Wakefield MAG February 2018 Newsletter

Dear Wakefield MAG Member,

Welcome to the Wakefield MAG e-newsletter. If you can't attend our Wednesday meetings regularly, it's the next best thing to keep you up to date with what we are up to.

CONTENTS

1) Wakefield MAG Annual General Meeting
2) Leeds and Sheffield Air Pollution Consultations
3) South Yorkshire MAG
4) MAG comments on London Mayor's summit with motorcycle manufacturers
5) Post Christmas Auction
6) 2018 Events
7) Fred Hill Run
8) Squires Banner
9) The Daft Way Up MAG Fundraiser
10) Forthcoming Events (for February and beyond)

1) Wakefield MAG Annual General Meeting

The Wakefield & District Motorcycle Action Group Branch AGM was held in the Grey Horse, on Wednesday 10th January 2018. This was our 16th AGM (and birthday), so we are now legal to ride a moped on the road ... Woo Hoo .... FREEDOM !!!!!

In our 16 consecutive years as an active MAG Branch, we haven't had to reform / re-launch at any point to keep going. The overall membership numbers (Full MAG members with a WF postcode) are identical to the previous year, although given we have a slightly increased member drop-off rate, technically we have increased net membership (how's that for a positive spin !!!). Meeting attendance has remained very strong throughout the year and the majority of meetings have around 15-20 members in attendance (circa. 23% of MAG Members in the area attend their branch meetings - Nationally, 10% is the 'best' average). We have been successful again in our fund raising for the MAG fighting fund, matching the 2015 target of £1,500. We have remained very active, and packed an awful lot of activities into the year and laid on some very successful events. We have increased our support of charities (Kidzaware was a new charity we started supporting in 2016), but (very importantly) without diverting any funds away from the MAG Fighting Fund !!!

All in all, another highly successful year for the branch. A huge thanks to all our meeting regulars and all those who have supported the branch in all our activities. Hip Hip .... Hooray.

The Branch Committee for 2018 is virtually unchanged from 2017, with the notable exception of a new rideout coordinator (Kane Scott replacing Terry Scott) and a new Clubs Officer - Martin Burgess. Our illustrious branch heroes of 2017 were:

The full AGM minutes are available Here.

P.S. Steve was voted in as Rep / Chairman again (for the 16th time), so unfortunately, you are all stuck with him for yet another year :-(

2) Leeds and Sheffield Air Pollution Consultations

Leeds City Council are looking for people living, working and commuting in Leeds and the wider region to have their say on the Council's proposals to reduce air pollution and protect the health of people in the city. To this end, they have launched a public consultation, which is open from 2 January to 2 March 2018 and is available at this link: www.leeds.gov.uk/Business/Pages/Air-quality.aspx

This is a golden opportunity to make the point that powered two wheelers are very much part of the solution and not the problem. Don't let's end up with a farcical situation like in London where it is proposed bikes are subject to exactly the same congestion / pollution charges as cars. Please follow the link and complete the online survey and make sure bikes are not sidelined and penalised in any of the proposals going forward. And if you need a little inspiration before responding to the consultation, be sure to watch this MAG video which clearly outlines the facts: www.facebook.com/motorcycleactiongroup/videos/10159440699628125/

A little further south (but still in Gods own County), Sheffield City Council have undertaken a study into whether a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) should be introduced in Sheffield. The findings are published at this link: www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/pollution-nuisance/low-emission-zone.html. Whilst not a public consultation, you can submit comments by contacting their Air Quality Team at airquality@sheffield.gov.uk

Initially there were 19 UK cities that were proposed will have dedicated Clean Air Zones. This has since risen to 27 in the last month as more local authorities 'jump on the bandwagon' and this will surely become more widespread, encompassing smaller cities and towns (just like Wakefield).

So please make sure you have your say and make sure we get motorcycles included as part of the solution (and not the problem) to congestion and pollution.

