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) Farmyard Party Report
2) Peak District Rideout Report
3) Off-Road Racing and Riding could be Banned
4) Memorial Rideout (Sun 1st July)
5) Learner Rideout (Sun 29th July)
6) Camping Barn Weekend
7) An Evening of Culture
8) July Social Night (Takeaway of Choice)
9) Yorkshire Pudding Rally - Tickets & Marshals Registration
10)Three Billboards outside City Hall, London
11) Fleur de Lys Classic Vehicle Show
12) Forthcoming Events (for July and beyond)
Check out the event report: Here
2) Peak District Rideout Report
Check out the event report: Here
3) Off-Road Racing and Riding could be Banned
The Motorcycle Action Group has backed the Motor Cycle Industry Association's attack on a European Commission edict that could end motorcycle sport. MAG is urgently appealing to riders across the UK to contact their Member of Parliament and help prevent the effective banning of competitive, off-road riding of all kinds in the United Kingdom.
"The threat comes from a European Union Directive," explains MAG's Director of Communications & Public Affairs, Lembit Öpik. "It would require all mechanically propelled vehicles to get full third-party motor insurance to cover injury, damage and loss, on public and private roads or land. By changing what's called the 'Motor Insurance Directive' (MID), it could end competitive riding in the UK and EU."
The extreme threat arises from a single legal case regarding liability (known as the 'VNUK' Judgment). It's consequences would be disastrous because insurance firms would find it economically impossible to insure competitive off-road riding activities, given the realities of damage to machines, collisions and all the elements which are the essence of competitive racing. This could more or less wipe out these sorts of events. The MCIA estimates that this could terminate activities involving over 1.7 million spectators and 55,000 riders annually, at over 4000 off-road and track events. This latest move stems from a broken commitment by the EU to resolve this issue. British Government officials have stated they oppose this unjustified measure.
Tony Campbell, CEO of the MCIA said: "In the UK alone, motorcycle sport is estimated to be worth £1 billion, which rises to around £11 billion across all forms of UK motor sports. We strongly support UK Government efforts, but our message is clear - whatever the outcome of these new proposals Government must take action in order to avoid the catastrophic damage that will be inflicted on Motorsport across the board if this ruling turns into law - even if this means defying Brussels."
Lembit adds: "The UK Government has actively supported efforts to remove this threat to off-road riding and racing. Please contact your MP, asking them to write to Chris Grayling, Secretary of State for Transport, to ensure the UK Government will honour its pledge to ignore this draconian and virtually pointless directive from the EU Commission."
4) Memorial Rideout (Sun 1st July)
Our first rideout in July will be held on Sunday 1st July, and is dedicated to the Memory of dear friends and ex-Members of the Branch who are sadly no longer with us. Martin Burgess has planned a learner friendly very scenic 'long way round' route to Tan Hill and Hawes via the famous Buttertubs Pass. 10,000 acres of clear blue sky is guaranteed (well, OK, we can't guarantee the last bit ... but we can live in hope !!!). Usual Rideout rules apply. Meet 8:30am (leaving at 09:00am) at Redbeck Cafe, 339 Doncaster Road, Crofton, Wakefield, WF4 1RT. Hope to see you there.
5) Learner Rideout (Sun 29th July)
Our second rideout in July (Sunday 29th July) is especially designed for Learner's and those on small capacity bikes / scooters (although everyone is most welcome). This rideout will be around 60 miles (instead of the marathon road-trips some of our rideouts are). An easy going, scenic, learner friendly (obviously) route is guaranteed, and hence ideal if you are:
Clare Ellam will be leading the rideout (on her 125cc VanVan I imagine), and the usual Rideout rules apply. Meet 8:30am (leaving at 09:00am) at Redbeck Cafe, 339 Doncaster Road, Crofton, Wakefield, WF4 1RT. All welcome. Hope to see you there.
We have another Camping Barn weekend coming up, on Friday 21st - Sunday 23rd September, at the Dinah Hoggus Camping Barn, on the outskirts of the village of Rosthwaite in the Borrowdale valley (5 miles from Keswick in the magnificant Lake District).
This will be our 4th visit and if the previous three visits are anything to go by, we have a fantastic weekend in store. The camping barn sleeps 12, but there is almost unlimited camping (you just have to share the field with the local Hardwick Sheep). Web Site: www.lakelandcampingbarns.co.uk/barns/dinah-hoggus-camping-barn
We have already booked the barn for our exclusive use all weekend, and the cost is only £27pp. Absolute Bargain !!! If you want to go, see Pete at any of our Wednesday meetings (or drop us an e-mail, phone (0772 078 4734) or contact us on the Wakefield MAG FaceBook Group) and £27 secures your place. First come first served for the 12 beds in the barn, but as mentioned, there are virtually no restrictions on the number of campers.
Check out the past event reports to whet your appetite for another cracking weekend with the Wakefield MAG Family:
Wakefield MAG are having an evening of culture and taking in a Shakespeare play .....
..... with a motorcycle related theme .... obviously !!!
