Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

REDUC Sportbike Association has organized a raffle to benefit seriously injured racer/motojournalist Papa Thiam.

A $25 entry earns a chance in a random drawing for a grand prize package valued at over $4000. The package consists of a set of Kushitani leathers courtesy of Kneedraggers.com, Sidi racing boots donated by Sidi, Teknic racing gloves provided by Teknic, an Arai Quantum helmet from REDUC’s Bob Buchsbaum, one free set of Pirelli tires donated by Pirelli and a free, 2003 REDUC membership with unlimited REDUC track days during 2003. Entries must be received by Friday, September 27 for the drawing, which will be held September 28 at a REDUC track day at Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Winners need not be present to win.

To enter, send a check or money order payable to Papa Thiam with your name, address, phone number, e-mail address and any other necessary contact information on a business card or business-card-sized piece of paper or index card via U.S. mail to:

Papa Thiam
P.O. Box 1180
Forked River, NJ 08731-6180

Multiple entries should include one piece of paper with contact information for each entry.

All proceeds from the raffle go to Papa Thiam.

Thiam suffered spinal injuries in a crash at Summit Point Raceway in Summit Point, West Virginia Sunday, June 9 during a WERA Regional weekend and was paralyzed from the neck down. Thiam, 30, fell during a race and hit a tire wall in front of a dirt embankment in turn three, suffering damage to his C4 and C5 vertebrae. Thiam, originally from Senegal, is a financial analyst for an airline and is based in Washington, DC. His writing has been published in Roadracing World, Sport Rider and the now-defunct American Roadracing. Thiam was also very active with the REDUC track day club.

For additional information on the REDUC raffle for Papa Thiam, call REDUC at (215) 413-3825, e-mail [email protected] or go to www.reduc.com.