Dear Wakefield MAG Member,
Welcome to the Wakefield MAG e-newsletter. If you can't attend our Tuesday meetings regularly, it's the next best thing to keep you up to date with what we are up to.
CONTENTS
1) 2023 Wakefield MAG Events
2) Fred Hill Run(s)
3) Wakefield Hospice 10K Race Marshalling
4) Rally Tickets
5) Post Christmas Auction
6) Wakefield MAG Annual General Meeting
7) MAG Membership Price Increase
8) Wakefield Classic & American Car & Bike Show
9) Products
10) Forthcoming Events (for February and beyond)
Our programme of events for 2023, as agreed at our AGM (See Below) will be published shortly, but to whet your appetite, here is what you can look forward to with Wakefield MAG this year:
We also have our monthly social events with various different activities planned (held on the last Tuesday of every month).
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 !!! (once it has been updated for this year that is ;-)
It's February, which can mean only one thing - Fred Hill Memorial Run time !!!! MAG groups across the country host Fred Hill Memorial Runs in February, and we have several to choose from this year in Yorkshire MAG.
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.
Leeds and Bradford MAG
Leeds and Bradford MAG's Fred Hill ride will be held on Sunday 5th February, meeting from 10am at Squires Cafe, Newthorpe Lane, Sherburn in Elmet, LS25 5LX, to leave at 10.30 prompt to ride to The Sun Inn at Norwood, Nr Otley. 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.
York MAG
York MAG's Fred Hill run is on Sunday 5th February, meeting at Strawberry Fields Cafe, Crockey Hill, YO19 4SJ, from 10am. Departure at 11am and the destination is Helmsley via the B1363. We will be rolling through York city centre to make some noise!!!
East Yorkshire MAG
For a number of reasons, the 'official' EY MAG Fred Hill Run is to take place later in the year on Saturday 13th May, with more details to follow nearer the time. However, a few of the group are still planning an informal ride on Sunday 12th February to mark the anniversary of Fred's death in Pentonville prison in 1984. If anyone would like to join us, we will be meeting at the traditional spot of Bonus Electrical on Connaught Road, Kingswood, HU7 3AP, to depart at 11am, and will ride the usual route through Hull City centre and back to our home base of the Foresters in Beverley.
Please note these runs are very subject to the weather (it is Winter after all), and may be cancelled at short notice (for very sensible safety reasons). It is advised to check the relevant group's Facebook pages for any last minute information before setting off:
3) Wakefield Hospice 10K Race Marshalling
The Wakefield 10k Road Race is organised for and by Wakefield Hospice, with the aim to raise as much as possible for patients and their families living with an end of life diagnosis. Wakefield Hospice annually needs to raise £4 million. They would not be able to achieve this without the help of local people going out of their way to raise funds through taking part in events like the Wakefield 10k.
This years event will be the 26th annual Wakefield 10k and during that time runners have raised more than £0.5 million for those who need specialist care at a very difficult time in their lives.
The 26th Wakefield Hospice 10k race is being held on Sunday 19th March 2023, and takes a similar route to previous years: starting from Clarence Park, it's a linear route straight out and back along Horbury Road.
Wakefield MAG have helped to marshal this popular event for more years than we care to remember, and our role is as mobile race marshals, looking after those competitors at the tail end of the race. The roads will only be closed for an hour maximum, and although the bulk of runners will be finished whilst the road is still closed, a good number of runners (walkers !!!) will still be on the course, hence the requirement for mobile marshals (that's us !!) to ensure their safety, once the road is re-opened to traffic. We are generally the last 'officials' remaining on the course, and hence play a vital role. We generally need around 6 marshals, although the more the merrier.
If you would like to volunteer, please let me know. P.S. you'll be home for lunchtime !!!
On the day, meet at 08:30 on Lawfield Lane to be issued with your marshalls Hi-Viz vest and receive any last minute instructions.
N.B. Please ensure your own bike insurance does not have an exclusion relating to marshalling non-motorsport events i.e. runners on a partially closed road route - MAG's preferred insurer, Bikesure, does not in it's standard insurance cover exclusions.
We will receive our Branch allocation of sale or return tickets for the Yorkshire MAG 2023 Rallies early in February for sale at our weekly meetings.
Ticket prices and dates are:
Remember, if you buy your tickets directly from us, you save on the on-line booking fee (which are per ticket not per transaction !!!) and postage .... more money in your pocket = more beer money .... what more of an incentive could you possibly want !!!
