From a press release:

Safety First Racing expands educational program to Monterey, CA.

While racing the AMA race weekend at Laguna Seca, Safety First Racing team owner/rider, Kevin Hanson, conducted two safety presentations at the Monterey Park District Youth Camps in front of approximately 170 kids ranging in ages from 5-13 years old. Cindy Vierra, Recreation Superintendent of the Monterey Park District, stated that she was “thankful that Officer Hanson took time out of his weekend to speak to the kids about safety. The kids really enjoyed it and were still talking about the presentations the next day.”

Kevin Hanson, a 10-year veteran police officer with the city of Champaign Police Department in Illinois, founded his “Safety First” program in 2002 in an effort to reduce the number of sports injuries in children, specifically bicycle related head injuries. During his safety presentations, Kevin explains the safety gear he wears as a police officer, motorcycle racer and bicyclist through the use of several visual aids during his presentations which include: his Dunlop sponsored, Suzuki GSX-R1000 racebike that is painted like a police squad car, his previously crashed Suomy helmets and his mountain bicycle. Kevin stated, ” I’ve found that the kids really seem to get the importance of wearing a helmet when I tell an animated story about how I suffered a high-speed crash racing and landed head first wearing my helmet without suffering injury.”

For 2003, Kevin Hanson has already conducted 10 safety presentations. This coming weekend, Kevin will be conducting safety presentations in Champaign, IL at “A Day in the Park” which features an expected audience of 10,000 attendees.

Anyone wishing to contact Kevin Hanson regarding a safety presentation at future 2003 AMA events, please contact him at 217-493-3811.