News

Aug 13, 2008 - Registration

Just a reminder that Online Registration closes at midnight on Thursday.

Saturday Registration: Opens 8:15 AM and closes at 12:00 Noon
Sunday Registration: Opens 8:15 AM and closes at 9:30 AM

SATURDAY ONLY: For those riders who have registered and prepaid - you
can pick up your paperwork at
tech UNTIL 10 AM ONLY. AFTER 10 AM AND ONLY UNTIL 12 NOON - YOU CAN
PICK UP YOUR PAPER WORK AT REGISTRATION IN THE CAFETERIA.

Also reminder for those requiring refunds - refunds must be submitted
before racing starts at 10:20 a.m. Sunday. Registration closes in the
cafeteria at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays but the registrar will be in the tower
for the remainder of the day.

Thanks for your help! Kim

Aug 13, 2008 - A great article on the mechanics and etiquette of passing

Riders,

Please take a moment to visit this link and read a great article on the art of passing:

http://www.tz250racing.com/The_Art_of_Passing.php

Jul 30, 2008 - August 10 Fundraiser for Dale Yamada

2004 CMRA Superbike Champion Dale Yamada was seriously injured June 18 in Calgary when he was hit by a car on his motorcycle. Dale sustained serious injuries which include a broken pelvis, 3 broken vertebrae, a broken tailbone, serious internal injuries and compound fractures of both bones in his lower left leg. After two weeks in ICU and a week in the trauma unit at Foothills hospital in Calgary, Dale was moved on July 8 to the Carewest Facility beside the Rockyview Hospital, where he will spend the next 4 to 8 weeks recovering from his injuries.

A fund-raiser for Dale and his family will be held on Sunday August 10 at 4303 9 Street SE in Calgary from noon to 6 pm. Everyone is welcome at this event - there is no admission fee but you can make a donation to register for door prizes and there will be a silent auction. There is a show and shine, and it would be great to have a bunch of our CMRA race bikes on display to show our support for Dale. Volunteers are needed, so if you would like to help out at the event contact madjapfriends@gmail.com

See the poster below for more details.

Jul 16, 2008 - Ride to Work Day

6th Annual Event extols virtues of commuting by motorcycle

Do you have a motorcycle or scooter? Perhaps you’re thinking of getting one for those workday commutes?

Ride to Work Day’ is happening today - Wednesday, July 16!

“Ride to Work Day is an international event focused on the benefits of riding motorcycles and scooters,” says Brad Watson, founder of the TC Riders and coordinator of TransCanada’s participation in the event. “Our event also raises funds for Richard’s Ride for Asthma Awareness.”

The fund is in memory of Richard Dawson, aged 19, a graduate from St. Mary’s High School in Calgary, who lost his life to a fatal asthma attack in 1994. His family established Richard’s Ride for Asthma Research to raise awareness and educate other young people about this potentially life-threatening disease.

Monies raised will be directed towards asthma awareness programs within the Calgary community.

This year’s Calgary event, sponsored by H&R Property Management, includes:

Free motorcycle parking from 6:30 am to 5:00 pm at the base of the TransCanada Tower for all motorcycle riders. Register at the table set up outside the 1st Street SW entrance. Advance registration is not required.
Representatives from Richard’s Ride for Asthma Awareness will be on hand between 11:00 am to 1:00 pm to accept donations and provide information.
Celebrity bike judging takes place between 11:00 am and 12:00 pm. Local celebrities and TransCanada leaders will be on hand to pick their favourite motorcycle or scooter!
Employees are invited to select their favourite bike as well through the “People’s choice award”. Select your favourite between 12:00 and 12:45 pm. Awards and door prizes for participants will follow at 12:45 p.m.
All participating riders will leave for a group ride to Water Valley at 4:00 pm.

Employees working outside the Calgary area are encouraged to participate in Ride to Work Day in your own community. More information is available at http://www.ridetowork.org/

(CMRA posters were given out at this event, and promotional tickets were presented to each rider who attended the event. Tim Johnson had his race bike on display, and CMRA racer Paul Slack's wife was also on hand volunteering for the event! If there is a community event in your area that you can use to promote the CMRA, contact Tim Johnson to find out how we can promote our sport and get more fans in the stands!)

Jul 14, 2008 - CMRA Round 3, July 13, 2008

There were a lot of wild rides in Calgary this weekend! While the calf-ropers and bull riders were wrapping up the rodeo at the Stampede, CMRA competitors rode their own twisting, bucking rides to the half-way mark of the 2008 season.

With May’s rain out of the way and the first couple of dry weekends under your belts, I hope the new riders are starting to develop their skills, sort out their bikes, and really start to have a good time ripping it up on the roadcourse! As for the seasoned veterans, never before has the club had several riders in the 1:18’s, and the level of competition this year has been outstanding. Congratulations to all of the winners, and everyone who reached a personal best – racing is all about improving yourself each time out so keep working at it.

A BIG HUGE THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who came out for a sunny Round 3 - it was a great weekend. We are very fortunate to have so many enthusiastic volunteers come out to help organize and support our events – on behalf of the club and all the riders, my sincere thanks to all of you. If you saw a volunteer who did something extra special to help out in the past month or at Round 3, send your nomination for a “Thanks Award” to cmra@roadracing.org so that we can recognize their contribution!

The CMRA is also looking for nominations for Rider of the Month for Round 3! Rider of the Month awards are intended to recognize a big improvement on the track, placing well in the races, or doing something special to help out your fellow riders. Make sure you provide a good description of why your nominee deserves to be "Rider of the Month", and send in your suggestions to cmra@roadracing.org

With a nice five week break ahead of us, I hope that you all get some nice relaxing holidays in, and have lots of time to do some bike maintenance and training before Round 4, August 16-17. Enjoy the summer and safe riding…

Tim Johnson, CMRA President

Jun 19, 2008 - Round 2 Update

Well, the weather gods are finally smiling on the CMRA and it is looking like a great weekend for racing! We will be following our regular schedule and hoping for some great dicing and friendly competition between the racers. Make sure to have all your friends come out and support you as you make your run for the prestigious CMRA points in your class. It should be a full grid with many of our regular racers as well as some first time visitors from the EMRA. Make sure you show all of our guests our famous Calgary hospitality. Trayr Gabert has invited the Jack Street Punks to be there with some live radio time on Jack FM. Also our supporters from Parks Foundation, Calgary, and Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation will be visiting so let's make them feel welcome!