3) South Yorkshire MAG

South Yorkshire MAG is GO !!!

South Yorkshire MAG has recently been launched and comprises the previous Barnsley and Doncaster MAG group, together with Sheffield and Rotherham MAG, and represents all riders in the South Yorkshire area (or, the sourthern part of the West Riding of Yorkshire if you prefer ;-)

South Yorkshire MAG currently meet on the first and third Sundays in the month, at 19:00 at the Travellers Inn, 9 Smithy Wood Road, Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham, S61 2SE (although they are open to alternative venues / nights if that is what the membership want). Check out their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/groups/SouthYorksMAG to keep up to date with what the group are up to.

4) MAG comments on London Mayor's summit with motorcycle manufacturers

Representatives from Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, BMW and Piaggio were invited to meet with the Metropolitan Police, MOPAC, the Motorcycle Industry Association and Secure by Design at City Hall on 23rd January.

On social media, Sadiq Khan commented "today I met with leading motorcycle manufacturers to say it is vital they design anti-theft measures into their vehicles to help keep Londoners safe".

Following the meeting, MCIA boss Tony Campbell commented "We know the Mayor would like to hear there is a 'magic bullet' which can be fitted to all bikes to stop them from being stolen, but unfortunately there isn't. If there was, we would be fitting it, as theft is particularly damaging to business and to our customers."

He went on to say "We have explained to the Mayor that a 'layered' approach to security is proving to be the most effective and realistic way of making theft more difficult. This uses a combination of new technologies like 'tagging' and 'tracking' and riders are encouraged to always supplement this with physical security in the form of locks and chains. However they need something to lock their bikes to, which is where City Hall can make a difference by providing more secure parking across London. Powered two wheelers are a solution in reducing congestion in the capital, improving air quality and relieving the pressure on parking, as they do in other European cities. They need to be properly factored into London's transport planning over the long term and secure parking is one of the elements to ensure this is successful."

Colin Brown of the Motorcycle Action Group's TACT (The Anti-Crime Team) says: "We wholeheartedly agree with Tony Campbell's position that there is no single Silver Bullet solution. All parties need to accept responsibility for bringing this crime epidemic to an end. We are keen to see an immediate response to an immediate problem. The priority that the Metropolitan Police have given to the issue needs to be applauded, but we feel it is now time for Sadiq Khan and all local authorities to put their hands into their pockets to supply the kind of secure parking infrastructure that has been given to cyclists. This is a proven solution that can show results far sooner than any design changes to the machines that are being targeted by criminals. Riders need to be recognised as the primary victims and should be afforded the budgets required to support them just as the victims of any other crime are supported rather than blamed. Equally we look forward to London's Mayor delivering on the promises made during his election campaign. In 2016 Sadiq Khan said "I don't make promises I can't keep, so let me make a promise I can definitely honour. As Mayor, I will meet with representatives of riders' rights organisations and learn at first-hand what you need and want. This will include a discussion about lane width and secure parking." Now is the time to deliver on that promise."

5) Post Christmas Auction

Our 14th Post Christmas Auction will be held on Wednesday 28th February 2018, at 20:00, at the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, and if previous years events are anything to go by, an event not to be missed. The idea is that you bring along all your unwanted Christmas presents, together with other stuff you no longer want, or have the room for, donate them to the branch, and we auction them off to the highest bidder.

The 2017 auction raised (with a little help from the raffle and a bit of rounding up) £510. This allowed us to split the proceeds nicely into 1/3's, with 2/3 (£340) being donated to the MAG Fighting Fund, with the remaining 1/3 (£170) charity donation being split between the following 4 worthy causes:

That was pretty staggering, especially as the bidding on a lot of items started at 50p. Of course, we want to try to beat that for 2018 !!. We know times are hard at the moment, but that's all the more reason to come down to the auction, grab a top bargain, and save yourselves considerable amounts of money. We are already accumulating auction items and we still have 3 months to collect even more !!!!.

