2006 Post

Merry Christmas to Ben and his family and all those at the club.

Problem with my shifts so have not been able to get on to your virtual club, but hopefully in the new year.

Santa arrives here 10-12 hours before he gets to you .... any messages before he sets off? After he's had his Fosters in his stubby holder ... temp has been in the high 30's and heaps of bush fires all around.

How's this for a camp fire. These photos were taken at 3pm, in a town called Bairnsdale, about 100Ks away so about an hours drive (yeah we drive fast) very scary. Lesley's sister lives in the line of the fire but no evacuations yet. This is a bad time for Bush fires, some are delibertly lit and some are caused by lightining strikes. We have firefighters from the US and NZ helping and two planes to drop water on the fires.

One plane is called ELVIS so he is alive and well working in OZ.

Hope you are all prepared for the season of good beer, sorry cheer.

I thought I would send you the remainder of this years crop of badges and a couple I missed before.

I only managed 31 this year, but my volunteer work on the Isle of Man see http://www.snaefellwheel.com/Page3/Progress57.htm interfered a bit.

I clocked up my 1000th rally at the Solent rally this year. Quite a milestone (or is that millstone) over with.

Anyway badges included are:-

Sixth Three Boundaries from 2002, last years and this years Dalesman, Antler 2006, Tartan, Captain Cook, Pilgrims, Crann Tarra (fiery cross), Antelope, Spark in the Dark, Two Moons, Toad in the Hole, Squires, Kipper, Icy Ale, Big End and Simmer Dim.

I am enjoying the reports from Les Hobbs. He must only have been pretending to be drunk if he can remember all that detail! I must try to write some myself but it's all a blur (even this year never mind 30 years ago!!!)

It's been hectic for the past couple of weeks. My daughter Helen has been staying with us, and I was fortunate to get a couple of cabins (at the last minute) on the cruise liner that sails around these islands then on to Morroco and Maderia. So naturally I took advantage of this and my daughter was both suprised and also so excited, especially as this was her first trip. Then followed a party we had previously been invited too, on the same evening that we disembarked, which we left around midnight. Then early the following morning Helen was off back to blighty, followed by sadness and tears. Jan really gets on well with Helen.

I was exhausted, and I'm still not over it. In fact I sat and read a book for the best part of two days. I've decided that I won't do anything like work until after the Christmas festivites are well and truly over. But I will be looking out for you on the on the net.

Cheers for now

Just had a nice ICED cold Tetleys as the temperature outside is about 35 degrees.

Would book a trip over for the meeting but the BARMY ARMY have booked all the flights, so we can sit and see the POMs roast in our HOT weather. Will try and catch up on the VIRTUAL club night, about 10 AM our time. I should have just got back from night shift.

Valencia last week. As you can see it was crap weather.

Mad dogs and Englishmen stuck it out but the Spaniards wilted like flies and trying to find some shade in the 30c + heat. Great to see Lorenzo win the title as I have a replica helmet of his. Missed one of his gloves by TEN SEATS.

Pleased also for NICKY as I felt VALE was getting a bit arrogant of late but he will come back the better for it next year.

Aoyama (KTM) and CASEY both came off right in front of us as do most who come off thats why we sit where we do !!

Everywhere in the circuit is covered in concrete so even if it was raining there's no chance of a DONINGTON.

There was as much excitment in the stands as all the birds were stripping off their feathers and pouring water down their fronts to try and keep cool !!!!!

Forgot to take pikkies of Casey .... too busy clapping.

Out of every TEN ... FIVE had a ROSSI shirt or hat .... THREE for DANI .... and the rest were for anyone ... including ... Schwantz ... Doohan ... Criville ...And all the other old farts.....even one for DONINGTON !!!

Four hours to get in (just saw the start of the 250s) but only 15mins to get out ..... what do you expect for 130,000 !!!

Keep an eye out for us in the blue sector @ Valencia.

Is it going to be one of the best ever?