CMRA refund cheques will be available on Saturday at the track. Please register for your Rnd 2 events in advance and pay the full amount using PayPal.

A couple of quick house keeping requests. Race City has advised that we cannot line up on the street to the north towards 114^th Ave at any time - it is a traffic hazard on the main road. Entrants must go to the south parking lot, turn around and line up from the south. Also, for the new racers, we noticed some safety wire clippings on the ground. These will puncture yours or someone else’s tires. One way to deal with wire is to use an empty water bottle to discard your clippings then put the cap on before putting in the trash. On the same topic of trash, we will be handing out bags again, and remember - do not leave VP cans, or old tires at the track, and put away your pit area plywood back in the stack you got it from. Lets leave the track and pit area cleaner than we found it.

The CMRA wishes all competitors tremendous success and a safe weekend. Remember, it is still early in the season and we all don’t have our “race form” totally back from last season. Pass safely, it is your responsibility to get around a slower rider safely and the officials will be watching closely to ensure safe and fair behavior.

Most of all, have fun! Who knows what the next events will have for weather so this could be one of the best weekends of the year!

Thanks all,

Joe P., CMRA V.P.

May 24, 2008 - Racing on for Sunday

Heavy rains in the Calgary area resulted in large amounts of standing water at Race City Motorsport Park. Also in no small part due to the weather, there was a very poor turnout of corner worker volunteers. As a result, a difficult decision was made to cancel Saturday practice. Rains came and went throughout the day, flooding most of the apex's on the roadcourse.

CMRA President Tim Johnson commented "We sure are hoping for clearer weather for Sunday. It was pretty disappointing for everyone to cancel practice today, but I am optomistic that we will be able to run tomorrow. I also hope that the riders will be able to bring more volunteers as well, as we can't run a successful event without them."

Race Director Stu McColl indicated that races will likely be shortened from 10 laps to 8, in order to provide a bit more time for practice Sunday morning. Racing is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m., so dress warm, bring an umbrella, and come out to "catch a wave" on Sunday!

May 22, 2008 - Rain or Shine, Round 1 is On!

Get your rain tires and rain suits out - CMRA Round 1 is on despite the weather! The BGPR school used a wet track on Saturday and reports are that it is suitable for wet racing. The schedule for the weekend may be found here. Dress warmly in layers and bring additional dry clothes!

A few tips:

- “Fog City” makes an excellent no-fog visor strip, but if you can’t find those crack your shield open a bit to vent fresh air in.

- Be SMOOTH on the controls – brakes, steering, and watch the throttle on the front straight!

- wear RAIN GEAR – no one likes wet leathers, and although at 250+ km/hr the rain will find a way in, some protection is better than none! Remember that hump on your back means you need XXL jackets to fit over your leathers. Plastic bags and duct tape are a last resort!

- Make sure you bring a tent or canopy, and walls are a must. 8’ x 10” blue plastic tarps from Cdn Tire and some zip ties make great walls, but watch out for wind gusts and tie everything down well.

- If you need tire changes – don’t leave it ‘til the last minute as everyone else in the paddock will be doing the same thing as you! If you have tire irons and a bead breaker, bring them along to keep your “rubber destiny” in your own hands as there is only one Angus MacNeil…

- If the track partially dries, DOT’s may be the “intermediate” solution, but stay away from slicks! Cutting your own grooves in tires is not recommended unless you have the right tools.

- Bring rubber boots – you never know when you might have to move some air fence where there is a huge puddle.

- BRING A VOLUNTEER.

May 14, 2008 - Volunteers!

Urgent Notice to CMRA Racers! We are still looking for people to work in technical inspection for the 2008 season. Without tech inspection, no one goes on the track, so it is in your best interest to find some mechanically inclined people who can inspect racing motorcycles for a couple of hours Saturday mornings, and the chief inspector needs to be available throughout the weekend.

We are also looking for additional help in timing and scoring. This position requires that you can learn to run a simple computer based timing system and work with a small team to time our practice and race events.

And of course, we are always need more corner workers, pre-grid marshalls, and rescue personnel! Make sure you bring a volunteer to the track - we cannot race without them!

If you know of someone who is interested in these positions, please contact your Director of Volunteers, Stu McColl. There are lots of perks - free admission, lunch is provided, and you get the best seats in the house! Training Day is Saturday May 17 - while new riders are learning the track, our new volunteers are instructed on their roles as officials.

Also don't forget that this Saturday May 17 at 11:00 a.m. we need to load and transport about 400 bales to the track, and we'll only have from 12:00 - 1:00 to do it. If you are not instructing that day, bring a friend and a truck and lets "Git Er Done!". Practice for Rnd 1will not begin until all of these bales are deployed, and we do not have access to the track unless we have a CMRA event there as it is fully booked every day and most evenings. On the bright side, lunch (subs) will be provided, so come on out and enjoy the sunshine while protecting yourself from nasty concrete walls! See you there!

May 15 Bale Update:

Thanks to Kel Davidsen, Manny Lee, and Carey Fougere for helping me take another 100 bales onto the track on Thursday after the BGPR track night! Great job guys! Only 300 bales left to go...

May 11, 2008 - STRAW BALING THANK YOU!

A sincere thank you to everyone who volunteered and busted their butt straw baling today. Thanks especially to Joe P for helping make it possible by ordering the bales, bags, and picking up zip ties, and Kel Davidsen for lending us a great truck. We got a lot done:

- all 500 brand new bales are bagged (~450 sitting in the paddock),

- cleaned the old bales out of the chute (ready for new air fence),

- put new bales at the entrance to hot pit lane,

- the right hand wall at the end of the carousel is all re-bagged (right side of corner 10),

- most of the bales going up the hill into 9 on the right side are re-bagged,

- new bales are in place to protect the bus stop corner worker station,

- outside of corner 4 is rebagged and complete,

- outside of 6 has all the old bales removed, and some of the new ones in place,

The following people worked tirelessly from 1 to 7:30 (on Mothers Day!!) to make Race City a safer track for us all:

Trayr Gabert, Joe P, Tim Johnson & Kim, Kelly & Ariana Gingras & Tori Greaves, Bill & Gail Gerber, Joe Pal, Brent Gillen, Dave Dunbar, Bill Rodgers, Peter Meier, Gary Lee, Chris Crump, Taylor King & Jessica Z, Guy Thomlinson Sr., Rob Darlington & Shelley S, Peter Meier, Edwin Herrenschmidt & Heather. (my apologies for spelling errors and please let me know if I missed you!)

