An automated car wash for motorcycles!

While sifting through the news feeds this morning I came across a real gem!

Mark Harrell, owner of Harrell's Car Wash Systems, a 70-employee operation that operates, builds and sells car-wash systems in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio has invented the first automated motorcycle wash system! Moto Express Wash. The prototype is running in Speedway, and patents are pending.

"It's being tested at Harrell's own business, Dirt Stripper Car Wash at 4980 Crawfordsville Road. He's nearly ready to move forward with production and says that by spring, the wash should be in place at car washes nationwide.

The timing is right for Harrell's invention. Nearly 24 million people in the U.S. own motorcycles, a number that continues to climb as gasoline prices rise.

The response to the invention so far has been incredible, especially since Harrell got a one-of-a-kind endorsement from the king of custom motorcycles, Paul Teutul Sr., star of TLC's hit show "American Chopper." Teutul featured the wash on an August episode."

To read the entire article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008809200381

PROTOTYPE IN USE:
Motorcycles are safely secured before entering the automated, touch-free wash. -
JAMES YEE / The Star

It looks pretty sweet to me and I can see this particular invention going places big time!

I am heading out this morning to the Edson toy run, lots of people from the Grande Prairie region are going to the Peace River Toy Run...no matter what run you are attending in these dying days of the 2008 riding season, please ride like they are out to get you and be safe out there.

Belt Drive Betty

What a great response!

Ali asked to get some people willing to help us testing the new site. We have 10 people! That's amazing - thank you guys for getting involved. We want these newly revamped sites to ROCK!

I am so impressed and pleased with the way they are coming - when this is complete it is going to be an absolute marvel - my hat off to the best biker web mistress around! Ali you kick some serious butt girl!

I can't wait to be able to show them to you all!

Please ride safe....talk you tomorrow!

Belt Drive Betty

New sites coming soon

As you may know, web mistress Ali and I are overhauling the web sites. A huge upgrade to the content management system we use is going to make the way we deliver the news and connect within our community a whole ton easier!

If you notice strange things happening on the site like duplicates of the news or anything a little out of the ordinary it will have been cause by the the migration tools as we move content from the current sites to the upgraded ones.

I can not believe the amount of information we have to move! Holy cow Bat Man...

Anyway, if you have any suggestions for the new look and feel of Belt Drive Betty dot Com or Busted Knuckle News dot Com, speak up - we are always looking for ways to improve what we do.

Have a safe day out there....ride like they are out to get you.

Belt Drive Betty

Sad news

A rider died while on the Medicine Hat Toy Run this past weekend.

The information is in the latest news on www.beltdrivebetty.com or in Busted Knuckle News Central at www.bustedknucklenews.com - My heart goes out to all who have been touched by this incident.

Ali and I are busy moving content and tools into the new web sites....it's a job and a half.

I'm on the run, talk to you all tomorrow!

Ride Safe,

Belt Drive Betty

Toy Runs

September is Toy Run Season & no matter which Toy Run you attend make sure the volunteers get a round of applause and thanks. It takes a lot of work and dedication to put on these events and what a wonderful cause!

Helping children to have a Christmas, to be kids, to dream and believe.....

One of the most rewarding things about being a member of the rider community is the impact for good we riders have on the towns and cities we live in. Toy Runs are only one small but extremely important aspect of the charity work that we as a community get involved in and behind.

The only thing I have been riding this week is the couch. I have the flu, which really sucks because I know it's not long before I have to put my motorcycle to bed for the w_ _ _ _ _.

To those who attended Medicine Hat and Hinton's Toy Runs here in Alberta and the Port Alberni Toy Run out in BC yesterday and to all of you who have attended Toy Runs in your provinces and regions - I salute you - because in my heart of hearts I believe there is no finer cause in the world than making a kids day brighter.

Here in Alberta there are two more Toy Runs today that we know of: Fort Saskatchewan and Calgary.... http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/joomla07/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1310&Itemid=416 for the details.

Ride safe out there.....

Belt Drive Betty

Bike Rallies - If Myrtle Beach has it their way, there won't be any!

The fight is on in Myrtle Beach South Carolina.At issue are 2 motorcycle rallies, The 68 year old Harley Rally
( http://www.chdda.com/events/mbrally.html ) and the 25 year old Black Bike Week.

The good citizens of Myrtle Beach are fed up with the noise, the lewd behaviour (reportedly worse during the Black Bike Week) and the tons of trash produced and public resources that are used. NAACP - I am sure that this group has a lot to do with this whole scenario to begin with!

