Recent contributions to the Roadracing World Action Fund from businesses, teams and individuals have sent the total collected for educational deployment of road racing soft barriers to $251,607.30.
The Roadracing World Action Fund is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation dedicated to demonstrating the benefits of deploying soft barriers in front of walls, embankments and other hard objects likely to be hit by crashing racers.
Properly-deployed soft barriers have been shown to effectively reduce serious injuries suffered by racers who crashed and would have otherwise hit walls at racetracks. The obvious advantage of proper soft barrier deployment is the reduction in injuries suffered by crashed riders. By reducing rider injuries, properly deployed soft barriers also reduce economic hardships faced by the families of seriously injured riders, and reduce the social costs of lost productivity.
Properly deployed soft barriers also reduce program delays for racetrack cleanup as well as reducing long-term operating costs for track operators and series organizers, since the barriers are reusable and don’t have be replaced after every impact and for every event.
The immediate and obvious improvement in rider safety is what motivates contributors to the Roadracing World Action Fund.
Annandale Honda donated $5000, in appreciation of “all that you do to keep racers safe.”
Cheryl Mazzotta, mother of racer Hawk Mazzotta, donated $2000, adding to earlier contributions of $1000 for a grand total of $3000.
Thomas Patch’s goal was to donate enough to the Roadracing World Action Fund to buy a full section of Airfence soft barrier. He has accomplished this with his latest contribution of $1900, adding to past donations in 2001 and 2002 totalling $1000. Each section of Airfence soft barrier costs $2900, delivered in the U.S..
When VP Fuel announced contingency programs for racers in 2002, the company included a program for the Roadracing World Action Fund as well, pledging to donate $5 for every 15-gallon drum of VP Racing Fuel purchased at AMA Superbike series events. VP Fuel recently presented a check for $2865, the total proceeds of that pledge.
Dan Kyle of Kyle Racing sent in $950, making good on a pledge to donate $50 for each shock or fork sold during the 30 days following May 23, 2003, the date that Kyle Racing sold its 1000th Ohlins shock.
Chicken Hawk Racing has promised a $50 donation from each set of tire warmers sold through www.chickenhawkracing.com, and the first check for $50 has arrived.
Max MacAllister’s pledge to donate $5 for each Traxxion Dynamics “How To Holeshot” video sold has yielded another $250, totalling $500 for the video pledge program, and bringing the overall total donated by Traxxion Dynamics to $3400.
Other companies with current donation programs for the Roadracing World Action Fund include Hi-Side Racing and BBVR Performance Products.
Other recent contributors include David Osser, $100; Mats Karlsson, $50; TZ250 Lover, $50, and Lisa Thiam, $20.
Lisa Thiam (also known as pitlizard & quadlvr on the WERA BBS), writes: “Please accept this donation in honor of my husband, Papa Thiam. Sorry it’s not much. I’ll send more when I can. P.S. Thank you for what you do. Maybe Airfence can spare another family what we’ve been though.”
Summary of Recently Posted Contributions
Annandale Racing $5000
VP Fuel $2865
Cheryl Mazzotta $2000
Thomas Patch $1900
Kyle Racing $950
Traxxion Dynamics $250
David Osser $100
Chicken Hawk $50
Mats Karlsson $50
TZ250 Lover $50
Lisa Thiam/In Honor of Papa Thiam $20
Accounting Details to Date
Road Racing Expenditure Details
Direct purchase of soft barriers: $101,350
Shipping/Customs: $5654.75
Bank Fees: $344.05
Deployment Crew Training: $700
Transportation & Installation: $4689.47
Corporation/Business Fees: $592
Online Auction Fees: $221.99
Printing Education Materials: $346.42
Misc Supplies: $19
Donation to AMA Pro Racing for soft barrier purchase and deployment: $104,104
Total Spent: $218,021.68
Total Donations Collected $251,607.30
Misc. Income $67.27
Cash on hand: $33,652.89
Dirt Track Expenditure Details
Direct purchase of soft barriers: $9200
Shipping/Customs: $2717.72
Transportation & Installation $2174.77
Total Spent: $14,092.49
Total collected: $18,697
Cash on hand: $4,604.51
All administrative costs, including the percentage taken by credit card companies on credit card donations, have been absorbed by Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Note: Airfence is a trademark of Airfence Safety Systems Australia.