MMSF helps riders downed riders and their families all around Massachusetts. Please take a look at our past events to read about those in the riding community that we've helped.
NEWS: Nelson's Ride 2008 will be held Sunday, August 24th, Salisbury Beach, MA...plan ahead!
2008 AMA New England Road Riding Rally and9th Annual Nelson's Ride
Saturday August 23rd - Sunday, August 24th, 2008
Salisbury Beach, MA
The 9th Annual "Nelson's Ride" and AMA New England Road Riding Rally will be going back to Salisbury Beach, MA, with AMA events Saturday, August 23 and Nelson's Ride Sunday, August 24, all to benefit local families of riders killed and/or seriously injured in accidents.
Already, we've booked the Boston Derby Dames, a women's Roller Derby League, for exhibition matches with rival teams from New Hampshire and Maine. The Dames will be roller skating for the MMSF Saturday and Sunday. Their next scheduled match is Saturday, March 8 at the Shiner's in Wilmington. For more information on the Dames, see www.BostonDerbyDames.com !
LoJack, Plymouth Rock Assurance Corp., the Boston Derby Dames, and Cycles 128! have already signed on as Event sponsors and partners. If one of your businesses is interested in promoting and associating itself with the MMSF, contact Dave Condon our MMSF Treasurer at contact@massmsf.org.
We are working with the Chamber for vendors on the Broadway Island, bands on the bandstand, and parking up front, close and personal. If you want to start making your campground and/or motel reservations, surf around www.SalisburyChamber.com.
The Ride Route is being worked on and it will be as safe, scenic and spectactular as last year.
We're putting in another Grant Request with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation for 'courtesy vans' for Saturday night so you don't have to ride impaired. Take advantage of them ! We want you back for Sunday, and a long time thereafter.
Watch for our upcoming (April & May) Thursday night "Open Houses" at local bike shops for your motorcycle inspections. All motorcycles are required to pass inspection by May 31st. Avoid the weekend lines by coming out Thursday nights to shops who support the MMSF. Witch City Cycles in Salem and Cycles 128! in Beverly, have already signed on - more coming !
If you'd like to help and be on the Event Planning Committee, our next meeting is Tuesday, March 11, 6:30 p.m., at the Am Vets, Post 201, 49 Market Street, Ipswich, MA 01938, Tel: (978) 356-4043. Come on down, lend us your talents.
Watch for annual raffle and Event updates. Tell your friends !
8th Annual Nelson's Ride
Click here for more pictures from Nelson's Ride 2007.
On behalf of our Motorcyclists Survivor's Fund and the AMA Rally and 8th annual Nelson's Ride planning teams, we wish to express our ROAR of appreciation to the Town of Salisbury officials, supporting business owners and residents.
Allowing us to use the Salisbury Beach area to host the more than 2,000 area riders who participated in our Event, with the support of local officials, Chamber members and residents, made the jobs of the hundreds of volunteers who worked the Event easier. Thank you also, to the public safety officials and residents of the ten other communities the 60-mile slow ride passed through.
We met a lot of new friends who we look forward to working with again as we begin plans for 2008.
Don Levesque, Director of Public Works, was a class act from Day 1 of our planning sessions. Together we were able to address resident and business owner concerns, make on the spot adjustments when written plans didn't work in real world application, and always with smiles on each other's faces. You're a top shelf guy, Don. Don's assistant, Ray Cote helped us implement those plans and changes without a hitch.
I've
said it often - we live in a society where we allow others the
authority to police ourselves. We recognize and respect the
tough work Police are required to perform, with little thanks from
anyone. Salisbury Chief Dave L’Esperance, a rider
himself, knows our riding community. He, his staff and officers
worked well with us in all aspects of the Event, which resulted in
no incidents or arrests,
and helped lead to no accidents or injuries. We appreciate the
time he personally devoted to working with us in making the Nelson's
Ride a success.
The Salisbury Chamber of Commerce and area business owners stepped forward accepting us as 'newcomers.' While we had a 7-year history - we had no history with them. The Upper Deck Lounge, the Hobo Cafe, Kelly Realty Associates and the Carousel Lounge owners were "Day 1" advocates and supporters of the Event. As meetings were held, more joined in support. Before the Event was over, other business leaders were pledging their support for the return of the AMA New England Road Riding Rally and Nelson's Ride next year.
The Salisbury Selectmen, Clerk and Town Manager allowed us to process our applications and requests in timely and professional manners. They helped us with smiles when we 'erred' and pointed us back in the right direction of what are at times 'governmental mazes' for ensuring such an Event is planned and well though out.
To the residents of Salisbury, especially those who on Sunday were standing in the Square and along Beach Road waving in support of our Survivor's Fund mission and goals of helping families in need and reducing motorcycle accidents, we salute YOU ! The riders appreciate your support and tolerance of the temporary traffic delays so we can 'help our own' in need.
What more can be said about Lucy Hailson, our 'Ride Marshall.' She and her family allowed us to turn her from a "Queen" to a 'biker-chick.' The match with her and us citizen-bikers was what she has done all her life for those in need - we only aim to emulate. And special thanks to Larry Cahill of BostonBiker.com who rode Lucy on his 3-wheel 'demon!'
Our annual memorial Ride paraded 60-miles through 10 other communities. Each community's public safety officials accepted our plans with little modification, which resulted in minimal traffic delays and a safe, enjoyable ride. We are grateful for their work and coordination in making the Ride a success.
A huge debt is owed to the more than 100 volunteers who worked the Event in the high heat and extreme humid conditions, without complaint. While our Planning Committee may be the mind and skeleton, our volunteers are our flesh making a complete body.
A 'tip of the beanie' to the more than 2,000 citizen-bikers who donated to a charity for our own and spent their biker-buck$ in Salisbury. I heard it over and over and over again . . . "I haven't been to Salisbury in years, WOW." We are looking forward now to 2008 !
The donations and raffle sales from Events all go into a pool to help families of riders in a situation no one wants to ever be in and to prevent those accidents putting them in that situation.
Our Survivor's Fund and Events are managed by an all volunteer staff, because we are passionate and proud of what we do and accomplish. We have been able to donate over $25,000 to area families just in 2007 and more than $100,000 since 2002. The activities of the Survivor's Fund have activity reduced motorcycle accidents in Essex County, but we couldn't do it without our participants and the support of the communities.
TONS of thanks to each and every one of you. We look forward to a return engagement in 2008 !
For more information or if you'd like to donate, go to www.MassMSF.org.
Paul W. Cote,
Chairman and President
Massachusetts Motorcyclists Survivor's Fund, Inc.