Vegas Update!

Hello again everyone,

Kendog here, to tell you about my trip to the World Mini's in Las Vegas. I arrived Thursday night to check things out and get with Jim Downey, so he can bring me up to speed on what needed to be done that week. Jim and I saw to it that coffee was made fresh at 6 am on Friday and Saturday for the NMA officials and rider's parents that started racing at 7 am. This all took place at the Brett Downey Safety Foundation booth. When the coffee ran out around 8 am we started to put out stickers, shirts, bracelets, and brochures for the flow of parents, riders and fans walking by. I want to thank the Hall family and Schmoke family for all their help, without them things would have been rough. Friday, Grandpa DJ Mendenhall was there to help out with the booth and to talk to the parents and riders about MX safety. He did a great job talking about safety and getting the point across of what we are about and why. Unfortunately DJ had to leave Saturday morning, but while he was there he made a big impact. As for me, I met with Erv Braun and Lynn Nicerson, the announcers. They were kind enough to share the mic to talk to the parents and riders about the Foundation, what are goals were and why we were there. Erv and Lynn were very supportive. They interviewed me many times and they talked about the Foundation and the importance of MX safety.

Each morning I met with the flaggers before the races started to get them pumped up and make sure there were all on the same page as to what needed to be done. Each and every one of those flaggers did the best job of flagging that any parent, rider, or official could ask for. Ann and her crew were AWESOME!! Our hats are off to you all for keeping the riders safe. If anyone thought otherwise I would gladly invite you to try your hand at what they went threw out there in the hot sun, the blinding winds, and rain at times. Keeping in mind those flaggers had to stand in one spot all day long while focusing on every rider that rode by them.

After I met with the flaggers, it was back to the booth to talk to more parents and riders about safety and to show everyone the new emergency information sticker that goes under the helmet visor. This sticker is for the EMT's. In the event, riders cannot give important information about themselves, the EMT's can read the sticker. It has important medical information and emergency contact numbers. They are free to all, and will be distributed soon to tracks, motorsport shops, and dealerships throughout the US. We are really stoked about this sticker and can't wait to start sending them out. Friday, Saturday and Sunday I took loaded brown bags filled with bottled water, chips, granola bars and cheese and crackers to all the flaggers, which was supplied by the Brett Downey Safety Foundation. We feel it's important to keep the flaggers well hydrated. I also got with the starter Kenny and his crew. We were making sure everyone was on the same page, by reminding the riders as they were in the gate to follow the directions of the flaggers, and to make sure their gas was on and the choke was off.

In closing, I am not one to sugar coat things. The rules for the yellow flag in amateur motocross need to be changed from "proceed with caution" to "no jumping and no passing until you pass the down rider and caution area". I encourage everyone who reads this, and who participates in amateur motocross to e-mail all MX promoters and MX tracks to please change this rule so we can all stay safe, and not be confused about what track or what promoter has what ruling about the yellow flag. With your help we can make it happen. The volunteer's of the Brett Downey Safety Foundation are all working hard to keep the sport we love so much as safe as possible for everyone to enjoy, and we will continue to do so.

Thanks again,
"with the gas on choke off" we are on it.
Ken "Kendog" Gilbert