See the Yorkshire MAG Events site for more details of these 3 fantastic rallies: www.mapevents.co.uk
Our 18th Post Christmas Auction will be held on Tuesday 31st January 2023. Our Post Christmas Auction's are the stuff of legends. The idea is you donate all your unwanted Christmas presents, together with other stuff you no longer want, or have the room for, to the Branch and we auction them off to the highest bidder .... with the proceeds split 2/3 to MAG and 1/3 to charitable causes. Check out the For Sale page for what items have already been donated and will be in the 2023 auction.
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 and other stuff you no longer want, or have the room for !!!).
6) Wakefield MAG Annual General Meeting
The Wakefield & District Motorcycle Action Group Branch AGM was held in the Thatched House, on Tuesday 17th January 2023. This was our 21st AGM (and birthday), and in our 21 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) have dropped by 1% (from 2022), but represents our average membership over the past 15 years. Members physically attending meetings has crept back up following the Covid pandemic drop off, but of course, we'd always welcome more active members, so, if you are reading this and used to attend our meetings but no longer do, we would love to welcome you back. Similarly, if you have never been to a branch meeting, we'd love to welcome you into the fold. We have been successful again in our fund raising for the MAG fighting fund, smashing out target and have remained very active, and packed an awful lot of activities into the year and laid on some very successful events. We have maintained our support of charities, 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 2023 can be seen Here. Our illustrious branch heroes of 2022 were:
A vote of thanks too, to Mick Culpan, who served us well as Rideout Co-ordinator, and who has stepped down from the role in 2023.
The full AGM minutes are available Here.
P.S. Steve was voted in as Rep / Chairman again (for the 20th time), so unfortunately, you are all stuck with him for yet another year :-(
7) MAG Membership Price Increase
Prices for memberships are increasing from the 1st of February from £27 to £30 for an individual and from £40.50 to £45 for a joint membership. The last time membership costs were increased was 2014, so one could argue it was somewhat overdue.
If you aren't quite due for renewal, you are still able to pay early before the increase, and see your membership extended by a full year at the old price. If you need your renewal key to use the self service drop us an email at central-office@mag-uk.org or renew over the phone on 01926 844064. Direct debits are processed at a slightly reduced rate, please contact MAG Central for more information or to set one up.
8) Wakefield Classic & American Car & Bike Show
Get polishing your classic and / or American bike, ready for the Wakefield Classic & American Car & Bike Show, in the City Centre, on Sunday 30th April .... Don't mind if I do.
Very shortly we will be doing a products run for Wakefield MAG branded T-Shirts, Polo Shirts, Hoodies, Vests and hats. It's a good many years since we last did a products run so all your existing Wakefield MAG clothing will be worn out by now and you'll be wanting replacements ;-)
The products will be 'to order' so we won't be holding any surplus stock (other than stickers and patches). If you want a Wakefield MAG branded item of clothing, let us know what you want and what size, and we'll get back to you with the cost once we have arranged this with our supplier. Items will need to be paid for in advance (much like ordering clothing on the t'interweb).
And speaking of products .... The MAG 50th Anniversary merchandise is available now for pre-order. Only the best selling colours will continue after the 1st of April so get your orders in before then to have the full choice of what's on offer!
Follow the link to have a browse: www.mag-uk.org/product-category/preorder
10) Forthcoming Events (for February and beyond)
Tuesday 31st January - Post Christmas Auction
See Above
Got lots of unwanted Christmas presents ? Got items that are of use/value but you don't have the space for them any more ? Prepared to donate them for a good cause ? Bring them along to the Wakefield MAG 'Post Christmas Auction' where they will be raffled off to the highest bidder, with all the proceeds being donated to MAG and other worthy causes. 20:00 in the Thatched House.
Sunday 5th or 12th February 2023 - Fred Hill Memorial Run(s)
See Above
Tuesday 28th February - Wakefield MAG February Social - Event TBC
Sunday 19th March - Wakefield Hospice 10K road race marshalling
See Above
Tuesday 28th March - Wakefield MAG March Social - Event TBC
Tuesday 25th April - Wakefield MAG April Social - Event TBC
Friday 28th - Sunday 30th April - Into the Valley (ITV) Rally
See Above. www.mapevents.co.uk
Sunday 30th April - Wakefield Classic & American Car & Bike Show
See Above
Friday 16th - Sunday 18th June - Farmyard Party (FYP) Rally
See Above. www.mapevents.co.uk
Friday 4th - Sunday 6th August - Yorkshire Pudding Rally (YPR)
See Above. www.mapevents.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 Thatched House, Stanley, Wakefield at 8:00pm every Tuesday. New (and Old) faces are always welcome.