Remaining work:

Since we used all 1000 new bags, we will place the new bales in:

- corner 6 (need to cover the wall where we removed old bales)

- exit of the bus stop and exit of the chicane (place new bales in front of old bales).

Once the new bales are all out, we will evaluate how many (if any) new bags we need to acquire to re-bag bales at the exit of the bus stop and/or chicane.

Next Baling Date: We will use the lunch hour of the school Saturday May 17 to get some of the new bales on to the track. If you are not instructing or otherwise helping with the school, please be at the track with trucks at 11:00 to load up your trucks with bales, and at the start of the noon lunch break we will roll those trucks to put out the new bales. If we don’t get finished at lunch, we will have another hour from 4-5 p.m. If the bales are not all out by then, practice will not start Saturday May 24 until the bales are all out.

THANK YOU again to all who came – I was extremely impressed with the amount we accomplished and the dedication of everyone who helped out! Looking forward to a new crew on the 17^th!

May 7, 2008 - Baling Starts Sunday May 11 1:00 p.m.

Strawbaling Sunday May 11 1:00 pm

Want to earn "free" tickets to the races? Don't forget that every two hours of volunteering gets you a ticket!

Big M plastics in Lethbridge has batched our plastic bags job with another, and we will have our bags this Friday. As a result, the CMRA can do strawbaling on Sunday May 11. There is a track rental on the roadcourse until 4 pm, but we can bag the 500 new bales in the paddock area from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m., then after 4 we can get on the roadcourse spend another few hours re-bagging torn bales around the track and deploying the new bales.

We need your help so bring your friends! Work clothes, boots, a utility knife and work gloves will come in handy. Remember racers – the bale you place may be the one that saves you!

Apr 20, 2008 - Track Clean-Up and Baling

With only three weekends remaining before the CMRA race school, WE NEED YOU!
After a recent visit to the track, Carey Fougere found that many straw bales need re-bagging, as the sun has deteriorated the plastic bags. Bales are critical to riders' safety, and many of the bales will need to be re-bagged.

We are searching for a supplier of ultra-violet resistant plastic bags, so if anyone has a contact please let Joe P know.
Although we cannot plan exact dates until we get new plastic bags in our hands, remember to leave time in your schedule to come out and bag some bales the weekends of May 3-4 and May 10-11.

In addition to straw baling efforts, Rick Francescone of the Calgary Motorsports Association is looking for volunteers to do some spring clean-up at the track. Mowing the grass and painting curbs make our events much safer and look more professional!
Check this website and the CMA website for more details and dates.

Apr 16, 2008 - Need Help with Registration?

Lost in cyberland? Can't figure out what to register for?
Help is on the way! The CMRA Registrar Kim Jones is offering direct help for people registering for CMRA events. If you have questions about how the CMRA registration website works, how to use PayPal to pay for your events, or any other queries regarding school, practice, or race registration and licensing, just contact Kim Jones.
If your question is complicated, just provide your phone number and Kim will call you back when she has a spare moment. Kim is working hard to make your weekend run smoothly, so do her (and yourself!) a favor and register early via the website - it is a whole lot easier to do it online than at the track!

Apr 4, 2008 - General Meeting - Monday May 05, 2008

Monday May 05, 2008 is the next CMRA General meeting, starting at 7:00 pm at Yuk Yuk's in the Blackfoot Inn, 5940 Blackfoot Trail SE, Calgary. It's the last meeting before our 1st round, so get ready for major updates about the reace school, hay baling, state of Race City, last minute registration, and a joke or two from Stu's own brew!
2008 Race Licenses can be picked up at the meeting from Kim Jones. Volunteers, members, and new people are all welcome!
Hope we'll see y'all there!

Apr 4, 2008 - Racecity tax assessment - alderman response

Our good friend and sharp shooter Roger Bryant contacted his alderman regarding the City's tax assessment of Racecity.
The following PDF is what he received... it looks like there's hope at the end of the straight away!

Racecity tax assessment

Feb 29, 2008 - March General Meeting

Monday March 3, 2008 is the CMRA Annual General meeting, starting at 7:00 pm at Yuk Yuk's in the Blackfoot Inn, 5940 Blackfoot Trail SE, Calgary. Come find out what's happening in your club and see what your fellow racers are up to! The deadline for retaining your 2007 race number is also March 3, however remember that the best way to register and make payment is online. Hope to see you all there - maybe someone can bring a video! Volunteers, members, and new people are all welcome!

Feb 18, 2008 - World of Wheels Volunteers

The annual Calgary "World of Wheels" exhibition will be held on Feb 22-24, 2008 at the Round-up Centre. The newly formed "Calgary Motorsports Association" (CMA) will have a booth in the show to promote the need for a racing facility in the Calgary area, and the benefits of motorsports activities in the Calgary community. This is a great opportunity for CMRA members to get out there and plug the fun and safety benefits of our racing events and our club.

The CMRA is providing a DVD of bikes to play in the booth during the show, and our poster will be displayed at the booth. There will be a petition regarding the need for a motorsports facility and a fuel petition available for signing at the booth.

CMRA members who are interested in promoting the need for a roadcourse facility in Calgary to the general public are encouraged to participate by volunteering to work this booth. Volunteers will work in 2 hour shifts (or more if you'd like) on Friday 3:00pm-10:30pm, Sat 11:00am-10:00pm, and Sun 11:00am-7:00pm. If you are available to help, please e-mail Rick Francescone. You can also visit the CMA website for more information.

Feb 7, 2008 - 2008 Online Registration Opens

Good news - the CMRA registration website and secure PayPal system are online now for 2008 membership, licence, and Race School sales! Don't forget to reserve your number by purchasing a membership and licence before the March 3 General meeting! Race registrations will be available Monday February 11, and remember - gridding for Round 1 is based upon the order of registration, so get them in early!

