Sidewayspromotions Professional & Amateur AMA flat track racing Northeast

Confessions of a promoter is something I wanted to do for a long time. My good friend and advisor Jennifer Siergza from She Loves Racing.com has a page called “Weekly Thought” which covers many situations. Her thoughts make me think about things when I’m having a rough day. Jennifer here’s a toast of red wine to you for all you do for me and many others in this wild sport we love!
Confessions of a promoter is my personal soapbox. It can range from racing to politics to disabled issues to just plain something or someone that tweaks me out or impresses the shit out of me! Politically correct is not my style.
These are my views and are not influenced by riders, sponsors, lobbyist's!

MARCH 19, 09

IS 'CAT IN THE HAT' A HEALTH DANGER?
From the Associated Press
Jefferson City,MO.
Could a vintage,dog-eared copy of "The Cat in the Hat" or "Where the Wild Things Are" be hazardous to your children?
The Consumer product Safety Commission has raised that possiblility in urging the nation's libraries to take children's books printed before l986 off their shelves while the federal agency investigates whether the ink contains unsafe levels of lead.
Few, if any,libraries are complying, and many librarians are ridiculing the recommendation as alarmist.
Even the nation's premier medical sleuths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, say any danger from lead in children's books is slight.
We're talking about tens of millions of copies of children's books that are perfectly safe. I wish a reasonable, rational person would just say, "This is stupid. What are we doing?" said Emily Sheketoff, executive director of the American Library Association's Washington office.
Lead poisoning has been linked to irreversible learning disabilities and behavioral problems.
A federal law passed last summer and effective Feb. 10 bans lead beyond minute levels in most products intended for children 12 or younger.
It was passed after a string of toy recalls. The CPSC is interpreting the law to include books.
But Jay Dempsey, a health communications specialist at the CDC, said lead-based ink in children's books poses little danger.

This is almost laughable if it weren't so stupid! I listened to an interview with the head of CPSC and she said it's our elected officials job to reverse the vote???????? Typical washington B.S. The following is not just about stimulation but the total arrogance of our elected public servants!

IF THIS IS NOT YOUR CUP OF TEA, DELETE IT, IF IT IS COMPLY!

There's a storm abrewin'. What happens when good, responsible people keep quiet? Washington has forgotten they work for us. We don't work for them. Throwing good money after bad is NOT the answer. I am sick of the midnight, closed door sessions to come up with a plan. I am sick of Congress raking CEO's over the coals while they, themselves, have defaulted on their taxes. I am sick of the bailed out companies having lavish vacations and retreats on my dollar. I am sick of being told it is MY responsibility to rescue people that, knowingly, bought more house than they could afford. I am sick of being made to feel it is my patriotic duty to pay MORE taxes. I, like all of you, am a responsible citizen. I pay my taxes. I live on a budget and I don't ask someone else to carry the burden for poor decisions I may make. I have emailed my congressmen and senators asking them to NOT vote for the stimulus package as it was written without reading it first. No one listened. They voted for it, pork and all.

O.K. folks, here it is. You may think you are just one voice and what you think won't make a difference. Well, yes it will and YES, WE CAN!! If you are disgusted and angry with the way Washington is handling our taxes. If you are fearful of the fallout from the wreckless spending of BILLIONS to bailout and "stimulate" without accountability and responsibility then we need to become ONE, LOUD VOICE THAT CAN B E HEARD FROM EVERY CITY, TOWN, SUBURB AND HOME IN AMERICA. There is a growing protest to demand that Congress, the President and his cabinet LISTEN to us, the American Citizens. What is being done in Washington is NOT the way to handle the economic free fall.

So, here's the plan. On April 1, 2009, all Americans are asked to send a TEABAG to Washinton , D.C. You do not have to enclose a note or any other information unless you so desire. Just a TEABAG. Many cities are organizing protests. If you simply search, "New American Tea Party", several sites will come up. If you aren't the 'protester' type, simply make your one voice heard with a TEABAG. Your one voice will become a roar when joined with millions of others that feel the same way. Yes, something needs to be done but the lack of confidence as shown by the steady decline in the stock market speaks volumes.

This was not my idea. I visited the sites of the 'New American Tea Pary' and an online survey showed over 90% of thousands said they would send the teabag on April 1. Why, April 1?? We want them to reach Washington by20April 15. Will you do it? I will. Send it to; 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington , D.C. 20500 ...

Forward this to everyone in your address book. Visit the website below for more information about the 'New American Tea Party'. I would encourage everyone to go ahead and get the envelope ready to mail, then just drop it in the mail April 1. Can't guarantee what the postage will be by then, it is going up as we speak, but have your envelope ready. What will this cost you? A little time and a 42 or 44 cent stamp.

What could you receive in benefits? Maybe, just maybe, our elected officials will start to listen to the people. Take out the Pork. Tell us how the money is being spent. We want TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. Remember, the money will be spent over the next 4-5 years. It is not too late.

NOV 19. I LIKE THIS ANALOGY: HOW TO CONTROL OUR DESTINY
We need to give the press something to talk about. If that means no brakes, so be it. If that means 4 cylinder motors, so be it. If that means girls in bikinis, so be it. As long as they come to the track and leave wanting to write an article about the fun they had at the flat track it's cool. By the way the sport desperately needs rivals as in heroes and villains. It makes for good press and great T-shirts. Ya know like Harley vs Triumph or Roberts vs Scott. That's just classic. Have we all forgotten?