See www.speedtracktales.co.uk www.sandspeedwales.co.uk www.silverdragons.co.uk. I believe a hi number of Leicester People (Query?) plus one other Club there as well rode on the Silver Dragons.

Do you or members have any Vintage Motorcycle Events ISDT Racing or matter applicable for use in the sites?

I do have a large Archive here of pics plus programmes. You are welcome to have copied parts of any I have that your researchers may require. No Charge for history!, Many Thanks

I won't forget but I will not be able to participate because I am in California this week.

I can read your emails but I am not allowed to have SKYPE on my work laptop.

Surprise!

(OK Long time - no ... etc!)

Well I've sold my (old) TZ250 racer & am looking for a road bike!

Here's a pic For those who saw last Sunday's MotoGP. Tho' I do think Pedrosa was not really to blame...

I did go to Ashby F, but never saw any of our lot, & I was under d clock @ 5past!

Will try 2 keep in touch!

Thanks for the note [about South Croxton]. Unfortunately I will be in the States visiting Kayleigh. She's over in Jacksonville on a year out doing medical research.

It's always good to get your emails even if, despite our best intentions, we never actually make it happen.

Still, with Kayleigh away and Kimberley now at Uni in Swansea, we only have two left at home. So we are actually getting some time to ourselves at last.

Hope to see you all soon.

I've not seen much of you lately. I look on skype to see if you are about.

The other day I picked up a magazine, "What Bike" and was most suprised to learn that AJS motorcycles were being produced in the UK. Have a look at their website at www.ajsmotorcycles.co.uk.

Also there is an interesting website on the Indian made Royal Enfield Bullet Electra -X.

I spent a pleasant part of the evening browsing on these sites, which brought back memories of the golden days.

I'm sending you a few pictures of a classic car rally held here in Tenerife last month. It was just up the road about 20 minutes away. They didn't mention anything about motorcycles but there was one there, which would be quite handy on these congested roads.

I'd buy it if it came with the ammunition.

Look after yourself, I will make a point of contacting you next time I'm over.

That's a coincidence you having the same igloo tent. I saw Roy Dewis (Antelope Rally organizer, more at a later date) in the early 1970s with one. It must have been one of the first. I was most impressed with the sight of it, neatly laid out inside, built in ground sheet. It cost £40, a hell of a price at the time (about 3 weeks wages) but much better than the ex-army canvas bivvy £3 from Wakefields that I was using. Two poles, 6 pegs, no ground sheet.

No I don't ride a bike fast. I'm steady, in fact I'm a total prat on a solo, can't corner to save my life, but I manage. Put me on a sidecar outfit and I'll give anyone a run.

As to a memory, some things are as clear as yesterday. Others are complete blanks. You're only getting the good days. I sent in a rally badge for the Vulcan Rally; I went, I saw, I signed in, I got the badge, I got drunk, I came home, I can't remember. I've racked my brain cell (singular) and the most I can come up with is Doncaster speedway track? A one off when I did rallies alone 1972.

Thanks for the invite [to South Croxton]. But we will be busy that weekend, as we are off to Oz that week for a month. So busy packing, seeing family etc etc. Hope you all have a great night out and have a drink for us.

We are off to visit the Victoria Sidecar Club mates we have known for many years and to ride down the Great Ocean Road (we will think of you all).

We had a great time on [the National Rally] control at Melton and will do it again if asked.

Thank you for your continued info' as regards the club.

For us, I am afraid the 200 mile return journey for one evening is too far.

However, I am sure sometime in the future we will get up to Leicestershire & meet up.

This Summer, we were able to meet with John & Jan [Muschialli] when we were in Leicestershire & had a great reunion of our own.

Must congratulate you on an excellent website.

Please keep us posted

I now own a Harley Dyna Lowrider 1450 and live on Anglesey.

Would be great to hear from anyone who remembers me!!

Hello from Sunny South Africa.