If you haven't been following this fight and you ride a motorcycle I urge you to get yourself up to speed. Myrtle Beach On Line has a lot of information about the battle. More can be found in the special section called Bikers at the Beach

Here is the link to the Proposed new laws in Myrtle Beach that will affect riders 12 months out of the year: http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/PDF%20Forms/Rally%20Options%20--%20DRAFT.pdf

If these people are allowed to have their way in Myrtle Beach there will be NO show 'n' shines allowed at motorcycle businesses!

Horry County is thinking seriously of banning wet tee shirt contests and the like.

Even residents in Sturgis are getting sick of noise and what they deem disrespect - read the comments on Topix.

Canadian riders - it time to take a hint.

When I was hosting the Canadian Championships in Olds AB - the RCMP and the town forced me to prepare for 25,000 people a day (Which meant an $11K port o pottie bill and all of the other additional requirements preparing for that unrealistic crowd number creates), pay out $10K upfront for enhanced policing costs and all because of the potential for the Hell's Angels MC to show up en mass. The Town of Olds was terrified of the bike show because of the statements of the RCMP and took their recommendations more seriously than any evidence that I produced to the contrary. Because of the excessive and unrealistic demands that were placed on me and the low attendance compared to what I was forced to pay for - NO more bike show.

With population densities on the rise in this country noise pollution becomes an ever bigger issue. Noise is only going to add to the financial costs for event hosts and will cause more and more events to be closed - costs will kill them.

It is up to us and no one else to prevent the negative thinking about our community. How? By learning to be respectful with your throttle hand and to not be one of the attention seeking morons that ruins it for everyone else.

Being a show off, revving your engine unnecessarily, cranking on the throttle real hard, doing burn outs at stop signs and lights, riding too fast through town, riding on one wheel - these things reflect negatively on everyone in our community because there are a hell of a lot more NON riders out there than there are riders.

When you ride like a jerk you do so because you think it is your right - well guess what, your thinking is misguided. The constitution of the USA and the Charter of Freedoms and Rights in Canada are written in such a way to express that:
Your rights and freedoms stop when you step on the rights and freedoms of others.
Freedoms & Rights come with HUGE responsibility.

If you want to keep the right to ride a customized bike - then you need to exercise that right with discretion and respect.

It is up to us as we are the ones who ride. The more we encourage or laugh at people who do dumb assed things that hurt our rights the more our rights go down the toilet as laws are enacted to curb the bad behaviour.

So what can you, the respectful enthusiast do to help protect our right to ride? Apply some peer pressure, educate errant riders, don't give them the attention they seek.

You are not a cool person when you show off in public places that are not sanctioned to host and event - so just because you see 30 bikes at Tim Horton's as you go by does not mean you have the right to do a wheelie to entertain us or see how loud you can make your pipes bark so the riders in the parking lot notice you. That behaviour is not only unsafe and unwise - it's disrespectful and makes non riders think all riders are disrespectful and all of the good things we do in our communities get forgotten.

Read, educate yourself and then educate others, The world is changing and if we want to have a motorcycle community in this country we need to change with it. These communities that are becoming anti bike don't care that they will loose the money you spend - they want some order, some respect - and they deserve it. They have some very valid and legitimate beefs.

The ONLY PEOPLE who can change the tidal wave of negative opinions towards the motorcycle community is the members of this community.

And that is my two bits worth on this topic today!
As always, your thoughts and opinion on this subject are welcomed and appreciated.

Ride safe no matter what Toy Run or event you are attending this weekend.

Belt Drive Betty

Elections.....

What is important to you as a voter?

Who catches your interest in this upcoming Canadian election?

What party exemplifies your ideals and desires?

Which leader, which party can you trust?

How are American politics and their election going to affect Canada?

So many questions - no answers.

The leaders will debate, they will glad hand and kiss babies in an attempt to show you they are just like you - but are they? Really?

There is not one politician in this election that makes me feel like they are going to do a decent job in this country, so what to do?

I wish that there was a lobbying group for motorcyclists issues. I wish that we could find a leader that thought like a rider....but the closest thing to a rider we have is the PM's wife...I wonder if she has any influence and how could we get her to bring some our visible minority issues to the table?

I know I will vote, but at this moment there is no one catching my heart or imagination. It will be entertaining at the very least to see what the leaders say in the debates....as this is probably where I will decide who I am voting for.

The future of our country and it's economic situation rest with the election - who inspires you? Why?

I'd love some help in choosing who to vote for!

Stay safe out there....

Belt Drive Betty