The auctions are always hugely entertaining and there are always some real quality items donated, and hence, some real bargains to be had.

Proceeds from the auction will again be split (2/3 to the MAG Fighting Fund, 1/3 to a charitable cause(s).

I hope to see you there. Be there early, with viewing from 07:00 onwards, and the auction starting at 08:00 prompt (and don't forget to bring your unwanted Christmas pressies !!!).

6) 2018 Events

Our programme of events for 2018 is now published and this year promises to be just as packed full of branch activities as last year was, with all our regular events scheduled:

We also have our monthly social events with various different competitive activities planned. And if that isn't enough, we have more rideouts planned than 2017 (Monthly Sunday ride-outs (March-October) together with at least 2 Summer weekday evening ride-outs (Speedway et al)

And to supplement our own activities, we'll also be attending as many of the activities of our very good friends in the other Yorkshire MAG groups, as time dictates. One thing is for sure, you wont get bored being a member of Wakefield MAG !!!!

See the events page for further details and more !!!

7) Fred Hill Run

Fred Hill (during one of his many arrests)

Leeds MAG are again hosting the annual Fred Hill Memorial Run for Yorkshire MAG. Meeting on Sunday 11th February from 10.00am (to leave at 11.00 prompt) at Squires Cafe, Newthorpe Lane, Sherburn in Elmet, LS25 5LX. The run will take us through the fabulous North Yorkshire countryside ending at The Sun Inn, Brame Lane, Norwood HG3 1SZ. www.thesun-inn.com

If you don't know who Fred Hill was, or why MAG holds him in such high esteem, check out his obituary Here. Although Fred's protest was against the mandatory helmet law, introduced in 1973, it must be remembered that the helmet law in itself is NOT the issue. The issue was, and still is, the individuals right to freedom of choice. MAG's central ethos of Let the Rider Decide is as relevant now as it ever was, especially considering the current EU meddling!

Please note these runs are very subject to the weather, and may be cancelled at short notice (for very sensible safety reasons). It is advised to check the Leeds MAG Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/groups/306110975566 and/or web site: leeds.mag-uk.org/ before setting off.

For those wishing to travel in from Wakefield, you can meet at Redbeck Cafe on Doncaster Road, where we will be leaving at 10:00am, for the ride over to Squires to join up with the rest of the run participants.

And if you can't make the run from Squires (as you are nearer the East coast on the 11th), fear not, you can attend the East Yorkshire MAG one instead. Their Fred Hill Run is also on Sunday 11th February, Meeting at Bonus Electrical, Connaught Road, Kingswood, Hull, HU7 3AP at 10.30am for an 11.00am (on the dot) Start. They are taking their usual route ending at The Foresters Arms Beverley where refreshments will be available.

Both runs invite Bikes, Trikes, Scooters and Mopeds of all shapes and sizes to partake, both Learner Rider and pillion friendly, all we ask is that you ride safely, obey the Highway Code and enjoy.

8) Squires Banner

If you haven't been to Squires for a little while, you may have missed that Yorkshire MAG has it's very own banner displayed on the fence, in prominent view for all to see.

Yorkshire MAG Banner at Squires

A great advert for joining MAG, and let's hope it pulls in a few new members .... and if it doesn't, well, we tried, and it has cost us nothing to advertise - Huge Thanks to Squires Cafe for the free advertising space !!!!

And on the subject of Yorkshire MAG, there is a revamped Yorkshire MAG website: yorkshire.mag-uk.org, thanks to Leeds MAG member Marcus Holden. It's still a 'Work in Progress' and if you have any ideas for content, Marcus would be delighted to hear from you (via Regional Rep Manny): manny@mag-uk.org

9) The Daft Way Up MAG Fundraiser

Registration for the Daft Way Up MAG Fundraiser event closes (or closed depending on when you are reading this) on 31st January 2018. However, that doesn't mean you can no longer attend, it simply means that you won't get your accommodation automatically booked for you, and provided with pre-printed route plans, get the event T Shirt etc. You can still tag along (with sponsorship please) and simply book your own accommodation en-route.