Club: Highway Dragons organises the Dragon Rally in South Africa in our mid winter, end of July. Go to www.highwaydragons.co.za to have a look see.

I come from Cheltenham, Glos., England, Been here too long... it's time for me to come home. We have members in UK, Italy (soon I believ)e and South Africa. We are based in Durban, Port Shepstone and in the fairest Cape... Cape Town.

If ever any of you care to come over, just let us know, we'll entain you royally and you'll get to see a whole different biking fraternity and way of life.

Stay Upright and Lean Into the Bends.

Been chatting to Derek & Mavis Tompkins and he has sent me a photo of his group at the Annual Dinner @ Wicksteed Park in '62, and that's how I remember him, in a time warp, as I've never seen him since! But I'm afraid he doesn't remember me. Shows what impression I made as an eighteen year old!

We have spoken about Derek Minter at that Dinner and then I see a picture of him in the Classic MotorCycle with Chris Vincent who of course lived in Earl Shilton where I took my Velo for M.O.T.

I suppose Derek does well to use a computer at all in his eighties but he has not been too forthcoming with info of others in that period.

I tried to jog his memory about his Siamese cat that knackered my brand new casual shirt, but all he could say was that he had one. I also tried to describe his house at the time but all he could say was he lived above a shop in Wood St. which I never went to.

AAAAHHHH nostalgia!!!!!

I asked Tappets if he went to Gedders but he just said he was busy decorating while his Buxom wife was away on a training course! I could get from Mallory Park in 37 minutes to Ketters at night time and he should knock the 7 off of that from Whetstone. Oh some people.

I still enjoy getting the emails etc. I haven't had a bike on the road in ages. Would love to see the guys again soon so I shall hopefully be at one of the meets before the end of the year. Is Carington Arms meet still happening?

Haven't bumped into you for some time. I missed Founders day this year due to work commitments, but have been to the last two Ashby Folville meets. Only ex members I usually see are Mick & Helen Ayriss and John Musch.

Some good photos of the bikes at Founders day, but did you have to include that Greeves Sportsman, (sport, that's a laugh). My first bike that was, all those skinned knuckles trying to keep the b***tard running, brought a tear to my eye, but at 30:1 mix its to be expected.

Sounds like the Kettering and District had a good reunion. Derek and Mavis? They would be before/during my time?? Ask them if they knew Shirley Everard, Roger Seddon, Frank Bayman, Bob Berwick, Terry Green, John & Maisy Clow, Don Driver. All at a time when we met at a pub and the street I can't remember but down by McDonalds in Ketters close to the old gas works but I don't think it was "Gas St." It came out at Northfield Ave. All before we went to The Good Companions off North Park Rd.

If Derek and Mavis have got involved then you should invite "The Berwicks"

P.S.

If anyone reads The Classic Motorcycle and read the article on Chris Horsfield, I used to go bowling at Corby with Chris, Chris Carter, Freddy Mays, Andy Lee and Dave Nichol who is still involved with MX and the FIM. Chris Carter is not replying to emails from Pat Braithewaite (ex MCN) ...... what a shame ..... as Chris and I went all over the country together covering MX for MCN.

Keep it going.

I don't have a road bike these day's. However I do have a CRF250 that I race hare and hounds.

I've been raising money for RIDERS FOR HEALTH for some years now and on Tuesday the 25th July at the ELEPHANT AND CASTLE in THURLASTON I am holding a BBQ and Raffle evening. I hope you can let your members know and have a run out there.

Please check out my website www.itsgood.co.uk

Thank you for your anticipated support.

I thought I would pass on some local jokes to see if anyone outside Canada understands the humour.

Why do you think the French car maker Renault wrote "LE CAR" on the side of one of its models? To prevent the average Frenchman from hopping on the lawnmower to go to work.

WW1 (The war in the trenches). "Hey Fritz, are you there?" "Yes Pierre, I am here." "Hey Fritz, who do think will win this war?" "I do not know Pierre, I can hear you but I cannot see you" "Can you see me now Fritz?" (BANG)

Canadian computer terminology:

Hardrive: Trying to drive from Vancover to Halifax in three days. (distance 4998 miles.)