We are attending a mods and rockers themed Romeo & Juliet outdoor play on Sunday 22nd July (starting at 5pm) in Doncaster.
Our seaside loving Capulets and Montagues have violent confrontation on their minds, even Down in the Tube Station at Midnight. Meanwhile, romantic Romeo is moping to the Rhythm of the Rain for his latest unrequited love! He's in for a surprise at the Capulet Party where Juliet likes his Black Betty and Juliet's Nurse thinks her Sweet Child of Mine is falling in love. Romeo's mates gatecrash the party and bang, Be Bop a Lula He's My Baby. Maybe, just maybe, The Power of Love will end the families' violent feud.
Tybalt has other ideas, and because he's Born To Be Wild, he gets into a fatal fight that sees two dead and Romeo banished. Juliet is left Chasing Cars and Every Breath is watched by her father. He will cheer her up by marrying her to the County Paris. Juliet, desperate to avoid this unwanted wedding, takes the Friar's sleeping potion and is buried in the family tomb. Romeo, hearing of his lover's 'death' speeds to her and in a final climax of coincidence and confusion our star-crossed lovers bring the story to a tragic end.
This is a Doncaster Culture Week event ...... Culture in Doncaster .... I know .... whatever next eh ;-)
Come dressed as a Mod or a Rocker ... you can take your pick. This is an outdoor event so you'll need to bring something to sit on.
The play is being held in Sir Nigel Gresley Square, Waterdale, Doncaster, Yorkshire, DN1 3BU. Parking (at the Cultural Quarter Car Park) is just two minutes walk away.
The cost is £14.50 (£10 under 26). Book your tickets at this link: www.castindoncaster.com/Event/romeo-and-juliet
8) July Social Night (Takeaway of choice)
Our Social night for July (Wednesday 25th) is a meal out. We couldn't reach a consensus decision for where to go or what to eat, so we are hosting a 'Takeaway Night' at the Grey Horse instead, then everyone can have something they want/like, but we are all still eating together.
We will be at the Grey Horse from 19:00, deciding what we want, combining orders coming from the same takeaway establishment (Curry, Chinese, Italian etc), placing our orders at 19:30, and, deliveries pending, we'll all be scoffing our fast food delights around 20:00.
The back room of the Grey Horse will positively stink !!!! ..... but at least we have another week for the smell to return to normal before our next meeting ;-)
Hope to see you there !!!!
9) Yorkshire Pudding Rally - Tickets & Marshals Registration
Now the FYP is out of the way for another year, we have the splendid Yorkshire Pudding Rally to look forward to, held at Estrick Estate, Estrick, nr Selby/York, on 3rd - 5th August.
The Most Chilled Rally on the Calendar:
The Yorkshire Pudding offers a friendly chilled atmosphere with great weather (usually !!!). It has two marquees for entertainment, one hosting a big stage with bands playing both nights and a comedy show during the day on Saturday. The other smaller marquee is a more chilled real ale marquee with a small stage with artists playing both evenings. A great selection of traders selling bike related stuff and food vans selling to notch food from pizza, fish and chips, burgers and curry, to donuts. As with all our rallies we make sure the best toilet providers work twenty four hours a day to keep everything clean and fresh for you. All our rallies have twenty four hour litter pickers so none of our sites have a litter build up.
The Yorkshire Pudding Rally is a Pre-Book only event, with no 'On the Gate' ticket sales, therefore, if you want to go to this most splendid rally, you have no option other than to get your tickets in advance (and don't leave it until the last minute as this event always sells out once the dust has settled from the FYP ....
.... Don't say you haven't been warned !!!
Tickets for the YPR are Twenty Five Pounds and still available at our Wednesday meetings (for the time being anyway) ... Be quick if you want some.
And whilst on the subject of the YPR, Marshals Registration for the Yorkshire Pudding Rally 2018 is currently open.
Please note the deadline for registration is 13:00 on Saturday 6th July, and you will receive confirmation of your shifts a few weeks afterwards.
It would help us tremendously if you opt to work more than one 4-hour shift and left it to our discretion as to when and where you work. We will do our best to try and make sure that you have one night off with friends. If you need certain times off or there are areas not suited to you we will also try to accommodate this as much as possible, but please try to be as flexible as you can.
At the event: We ask that could you please ensure you register your arrival on site with marshal's admin to collect a marshal's wristband (giving access to marshals camping). This is to let us know you have arrived even if your shifts are not till later in the day/weekend.
Please help us to make sure you get the rewards you are entitled to from the marshal's package - 15 minutes prior to the start of each shift please report to marshal's admin, and then return after your shift to collect your thank you package.
All shifts will be 4 hours long but in one or two cases a 6-hour shift may be allocated and this will be treated as a 2 shifts for the marshal's package. The thank you package ensures that you are fed and watered and if you work 2 or more shifts, you get a free event T Shirt, and 3 or more, you get free entry to the event.