Once we have our accommodation booked, we'll be publishing the exact route we are taking and where we are staying, and lots of people are already planning to join us for part of the ride (as it passes through their local area), or join us on an evening (I dare say we'll be finding a local pub ;-).

Daft Way Up Route Map

Huddersfield MAG are already planning to meet us at our Glossop stopover.

We are currently collecting sponsorship, so, if you would like to sponsor us on our daft adventure, there is a Crowdfunding page where you can donate: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mag-daft-way-up. All funds raised are to be split 50/50 between MAG and Macmillan Nurses.

Background to the event (if you didn't already know):

The original idea stemmed from a talk organised by Leeds MAG at Squires where Nathan Millward regailed tales of his journey from Sydney to the UK on a Honda postie bike (110cc of raw power!). Leeds MAG's Richard 'Manny' Manton and Dave Nash basically decided that we needed to do a 'daft' adventure too. A brief outline of Lands End to John O Groats, setting off on April 1st (when else?) on inappropriate motorcycles was hatched and if we were doing it, let's raise some money for MAG while we're at it. A letter into the Road from Manny floated the idea a couple of months ago and it seems that there's quite a few lunatics in the MAG family quite up for the challenge.

Any MAG member can join us as long as they are riding a small bike that is totally inappropriate and unsuitable to ride the length of the British isles on, and are also willing to get sponsored in aid of MAG to do it. We're all self funding the trip (I'm looking at it as a masochistic holiday - April in the Highlands on a 7 BHP scooter .... if that's not masochistic, I don't know what is !!!). We will be traveling on A and B roads (so learner friendly), and the idea is to keep costs to a minimum throughout (think camping and Youth Hostel type accommodation) and the trip should take one week.

The following journey legs have been earmarked:

  1. Day 1: Sunday April 1st - Lands End to Barnstaple
  2. Day 2: Monday April 2nd - Barnstaple to Gloucester
  3. Day 3: Tuesday April 3rd - Gloucester to Glossop
  4. Day 4: Wednesday April 4th - Glossop to Alston
  5. Day 5: Thursday April 5th - Alston to Kinross
  6. Day 6: Friday April 6th - Kinross to Inverness
  7. Day 7: Saturday April 7th - Inverness to John O Groats

This means approximately 150 mile days (making a total of just over 1,000 miles), all on A and B roads, so totally learner friendly. We are planning to get the bikes couriered down to Lands End and back from John O Groats, which, filling a large van / truck with small bikes will mean it's a cheap way to get to, and back from, the start and end points (of course, you can also ride there and back from God's own County, if you really want to do the trip twice ;-)

See the event Facebook page for details: https://www.facebook.com/events/711034009087042/) and the Crowdfunding page to pledge sponsorship: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mag-daft-way-up. The funds raised will be split with 50% for the MAG Fighting Fund and 50% to the Macmillan Nurses Charity. The reasoning behind this is that not everyone is into bikes (ridiculous I know) and it'll hopefully encourage non-bikers to support the madness. Also, unfortunately, most people have been affected by cancer in some way, whether personally or via family or friends and the Macmillan Nurses are simply awesome. All participants will pool the money raised and we'll make the donation at next years AGC.

Unsuitable steeds for the trip so far include an AJS Modena Twist and Go 125cc Scooter (7.1 BHP, top speed of 55 MPH and a 4.6 litre fuel tank, so pretty unsuitable), 125cc Suzuki VanVan (12 BHP and 60MPH top speed), several Honda Innova's, Honda C90's, the legendary Honda 110cc 'Postie Bike' (the inspiration for the trip), East European two strokes, 125 cruisers, and a fair collection of old, small, yet perfectly formed Brtish Bikes - a Velocette LE, BSA Bantam and a Triumph Tiger Cub (several of which are currently being renovated / restored in preparation for the trip).

