I have added another page to She Loves Racing which will feature a small business each month. The business will have ties to the motorcycle industry. I will not feature just any company, but rather ones I feel have a positive outlook on the sport as well as their product and or service being the utmost in quality and customer service standards. We all need to work together so everyone is successful. If you would like to be considered as a featured small business in this section please email me at Jennifer@shelovesracing.com. Include a summary of your business, website if applicable and contact information for consideration.

She Loves Racing welcomes Pete Giammalvo from Sideways Promotions for this month’s spotlight on Business Notes.

Sideways Promotions President Pete Giammalvo started riding at 8 years old and his first race (and win!) was at 14 riding a Hodaka 125 at Lake Whalom unstudded class. In 1978 he started promoting ice races for the city of Gardner MA Winter Carnival with a great run of 4 seasons. A career change stopped his promoting but not his racing. In 1987 a diving accident resulted in a broken neck and leaving Pete a quadriplegic in a wheelchair. After 14 years successfully racing bikes and 5 years of car ice racing, his career as a racer were done. Loving the sport, Pete decided it was time to get back in the promoting business. A year doing ice races for the Athol MA Lions Club and back to the dirt! 1989 Sideways Promotions was started with a plan. To put on good quality events that keep the fans happy and pay the riders decent and to have our own track so our youth can train to become Professional riders. As Sideways grew there have been ups and downs but Pete’s never give up attitude has persevered in the long run. The dream of a lifetime is coming together as riders from the northeast are becoming recognized nation wide for their accomplishments!

Promoting has always been up and down year after year. We poured a lot of money into the Formula USA series, but the weather kept us for the ultimate celebration. So now, I am waiting for the big one to come my way. I am hoping someday soon.

Yes… and it was a chance for New England to shine. I learned so much from their experience and guidance but unfortunately lost a lot of money.

We continue to move forward. We have a lot of up and comers in the sport and have to support them, give them the tools to practice and compete. I also have the New England Harley Davidson dealers support on the venues we promote.

I would have to say that fact I don’t drive hurts the business a bit. I can’t get to people in the industry or outside and sit down to talk with them about supporting what I am doing.

We are District number 1, New England riders is our core. We do share a lot of riders from Square Deal Riders/ Electric City etc… We have about 120 members in all, which puts on for a great local event.

We have a slew of talent but some notable standouts would have to be.. Bryan McKenna ( Pro-Sport), Asa Irish (Pro-Sport), James Rispoli ( Flat Track),Shane Narbonne( Dirt Track) Troy Estabrook and Brent Lyskawa, James Poole (Flat Track).

I own a track now, a 5/8ths mile (WACHUSETT VALLEY RIDERS CLUB) that schedule is:

Mototown which is an indoor facility another 5/8 mile track which we started last year for competition. It is great because it’s mother natured proof.

Jolly Rogers and a quarter mile track Kaneen USA Speedway.

Our season starts May 4^th and ends the last week on October.

Of course we need the dealer involvement, they are at times reluctant. I do offer 10 free passes to them at every race. They and we are always looking for a return on investment, we try to put on a great show so that the return is there, sometimes we run into the weather factor and that just kills everything. Speaking of support.. We are also in need of better support from the riders.

We raise purse money then the riders pick and choose where to go based on that purse, instead of supporting the tracks that have helped them over the years. With gas money on the rise, I understand why coming from California is not an option, but the local pros should really rally around the efforts that are available to them when there is an off weekend.

Yes I am, first off a big thank you to my wife who gets me dressed in the morning and ready to start a day and to my good friends and enthusiasts, I couldn’t do this with out you all. The track crew, volunteers etc.. I appreciate you all.