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NEWS LETTER MAY 2004

Time for a groan


Dorset authorities appear to have been sampling the numpty pills again by the way they have been spending their hard earned income.

A trip to West Bay revealed the installation of pay and display parking for bikes in,
or should I say on the pavement of the George Hotel car park, which has been marked out into tasteful bays each with its own ticket holder and bike shackle. The installation of which must have meant digging up most of the car park!

I wonder what the estimated “pay back” time is on some twenty bays erratically returning 20p per hour?

Added to this farce is the new speed restriction to 50 mph on the top part of the coast road, all of the above needing new signage!

And finally coming out of Bridport, the colossal electronic sign that only displays a message when a hazard is ahead, now has its own smaller sign stating SIGN NOT IN USE.

Where is the sanity?

Toms Bits


Toms Bits The evening runs have now started; so don’t forget to check your newsletter for the dates.
We leave from the little Chef at Corfe Mullen 7 pm to7.15pm away and the runs are every other week.

We had seven TOM'S BITS of you lovely people make it out on the first one of the year, which was not bad considering how bad the rain had been only an hour before we left. So if you want to come and have doubts about the weather give me a call between 6 and 6.30.

Back to the ride out because of surface water it was decided to do a main road run which took us to Ringwood, Burley, Blashley, Lyndhurst and back to Ringwood for cocktails and some light banter at the Fish Inn.
I hope to see a few more off you on future ride outs.

Recently some members have asked what are the benefits are of being an affiliated member to the BMF. Well to give you an example I presented my DMEC card at Gear Box Ashley Road, Parkstone and was discounted twenty pounds of the price of a new helmet. I am quite sure most bike shops offer these same discounts. Some insurance companies also give discounts to members.
I know Carol Nash always used to but don't hold me to that as I left them some years ago.
Any way the long and the short of it is to flash your card and chance your arm it might save you a few bob.

Keep your knees in the breeze Tom.

ACU NATIONAL RALLY VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED


We have been asked by the ACU to run a control point for the National Rally.
It has now all been arranged and going ahead. Len Sands has kindly agreed to organise it, now that Bob Gray has taken over the Beaulieu “reins”.

Len has arranged with the True Lovers Knot that we can use their car park as our control point.
They also say that we can camp over the night in the field behind the pub.
The control point needs to be open from 1400hrs until 2400hrs on the 3rd of July (weekend after Beaulieu) so we could do with plenty of volunteers.
Lets make a good day of it and support the National Rally at the same time. For more info talk to Len

BOBS STUFFFFFF


Hi All,
I will not be at the May Club Night as I will be on my Holidays and will only be back a few days before the Mad Hatters so if you have expressed an interest in coming to the mad hatters then please contact me soon so that I know who is going.

There is no need to book with F2 just turn up and pay your £10 when you get there if you would like to ride up in a group I will be leaving at midday on Friday 28th May so let me know and we can meet up and ride up together if anyone needs any kit let me know as soon as poss. and I will see what I can sort out for you.

To find F2 have a look at there website at www.f2motorcycles.co.uk

This is what F2 has to say about the Rally

28th to 31st May 2004 The Mad Hatters Rally.

This is our main event of the year and gets more popular each year.
The site is behind F2 Motorcycles and has toilets, showers and hot freshly cooked food.
No trade stands, no stall- holders, no amplified music, no dogs or children.
There will be a run out on the Saturday and a campfire every night.
There are pubs a short walk away in the village. Any make of bike is welcome.
Cost is £10.00 per tent for the whole weekend. Every year we collect money for a local charity and this year it is The Katharine House Hospice so please start your collection box now and bring it with you. Prizes for best solo, best combo, best hat and longest distance.

How to get there

From Junction 11 of the M40, take the A422 towards Brackley.
At the next roundabout take the 3rd exit (still A422).
You will pass under a bridge, and at the brow of the hill see a sign for BURGESS FARM on your right. Take this turning, go past the flower shop and into the yard and you will find Unit 5 on your left.