Jan 27, 2008 - January Update

JANUARY UPDATE

There is great enthusiasm among the club members and volunteers for our 2008 season, and I’m excited to share the CMRA’s latest news:

CALGARY MOTORCYCLE SHOW

I’d like to personally thank the CMRA members who volunteered at the booth at the Calgary Motorcycle Show – we generated a lot of interest among new riders, fans, and volunteers, and made key media contacts. Special thanks to Kel Davidsen and Guy Thomlinson Sr. for all their efforts in making our booth such a success. Congratulations to Franco Bassi of Calgary, the winner of the free CMRA Race School! CMRA members were also racing (sliding!) indoors on the mini-roadracing course. Thanks again to Jay, Brenda, and everyone else at the AMRA for putting on another great indoor roadracing show!

RACE CITY

The first thing on everyone’s mind these days is - what is happening at Race City?

Rest assured that it is business as usual for the CMRA in 2008. Please note that Race City has changed our August date: Round 4 has been moved to August 16/17. From the recent media coverage, you may be aware that the City of Calgary is terminating its lease with Race City at the end of the 2009 season, leaving us two more seasons at our current venue. This change will present challenges to all of us, but perhaps some opportunities as well. Race City management is looking for a new location, and there are other investors who are developing options for new locations and track facilities. Building and operating a race facility requires a large capital investment, and our short Canadian summers and the low profile of motorsports present unique economic challenges. However, there are also many benefits of a racing facility in terms of community safety through the discouragement of “street racing”, and economic and tourism benefits to the community as well. I will keep you posted on any plans for new facility development as they become available.

New: CALGARY MOTORSPORTS ASSOCIATION

In response to the changes at Race City, Rick Francescone of the Calgary Drag Racing Association (CDRA) has taken the initiative to invite representatives from all clubs and user groups of the road course, drag strip, and oval to form a new organization called the “Calgary Motorsports Association”. This group will meet to discuss what we can do as racers to support the development of a new facility. At present, I see this group serving two main purposes:

· To present a “central point of contact” for potential developers, so that they can talk directly to all users about the cost, design, and operation of a new facility in one group without having to chase after all of the independent race organizations.

· To promote the benefits of racing facilities to the city, the media, and the public in general. By advertising motorsports to those outside of our speed-obsessed community, we can educate people about the benefits of having such a facility in the Calgary area.

All CMRA members are invited to attend the first general meeting of the “Calgary Motorsports Association” on Wednesday January 30, 7:00 pm at the Glenmore Inn.

I will keep you updated on the latest facility developments as we progress through the year.

In the meantime, the CMRA has a lot of work to do to for 2008!

REGISTRATION

You’ve probably noticed that the registration website is unavailable. John Jones has been putting in countless hours working on the registration system to finish off the reconciliation of 2007. As usual, grids for the first weekend are based on the order of registration. The club will provide advanced notice as to when the system will be online so that there is equal opportunity for all to register “first”.

RULEBOOK

There were no rule change proposals from the members for 2008, but there were a few changes made by the Executive:

- The CMRA points system has been modified to match that of Moto-GP to place more emphasis on winning races, awarding more points to the top finishers.

- Section 2.8 has been updated to clarify the method of scoring riders in the event of a red flag on the last lap of a race. The scoring methodology was adopted from the World Superbike rules, and present a much more clear and fair set of instructions on how to handle this type of situation.

- The new “Open Thunder” class will replace Middleweight Twins, with some modifications to the equipment that is allowed in the class.

- Qualifying rules were proposed for the three “Money Classes”. After further review of the logistics of qualifying and the time required to revamp the registration to accommodate qualifying, it was determined that qualifying will not take place in 2008, but we may consider it in the future.

SAFETY FUND

I am proud to announce that Dave Prendergast and Randy Herrmann have successfully acquired sponsorship donations toward our CMRA safety fund! Dave presented $1000 on behalf of Shell Canada Limited, and Randy sent the club a cheque for $200 from Talisman Energy Inc! Our sincere thanks to Dave and Randy for taking the initiative to seek out corporate sponsorship, which will go towards the purchase of air-fence. I encourage all members to seek out sponsorship funding for the club, whether it be a class sponsorship or donations to the Safety Fund. For assistance, contact Carey Fougere or Dave Prendergast.

MARKETING

Our first Marketing Committee meeting of 2008 was held on January 9. Kelly Gingras has volunteered to chair the Marketing Committee and we had an excellent group discussion around finding cost-effective marketing tools that the CMRA can use to bring in students, racers, and of course more fans and media exposure to our events. I truly believe that CMRA roadracing is one of the best-kept secrets in Calgary, and we need YOUR help to get the word out there! The next marketing meeting is planned for Wednesday February 6 at Tage Davidsen Drywall (1603 38 Ave SE). If you have an interest in developing your marketing skills, contact Kelly to get involved!

EXECUTIVE OPENING

With a new baby due any day now, Matt Schmidt has decided to step down as Secretary. Could this be another young racer in the making? In the meantime, we are seeking a new Secretary. If you have an interest in joining the CMRA Executive and developing your leadership skills in a great non-profit organization, please contact me. The description of the position is summarized in section 4.4 of the CMRA bylaws.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

In order to have another successful race season, it is critical that the riders seek out people to help run the race events. In 2008 we are looking for people to help out in all facets of event organization, including registration, timing and scoring, dyno operators, tech inspection, back gate staff, and of course corner marshals and other race officials. Contact myself or Stu McColl with the names of volunteers that are interested in being associated with the “Fastest Outdoor Show on Earth”!

NEXT MEETING

I’d like to thank the club for giving me the opportunity to serve in 2008 as your President, and I look forward to a great year racing with you all. Mark your calendars and I’ll see you at the Annual General meeting at 7:00 pm on March 3, 2008 in Yuk Yuk’s lounge at the Blackfoot Inn, 5940 Blackfoot Trail SE (location to be confirmed).

Jan 9, 2008 - 2008 Competition Rulebook is now available

2008 Competition Rulebook is now available
The new 2008 Competition Rulebook has been edited and is now available for download here.

Dec 26, 2007 - December Updates

December Updates
The last CMRA Executive meeting of 2007 was held on Dec 18, and here are a few highlights to keep you updated on what’s up in the club!

Our 2008 poster is completed and off to print! Copies will be available at the bike show. A special big thanks to Edwin Herrenschmidt for designing another great poster – good job Edwin!

