9th February
The VJMC have at last confirmed their show in Cardiff and they have
organised it for the 13th May - the same date as our Seaside run, so if
you're not riding then please support them. I have some entry forms if
you need one, or you can download one from the Runs page in the Lounge.
4th
February
New look website uploaded using expanding menus.
I'm sure that you've
all noted the change of date for the Dragon Tour - well the Friday and
Saturday social evenings were presenting a bit of a problem - but our
contact in Aberystwyth has found a solution and we are welcome to use
the Brynamlwg social club which is
only a short walk from the halls of residence - click the link, if
you're interested.
The Bristol sections South West Coast Run regs are now on the Runs page in the Lounge.
24th
January
Regs and details of the Cotswolds section Signpost rally and combined
Gutless wonders rally in May on the runs
page. An ideal event for those underpowered machines.
24th January
Our AGM took place yesterday evening and it was gratifying to see such
a large turnout. The usual suspects were returned as officers, Bob as
Chairman, Brian as Secretary, myself as Treasurer and Dave Danielsen as
Vice Chairman. Wayne took on the job of Section Scribe and John Lewis
was volunteered by his Jean to take on the Seaside run. Please note
that there is one change to the calender and that concerns the Dragon
Tour - the event has been moved back a week to the weekend of the
3rd/5th August and will be based at the Aberystwyth University, with
accommodation in the Trefloyne Halls
of residence on the main Penglais campus. Put a note on your calendars
and get your entries in early as there is limited
accommodation.
18th
January
Geoff
Thomas had a complete hip replacement on the 4th Jan and after a couple
of complications was sent home on the 11th and is now
recovering well.
We wish Geoff all the best and hope to see him at one of our events
this year.
6th
January
Three new section websites added to the VMCC
info page -
Men of Kent, Pennine and West Kent.
2nd
January 2012
Date change for the AGM - it's been postponed from the 9th Jan to the
23rd.
17th December
Many dates on our runs/events
calendar
have now been confirmed and updated. Plus a PDF version of the main
VMCC calendar is now available on the same page in the Lounge.
10th
December
For those of you who have Sky TV and the sports channels then they are
screening the VMCC 1000 bikes weekend on:
24th Dec @ 13.00 - Sky Sports 3
27th
Dec @ 05.00 - Sky Sports 1
27th
Dec @ 11.00 - Sky Sports 4
They did screen a programme on the 1000 bikes a month or so ago, but it
consisted of nothing more than interviews of the 'stars', such as Kenny
Roberts. There was nothing shown of the event itself, but this time,
I'm told, the programme will cover the ordinary person and what
actually went on - should be much more interesting - except that I
don't have the Sky Sports channels.
I've also added another two of Brucies stories to his page
- do have a read. See you at the Section Christmas 'do' on Monday.
9th December
The 2012 calendar for runs and meetings has been uploaded. Please bear
in mind that events marked in red on the calendar have not been
confirmed and the dates that they are pencilled in for are guesses
based on their dates for 2011. If anyone can confirm any of these
events or has some more to add - please get in touch. Regs for the
Weymouth week and the Tour of Luxembourg can be found on the Runs/Events calendar
in the Lounge.
4th December
I
appreciate that very few of our
members know Tim Rhys-Roberts, he is a founder member of our section
and attended our 50th anniversary dinner, travelling from North Wales
where he now lives. Tim suffered a stroke back in July, right in the
middle of a house move and ended up in Wrexham Maelor hospital. He was
subsequently transferred to Chirk Community hospital and on the 30th
November, Terry and myself, along with Joe O'Reilly made the trip up
north to see him. He was in good spirits but still lacking mobility on
his left side. There is an outside chance that he will be home for
Christmas.
3rd December
2012 Calendar
for the NACC is now online. The main section calendar is
not yet complete, but hopefully will be finished in a week or two.
29th
November
I've just had the regs for the 2012 Weymouth
Week as a PDF, easy to print off, do let me know if
you have trouble.
24th November
Bruce Grant has penned some stories and they can be found from his
page and also from the Contents
page or the Library
Features.
17th
November
Here's bit more information regarding the proposed MOT exemption for
pre-1960
motorcycles as I've now fully
read the 28 page document. There are four options, one of
which is
to do nothing. The other three options concern the date of manufacture
of the vehicle and are to exempt: pre-1920: pre-1945: or pre-1960. The
latter is the 'preferred' option. The document is full of statistics,
which are all bad enough when based on actual situations but these
statistics are ones that 'predict' the future impact and are, in some
respects, amusing. However, there is a specific reference to
motorcycles and it states:
As
the EU Directive on roadworthiness does not subject motorcycles to any
compulsory roadworthiness test, this MOT exemption review will cover
pre-1960 manufactured motorcycles in all three options. A wider MOT
review which is likely to take place in the near future will cover
post-1960 motorcycles.
It
seems from the above statement that whichever date, 1920, 1945 or 1960
is chosen, then, in each option, the date for motorcycles will be
pre-1960.
Basically our government is attempting to bring us in
line with the rest of the EU and its directive on roadworthiness
testing. An interesting situation, as you'll see from the above quote,
is that the EU exempts ALL motorcycles from a roadworthiness test. I am
aware that tests are not carried out on any motorcycle in
France
or Belgium - can't speak for the other EU countries. So, it is
interesting indeed to read the second sentence in the quote above.
16th November
Well
done to those who supported the Charity Auction on the 14th - we raised
£371.50p, which will go to the Air Ambulance, as decided at the January
AGM. A bit more news on the proposed exemption of pre-1960 motorcycles
from the MOT system - the implementation date is the 1st July 2012.
However, don't get too excited just yet as things have a habit of
changing.