Monitor: A bloody great lizard that lives somewhere around here!

Virtual memory: I forget what I was going to say.

The map on the Calendar Page located us very well, and provided the exact latitude & longditudes. When I opened the map, the position that you had in the crosshairs was the complex Atlantic View, where we have our holiday apartment and as you can see its right on the coastline.

The volcano to the east is only about 300 meters away from our casa, and looks like a large hill. Most days you can see people walking up and down it but I must admit we've never done it. Maybe we should, but Jan takes water and sweets with us in the car even if we go down to the village so I dread to think what she would have me dragging up that hill.

I will keep a lookout for you on skype in the late evenings to see if you are on.

Is Scuffy George still alive? Glen Purser was asking me.

How have your re-unions been going then?

Any pikkies of Ketterings old farts to see. Especially that old git who lives in the clouds (Colin Hill).

I hear he writes books (John Phillips actually) these days. I guess Colin must have said something like wishing to find certain books (Greeves). So they put their heads together and justified a re-print (must be doing OK) so are looking for more. I happened to mention my first ever read after leaving school was No Time to Lose by Alan Peck. The story of Bill Ivy (early).

Over recent months I've been in touch with John, Pat Braithewaite and (soon) Chris Carter who all lived in Ketters in the early sixties and worked for MCN.

John (have you met him?) retired a few years ago but does free lance stuff as does Pat, but I think Chris is still full time with Trials and Motocross News?

Does Phil Barton have E.mail? [no]

My Velo appeared in Classic Bike a couple of months ago. That obviously caused a stir in Ketters?

Saw one of those Paul Smart replica Ducati's over here the other day. Looks nice too.

My brother in law was here recently who works at the Toyota factory and Pat Braithewaite had just been to Scotland testing the new Rav 4 for their in house magazine. Pat sheepishly mentioned he has a Gilera scooter to run around on as he couldn't afford a Enfield India. So I cheered him up by saying I had one too and then dumped him by saying "Mine does 85mph though"

Ask to see Mike's latest issue of Velo's Fishtail and you will see my old bike from 1962 on the front page in its new re-built state. (the bastard won't sell it to me!)

I was in WD 66 club (Willenhall & Darlaston). Is there any web site that lists the old clubs?

I think yours is a great site and will try get my badges scanned to send to you.

I am going to the I.F.A day at Stamford Hall on the 7th of May. It's a get together of cars and bikes made in the former Easten block; MZ,Jawa CZ etc. And I intend going to the BMF Show on Saturday 20th of May. Then there's The Classic Clubs Day again at Stamford Hall at the end of May. May's quite a busy month. So I may run into you.

G'day Ben

I was looking for a report on the 2006 Dragon Rally and come across your site.

I came over from Australia for the 2005 Dragon Rally. Was going to come over this year but missed out. So do you know of any reports on the Dragon Rally and do you know if I could buy any Dragon Rally Caps?

Looking at badges remindes of the rallies I have been to.

Vic from Down Under

My name is Ted Trett, and I was told about your web site by Jan Heiland.

I am not nor have I ever been a member of the Leicester Phoenix, but I have been fortunate/unfortunate enough to have spent many hours in the company of several members/past members over the past 30 odd (very odd) Years of Rallying.

Now to business, I have only managed a quick skim through your archive of rally badges. I think I have been to the majority of them!

I am a member of the Tees Tornadoes and have been on the committee of the Dean Valley MCC for over 30 years.

I feel sure I must have met you. I always come to the Big End Rally. Anyway I have been, and still am, very active on the Rally Scene.

I am not sure I could contemplate scanning my collection of rally badges, but then again I don't suppose you have a spare year or so to put the images on site!

Nigel Woodthorpe from your club has just narrowly beaten me to the 1000 rally mark. I don't see any contributions from him on there, you should lean on him a bit!