Racers and I do mean "racers" really need to consider their own personal approach to pro racing as well. They are blowing what little money they make on huge haulers, redundant race bikes, $5000 dollar pit bikes. $2000 custom E-Z ups, $100 sun-glasses and $200 hair cuts. Get real boys and girls. The beauty of this sport lies in it's gritty-ness. We all look like a bunch of spoiled kids to the folks in the stands when we complain. They see the excess and the BS and don't care. They want to see close racing. They want to see racers bangin' handlebars, running over toes and yes, dare I say "falling down". No, they are not blood thirsty and don't want to see riders carted away in a meat wagon. They want to cheer that hard nosed rider who just took a tumble and got back up to battle on. By the way riders. It's OK to tell the promotors you deserve more money but it looks more real if you're not wearing designer shades when you say it. It's hard to cry poor when you look rich.

Management and promotors need to get on the ball too. Of course the fans need large # plates to ID the racers. Of course the fans want a PA system that's clear. Of course the racers need well prepped tracks. Of course the racers need air fences. Of course the races need to start on time. Of course the racers need to be paid well. They are the talent and the draw. Of course we all need clean facilities and good food.

As far as getting started in this sport it's really not much different than any other motor-sport. You start at a local level with what-ever bike you've got and as your skills and equipment progress you start pushing your bounderies. Geographically and financially! If you want to spend lots of money you can do it. Go to American Super Camp. Well worth the investment. If you don't want to spend a lot of money then take your old DT1 to your local short track and sign up for the vintage class. Either way there is no way to learn without getting on a bike and turning laps.(WVR!) If you can find a sand lot or a cow pasture then you're ahead of the game. I grew up in a city where my back yard was about 30 feet by 30 feet. We setup a tiny track and rode our Z-50's every day until dark. After dark we rode our Swinns until dad made us come in. The point is, it's not easy but do it anyway. It's fun!

If you can find a sand lot or a cow pasture then you're ahead of the game. I grew up in a city where my back yard was about 30 feet by 30 feet. We setup a tiny track and rode our Z-50's every day until dark. After dark we rode our Swinns until dad made us come in. The point is, it's not easy but do it anyway. It's fun!

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Its time for American citizens to wake up. The politicians have forgotten who they work for. There have been incidents a few years ago such as ignoring the will of the people who voted to roll back the income tax. The latest shenanigans on Beacon Hill are completely unbelievable. The “phantom voting” goes against the basics of the foundation of America by our forefathers. How long has speaker Dimasi been allowing this to go on? How can we believe the voting records the politicians brag about every year? The scramble is on like vultures to take over his job and his pay raise if he loses his job, which he should. America is at a very critical cross roads right now, the games that most politicians are playing is like a kindergarten class. While the states awash with a huge rainy day fund, the majority refuse to help out the cities and towns. Requests to show where OUR tax dollars go are ignored. My opinion is 80% of the politicians vote according to lobbyist’s contributions and not the will of the people.

A good way to judge your towns state official is to look at the voting record posted in The Worcester Telegram. You will see a definite pattern of who is working for who. Lou Evangelidis and some others on both parties tend to be the lone wolfs working to support our towns and school systems. As the cost of everything is going up daily every person 18 and over needs to be vigilant as to where our money is being spent by our elected officials.

After reading how Joe Kennedy has 2 million dollars in an election account from 1996 I propose a plan. It seems now that some people set up non-profit companies and eventually divert the funds back to themselves. Everyone running for a public office on a state and federal level, across the country, must return their left over campaign funds to the state they are registered in within 1 week after elections. All this money would be divided evenly between the cities and towns in each state to be used in the school systems. Just imagine the millions of dollars from the likes of Mitt Romney and Ted Kennedy going to better the next generation. Millions of dollars from corporations looking for political favors going back to help this country. Another upside is that a new comer who wants to run against one of these career politicians is starting on a level playing field.

In closing, the American public needs to take America back and vote the career corrupt politicians out. We need to get rid of their outrageous pension plan, get them on our social security and health insurance. As to why our U.S. Postal Service spends millions of our dollars advertising, is a topic for another day.

I’ve read the articles about question 1 and feel compelled to explain why I’m voting yes. I understand the state and towns need money to run. Everyone has to live within their budget it seems, except states and the federal government. Besides government employees, teachers unions from outside of Ma are donating huge amounts of money to fight question 1. Why, because they are afraid if it passes in our state it will spread across the country! I’m a proponent of well funded schools but adamantly opposed to the attitude of most of our elected officials regarding our tax dollars. When taxpayers see somebody like Billy Bulger making $250,000 a year retirement, Dianne Wilkerson, Sal Dimasi and other elected/appointed people in trouble gobbling up our tax dollars like pigs at feeding time, enough is enough. One elected public servant was quoted as saying, “Question 1 proponents should show us the waste.” I say to him, “Prove to us where you need it and how much.” Channels 4, 5 and 7 show examples of public waste all the time.
Deval Patrick preached a smaller, leaner Massachusetts during his campaign, it was reported about a month ago that since the new governor the states workforce has grown by almost 2000 people! The state is hiring more people as our population is decreasing. It’s time for the taxpayers of Massachusetts to demand accountability for our money. A yes vote will make our state leaders work on eliminating waste without touching local aid if they look hard enough. A yes vote will bring power and money back to the hardworking taxpayers of this state. Isn’t this the fundamentals our forefathers had in mind when they founded this great country?