Unit 5 Burgess Farm, Middleton Cheney, Banbury, Oxon, OX17 2NE. Telephone 01295 712900

A VISIT


The Suffolk section of the VJMC are visiting our area for the weekend of 5th 6th June.
They are meeting us for lunch at the Oakdale on the 5th then its of for a ride around the Purbecks.

Then maybe a beer back at the Red Shute Inn. See Nick if interested.

NEWS LETTER APRIL 2004

Fresh back from his tour of India’s brick out houses, we welcome the return of “The Tourist “


Well you lucky DMEC’ers it's that time of year again. No it's not bath time.
It's Wednesday evening rideouts again. I know you have all been waiting like coiled springs all winter in anticipation of some pleasant evening cruising with the tourist.
So you are all cordially invited to attend the Little Chef Corfe Mullen 7pm - 7.15pm the evening of April 21. So don’’t be late cause we won’t wait.
Even if your not in the club and have picked up this message word of mouth or perhaps from our website, please come and join us.

The format of the rideout is to ride for about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on light and weather and stop at a pub on a main road or close to, for a shandy and chinwag. If you don’t wish to stay long we will direct you home. But generally we finish up quite close to Poole.

Small bikes are more than welcome to join us as the ride is always tailored to the smallest machines that turn up on the night.

Keep your knees in the breeze. Tom

ACU NATIONAL RALLY


We have been asked by the ACU to run a control point for the National Rally.

It has now all been arranged and going ahead. Len Sands has kindly agreed to organise it, now that Bob Gray has taken over the Beaulieu “reins”.

Len has arranged with the True Lovers Knot that we can use their car park as our control point.
They also say that we can camp over the night in the field behind the pub.
The control point needs to be open from 1400hrs until 2400hrs on the 3rd of July (weekend after Beaulieu) so we could do with plenty of volunteers.

Lets make a good day of it and support the National Rally at the same time.
For more info talkto Len

little yellow GS


Martin and the little yellow GS – Part 1, how it!! happened

Just about a year gone by since I bought my BMW R1150RS and I cannot fault it; it does everything I wanted very well.
Didn’t want a yellow bike so it is blue.

I didn’t get it for green lanes, or is that called “following Tom”? I kept the CB500 for that sort of riding – gosh don’t we get spoiled – so keeping the Honda was part of the grand plan until son Jez got an unrestricted licence and decided that Dad’s Honda would do him well. Dad needs another fun bike; just cannot go back to being a one bike guy.

I had used of a courtesy F650 from CW and I thought that the GS variant would be a good fun; it could follow Tom anywhere and it’s the only ‘enduro’ not too tall for me, just! For the next service on the 1150RS I requested the F650GS demonstrator as a loan bike to try out – it p*ssed down and I found my jacket neck seal failed the ‘horizontal rain from the right’ test.

I have sailed a lot of ‘wet’ boats but the GS is a wet bike, you get all that comes down but with the high beaky front mudguard the GS throws up in the air all the wet which had landed before you arrived; you get all that together with what is falling now.
Apart from the weather I enjoyed it, it is responsive, superb in traffic - when you remember the wide bars - the steering is not as quick as the 1150RS but it is plenty quick enough and although it is not really very light the centre of gravity is reasonably low so it feels light. It seems natural to ride over grass triangles and roundabouts rather than bothering to go round them!

It took a while to find a recent second hand one, it eventually turned up in Reading, but it was yellow, sort of very low mileage and less than a year old a deal is done and I bought a yellow one (never thought I would do that).

Being a wise old fool I bought a one-piece over suit before I went to collect it as I have not ridden a really naked bike any distance for centuries. Expect you guessed – it really p*ssed down and I had arranged a roundabout trip back to (show the new bike off) try it out. The over suit was great, or most of it was, the neck seal failed the ‘solid horizontal water from the front and sides’ test.

With visor shut I misted straight away, slightly open and water pours down the inside, spray everywhere, can only just make out the yellow tank, don’t you just love motorways in the rain. My boots have never leaked – until then; my gloves never leaked – before; the over suit let water soak up the soggy boots to wet my leathers. My backpack leaked, I didn’t realise it was breathable and inside out, it let water in but didn’t let it out and it got very heavy. Not had a yellow bike before and I am getting wet and cold – is the colour jinxed?