Anyway, thanks for an interesting site and after I have managed a more in depth look at your badge archive I will attempt to find time to make some sort of contribution (if you want me to).

Will be sixty this year. LPMCC past members will all soon be geriatric. Just hope matron will let me out of the strait-jacket to enjoy the Harley and meet up with LPMCC survivors.

This is my first visit to the site, so I will have to find my way around.

Can you please let members know that the National Road Rally has a web site at www.nationalroadrally.co.uk. It has downloads and information for new and past riders.

Also I was lucky enough to go to the Premier of a film staring Sir Anthony Hopkins called "The Fastest Indian" It's about a bike! A brilliant, intelligent bike film at last and it goes on realease from the 10th March. Can you give it a plug?

Received this from a friend in Australia and thought it might be of (macabre) interest to some of the LPMC members.

One of the reasons we ride bikes is for the adrenalin 'fix' caused by the inherent danger; but this was just plain stupid!

The Honda rider was traveling at such a "very high speed", his reaction time was not sufficient enough to avoid this accident. Swedish Police estimate a speed of 155mph before the bike hit the slow moving car side-on at an intersection. At that speed, they predicted that the rider's reaction time (once the vehicle came into view) wasn't sufficient enough for him to even apply the brakes.

The car had two passengers and the bike rider was found INSIDE the car with them. The Volkswagen actually flipped over from the force of impact and landed 10 feet from where the collision took place. All three involved (two in car and rider) were killed instantly. This graphic demonstration was placed at the Stockholm Motorcycle Fair by the Swedish Police and Road Safety Department. The sign above the display also noted that the rider had only recently obtained his license.

At 155 mph the rider is traveling at 227 feet per second. With normal reaction time to SEE-DECIDE-REACT of 1.6 seconds the above operator would have traveled over 363 feet while making a decision on what actions to take. In this incident the Swedish police indicate that no actions were taken.

---

Incidentally, this same friend sends me loads of humorous e-mails - mainly extremely risque! I'll be happy to forward some of them on to you, if you're interested. Just let me know.

About the National Rally control. If you can get that many people to man the control you will manage quite easily. I do know that some other controls not more than 25 miles away were manned over a similar period by a team of 3 or 4 after others dropped out. It does mean a long shift, they swore they would not be doing it again but I understand that they are! So it must be enough of a buzz to make it worthwhile.

I feel I should complain though, in the strongest possible terms, about Steve White being allowed to sit a round all night skiving! He should be out there riding like last year!

The very mention of the "Bluebell" causes a painful ache in my left leg. It was a club run to this pub one summers night in 1970 when a front wheel puncture on my Honda 175 threw me down the road, trapping my leg under the bike. I ended up with a mangled knee, but in true Phoenix fashion no ambulance was called. I got a lift to the pub, had a skin full of ale and Brian Porter was delegated to drop me off at the Infirmary on the way home for a bit of surgery and a skin graft. A couple of weeks later Bill Langley recovered the bike for me. How we managed to get the bike into his Hillman Imp I don't know. I had a leg in plaster and the Imp wasn't a large car. Still it proves that nothing gets in the way of a Phoenix drinking session.

Anyone you know selling a 1960's Triumph speed twin or thunderbird or a Suzuki GT750 kettle? Please pass on my details if you do.

The Dragon was cold on Saturday with snow flurries crossing the Welsh border and then it rained from about 3pm until we got home on Sunday. I now remember why I didn't want to stay overnight again for the last 25 years. Perhaps I will do it again in another 20 years or so when the memory has faded once more.

In a word, help!

You may (or may not) know that I am on the National Road Rally committee (formerly the National Rally) responsible for conning, sorry I mean finding people to run controls.

This year the group which ran Melton Mowbray has dropped out and we are in need of another group who would give up their time to run it.

The Rally is on 1st/2nd July and the Melton Control would be open from 2pm on Saturday 1st July to about 8am on Sunday 2nd July. Yes, if you think very carefully and read that again, it means staying up overnight.