8th November
I've made some subtle changes to the way a picture
of a bike is accessed in the Bike
Park
from the Machine
Index,
as previously the link would just take you to the members page and
you'd then have to scroll down the page to find the bike that you're
looking for if that member owns a number of bikes. Now the link will
take you straight to the picture of the bike concerned. Also there is
now an alternative
index
of machines in alphabetical order, so you can easily find a particular
bike, by maker, rather than by date of manufacture. Have a read of the
governmants proposals to exempt pre-1960 motorcycles from an MOT - some
good news at last. Details and link in the Lounge.
26th
October
There are two dinners in December: -
The local NACC Christmas dinner is taking place on Monday the 5th
December at the Farmers Arms, Aberthin - please let Ray know, if you
wish your name to be on the list. All are welcome, including wives and
girlfriends. Email
Ray if it's easier.
A week later on Monday the 12th December our Section Christmas
dinner/dance will take place. The time is 6.30pm for 7pm followed at
9pm by the dance to the music of the Kent Summers swing Quartet.
The menu is now available here.
Please let me have your menu choice, sooner, rather than
later, money can be paid as and when, but prior to the dinner please.
The form can be printed off or you can even just email
me with your selections.
18th
October
Please note that the Charity Auction has been postponed to the
following meeting on the 14th November. All due to the proposed date of
the 31st October being Halloween night and the club deciding to hold a
childrens party in the hall. We shall be meeting, as usual, but in the
small lounge.
The
proposed bus trip to Sammy Miller's Museum is taking place on Sunday
the 13th November. The bus will leave the Llanharry club at 07.30am,
with the cost being £16 per head, plus museum entry. Anyone wishing to
go please let Bob know by email.
11th October
First the serious
bit - When you have the time do check out this site.
It's the story of a trip across Europe in 1953 on motorcycles of the
time, with some superb period photos. I certainly enjoyed looking at
them, hope you do also. Secondly the not so serious bit
- check out Howard Y's bike
park
page - I've updated his photo.
7th
October
New
reports and photos on the Vale of Glamorgan
Road Trial and the Cyclemotor Sections 100
miler added
to the Reports
page in the Lounge.
Tracey Tilley sent me some interesting information on getting
your bike data tagged - seems that you can buy kits to do it yourself
and is probably well worth considering for peace of mind - check out
the website here. The following is their
response to Tracey who had asked a few questions about the products,
all useful information:
The
dimensions are 64mm x 46mm x 17mm which in old money is 1.8
inches x 2½ inches x 0.65 inches.
Our
development for the 6 volt system was done on a BSA Gold Star 'Cafe
Racer' without any fairing or other bits. A good place is in the seat
as there is no metal on top to really block any of the radio (GPS or
GSM) signals. It can also be fixed (it is magnetic so that helps secure
it) onto the frame in various places, such as by the oil tank or
battery, depending upon the bike. Underneath the petrol tank might be
suitable BUT the temperature from the engine could have an effect if it
gets too hot. The operating temperatures are -20C to 55C. Being a DIY
kit we have been amazed at how creative people have been in finding
suitable places But we try not let this sort of knowledge become common
place on the web site as you never who might be viewing and to use and
old saying 'careless talk costs bikes'. It does have a protective
casing which is weatherproof in case the location is exposed.
The
professional thieves are well aware that more and more vehicles are
being equipped with trackers BUT unless they know which tracker is
fitted they won't know which jamming kit to use so secrecy is an
essential element. Their only course, to reduce the risk, is simply
move the bike a fairly short distance and leave it somewhere such a car
park for a block of flats. They will drive past and if it's still there
and no signs of a police 'stake out' they can be fairly certain a
tracker isn't fitted. No use putting it somewhere radio signals are
blocked because as soon as they move it a signal will be
picked up and a warning will go out and they will be caught.
The same goes for trying to take it away in a van. Whilst moving into
the van or out of the van or even just opening the doors a signal may
escape and a warning and location has gone out. We have one chap who
whenever he opens his metal up and over garage door gets a warning
message from the tracker simply because the door was blocking the GPS
signal and now as soon as the signal is received the location changes
from a series of zeros to a number. OK if he uses the people door and
remembers to turn off the alert mode before opening main garage door.
He's very happy with the arrangement because as soon as anyone even
opens the door to remove the car he receives a warning.
There
are definite legal problems when someone takes the ID off any item. The
police are unable to link the item to a crime and even if the suspect
confesses it can't be proved in court so no prosecution and the item
gets returned to the suspect. Hidden ID such as a microchip is useful
and is backed by EU legislation (EU504/2008 it's about horses and the
human food chain but it makes it a criminal offence) and
Trading Standards are required to enforce this law and without the RFID
scanner (ISO 11784/5 FDXB) they would be unable to do this, so
they have them and if the police or Trading Standards know
that a bike has such ID they can go to where the bike might be and
check.
There
is another RFID system - DATATAG- but this technology is protected by
patent so there are no legal obligations for any law enforcement agency
to have or use the scanners. The ISO standard can be met by any company
providing they are approved by ISO and this means it can be and is
backed by legislation simply because it doesn't give a monopoly to any
single company.
Top
of Page
I
appreciate that very few of our
members know Tim Rhys-Roberts, he is a founder member of our section
and attended our 50th anniversary dinner, travelling from North Wales
where he now lives. Tim suffered a stroke back in July, right in the
middle of a house move and ended up in Wrexham Maelor hospital. He was
subsequently transferred to Chirk Community hospital and on the 30th
November, Terry and myself, along with Joe O'Reilly made the trip up
north to see him. He was in good spirits but still lacking mobility on
his left side. There is an outside chance that he will be home for
Christmas.