If you are interested in learning about marketing, and at the same time promote the CMRA, then WE NEED YOU! The CMRA Marketing Committee has big plans for 2008, and will hold its first meeting on Wednesday January 9. For more information, contact Marketing Coordinator Mark Balderson or your Prez, Tim Johnson.

The CMRA has already started organizing catering, marketing, schools, and race events for 2008! We are looking for people to volunteer as cornerworkers, registration personnel, dyno operators, tech inspectors, writers, and even a live DJ to work with Stu at our events! If you know someone who would love being around racers and help run a professional race event, have them contact volunteer rep Stu McColl or Tim Johnson. (volunteer minimum age is 16)

Our 2008 Race City dates have been finalized! For more information, visit the Calendar page.

Please offer your congratulations to all the CMRA riders who have been promoted from Amateur to Expert for 2008! The riders are: Matt Schmidt, Rob Leptich, Rob Darlington, Andrew Carruthers, Colin Foster, Ross Keylock, Chris Stratichuck, Israel Johnas, and Bill Gerber.

The new 2008 rulebook will be available online in January, and in hardcopy by the next General meeting. A modified points award system will now match that of Moto-GP! Other updates will include Saturday qualifying for FII, Middleweight Superbike, and Open Superbike, and clarifications to the re-gridding and finishing order system for red-flags.

See you all at the Calgary Motorcycle Show!

Dec 2, 2007 - Calgary Motorcycle Show

Just one month remaining before the Calgary Motorcycle Show! Can't wait to see the new models? How about some indoor mini-roadracing? This mid-winter annual festival of bikes will be held January 4-6, 2008, and it's the CMRA's biggest opportunity of the year to promote itself face to face to new riders and volunteers. The club will have new posters available, there will be a draw for a free CMRA race school, and don't forget to cheer on the AMRA mini-roadracing events! If you'd like to join in the fun and keep those skills sharp you can sign up for indoor roadracing here for only $75 and become a part of the action! In between events, you can promote the CMRA by working at our booth - just contact CMRA show organizer Kel Davidsen to find your time slot! Volunteering will get you free parking and free admission to the show, so don't miss out - see you at the show!

Nov 4, 2007 - New Executive Announcement

Please welcome your new CMRA Executive members to the team! The voting was close, and the results are:

For Director: Guy Thomlinson Sr. 16 votes, Dave Stokowski 13 votes. Guy Sr. can always be found at the track supporting Guy Thomlinson Jr., and he has years of experience around the track both at the club and Cdn National levels. Guy is a real estate expert with an excellent business background, and his experience and enthusiasm is welcomed by the Executive team.

For Riders Rep: Dave Prendergast 15 votes, Curtis Lindenbach 12 votes. Dave is a veteran racer and competes on a 250 GP bike. He is a former CMRA President (2001-2003) and his marketing talents and experience will continue to benefit the organization.

Please also welcome:

Treasurer Gail Gerber. Gail rides a 600 and has done very well on the track in BGPR schools! She has extensive experience working as a Treasurer in the not-for-profit sector volunteering for Ducks Unlimited, and I am really looking forward to working with Gail.

Vice-President Joe Peskunowicz. Joe races a Ducati in "Ducati Cup". Joe is a Professional Engineer and the Chief Operating Officer of Canyon Technical Services, a oilfield servicing company based out of Calgary, AB. Joe has extensive business and not-for-profit volunteering experience, and he will certainly be able to provide a wealth of business expertise to the organization.

President Tim Johnson. Tim has raced with the CMRA since 1993, and currently competes on a Suzuki GSX-R 1000. Tim is a Professional Engineer with TransCanada PipeLines. Tim has formerly held a number of positions in the CMRA including Director, Secretary, Auditor/Treasurer, and most recently Vice-President. He is looking forward to serving as President and working with the fantastic group of volunteers that make up the 2008 Executive committee.

Thanks to all of the candidates who ran in the election, and we encourage Dave S., Curtis, and anyone else who has an interest in volunteering with the Executive to come out and join us at the meetings - your contributions are always welcome!

Oct 28, 2007 - 2008 CMRA Elections

The voting ballots for the 2008 CMRA Elections have been e-mailed to the members, and now it's up to you to choose your candidate! The positions that are being voted upon for 2008 are:

Director: Dave Stokowski or Guy Thomlinson Sr.

Riders Representative: Curtis Lindenbach or Dave Prendergast.

The deadline for voting is Friday November 2 at 6 pm. Good luck to all of the candidates!

If members have not recieved their e-mail ballot, it is because they either don't have e-mail or because they have not updated their e-mail address in the Registration website. If you are a paid CMRA member in 2007 and have not received an e-mail ballot, please notify Vice President Tim Johnson and we will get your vote included.

Oct 8, 2007 - Oct 13/14 Round 3 is ON

OKTOBERFEST RACING IS ON!!!
For the first time in history, it looks like the CMRA will be heading to the track in October! The forecast is looking good for October 13/14 with predicted highs of 16˚C to 17˚C, shaping up for a beautiful fall weekend. Plan to be at the track Saturday morning for a regular weekend - practice Sunday and racing on Sunday. Depending on the overnight lows and morning track conditions there is a chance the schedule could be modified to have some races Saturday afternoon to take advantage of the warmer afternoon weather. At this point however, the Race Day Handout is going to print Tuesday morning with the standard weekend schedule. For updates and forecasts on Calgary weather, check the weather network.

Oct 8, 2007 - Call for Nominations - 2008 Executive Committee

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS - 2008 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Ever wonder who organizes our events? Would you like to develop your marketing, finance, organization, or leadership skills? Would you like to join the team that makes roadracing happen in Calgary? The CMRA Executive Committee is THE place to work with your fellow roadracers to run our race club. All of the Executive positions are held by volunteers, and we need YOU to help make things happen! Building on 20 great years of roadracing in Calgary, you can play a part in the future success of the CMRA!

If you have a personal interest, or if you know of someone who would make a great contribution to the organization, please submit their name, the position you would like to nominate them to, and the reasons you think they would make a positive contribution to cmra@roadracing.org. And yes - you can even nominate yourself! Nominees will be contacted individually to determine whether they will accept the nomination. Descriptions of the responsibilities of the Executive members can be found in Chapter 4 of the CMRA Bylaws. The deadline for nominations is Monday October 15, voting ballots will be sent out Oct 21, and votes will be due back Monday October 29 at 6 pm.

The following positions are open for 2008:

Position former member nominees so far

President (Kel Davidsen) (Tim Johnson)

Vice-President (Tim Johnson) (Joe Peskunowicz)

Treasurer (Cody Graham) (Gail Gerber)

Director (Nadine Vass) (Dave Stokowski, Guy Thomlinson)

Riders Rep (Steve Davidsen) (Curtis Lindenbach, Dave Prendergast)

The Executive Committee members who are continuing on in 2008 are:

Past President – Kel Davidsen

Secretary – Matt Schmidt

Directors – Brad Gavey, Edwin Herrenschmidt, Mark Balderson

Riders Rep – Carey Fougere

Volunteers Rep – Stu McColl

Sep 18, 2007 - Round 5 injuries

ROUND 5 INJURIES TAKE THEIR TOLL
Perfect sunny weather did not make for a perfect weekend at Race City for several riders who were involved in two serious crashes on Sunday Sept 16 at the CMRA Round 5 event.

During Sunday morning’s second fast practice session, two bikes collided during a pass attempt by Chad Stillin on Bill Gerber going up the hill between the bus stop and corner 9. Bill Gerber crashed hard and took the brunt of the accident with two broken ribs, a broken bone just above the wrist, and a broken collarbone. Bill was transported to the Foothills, and was still in hospital Monday. After the initial contact, Stillin almost kept his bike up but hit the bales on the right side of the track, resulting in a tumble and extensive damage to his GSX-R 1000. Stillin escaped uninjured.

Later that morning during the Heavyweight Sportbike Expert / Am race, Shawn Toffan (42) clipped the dirt and lost control of his Kawasaki ZX-10 at the exit of the bus stop. Dave Stokowski (75) and Randy Hermann (24) arrived next on the scene, and while Stokowski went left and just missed Toffan’s tumbling Kawasaki, Hermann on the right was unable to avoid it and was also collected in the crash. First year Amateur Rob Leptich was riding extremely well after edging out Tim Easton for third overall in the previous day’s H/W race, and was looking to pass Mitch Rathje who was right in front of him while exiting the bus stop. Leptich was hard on the throttle in the bus stop and did not see the initial incidents until Rathje swerved right to avoid Toffan’s bike which had almost slid to a stop. With no time to maneuver Leptich piled into Toffan’s fallen bike.

Rob Leptich was transported to the Foothills Hospital with a dislocated shoulder and a broken humerus, but the most serious injury was sustained to his left foot, which has many shattered bones between his toes and ankle. Leptich will undergo the first of possibly several foot surgeries on Tuesday, and doctors have indicated that he will be off his feet for 6 months.

Apart from the crashes, the rest of the day Sunday went well as riders and fans alike enjoyed the summer-like weather. With several championships still undecided and one round remaining, look to the first October round in CMRA history for an exciting finish to the season. For information on results and standings, click on “Registration and Results” on this home page.

Sep 12, 2007 - Tech, T's, and Registration Help

Tech, T's, and Registration Help
Registration closes at 9:45 a.m. Saturday morning, and although tech will be open all day we need to have everyone inspected before practice starts! Big thanks to Lee Smith and Stu McColl for stepping up to help out our tech inspector Brian Veldhuis on Saturday to help things move more quickly. HOWEVER, we can't have too many people helping in tech, and we need more help! If you know of anyone who can inspect a race bike for safety, or handle some paperwork for this weekends "one stop shopping" at tech for pre-registered and pre-paid riders, please have them contact Stu McColl. Free entry, lunch, and maybe even a T-shirt! Tech will open at 7:30 a.m., so be there early!

Big thanks to our in-house graphics designer Edwin Herrenschmidt for designing and ordering new CMRA T-shirts that will be on sale for $20 at Rounds 4 and 5! Now all we are missing is someone to take care of them and sell them. If someone out there can take care of T-shirt sales for the weekend, please contact Tim Johnson.

Sep 12, 2007 - CMRA 20th Anniversary Banquet November 3

CMRA 20th ANNIVERSARY BANQUET
The CMRA Banquet has been re-scheduled for Saturday November 3, 2007 at Austrian Canadian Cultural Centre: 3112 11 Street NE, Calgary. Cocktails at 6:00, Dinner at 7:00. Dress is smart casual.

Tickets are available from Stu and Iris at the races Sept 15-16. Tickets may also be purchased online through the registration system and PayPal, although this functionality is not online just yet (watch for it). Tickets purchased online will be available for pick-up at the door. Ticket prices are $25 for one, $40 for a couple, and 1/2 price for Volunteers! The deadline for banquet ticket purchases will be Wednesday October 31, but don't wait until the last minute!

Thanks in advance to Mikal Zottmann, Brad Gavey, and Kel Davidsen (Tage Davidsen Drywall) for committing to door prizes so far, and also special thanks to Carey Fougere for his relentless footwork in approaching the bike shops for door prize donations! Members - if you know of a business who can donate a door prize for our banquet, contact Carey Fougere and let him know what you can bring!

20 successful years of roadracing in Calgary is a real achievement, so come on out and celebrate! Take an evening to thank your volunteers, congratulate the champions, and you might even take home a door prize!

Sep 6, 2007 - Sept. 10 General Meeting Notice

SEPT. 10 GENERAL MEETING NOTICE

The next CMRA September General meeting will be held on Monday September 10, 7:00 p.m. at Yuk Yuk’s in the Blackfoot Inn (5940 Blackfoot Trail SE). Registration will be available for Rounds 4, 5, and make-up Round 3. There will be several important items for discussion, including:

• Executive nominations for 2008

• Rulebook committee discussion

• 2007 Banquet plans

• Results of fundraising efforts in 2007

It may seem early, but where people planning and ideas are concerned, September is when the CMRA starts planning for the 2008 season. We all need the support and participation of the membership to make this club successful. This will be an important meeting, so don’t miss it!

Sep 6, 2007 - Make-Up Round 3 Date Change

MAKE-UP ROUND 3 DATE CHANGE
On September 5, the CMRA was notified that due to a scheduling conflict at Race City, the make-up Round 3 date of October 6-7 has been changed to October 13-14. This final round of the season will be the standard, single round "practice Saturday, race Sunday" schedule. Concerns over weather and the amount of daylight should not be significantly different than the weekend before. Obviously we roll the dice with any event scheduled in October, but this is the best date available.

On the bright side, the Thanksgiving long weekend (Oct 6-8 with the holiday Monday) is now wide open to spend with family eating turkey! Enjoy the long weekend, and pray for "Indian Summer" in mid-October! Gobble gobble!

Sep 3, 2007 - Volunteers Needed September 15&16!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED SEPTEMBER 15-16
For the CMRA double-header weekend September 15-16, we need track volunteers! Remember, Saturday practice is OUT, and Saturday racing is IN. We will need a full contingent of track workers bright and early Satuday morning, so RACERS - PLEASE remember to ask a friend and bring someone to the track. Be at Race City by 8:45 a.m. so you can catch the 9 a.m. riders meeting. Practice starts at 9:30 Saturday. Remember that all volunteers receive free entry, free lunch, a BBQ is planned for Saturday evening, and don't forget that these are the best seats in the house!

For more information on volunteering with the CMRA, contact the Volunteers Rep Stu McColl. See you at the track!

Sep 3, 2007 - Race Registration for Rounds 4, 5, and 3!

RACE REGISTRATION FOR ROUND 4, 5 AND 3
September 15-16 will still be named “Rounds 4 and 5”, and October 6-7 will be named “Round 3 make-up round”. In case you haven’t been on the Registration system lately, you will notice that “Round 3” has been moved to the October 6-7 weekend, along with all of the registrations that were made previously. This means that if you registered and paid for “Round 3” back in July, you are already registered and paid for the October “Round 3 make-up round”.

If you have already applied for a Round 3 refund, you will be refunded via cheque, and you may re-register for the October “Round 3” via the registration system.

Saturday September 15 Important Note: The Saturday morning of Round 4 will be exceptionally busy for registration, so online pre-registration is ESSENTIAL to ensuring that you get registered as quickly as possible. Gates open at 7 a.m., the Riders’ meeting is at 9, and practice will start at 9:30. Ideally everyone needs to be registered before the riders meeting. Registration will be closed at 9:45 in order to start racing at 10:45. In order to process everyone as quickly as possible, please help us help you by registering and paying online in advance of the event. We may be able to have pre-registered and pre-paid riders bring their bikes to tech, sign in at tech, and get their bikes inspected without having to go to the cafeteria, so watch for this option on Saturday.

If you pass tech on Saturday, you will not have to be re-inspected on Sunday as long as you do not crash.

Jul 27, 2007 - CMRA Round 3 Cancelled (July 28/29)

CMRA ROUND 3 CANCELLED - JULY 28-29
It is with deep regret that the CMRA announces the cancellation of Round 3 (July 28/29, 2007).

Track repairs were required before racing could take place. A paving crew was at the track Friday July 27 to make repairs, but unfortunately were unable to complete their work.

Further information regarding the remainder of the 2007 CMRA season will be posted as it becomes available.

Refunds for the Round 3 weekend can be applied for by printing page six in the 2007 Membership and Licence file. Send a completed hardcopy refund form to the CMRA.

Jun 25, 2007 - National Vote is In

NATIONALS VOTES IS IN

The results are in for the CMRA vote to determine:

"Do you want the CMRA to run Round 3 combined with the Calgary Nationals?"

The final result was:

Yes 30 votes

No 35 votes

Therefore, the CMRA will not be running with the Nationals this weekend in Calgary. For those that participated, thank you for your votes. There are 123 members in total, so the participation rate was 53%. If you take out the 9 members that did not provide telephone or e-mail contact information on the registration website and who probably did not know about this vote, the participation rate would rise to 57%.

The CMRA encourages its eligible members to come out and race at the Nationals to support the event. Either you will learn a lot, or you can show our fellow National Series riders that YOU OWN THIS TRACK BABY.

Please remember you can still show up and volunteer this weekend - there are never too many corner workers! Thanks again for your participation, and see you at the track.

Jun 25, 2007 - Rules Q&A

RULES Q&A

In response to questions that were received in the past couple of months, the CMRA put together a Q&A that will hopefully clarify the rules and procedures for racing with the CMRA. Enjoy.

Q: Who is responsible for enforcing the rules in the CMRA?

A: It is each competitor’s responsibility to be familiar with the rules and regulations in the CMRA rulebook, and each rider is expected to conform to those rules to create a level playing field for themselves and their fellow riders. If riders choose not to comply with the rules, they will be subject to the restrictions and penalties enforced upon them by CMRA officials.

Q: What if a rider breaks the rules by accident?

A: The rules apply equally to all riders, whether they break them on purpose or not. If the race officials determine that a rider has broken a rule, particularly one in which the rider gained an unfair advantage, the rider will be penalized accordingly.

Example 1: If a rider blows the bus stop, it may be impossible to tell if they did it on purpose or by accident. If the rider left the course and gained positions or time in the race, they would be penalized by the officials. If the rider left the course in a similar manner but lost positions or time, they are allowed to resume the race without penalty, because they did not gain an unfair advantage.

Example 2: If a bike exceeds the class horsepower limit, or if the bike fails to complete post race inspection (out of gas, didn’t report to the dyno straight from the exit gate), the rider will be penalized according to the rulebook, regardless of the results of the race.

Q: What if a rider tested their bike before the event and was 2 HP under the limit, but then tests 0.5 HP over the limit after the event? And what if the rider in question beat the closest competitor by more than 40 seconds in a 10 lap race, versus one who wins by 0.01 of a second? Can’t we judge whether or not the HP advantage played into the results or not?

A: The answer is no. In this case, the rider has clearly violated a rule that would provide a competitive advantage. The results of the race do not factor in, as it is impossible to gauge how much the HP advantage would have contributed to the final result. The penalties outlined in the rulebook must apply.

Q: If I know of a bike that has illegal modifications for a class, what should I do?

A: If you are competing in a class and you suspect a competitor or their bike does not conform to the rules of that class, you should notify your Rider’s Rep or the Referee. The officials will note your concern, speak with the rider in question, and have the bike inspected by the Tech Inspector if necessary. If the rider is indeed breaking the rules they will be notified that they cannot enter in that event until they have made the required modifications to conform with the class rules.

Q: If a bike or rider does not meet the class specifications outlined in the rulebook, can’t the rider enter the class just for fun and be left out of the results and points? What if the rider gets the permission of all of the other riders in that class?