Now I had it, a (yellow) bike that will be good to ride in the winter,
will protect the big investment from salty roads and will be fun in the summer with a bit of light off-road thrown in (hopefully not too much throwing) and it blends with the buttercups.

It is still yellow but since I was told it looks sexy I can’t understand why I haven’t always had a yellow bike.
I have also been tinkering in the evenings – tell you about that another time.

Your PRO

The views and comments contained within this publication are not necessarily the views of the D.M.E.C. its Committee or its members and publication does not imply endorsement by any of these parties.



NEWS LETTER MARCH 2004

Pennies from Heaven?


A Taiwanese motorcyclist was hit by a fortune after a $600,000 kidnap ransom dropped on his head.
Lu Fang-nan, 57, was knocked off his motorbike after a relative of a kidnap victim dropped the money from a highway overpass, local media reports said. The stunned man re-mounted his bike and sought medical help for a swollen leg - and the kidnappers fled with the cash. The person who dropped the money was following orders from kidnappers who had seized an electronics merchant.
Mr Lu said he did not realise he had been hit by the falling fortune until television news reported the businessman's release and the delivery site of the ransom payment.
"Such a way to pay ransom is dangerous. It could get people killed," the unlucky cyclist told the United Daily News.
The incident paid off for the kidnapping victim, who was released unharmed. Police say they are hunting several suspects.

Ogri Rally 2004


The new address for Ogri Rally tickets is:
Ogri MCC, c/o Nic Ling, 98 The Priory, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 3ST.
Tickets are £15 each. Don't forget a stamped SAE.

Normandy Trip


Do we have any more takers? We sail on the morning of the 20th May returning on the evening of 24th May. See Nick Downs if interested.

Popham Airfield 30th August 04 (Bank Holiday)

Some of you will know this as a biker-friendly place to visit - we've been there on a club run.
The manager, Dick Richardson, a biker himself, is organising a new event, a bike show and bike jumble (including off-road jumble).
There will be a big marquee and 30 acres of grassland for exhibitors and traders, and the entrance fee will be only £2!
Any clubs, manufacturers or traders who want a stand should contact Dick on 01256 397733 or write to him at Charles Church Spitfires Ltd, Popham Airfield, nr Winchester SO21 3BD or email pophamairfield@aol.com

Unfortunately I can't go as I have a longstanding fixture on that date, but it sounds like it might be worth a visit, or maybe even a club turnout?
It might be a good substitute for those who feel somewhat under whelmed at the prospect of another trip to Beaulieu,
it's only a one-day event but who knows, if well supported it might grow....

Bobbi

WHATS GOING ON


Pioneer run

Pioneer run Sunday 21st March is the 66th Pioneer run From Epson in Surrey to Brighton Sussex for Pre-1915 bikes
as not many of us in the club have bikes built before 1915 we cant enter the run but we can have a ride down there and watch all the old bikes go past
this will be a slow run as we will have some older bikes going with us but every one is welcome
we will be meeting at Redlands retail park at Branksome outside Courts at 06:45 am to leave at 07:00 am sharp
we will ride about 80 miles to a café were we can have food and watch the bikes go by
if you have never been to the Pioneer run its well worth the trip it’s a nice ride from here and you will see some very odd old bikes and riders !!!!
If you are thinking of coming give me a call on 01202 549609 so I know how many are coming


Camping Weekend

Camping Weekend If you are looking for a weekend camping trip in May I will be going to The Mad Hatters Rally 28th to 31st May 2004 The Mad Hatters Rally.
This is F2 Motorcycles main event of the year. The site is behind F2 Motorcycles
which is at Burgess Farm, Middleton Cheney, Banbury, Oxon telephone 01295 712900 and has toilets, showers and hot freshly cooked food.
No trade stands, no stallholders, no amplified music, no dogs or children. There will be a run out on the Saturday and a campfire every night.
There are pubs a short walk away in the village. Any make of bike is welcome.
Cost is £10.00 per tent for the whole weekend.
Every year F2 Motorcycles collect money for a local charity and this year it is The Katharine House Hospice so please start your collection box now and bring it with you.
Prizes for best solo, best combo, best hat and longest distance.
If there is enough interest I will organise A club ride out to the Rally leaving the Little chef at about mid day Banbury is only about 120 miles away so it will make a nice ride
if you would like to go but don’t have a tent or any other camping gear talk to me as some of us in the club have spare kit we don’t mind lending out so there is no excuse

