The Roadracing World Action Fund’s latest purchase of soft barriers for $28,500 (for deployment by AMA Pro Racing in road racing and by IMDA in dirt track) caused a deficit of nearly $13,000, but the racing community has stepped up to more than cover that deficit. The Action Fund’s replenished war chest of $33,190.92 is a monument to their enthusiastic support. AMA Superbike points leader Ben Spies and his mom/manager Mary Spies spurred a frenzy of donations by pledging to match donations up to $10,000 and $5000 respectively, and with the latest spurt of contributions totaling $17,157, their match was more than met. Ben Spies has long been a supporter of the Action Fund, and soft barriers deployed by the Action Fund with his financial help have directly affected his friends and fellow racers. For example, Spies’ friend John Haner credits soft barriers deployed by the Action Fund with saving him from serious injury when he hit a tire wall lined with soft barriers. Many other racers have benefited from Spies’ selfless generosity, and he remains the only factory rider in the AMA Series who has made a large contribution to the Action Fund, for soft barrier deployment. The WERA BBS Auction ’06 brought in another $7251, for an overall total of $9721 since it began in May. Participants included Most Valuable Contributors Fred and Adrienne Bittner, who met their self-imposed yearly quota of $2900 (about enough to purchase and ship one 30-foot section of inflatable soft barrier) by supplementing their auction bids of $1275 with an extra $1625. The Bittner’s total donations since 2002 to both road race and dirt track funds now stand at $15,350. Other WERA BBS Auction ’06 participants include Frank Angel, $1000; Jerrell Lawrence $735; Brad Wilson, $701; James MacKenzie, $680; Matt Manspeaker, $550; Anthony San Andres, $425; Jon Wytack, $350; Jon Gu, $345; Peter Kirsh, $340; Dan Carr, $325; Mark Stheiner, $225; Lori Kobayashi, $190; Steven Kohlscheen, $190; Most Frequent Contributor Darrin Talbott, $100; Greg Travis, $100; John Butler, $95; Tony Fiesel, $25; and Michael Ryan, $25. The auction continues with WERA and NESBA pledging to match winning bids on certain items, for instance, Jon Gu’s winning bid of $345 for a NESBA track day will be matched by NESBA. Check out www.nesba.com . Racing 2 Save Lives, a non-profit organization, donated $1000 in honor of injured racer Vincent Haskovec. Haskovec appeared at the Racing 2 Save Lives charity event at Miller Motorsports Park earlier this year. Kurveygirl.com donated $30, and has pledged to donate a portion of their sales every month. The Little Motorcycle author Ed Link has pledged $1 per book sold through October 1. Roadracing World Action Fund, Inc. is a 501(3)c not for profit organization and donations are tax deductible. Summary of Recently Posted Contributions (Contributor comments and dedications are included below with their listing. Total overall contribution appears in parentheses.) Ben Spies $10,000 Mary Spies $5,000 Jim Hinshaw/Precision Medical, Inc. $5000 “On behalf of all WERA racers.” Fred & Adrienne Bittner/WERA BBS Auction ’06 $1625 Fred & Adrienne Bittner $1000 ($15,350) Racing 2 Save Lives $1000 ($1500)In Honor of Vincent Haskovec Frank Angel/WERA BBS Auction ’06 $850 ($1900) Jerall W. Lawrence/WERA BBS Auction ’06 $735 Brad Wilson/WERA BBS Auction ’06 $701 ($2426) James McKenzie/WERA BBS Auction ’06 $680 ($880) Matt Manspeaker/WERA BBS Auction ’06 $550 Matthias Schaub/Spiegler Brake Systems $500 “There are still way too many concrete walls in road racing.” Anthony San Andres/WERA BBS Auction ’06 $425 Jon Wytack/ WERA BBS Auction ’06 $350 Jon Gu $345 “Thanks to NESBA for offering the match!” Peter Kirsh/WERA BBS Auction ’06 $340 Dan Carr/WERA BBS Auction ’06 $325 Matthew Macheca/In Memory of Chris Stevenson $250 Ray McCurdy $250 Mark Stheiner/WERA BBS Auction ’06 $225 “For keeping our riders safe. Thanks to Dave, Rocky Stargel and MB!” Rick Fairbairn $200 ($300) Lori Kobayashi/WERA BBS Auction ’06 $190 ($240) Steven Kohlscheen/WERA BBS Auction ’06 $190 ($240) Greg Travis/WERA BBS Auction ’06 $100″ Thanks for all of your hard work to help make racing safer for those involved.” Paul Finn $100 Darrin Talbott/WERA BBS Auction ’06 $100 ($635) “Dave K is my hero” Team Velocity Racing/In Memory of Chris Stevenson, WERA #422 $100 ($200) Brian Stricker $100 “Matt Lynn’s top 5” John W. Butler/WERA BBS Auction ’06 $95 ($325) Vinton Squires $67 ($134) Todd Gyure $60 ($120) “This is my third donation, all in memory of Ryan Smith CMRA #19.” Michael Gougis $50 ($100) “Just picked up my racebike from the shop yesterday, and my guys gave me a screaming deal on the work they did for me, so I want to pass along my good fortune with a donation to the Action Fund.” Jon Smail Family/NESBA 616 Midwest $50 Marc McMaster $50 Jon Oliver $50 “Thanks to everyone making the sport even safer.” Vincent Rollieri/TZ250 $50 Melissa and William Hendrix $50 Mike Coisman $50 “WERA Racing and NITRO!” Richard Bassett $50 “If it wasn’t for Airfence me and my bike would have been in pieces.” Dan Taylor $50 Bruce Norton/NESBA rider $50 Elaine Seasly $42 ($140.80) Raytheon Charitable Giving Through Payroll Program Dan Christopher $40 Robert Ware Estate $32 Kurveygirl.com $30 Michael Ryan/WERA BBS Auction ’06 $25 ($50) Tony Fiesel/WERA BBS Auction ’06 $25 Lee D’amico $10 ($25) July 18, 2006 Accounting Details to Date Road Racing Expenditure Details Direct purchase of soft barriers: $263,570 Shipping/Customs: $20,442.83 Bank Fees: $384.05 Airfence* Deployment Crew Training: $700 Transportation & Installation: $5577.78 Corporation/Business Fees: $982 Online Auction Fees: $221.99 Printing Education Materials – $346.42 Misc Supplies: $39.59 Donation to AMA Pro Racing for purchase of soft barriers: $104,104 Total Spent: $398,911.54 Total Donations Collected $429,432.64 Misc. Income $118.31 Cash on hand: $30,639.41 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: $41,944 Cash on hand: $2551.51 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.