A: The CMRA will not intentionally allow bikes or riders into races that do not meet the rules outlined for that race. It is unfair to the other riders in the event for the following reasons:

> The rider may be involved in an incident which impacts the result of the race, which would be unfair to the riders that actually belong in that class.

> The rider may “hold up” other riders and impact the result of the race,

> While polling the other riders in the class for permission, some other riders may feel “pressured” into allowing the rider into the race, when in fact they really don’t want the rider there.

Q: Can Tech Inspection be used to determine whether bikes conform to class rules?

A: Technical Inspection’s focus is on safety. Even if Tech focussed on ensuring that bikes conformed to the rules for each class on Saturday morning’s tech inspection, the riders could still make changes later on. For example, if you were registered for a “DOT tire only” class, you could get inspected Saturday with DOT tires, and then put slicks on for Sunday’s race. If bike illegalities are not caught pre-race, they can be dealt with post-race.

Q: What if a rider breaks the rules in a race, but disqualifies him/herself from the event?

A: The rider will be disqualified from the results of that event, and may be notified of the rule violation by CMRA officials so that they are aware of the violation and can take steps to eliminate the problem before the next race. Whether or not they speak to an official post-race, it is the responsibility of the rider to ensure they conform to the rules.

Q: What if a rider repeatedly breaks the rules?

A: If a rider continually breaks the same rule over and over, the CMRA can introduce additional penalties to discourage that behaviour.

Q: What is the protest procedure, and how should I use it?

A: A protest is a formal written complaint used to dispute the final result of a race, and is filed with the CMRA Referee after an event is run. Protests may be used to dispute the manner in which the race was officiated, an illegal motorcycle, or the conduct of another rider. See the CMRA rulebook for more information on protest procedures.

Q: How do I go about changing the rules?

A: Members may submit proposals for rule changes to the CMRA at any time, with an annual deadline of the last race of the season. Rule change submissions must:

> specify proposed wording of the question you wish to be put to vote by the members,

> explain the reason for the proposed change,

> outline potential pros and cons of the change, and

> clearly detail how the change will be accommodated and/or implemented by the club.

The CMRA rulebook committee meets each fall in October to review rule change submissions from the members. Proposals are reviewed a second time by the Executive committee, then put to a simple majority vote of the membership in November. Changes are reflected in the next year’s rulebook draft in December, which should be published in January.

May 16, 2007 - Registration Tips

REGISTRATION TIPS
Gates are scheduled to open at Race City at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Registration will be open from 8:15 to noon on Saturday, and 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. Any cancellations must be made before Sunday at 9:30 at registration in order for you to be eligible for a refund.

Online registration will be closed on the Friday before the race week-end at 6:00 pm. After this time, you must register in person at the registration desk in the cafeteria at Race City.

If you are paying by cheque but have not sent it in yet, please bring your cheque to the track. If you have already sent in a cheque but Registration does not have it on Saturday, then you will have to write another cheque, and your first one will either be returned or destroyed.

If you have pre-purchased tickets for CMRA events on the registration website, your tickets should be at the competitors gate in an envelope with your name on it for your pick-up.

May 13, 2007 - VOLUNTEERS WANTED!

WANT TO GET INVOLVED?
If you are interested in working at the CMRA Round 1 races this coming weekend (May 19-20, 2007), we'd love to have you support our racers! Check out the list of volunteer positions, or contact Stu McColl to find out what position would best suit your interests! Sign up now or just show up at the track and say that you want to volunteer, and you can have the best seats in the house and be a part of the action!

Apr 20, 2007 - Race City Announces 2007 Programs

2007 RACE CITY PROGRAMS
Things are gearing up at Race City for the 2007 season, and Rome Awde hosted a news media information session on Friday evening to a large crowd of media and race enthusiasts.

When reviewing the extensive list of events for the year, Rome highlighted the double header Parts Canada Superbike Championship June 29 - July 1. Rome alluded to big developments at Race City in the next 10-15 years, and he really wants to make enough money to re-invest in the facility. Part of that funding will come from increased spectator counts, and Race City is putting forth a concentrated effort in promoting its events. Although new pavement is not in the near future for the roadcourse, Rome did mention safety and re-baling as a priority for this year, and he also hinted at the possibility of removing more concrete walls in the facility. Whether or not wall improvements will be made in 2007 will be firmed up in the coming weeks.

Race City sponsors for 2007 include CityTV and the Calgary Sun, Trade Publications, Blackfoot Motosports and Blackfoot Suzuki, MTS Racing Fuels, Chorus Radio, Standard Radio, Rogers Media, Global TV, and the Calgary Herald. The CMRA will discuss the many media outlets with Race City to investigate potential synergies in both advertising and event reporting.

Rome's biggest news of the evening was related to a new affiliation between Race City and NASCAR. The NASCAR Whelen All American Series will be a feature event in 2007. With the purchase of a $90 U.S. NASCAR membership card, members will receive a Race City seasons' pass (valued at $250 Cdn) to all Race City promoted events. The NASCAR membership pass would include the Parts Canada Superbike weekend, but does not include the CMRA promoted regional events. Also included with a NASCAR membership is a one million dollar insurance policy for competitors, crew members, and spectators at NASCAR affiliated events. Although bike events are completely unrelated to the NASCAR affiliation, roadracers should be interested in this development as it hopefully will strengthen Race City as an organization, and a strong Race City is good for the CMRA.

The main series Rome highlighted for 2007 include:

NASCAR Whelen All American Series, the Western Elite Stock Car Tour, Wilroc Sprint Cars (from Vancouver Island), Newalta Late Model Challenge Series, IHRA Summit Super Series (drags), the double header Parts Canada Superbike Championship, IMCA Wolff Pack Run, Auto Value Saturday Night Stocks, and IHRA Drag Racing. Rome also mentioned seven car schools.

See you at the track!

Apr 19, 2007 - NEW WEBSITE

NEW WEBSITE
Welcome to the CMRA revamped, redesigned, re-everythinged website. The CMRA would like to thank Darron and Edwin at nonfiction studios inc. for donating their time and resources! If you have a website that needs to be done, these are the folks you want to talk to!
The new site is updatable on-the-fly, which will make stagnant content a thing of the past! However, our content updates are still done by volunteers, so if you have suggestions for content that you would like to see, write it up and then send it to Edwin.