrivebetty.com - and use the PROMO CODE - I support Belt Drive Betty -  and I'll give them a free newspaper subscription for a year.

My way of saying thank you and growing our information sharing circle. Tell them it's your Christmas present to them....

I want to thank each and every one of you for the BEST Christmas present I could ever have been given during this trying time - YOUR SUPPORT. You have given me a sense of relief, of hope, and you have washed some of the worry off of my husband's brow as well and right now, that means everything because without him, I'd be lost.

Thank you for your love, kindness, warmth and support.

From My house to yours, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and thank you.

PS - Our Beat the PMS Blues Online Show 'n' Shine is coming up and who knows, you could win one of the fabulous prizes we have up for grabs from our fabulous sponsors, Kimpex, Heat Demon, CKX, SHD Enterprises, Bagot Leather Goods, Luggage Plus...this year most of our prizes do not require shipping fees to be paid either!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider