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.
I hope you all had a brilliant Christmas and Santa brought you lots of biking goodies. But even if he didn’t, you can get rid of all your unwanted presents at our forthcoming Post Christmas Auction on Wednesday 30th Jan !!! (See below for details)
CONTENTS
1) Forthcoming Events:
1.1) Wakefield AGM
1.2) Post Christmas Auction
1.3) Fred Hill Run
1.4) MAG Activist Training Weekend
1.5) Wakefield Hospice 10K Race Marshalling
1.6) MAG AGC
2) MAG Press Releases:
2.1) Bikes in Bus Lanes
2.2) Motorcycle Toys
3) Quiz answers
1.1) Wednesday 16th January - Wakefield AGM
Our branch AGM will be held in the Grey Horse, on Wednesday 16th January, starting at 9:00pm. All members are invited to attend this special meeting, so please try to attend if you can. At this meeting there will be a review of the year, elections for the branch committee and the prize giving for our branch heroes. An Agenda for the meeting and last years minutes are attached to this mailing. As this meeting is effectively a MAG political meeting, it carries with it a whopping 75 branch points for everyone who attends (a normal branch meeting only carries 5 points). As all the points are tallied at year end and go towards the branch heroes presentation, points really do mean prizes !!!! What better boost to your branch heroes tally for 2008 !!!
Hope to see you there.
1.2) Wednesday 30th January - Wakefield MAG Post Christmas Auction
This will be our 4th consecutive Post Christmas Auction, 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. Last year we raised £350 which was truly impressive, especially as the bidding on a lot of items started at 50p. There were also some real quality items donated, and hence, some real bargains to be had. The auction starts at 8pm, in the Grey Horse on Kirkgate. I hope to see you there (and don’t forget to bring your unwanted Christmas pressies !!!).
Proceeds from the auction will be split with a donation to a charitable cause (1/3) and 2/3 to the MAG fighting fund.
1.3) Sunday 10th February - Fred Hill Run
This is the first of the Yorkshire Region events for 2008 and will also be our first rideout of the year. The Annual Fred Hill run is always well attended (despite whatever the weather throws at us) and is an event not to be missed. The run assembles at Squires at 11:00, and leaves at 11:30 for a marshalled ride to the Sun Inn at Norwood near Otley. Wakefield MAG will meet at our usual point (Stork Lodge Tea Rooms, Thornes Park, Thornes Road, Wakefield) where we will have a mass ride-in to Squires. Meet at Stork Lodge Tea Rooms at 09:30, leaving at 10:00 for a scenic & leisurely ride to Squires where we will meet up with other Yorkshire MAG branches and MCC’s for the Fred Hill memorial run.
As this run counts as a MAG Demo run, attendance at this event will earn you 75 branch points (as opposed to 10 for a normal ride-out) – as points really do mean prizes, what more incentive could you possibly want to attend !!!
The Fred Hill Memorial Run's are a huge event in MAG's calendar and there are runs taking place all throughout the UK (see The Road for further details).
1.4) Friday 28th - Sunday 30th March - MAG Activist Training Weekend
The next MAG Activist Training Weekend in the North of the country will be held on Friday 28th - Sunday 30th March, at Lineham Farm Childrens Centre, Eccup, Nr Leeds. These weekends are an excellent grounding for anyone who is interested in taking a more active role in MAG. There is a particularly splendid training session on how to run MAG groups on the Saturday, by a dashing handsome chap whose name evades me at the moment !!!! (worth attending just for that).
Pam White & Mick Culpan already have their names down to attend from Wakefield. Let me know if you are interested also. Cost is £20, which is refundable at the end of the weekend.
1.5) Sunday 30th March - Wakefield Hospice 10K Race
Following the success of Wakefield MAG marshalling the Wakefield Hospice 10K Road Race in previous years, Wakefield Hospice have again asked if we will marshal this years event. Marshalling this charity event involves providing an escort for the races wheelchair competitors (1 bike per wheelchair competitor), plus a back marker. The bikes provide protection to the wheelchair competitors from traffic, as the race is held on normal open public roads. This charity event is very well attended, and attracts some seriously good atheletes. Dame Tanni Grey Thompson (the British 10K wheelchair champion) will be competing again and has agreed to endorse the race.
We will be asking for volunteer marshals for this prestigious local event, in the next few weeks. Let me know if you would like to help marshal this event.
1.6) Saturday 26th April - MAG Annual General Conference
This years MAG AGC will be held on Saturday 26th April in Bromsgrove, Birmingham (same veue as the 2006 MAG AGC). MAG's Annual General Conference is always interesting and entertaining. It will also be worth attending so you can laugh at Justine's (Wakefield MAG Treasurer and National Finance Officer) presentation !!!
All Branch attendees at the AGC will be awarded 75 points towards their Branch Heroes tally. If you want to attend the MAG AGC, the address is:
Spadesbourne Suite,
Burcot Lane,
Bromsgrove,
B60 1AA
Directions: M1 to J23a, A42/M42 to M42 J1, then left onto A38 towards Bromsgrove and Burcot Lane is on your RHS.
The AGC starts at 10:30 but aim to be there for about 10:15 to register. Don't forget your MAG card otherwise they wont let you in !!
Plymouth:
Motorcycles are being allowed to use bus lanes within the city of Plymouth. Plymouth City Council says that this is an 18 month trial to see if motorcycle casualties can be reduced in the city.
The council has asked the question, how will we know if it is successful?
Motorcyclists themselves are the key to the success of the trial. The trial will depend on motorcyclists acting responsibly in order to keep themselves and other road users safe.
The following are some tips on responsible riding in bus lanes.
Birmingham:
Bus Lane Trials Extended in Birmingham
Birmingham says, "So that buses can get ahead of traffic queues, bus lanes are provided on many routes in the city. However as the amount of traffic in the city grows, road space is becoming increasingly valuable. We are now looking at ways to make more effective and efficient use of the roads - this can include opening up bus lanes to sustainable forms of transport other than buses, hackney carriages and pedal cycles."
Before making a decision they are carrying out two trials, starting on Monday 26 November 2007, lasting for up to 18 months until June 2009:
Birmingham couldn't have put the use of motorcycles in a more constructive way, usage that MAG has been promoting for years, "Motorcycling can provide a shorter journey time in congested traffic conditions and overall congestion can be reduced as motorcycles generally occupy less road space than cars. Moreover, it is a cheaper alternative compared to car use which can provide independence and mobility."
"Motorcycles are already permitted to use the bus lanes on the 67 bus route on the A38 Tyburn Road and also on Corporation Street between Lancaster Circus and Dartmouth Circus. However a previous assessment of the impacts, in particular safety, of allowing motorcycles to use the bus lanes was inconclusive and there is limited continuous monitoring data available.
Therefore a further trial allowing motorcycles in bus lanes is being undertaken.
Detailed monitoring will be undertaken during the trial period, the results of which will be used to inform future Birmingham policy on bus lane use by other vehicles."
MAG Says!
In March 2007 the Motorcycle Action Group welcomed the Government's Traffic Advisory Leaflet in which it expressed support for facilitating motorcycling as a choice of travel within a safe and sustainable transport framework. The document lists all the positive points that MAG has repeatedly made about the advantages of motorcycling to society in general and now revises former guidance that was biased against the principle of access to bus lanes by motorcyclists.
While final responsibility for bus lane access remains with local authorities, the shift in Central Government advice could prove critical in opening all bus lanes to motorcycles.
A leading EU transport "expert" has questioned whether there is any place for motorcycles on Europe's roads. Norwegian Rune Elvik says: "In Norway, I believe all the most cost effective measures have been implemented - mandatory helmet use, strict licensing, engine tuning ban, daytime running lights for motorbikes. The question that needs to be raised now is whether there should be any place for these motorised toys in the transport system at all."
The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) says that Elvik's comments, which are contained in a recent report from the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), are biased and anti motorcycling.
There is a real danger of these so called experts' opinions and motorcycle safety reports being accepted without question.
On 21st December 2007, the Flemish Parliament in Belgium was presented with the ETSC report as a basis for legislation on motorcycle safety. However the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) Belgium, with the support of MPs, defended the riders' position by using the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations' (FEMA), European Agenda for Motorcycle Safety which highlights the importance of finding real solutions to improve the casualty rates for motorcyclists.
As a direct result of MAG Belgium's action, the ETSC report was rejected and instead, MAG Belgium's motorcycle friendly programme was adopted.
MAG's General Secretary, Trevor Baird, says, "Motorcycling is under constant threat from the European safety agenda. The introduction of this agenda has been thwarted in Belgium before it spreads further like a rash across Europe. MAG will continue to protect motorcycling and defend riders' rights from whatever quarter the threat comes."
3) Wakefield MAG 4th Bikers Quiz - Answers
In last months newsletter, we published the questions from the Wakefield MAG 4th Annual Bikers Quiz, held last November. In this newsletter, we have published the answers so you can check out how you did. Do drop me an email and let me know how you scored !!!
(Quiz Answers copied below)
That's all for this month and I hope to see you all soon.
Ride Safe
Steve Travis
Chairman
Wakefield MAG
0772 078 4734
Wakefield MAG meet at the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, Wakefield at 9:00pm every Wednesday. New (and Old) faces are always welcome.
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4th Wakefield MAG Quiz - 21st Nov 2007
Motorcycle Sport (15)
1) Who won this year’s (2007) Senior TT
John McGuinness (who also set the fastest lap time of 17 mins 21.99 secs)
2) Who won this year’s (2007) MotoGP World Championship
Australian rider, Casey Stoner, in his debut season with Ducati Corse and
Bridgestone
3) Who is the 2007 World Indoor Trials Champion
20 year old Spaniard Toni Bou
4) Which manufacturer has won the most World Superbike Championships
Ducati, winning 14 times
5) Who is the 2007 MX1 world motocross champion
Steve Ramon
6) At the base of Snaefell Mountain on the Isle of Man, there is a bronze statue to which legendary motorcycle racer
Joey Dunlop
7) How many World Superbikes Championships has Doncaster Born James Toseland won
Two (2007 & 2004)
8) Who sponsors the Britsh Superbike Championship
Bennetts (Insurance)
9) Who were the 2006 Speedway Elite League champions
Peterborough Panthers
10) As defined by the National Sprint Association, what is the youngest age in the UK a rider can start motorcycle sprint racing
Eleven (although restricted to 50cc)
11) What is the International Governing Body for Motorcycle Sport (initials acceptable)
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM, International Motorcycling Federation)
12) What Speedway team is based at Owlerton Stadium
Sheffield Tigers
13) What circuit is the Gold Cup International Road Races held at
Olivers Mount, Scarborough
14) Who is the 2007 World & British F1 Sidecar Champion
Tim Reeves (who has just passed his bike test)
15) Who is the 2007 World Wheelie Champion
Shaun Mitchell (Best 1km wheelie at 161.6mph on a Suzuki GSX-R1000)
Bike knowledge (Marques, Models, Types etc) (25)
16) Which Italian manufacturer has just launched a V Twin automatic motorcycle called the Mana
Aprilia
17) Which company made the Falcon, Kestrel & Merlin models in the 1950’s
Francis-Barnett
18) Who produces a bike called the Hypermotard
Ducati
19) Who makes a bike called the Dorsoduro
Aprilia
20) Husqvarna, have recently been taken over by which manufacturer
BMW
21) Who makes a 1200cc trail bike called the Granpasso
Moto Morini
22) Who makes a 1200cc V Twin called the Stelvio
Moto Guzzi
23) Who makes a bike called the B King
Suzuki
Complete the double-barelled names of these long gone Britsh marques:
24) Coventry
Eagle (or Victor)
25) OK
Supreme
26) Grindlay
Peerless
27) Royal (NOT Enfield)
Ruby
28) Which famous marque had a factory at Bracebridge Street, Birmingham
Norton
29) Which company made the Viscount, Monarch, Supaglide & Kangaroo models in the 1950's
Tandon
30) Which company made the Embassy, Courier, Envoy & Statesman models in the 1950's
Ambassador
31) Which famous marque was based in Redditch until 1970
Royal Enfield
32) Who is the odd one out: James, Francis-Barnett, AJS, Matchless, Panther & Norton
Panther is the only one which wasn't a company in the AMC (Associated Motorcycles) Group
33) Who is the Chairman and Chief Engineer of Buell Motorcycles
Erik Buell
34) Who made a bike called the Elefant
Cagiva
35) Who was America's 3rd largest manufacturer, behind Harley-Davidson & Indian
Excelsior
36) What capacity was the first MK1 Honda Goldwing
999cc (accept 1000cc)
37) What Production bike was the fastest thing on two wheels in the mid 70's (Clue: It's Italian and came in a rather fetching burnt Orange colour)
Laverda Jota
38) Which legendary marque was formed as an offshoot from an aviation company in 1945
MV Agusta
39) Which manaufacturer was based in Kingswood, Bristol
Douglas
40) Who produces a bike called the Versys
Kawasaki
Bikes in Films / on TV (20)
41) In what film did 2 Edinburgh teenagers hold up tour buses in the Scottish Highlands on a Suzuki GP125 ?
Restless Natives
42) Name the 1980 motorcycle road racing film starring David Essex
Silver Dream Racer
43) Name the 1930's George Formby film starring Formby as 'Speed Demon' George Shuttleworth, riding his streamlined Shuttleworth Snap at the TT Races
No Limit
44) Name the famous Stanley Kramer film about motorcycle gangs, which was banned in Britain for 15 years
The Wild One (banned upon release in 1953)
45) What bike does Ben, played by Matthew McConaughey, ride in the 2003 romantic comedy 'How to lose a guy in 10 days'
Triumph Bonneville
46) Orange County Choppers built a themed chopper for a blockbuster movie. Do you know which film this was for?
I, Robot (or Spiderman 3)
47) Which girl pop group had a video 'Wake Me Up' where they are all riding Harley's
Girls Aloud
48) Johnny Blaze is a fictional stunt rider in which film
Ghost Rider (played by Nicholas Cage
49) What Nationality is Claudio Von Planta, the photographer/cameraman, accompanying Charlie Boorman & Ewan McGregor in the Long Way Down (and also in the Long Way Round)
Swiss
50) Name the actor in Quadrophenia, who in now in EastEnders
Phil Daniels
51) Bourne Ultimatum features a chase scene with Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) riding a trail bike through back streets in which city
Tangiers
Four Wild Hogs film questions:
52) Name the motorcycle gang in the Wild Hogs film
Del Fuegos
53) Which actor plays Dudley, the Sportster riding computer geek in Wild Hogs
William H Macy
54) Only one of the 4 actors in Wild Hogs had ridden a Harley before the film, which actor ?
John Travolta
55) Who sued Walt Disney Pictures for trademark infringement
Hells Angels, for using the name & logo of the Hells Angels MC Corporation, without permission - The original script used the Hells Angels, causing the Hells Angels to sue Disney for trademark infringement, hence the change of the gang to the fictional Del Fuegos
56) Name the first film to feature a Suzuki Hayabusa
Biker Boyz (Hayabusa ridden by Laurence Fishburne's character Smoke)
57) In the ITV sitcom Watching, character Malcolm Stoneway rode a motorcycle combination. What make of bike was it
Norton
58) The Long Way Down, on TV at the moment, features Charlie Boorman & Ewan McGregor riding from John O'Groats in Scotland to where
Cape Town, SA
59) What kind of motorcycle (Make & Model) did both Ponch and Jon ride in the TV show CHiPs?
Kawasaki 1000 P
60) Discovery Channels American Chopper features Orange County Choppers Tattooed & Mustachioed Father & Son Duo, Paul Snr & Paul Jnr. But what is their Surname
Teutul
Biking History & Milestones (10)
61) Which organisation has just been welcomed as the 24th full member of FEMA
Turkish Enduro Motorcycle Club Association (EMOK). The Federation now represents 24 national riders’ organisations coming from 19 different countries.
62) Which Police Force were the first in the UK to use Electric Scooters
Hampshire (Vectrix electric scooter, with a top spped of 62 mph, is currently on a six month trial with the force)
63) Another First. Hampshire Police were the first to use motorcycles. In what year
1929 (BSA combination)
64) Which manufacturer was the first to use linked brakes on a motocycle
Moto Guzzi
65) Which manufacturer was the the first to build a production mono-shock motocross bike
Yamaha
66) Until the First World War, who was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world
Indian (producing over 20,000 bikes per year)
67) Which club is the oldest motorcycle club is the world
Yonkers MC, being formed in 1903, same year as H-D (and still in existence).
68) In what year did Vespa scooters first get produced
1946
69) Who was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world in the 1950's
NSU
70) Which manufacturer was the first to introduce an electric start motorcycle
Indian (in 1914)
Biking personalities (10)
71) Ted Simon did a round the world motorcycle trip in the 1970's, immortalised in his book Jupiters Travels. 24 years later he repeated the trip. What is the title of his latest book that chronicles his new adventures
Dreaming of Jupiter
72) The Duo, Simon King & Dave Myers are better known as what
Hairy Bikers
73) What colourful American female singer rides a Triumph Bonneville T100
Pink
74) Name the famous rock star who's hapless daughter Kimberley (friend of airhead Paris Hilton), crashed a Orange County Choppers bike at a Maxim party (by accidently starting it and riding uncontrolled towards a wall)
Rod Stewart
75) Sisters Augusta and Adeline Van Buren were the first women to do what in 1916
Ride from New York to California (on Indian Power Plus motorcycles)
76) In what year did Fred Hill, veteran Helmet Law campaigner in the UK, die in Pentonville Prison
1984
77) Who wrote the book 'Loneliness of the Long Distance Biker'
Nick Sanders
78) Who was named a Grand Prix "Legend" in 2001 by the International Governing Body for Motorcycle Sport
Barry Sheen
79) Who, often referred to as the King of Cool, was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999
Steve McQueen
80) Name the Triumph riding member of the Rock band 'The Stanglers'
JJ (Jean Jacques) Burnel
Law relating to M/C use (7)
81) In what year were learners restricted to 250cc bikes
1960 (prior to that date, a learner could ride any capacity bike unaccompanied on L plates)
82) In what year were learner riders restricted to 125 motorcycles
1983
83) What is the largest capacity scooter which can be ridden on an A1 category licence
125
84) A police officer asks to see your driving documents. You don't have them with you. You must produce them at a police station within how many days?
7 days
85) How much does it cost to tax a Norton Rotary bike for a year
£47 (it is classed as a 588cc, even though technically it is nearer 1200cc, and hence should cost £64). Mazda rotary cars dont fall into this little loophole and are classed as 2.5l
86) How many American states have no helmet requirements/restrictions for highway riding
Three (Colorado, Illinois & New Hampshire). NH enforces helmets for off-road riding
87) What is it illegal to do on a motorcycle parked in London?
It's illegal to have sex on a parked motorcycle in London.
Bike Culture & the Bike Scene (6)
88) Which famous motorcycle club was formed in San Bernardino, California in 1950
Hells Angels MC
89) The Art of Motorcycle was a display put on by which world famous museum
Guggenheim
90) The 1963 film THE LEATHER BOYS, was filmed at which world famous biker haunt.
Ace Cafe in London. Many of the cafe's patrons were used as 'extras' in the film.
91) Which famous motorcycle club had over 29,500 members on it's books last year (2006)
59 Club
92) Prior to being re-opened in 2001, the original Ace Cafe, served it's last cup of tea in what year
1969
93) When Squires Cafe first opened in Sherburn-in-Elmet, it was orignally called what
‘Squire Bradbury’s Milk Bar’
Bike Press & Adverts (7)
94) Who's current advertising slogan is 'Way of Life'
Suzuki
95) Who's current advertising slogan is 'Go Your Own Way'
Triumph
96) Which motorcycle magazine has the slogan "Tells it like it is"
Ride
97) Which motorcycle magazine has the slogan "All about Buying & Selling, Running & Riding Real Classic Motorcycles"
Real Classic
98) Which publication claims it is 'Britain's Best-Selling Motorcycle Magazine'
Bike
99) Motorcycle News, is published by which Media Group
EMAP
100) Who's advertising slogan is "It's time to ride"
Harley-Davidson