Keithy Bear, Steve Travis (Wakefield Rep) and Manny (Leeds and Yorkshire Rep) on their inappropriate bikes

See you at Lands End Visitor Centre at 9am on Sunday 1st April 2018, either to wave us off or with your inappropriate motorcycle, tent, sleeping bag and wallet.

10) Forthcoming Events (for February and beyond)

Sunday 11th February 2018 - Leeds MAG Fred Hill Run

See Above.

Meeting from 10am at Squires Cafe LS25 5LX to leave at 11am. For those wishing to travel in from Wakefield, you can meet at Redbeck Cafe on Doncaster Road, where we will be leaving at 10:00am, for the ride over to Squires to join up with the rest of the run participants. The run will take us through the fabulous North Yorkshire countryside ending at The Sun Inn, Brame Lane, Norwood HG3 1SZ. www.thesun-inn.com.

Please note these runs are very subject to the weather, and may be cancelled at short notice (for very sensible safety reasons). It is advised to check the Leeds MAG Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/groups/306110975566 and/or web site: leeds.mag-uk.org/ before setting off.

If you don't know who Fred Hill was, or why MAG holds him in such high esteem, check out his obituary Here. Although Fred's protest was against the mandatory helmet law, introduced in 1973, it must be remembered that the helmet law in itself is NOT the issue. The issue was, and still is, the individuals right to freedom of choice. MAG's central ethos of Let the Rider Decide is as relevant now as it ever was.

Wednesday 28th February 2018 - Wakefield MAG 14th Post Christmas Auction

See Above.

Our 14th Post Christmas Auction will be held on Wednesday 28th February 2018, at 20:00, at the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, and if previous years events are anything to go by, an event not to be missed. The idea is that you bring along all your unwanted Christmas presents, together with other stuff you no longer want, or have the room for, donate them to the branch, and we auction them off to the highest bidder. The auctions are always hugely entertaining and there are always some real quality items donated, and hence, some real bargains to be had. Proceeds from the auction will again be split (2/3 to the MAG Fighting Fund, 1/3 to a charitable cause(s). Be there early, with viewing from 19:00 onwards, and the auction starting at 20:00 prompt (and don't forget to bring your unwanted Christmas pressies !!!).

Sunday 18th March - Wakefield MAG Rideout (Destination: TBA)

Our first rideout (of many) in 2018. Meet 8:30am (leaving at 09:00am) at Redbeck Cafe, 339 Doncaster Road, Crofton, Wakefield, WF4 1RT.

Sunday 25th March 2018 - Wakefield Hospice 10K Race

www.wakefield10k.org.uk

Sunday 1st April 2018 - Saturday 7th April 2018 - The Daft Way Up MAG Fundraiser

See Above.

Sunday 22nd April - Wakefield MAG Rideout (Destination: TBA)

Meet 8:30am (leaving at 09:00am) at Redbeck Cafe, 339 Doncaster Road, Crofton, Wakefield, WF4 1RT.

Friday 4th May - Sunday 6th May 2018 - Into the Valley (ITV) Rally

www.intothevalley.co.uk

Friday 15th June - Sunday 17th June 2018 - Farmyard Party (FYP) Rally

www.farmyardparty.co.uk

Friday 3rd August - Sunday 5th August 2018 - Yorkshire Pudding Rally (YPR)

www.yorkshirepuddingrally.co.uk

See the events page for further details and more !!!

That's all for this month, hope to see you all soon.

Ride Safe .. Ride Free
Steve Travis
Chairman
Wakefield MAG
0772 078 4734

Wakefield MAG meet at the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, Wakefield at 8:30pm every Wednesday. New (and Old) faces are always welcome.