2nd Annual Military Appreciation Day is a HIT!!!

When I made the drive to Pueblo, I have to admit my inner-burning for this event was drained. i had a couple of last minute backer-outters and the drive sucked down a lot of fuel as I pulled the nearly empty 5 place enclosed Haulmark trailer. As the gale force winds picked up at the track in the morning - the feeling got worse... then God came and turned it all around.

We started riding our bikes in about the worst wind I've seen at a track in a long time. We even had a rider get blown off the raceway and down the access road out of turn 7. WOW! Part of me thought - "this is just dumb" -- but the other part of me knew my obligation.

Later, Sgt. Pennell arrived with his wife and daughter. If seeing and talking to the guy your holding the event for doesn't get you choked up... seeing the looks on his family's face will. The weather cleared up and with the support of Chicane Track Day's Scott Rybarik and Vanmar's Mark Schellinger, the day got a flow to it.

The car folks seemed to have a blast too. There were Corvettes, Loti (sp? multiple Lotus'), a Classic Mustang and a whole herd of newer Ponies. Cool stuff.

In the end, we raised over $3800.00 for this American Hero. Let me put this in perspective. He's doing his job in Iraq - disarming a roadside bomb... while we're home complaining about the economy. A few punks roll up and toss armor piercing grenades and him and his friends. One cat lost his arms, another lost a leg below the knee - poof! Sgt Pennell took damage to his tookus, resulting in lower leg damage -- 61 operations later and they are still cuttlng off the bottom of his right leg!

This is what the event is about - Mark your calendars for next season... you guessed it - September 11th.

About Pueblo Motorsports Park Pueblo Motorsports Park is a nationally recognized racing facility designed to handle racecars, streetcars, motorcycles, karts, and police cars. Visit www.pueblomotorsportspark.net for more information and track details.

About Free Track Day Free Track Day, in its second year of operation, bases most of its activities at Sandia Motorsports Park, Albuquerque, NM. With a cause of providing "scholarship track sessions" to newer sportbike riders between the ages of 18-24, Free Track Day offers on-demand private lessons as well as combination classes up to 5 riders per coach. The lead coach is Kurt von Ahnen, a former AMA/CCS, WERA, MRA, and FUSA competitor as well as a current SMRI license holder. He is also a certified MSF Coach. Free Track Day http://www.freetrackday.com registration@freetrackday.com 866-795-5868

About FAASST Performance Driving School Faasst Performance Driving School, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is an SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) accredited and NASA (National Auto Sports Association) racing school and high performance driving school. Courses are offered at tracks located throughout the country and are designed for SCCA club racers, NASA club racers, PDX, time trial & HPDE drivers, solo drivers, rally/hill climb drivers, young adults and owners of high performance street machines. For more information visit: www.faasst.com or call 719-761-1372.

Free Track Day is Networking with Area Dealers.

Check with your local favorite dealer and see if they are working with Free Track Day to throw their own track day. A few of the dealers here in town have expressed an interest in having us provide them with an exclusive race track presence.

They "sponsor" the day and Free Track Day has their clients out for an introductory orientation session, providing as needed mentorship from there. Some dealers are providing their own food - while others are letting Free Track Day throw it down.

What are Bible Bikes???

Introduction

For the last two race seasons, I have been operating Free Track Day as a safety oriented sportbike school while subtly delivering the “Good News” through my demeanor at the track – and my John 316 Suzuki GSXR750. Earlier this season, I began in a direction to heavily expand the program but have since devised a way for more players to participate for less capital investment. My goal is to “Make our streets safer, growing the sport of performance riding, with the positive message of Christ's Good News on our team”.

The Concern to Overcome

One of the obstacles to growth that my school has is equipment. While there are plenty of motorcycle enthusiasts that have an interest in track riding… that interest is overwhelmingly outweighed by the desire to NOT use their own bike. Once a rider is acquainted with the raceway however, one is pressed to keep them from attending additional events with their personal machine.

I would also like to expand my sphere of effectiveness geographically. Again, equipment is an issue. If I had track prepared machines ready for out of town students, I could just fly them in to the Sunport saving them the cost and hassle of travel with their own machine.

In both instances, I believe the availability of track prepared machines to our future clients will greatly increase my saturation within the industry. A saturation that is based on a message stressing proper gear and proper instruction combined with the subtle message of Christ in a vastly un-churched demographic. This project needs more traffic and I have a plan.

The Plan (and FUN for the players)

My John 316 Suzuki has turned a few heads over the last few seasons (Started in 2007 with the SMRI). It hit me really hard, then the economy played into my favor in regard to the equipment issue. My GSXR750 is a very formidable track weapon, especially for a newer track rider… yet the replacement value of the bike is greatly underestimated in our current economic climate.

I am very familiar with these machines and like so many professional racers before me… have come to trust the brand. I have decided to enlist as much help as it takes to gain a fleet of this generation Suzuki GSXR750. If I stay between 2000 – 2003 model years, I have the benefit of interchangeability plus a fabulous Horsepower to Dollar ratio. Many race series have dulled down the Heavyweight classes choosing to promote either 600cc or 1000cc racing. Again, another trend bending pricing in my favor.

A fleet of 5 track prepped motorcycles fits the plan, as 5 students is the magic number for teaching at Sandia Motorsports Park. Here's the FUN:

•  Just $5000.00 covers one bike and projected maintenance for one season

•  We only “buy” the bike once – consequential seasons are just maintenance.

•  Maintenance is Tires, Oil, Filters, Brake Pads, and occasional paint/decal work.

•  Each bike is its own BIBLE VERSE

•  Look on the cover – see John with the Sagebrush Logo? Bike No. 316

•  Donating individuals pick the verse they want to communicate on their bike.

•  Picture a fleet of clean white bikes shouting the Word

•  Each bike would also feature marketing provided by its contributor

Additional Marketing and Exposure

As former Public Relations person for a successful Non-profit in motorsport, I am familiar with how to spread the message of our product. With the regional and hopefully national launch of our program, we will have access to local media like KOAT, KRQE and the Daily Buzz. We will also have access to national motorsports publications such as Roadracing World, Cycle News, and Roadracer X Illustrated.

Beyond media, I also anticipate a High School tour taking our message to the students regarding the importance of safety gear and instruction before getting into our sport. My target demographic for this project – training wise – is 18-24 year old new riders.

Currently, our military is pairing up with sportbike track classes like mine due to the disheartening loss of life AFTER combat… riding a sportbike. Our youth is looking for the excitement that motorcycle track riding can give, only they don't realize its available. Instead they are falling all over our mountains and highways. Help me spread the Good News and the message of safety.