Roadracing World Action Fund coffers have filled with donations from very familiar sources, each intent on keeping motorcycle racing safety a priority – road racing organizations holding ongoing auctions and fundraisers, businesses with per-sale donation programs, and individuals in the roadracing community who donate over and over again through the years. The overall total collected now stands at $546,153.12, $503,349.12 designated for road race and $42,804 for dirt track.
Dale Blackman’s recent donation of $1000 to the Roadracing World Action Fund came with a message: “Thanks for the soft landing!” His donation was motivated by gratitude – and the realization that he could have been hurt far more badly in a recent crash at a Summit Point NESBA track day had the Roadracing World Action Fund soft air barriers not been deployed that day, in preparation for a WERA race at the track. But the 120-mph low-side that sent Blackman flying into the soft-barrier protected wall at Turn Four resulted in just a broken pinky finger for the NESBA member and track day enthusiast.
“I saw the (Roadracing World Action ) Fund before but never gave it too much thought,” Blackman said in a recent phone call. He said that now he is doing what he can to help the cause, telling all his NESBA friends about the Fund and encouraging them to donate. Blackman also says that he will help with care and deployment of soft barriers at track days whenever possible.
The Midwest Cafe Racing Association contributed $2000, the total collected at fundraisers throughout 2006. Treasurer Ron Gordon wrote: “We assist CCS with the transportation, maintenance, and set-up of Airfence at various locations/events around the Mid-West region. This will be an ongoing fundraiser in the future years so I am pleased to say that you should expect to see annual contributions of varied amounts to the fund. Gladly we don’t have any pictures, commentaries, or testimonials from those who have actually benefited from the Airfence being placed on the road course, but everyone out on the track is surely appreciative of seeing it there. I can’t say how glad we (MCRA/CCS and all the racers in the Mid-West) are that we have this relationship with such a worthy cause, but we can show it with our continued support.”
The WERA BBS auction continues, with contributors Lee McCurdy ($100) and Richard Thompson participating. Thompson’s two winning bids (for a Pirelli Hat and Josh Hayes’ leather suit) netted $2325, and he added an additional $1001 “In Honor of Grandma Bono,” bringing his grand total to $3326.
USGPRU has donated a total of $500, $250 for dirt track and $250 for road race, in memory of racer Ethan Gillim.
Indy Superbikes has an ongoing campaign selling Action Fund wristbands for $2 each. With its latest donation of $1000, Indy Superbikes total now stands at $4000. T2 Tire Warmer’s has pledged $10 per set sold, and so far has donated $870. And Chris Ulrich’s Roadracingworld.com Bike Jersey fundraiser has brought in $2,250 to date.
Repeat contributors include Eric C. Robinson, whose four separate donations of $25 each – $5 for dirt track and $20 for road race – now total $100. For the third year in a row donations of $100 each were received from Logan Young and his parents, Sherrie and Bob Young, their collective overall total since 2001 reaching $800. Elaine Seasley and Michael Arenella each participate in their employers’ payroll deduction charity programs, donating $78 and $66.92, respectively this time around. Darren Talbott, named Roadracing World Action Fund’s Most Frequent Contributor, has donated $150, his 16th donation bringing his grand total to $1,355.
But our top contributors for this posting are first-time contributors, long-time racer Luther Wikle and his wife Libby, with a donation of $5000. Luther Wikle recently teamed with sons Russell Wikle and Luke Wikle (competing as Wikle Racing,) and finished seventh in the WERA National Endurance race at Miller Motorsports Park. It was the first endurance race for Luke Wikle since April of 2006, when he, an infantryman in the U.S. Marines Corps Reserve, was deployed to Iraq, where he was wounded in combat.
The Roadracing World Action Fund, Inc. is a 501(3)c not for profit organization and donations are tax deductible.
To help save lives and prevent injuries at racetracks, donate online at http://actionfund.roadracingworld.com/, call 800-464-8336 or send your tax deductible donation to:
Roadracing World Action Fund P.O. Box 1428 Lake Elsinore, CA 92531
Summary of Recently Posted Contributions
(Contributor comments and dedications are included below with their listing. Total overall contribution appears in parentheses.)
Road Race
Luther Wikle $5000
Richard Thompson $2325 ($3326)
WERA BBS Auction Action Fund Jersey Sales $2250
Midwest Cafe Racing Association $2000
Richard Thompson $1001 ($3326)
In Honor of Grandma Bono Red Flag Fund $1000
In Memory of Bill Ritger Dale Blackman/NESBA $1000
“Thanks for the soft landing.” Indy Superbikes $1000 ($4000)
Mike Wright $500 ($1000)
Shun Kwong/Ducati Omaha $500 ($1500)
USGPRU $250 In Memory of Ethan Gillim
Kurveygirl.com $470 ($900)
Allen B. Campbell $400
WERA BBS Auction T2 Tirewarmers $870 “T2’s promised per-sale contribution”¦keep up the good work!”