STAY SAFE BOB

BAN GREEDY SPEED CAMERAS

BRITAIN'S leading policeman has slammed greedy forces who use speed cameras to raise cash.
Met Commissioner Sir John Stevens said in an exclusive interview: "I don't approve of using speed cameras as money making devices. Their proper use is to lower accident rates."
He also told the Mirror the public had a right to defend themselves and that he was prepared to quiz Royals and spy chiefs over the death of Princess Diana.
Sir John, 61, spoke out amid national outrage at the soaring number of cameras which land speeding drivers with a £60 fine and penalty points on their licence.
He said: "I insist all Met cameras are deployed in places where there is a history of serious accidents.
"I'm not after people on a school run exceeding the limit by five miles an hour.
I want to target the dangerous motorists and menaces driving unlicenced and uninsured."
The AA said: "This marks a sensible approach to traffic policing."
Protesters claim speed cameras unfairly penalise safe drivers and have failed to curb the road death toll.
In Hampshire, where motorcycle deaths have almost doubled in a year, six new cameras are netting police an estimated £30,000 a month in fines.
But the devices, which photograph cars from the front, cannot trap motorcycles as bikes do not have a front number plate.
While drivers complain at too many cameras, a survey showed there were just six on 21 miles of Britain's most dangerous roads.

BMF Affiliation Cards


The cards are now available, see Phil Luke for yours.

NEXT CLUB NIGHT IS MONDAY 15TH MARCH

COPY DATE FOR THE APRIL NEWSLETTER IS WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL


The views and comments contained within this publication are not necessarily the views of the D.M.E.C. its Committee or its members and publication does not imply endorsement by any of these parties.




THESE ARE EXAMPLES OF OLD NEWSLETTERS FROM THE CLUB


Lion Rally 2003

A report on Lion Rally 2003 By Phil Luke

TOMMY TOURIST DOWN UNDER

A report on toms trip to Australia.

BOBBI,S EPIC JOURNEY

Details of Bobbis first big solo trip

WHAT A GOOD YEAR 2001

Details of Bobbis year

AN EVENING OUT WITH THE D.M.E.C.

Details of an evening run with the club


JULY


TOUR DE BRETAGNE 2000

A report on Nick and Lens trip.

BONJOR NORMANDIE

Details of the trip to Normandi.

TOMS BITS!!!!

A report on Tom and his travels.

FIRST TIME AROUND

Read the motorcycling memories of the county correspondent.



JUNE


THE JUNE NEWS LETTER

THE JUNE CLUB NEWS LETTER



May


THE LAKE DISTRICT WEEKEND

Report on the club trip to the lakes

MAY STUFF

Stuff from the news letter.


April


TOMS PAGE

Toms tips for touring

MY FAVOURITE ROUTE

A favourite route of a club member.

APRIL STUFF

Stuff from the April news letter.


March


NEWS FLASH

News of trip to France August 3rd-8th.

A GRAND DAY OUT

Day at Shepton Mallet.

THE ROAD HOME

Final part of Tom's adventure.

TOWING THE LINE

A cautionary tale.

EVENING RUNS

Forthcoming evening runs.

OTHER GREAT STUFF

Other stuff from the news letter.


February


PAUL'S RUN

A report on January's Club Run.

A NOTE FROM YOUR CHAIRMAN

The thoughts of the chairman.

A DAY AT THE RACES

A continuing story of Tom's European Tour.

MOTORCYCLE MEMORIES

Read the motorcycling memories of Terry B.

MISCELLANEOUS

Other stuff from the News Letter.







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