To compound the problem we cannot use last year's site which means a new site somewhere around Melton will have to be found.

If you could advertise this somewhere in the old codgers website anyone interested can contact me directly on 0116 2896942 or email me (via this website for security).

I am keeping my fingers and everything else crossed.

Anyone can check the website out on www.nationalroadrally.co.uk if they wish.

Sorry, I cannot make it to the lunchtime meet at Hinckley this time. In fact I think I am going to be quite a 'dropout' from most meetings this year! Not that I want to, but earning a crust comes a bit higher up the priority list I'm afraid. But I will get to any meeting where it is remotely possible.

See Ya! (maybe)

I would love to join the virtual clubnight on Wednesday, but I'm at work. Keep me informed , I might make the next one.

Now this computer works again I will send you the photos from the meal at the Fleece.

I am away Monday to Friday, every week until 3rd March (except some Wednesdays), so will not be able to join in - I am more of a listener anyway! This contract may well be extended until September, so I will more than likely miss all meetings on weekdays, including Ashby Folville. Oh No!!!! So please keep me up to date, whenever you find time, you are doing a brilliant job.

Alan Jarvis mentions storing his Velo in his terrace house entry way. I reckon that was easy. Try that with a BMW like I did. Got the damn thing's cylinders stuck fast on the gate posts. Had to pay for new thinner ones. Still got only quarter inch clearance then.

I really enjoyed the Mick Ayriss' California Dreaming story. Given me ideas that has.

I want to share with you some of my early experiences both living in the Highfields and riding motorcycles.

In the early 60s I lived in Worthington Street, the houses where terraced houses, I am not sure if all your readers will remember or understand the type of house I am referring too.

I lived at number 48 and we had a narrow entry which separated us from number 50.

When I bought my Velocette I did not want to leave it parked on the street in case someone pinched it so, I use to drag into the entry (which was a very tight fit) and lock the entry door from the inside.

After a while, Mrs Roberts who lived at number 50 complained about my bike being in the entry! She was in her late 80s and very frail. I suggested she climb over it! (Some people have no sense of humor.) So it came to pass that I had to rent a garage at great expense on Normanton Road.

Now Normanton Road was not very convenient to Worthington Street but it was very close to a pub called the "Coach and Horses", and the owner turned out to be a very good friend of mine (eventually).

One night after a very boozy night in Aylestone I rode back to the Highfields with one eye open and I was being followed by a police car. I tried several times to shake my pursuer but he kept showing up behind me. I did manage to confuse him enough when I got close to Normanton Road, I went round the back of the garage and put my bike away using the back door.

Five minutes later I was walking home wearing my boots, PVC suit and my helmet under my arm when a police car stops me on East Park Road and asks "Have you been riding a motorcycle?" ... "Not me!" I said, "What gives that idea? Do you see a motorcycle?" Whew! Got away with that one.

Not boring old farts on Beemers moaning about Harleys as well. The old dresser was a bit slow round the bends as well as on acceleration, but this new "Revolution" kicks out 120BHP! And when it gets a "Screemin' Eagle" makeover 140BHP!! And it handles every bit as good as the Velo. Sorry to hear of your Knees Trev. I guess that's you in the bottom picture? If it was you in the top picture "Tuff"! What has caused that then? I done my quadracept five years ago and it has stood up to all the abuse I've thrown at it since I've been here (touch wood).

What bike does Russ & Sue have these days? I can remember it was an A10 but was it an RGS? A mate has one out here in A1 condition and is finalising a "Goldie".

Wollaston? Didn't some crap GP racer come from there who was so bad he had to end up commentating on WSB and he was crap on that too.

No mention of John Tilley in your listings? He followed Ken Vernon after me as chairman and the poor sod ended up with Roy's EX the ******* bitch.

Wooops, sorry, shouldn't start knocking people when we're having fun.