Alexandra Krueger $150 “For all my peeps.”
Christopher M. Brown $150 ($600)
Jeff Storjohann $150 ($300)
Michael Gougis $165 ($265)
Ronnie Gyure $100
Morris Foor $100
Sean P. Clarke $100
Ted Rich $100
NPR Ducati $100
Steve Daniels $100
Loren Chun $100 ($200)
Gary Rand $100 ($ 401 ) In Memory of Rusty Bradley
Paul Onley $100
Michael Daigle $100
Lee McCurdy $100 ($150)
WERA BBS Auction Hernan R. Martinez $100
Paul R. Duckart $100
Bob & Sherrie Young $100 ($400)
Logan Young $100 ($400)
Ryan Meade $100 “To help protect all racers.”
John Allen $100 “Thanks for helping to make our sport safer.”
Scott Nelson $100 “Airfence rocks!”
Elaine Seasley $78 ($296.80)
Michael Arenella $66.92 ($188.92)
Joe & Jane Vital $50
Richard Barnett $50 ($150) In Memory of Chris McCauley, WSMC #515
NPR Ducati $50 In Memory of Charles “Bud” Turner
Judy Freer, Barbara Josey and Arlene Mc Carty $50 In Memory of Charles “Bud” Turner
Clarence & Virginia Flory $50 In Memory of Arlene Manning Yurejefcic
Sam Shiller $50 ($100)
Simon Whalley $50 In Honor of MARRC
Upside Software $50 “To Van Salt from your friends at Upside Software. Safe riding.”
Ed Key $50
Ryan Raven $50
Thomas P. Cooney Jr. $50
James Curtis $50
Gino Marliani $50 “Keep up the great work! Had a buddy at Summit Main who benefited greatly from your efforts. thanks again!”
Paul Hofmann $40
Michael Arenella $30.50 ($122)
David J. Howell $27 Donation from sales of Dzus fasteners to WERA racers
Richard Budd $25
Lance Brannon $25
Charles Gallant $25
Jason Mc Fadin $25 ($50) “Thanks Darren Talbott, again!”
Michael Scalcione $25 Dedicated to LoDownSinner
Joseph Chiarella $25
Stephen Clark $25
Richard Bauder $25 In Memory of Arlene Manning Yurejefcic
Carl Nightengale $25 ($114)
Scott Hall $25
Ian Miller $25
Andrew D. Grace $25
Jeremy Pupillo $25 “I wish I could give more, but since my son races, we do what we can. I felt that I should start giving to the fund when possible, because God forbid something happened…maybe my $25 would make a difference in whether a rider walks away from a crash or not. Next year, I will offer a percentage of any sponsorship money we receive to the fund because I believe it’s important cause. Keep up the good work and thanks for caring.”
Owen Hayes Calvert $25
Benjamin Wieberdink $25 “Thanks for doing what you guys do.”
Edward Moore $25 “To all of the brave riders. A little less risk.”
John M. Angelini $25
Rollie Manollie/PAsportbikes $25
Eric C. Robinson $20 ($80)
Chris Lane $10 ($110)
Brad Baker $10
Dirt Track USGPRU $250 In Memory of Ethan Gillim
Eric C. Robinson $5 ($20)
June 20, 2007
Accounting Details to Date Road Racing Expenditure Details
Direct purchase of soft barriers: $313,445; Shipping/Customs: $24,455.44; Bank Fees: $384.05; Air Fence* Deployment Crew Training: $700; Transportation & Installation: $7,069.78; Corporation/Business Fees: $982; Online Auction Fees: $221.99; Printing Education Materials – $346.42; Misc Supplies: $39.59; Donation to AMA Pro Racing for Air Fence: $104,104; Red Flag Fund/Fundraiser split – $4500
Total Spent: $456,248.27; Total Donations Collected $503,349.12; Misc. Income $118.31
Cash on hand: $47,219.16
Dirt Track Expenditure Details
Direct purchase of soft barriers: $34,500; Shipping/Customs: $2717.72; Transportation & Installation $2174.77
Total Spent: $39,392.49
Total collected: $42,804
Cash on hand: $3,411.51
All administrative costs, including the percentage taken by credit card companies on credit card donations, have been absorbed by Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
*Trademark of Airfence Safety Systems Australia.