I enclose a couple of pictures of my last, fast tour of the Swiss, French and Italian Alps with the Wollaston motors, mad but good BMW riders. This was just over a year ago now. About 32 bikes in total but we split into different ability groups. I needed a new set of boots and a change of underwear when I got back so guess which group I was with. There is no way Jeff would have coped on his posh chopper, he would have been left behind at the start line even with the dodderers. What a poser machine he's got ha!

That year I also did a couple of days in Spain with my friends on borrowed KTM's. We went enduro riding in the St Maria mountains in Andelusia near my apartment in Velez Rubio. What an experience. I will try and sort a couple of pictures out for you.

Happy New Year.

Just recovering (Wed.) from a night out with the "Biking Boys" and girls for my 62 birthday, a three course meal and half bottle wine for a fiver!

Sorry about that. But you will be pleased then to hear that the Velo has been off the road most of the year after a rebuild and I'm having trouble keeping the cylinder head down and getting oil to circulate properly. If I take out the non return valve ball (even new rubber one) it works ok then I put it back and it stops working.

Will keep you posted with pikkies of bikes including my mates.

Alan: Great! I see you have the cottage [at the lake] on the website!!

Ben : Is the picture scrolling? Can you see how it is done?

Alan: It is scolling but I do not know how you do it.

Ben : The photo is mirrored and then the left photo is moved to the right end and so on.

Alan: Sorry you lost me!

Ben : It will go our with the next News Update on the web (Friday) but not in the emails.

Alan: OK. Swim meeting will wait a couple of weeks!

Ben : I would come over and join you but I have a hole in the knee of my cossy.

Alan: Ha ha ha. Remember, if we have a Quebec rally [Virtual Club Night], we drive on the other side of the road and we need a plough on the front of the bike.

Ben : When we were heading across East Anglia to the ferry port for Europe, George Lewis reached a roundabout and went round it anticlockwise. We thought he was having a laugh and met him going round the other way. He was horrified. He was already in 'drive on the right' mode. Luckily there was nothing about.

Alan: Lucky is right.

Ben : Somewhere on the website is a similar tale about Terry Riddle heading the wrong way down the Fosse Way dual carriageway and the time we drove the wrong way on the Belgian Autobahn. The hardest time is leaving a gas station or after a relaxing meal break.

Alan: I once rode right through a roundabout, cos I was going too fast to make the turn, it was near Mablethorpe.

Ben : A lot of riders have taken the short route across roundabouts.

Alan: The flowers planted in the middle tend to slow the bike down!

Ben : Are there any roundabouts in Canada?

Alan: We have one or two, but it is only a show of Englishness.

Ben : I dread to think of the Quebec rules. Give Way to the Right?

Alan: Quebec has some relly strange rules, the worst drivers in Canada.

Ben : That figures!

Alan: A red light is not red unless it has been red for 2 minutes!

Ben : We should think up some new ones for them.

Alan: Never slow down on an amber light, you will get 12 cars up your arse!

Ben : In Brazil you don't stop at a red light after dark . . . . unless you want to be robbed.

Alan: Ha ha ha. Have to go soon.

Ben : Bye. Speak again soon.

Alan: OK, BYE!

Happy New Year!

Last year the website received about 100 visitors every week. Not bad for a contact base of less than 200 past members and friends.

This year we have plenty of exciting plans including occasional meetings to recapture the old spirit (and then drink it).

There is a lot of enthusiasm for a motorcycle run so I hope we can find a volunteer to lead a short ride on May 1st this year. Terry Reynolds had an interesting run planned from the 2005 Big End Rally but it was rained off. Maybe he can wring it out for May Day.

Something new is the Virtual Club Night on the last Wednesday of every month. This is for everyone to take part in, not just members too far away to take part in reunions. They would like to speak to you again. Derek Foster and Alan Jarvis are breaking new ground with this project so I hope you can bring your ideas and enthusiasm to the Virtual Club Night on 25th January. Be in at the start!