The site will be open to pre-registered marshals from Wednesday 1st August 2018, for those helping with set-up. All marshals are welcome from Thursday 2nd August 2018. Thank you for volunteering to support this event, without you they would not happen.
To register to marshal, go to the MAG Marshals web site, and follow the instructions.
10) Three Billboards outside City Hall, London
The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) is looking forward to a meeting with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to discuss questions regarding environmental fairness, crime and road safety regarding motorcyclists in the city. The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has thanked Greater London Authority Assembly Member Keith Prince AM for securing a landmark meeting with London Mayor Sadiq Khan, to discuss motorcycle safety, environmental charging and crime issues. Bikers held up signs outside London's City Hall on Thursday 21st June with words echoing the film 'Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri.' The billboards said:
'70+ DEAD BIKERS'
AND STILL NO INVESTMENT?'
HOW COME, MAYOR KHAN?'
Tim Fawthrop, the Motorcycle Action Group's London Representative, says: "compared to cyclists, four times more bikers died on London's highways in 2016, with 9 cycling fatalities versus 36 fatally injured motorcyclists. But, while the authorities invest £154 million per year on cycling, there's almost nothing being invested to make roads safer for riders. They've even narrowed the lanes to prevent or deter 'filtering' between lines of stationary traffic by riders - though this is a perfectly legal riding activity, reducing congestion and pollution for everyone by keeping motorbikes out of queues."
"On top of this, they threaten us with new charges on older bikes which, by TfL's own figures, produce almost no pollution at all, and are essential transport for the least wealthy who depend on them to get to low-paid jobs, maybe including at City Hall to clean the Mayor's bins. So we're truly grateful to Keith Prince for getting a meeting for the riding community with the Mayor - and we thank Sadiq Khan for agreeing."
Keith Prince highlighted the issues facing riders in his contributions at Mayor's Question Time. Afterwards he said, "I've now spoken with the Mayor and his staff and this meeting will go ahead. We just need to approach it with logic and evidence and seek to ensure the Mayor can see the benefits of a positive approach towards riding. I think he'll do that if we ourselves show a cooperative attitude."
11) Fleur de Lys Classic Vehicle Show
The annual gathering of classic vehicles organised by the Fleur de Lys Classic Vehicle Society will be held on Friday 6th July at Clarence Park, Wakefield, from 4pm to dusk. All vehicles are welcome and to be classified as a classic they must be aged over 25 years old ie. Manufactured in or pre-1992.
Enjoy a summer's evening in the Park wth some wonderful classic vehicles and enthusiasts. Entry is free for spectators, £3 in advance (or £5 on the day) to enter a classic vehicle.
More details at: fleurdelyscvs.org/
12) Forthcoming Events (for July and beyond)
Sunday 1st July - Wakefield MAG Memorial Rideout (Destination: Tan Hill and Hawes via the famous Buttertubs Pass)
See Above. Meet 8:30am (leaving at 09:00am) at Redbeck Cafe, 339 Doncaster Road, Crofton, Wakefield, WF4 1RT
Friday 6th July - Fleur de Lys Classic Vehicle Show
See Above. 4pm-8pm, Clarence Park, Wakefield. Website: fleurdelyscvs.org/
Sunday 22nd July - Mods and Rockers themed Romeo & Juliet outdoor play in Doncaster
See Above. The play starts at 5pm in Sir Nigel Gresley Square, Waterdale, Doncaster, Yorkshire, DN1 3BU. Parking (at the Cultural Quarter Car Park) is just two minutes walk away. The cost is £14.50 (£10 under 26). Book your tickets at this link: www.castindoncaster.com/Event/romeo-and-juliet
Wednesday 25th July - Wakefield MAG Social Night - Event: Takeaway of Choice
See Above. 19:00 onwards in the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, Wakefield
Sunday 29th July - Wakefield MAG Learner Rideout (Destination: TBC (a 60 mile bimble)
See Above. Meet 8:30am (leaving at 09:00am) at Redbeck Cafe, 339 Doncaster Road, Crofton, Wakefield, WF4 1RT
Friday 3rd August - Sunday 5th August 2018 - Yorkshire Pudding Rally (YPR)
See Above. www.yorkshirepuddingrally.co.uk
Wednesday 29th August - Wakefield MAG Social Night - Event: TBC
20:30 in the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, Wakefield
Sunday 9th September - Wakefield MAG Rideout (Destination: TBC)
Meet 8:30am (leaving at 09:00am) at Redbeck Cafe, 339 Doncaster Road, Crofton, Wakefield, WF4 1RT
Friday 21st September - Sunday 23rd September 2018 - Wakefield MAG Lakes Camping Barn Weekend
See Above. Dinah Hoggus Camping Barn, Rosthwaite, near Keswick in the Borrowdale Valley. £27 secures your place.
Saturday 29th September - MAG Annual Group Conference
Location: Borth Community Hall High Street Borth SY24 5LH. Entry from 10:00, conference starts at 12:00. You MUST be a MAG member to attend. Lunch provided for all delegates. Evening party venue: Ty Gwyn, Live music by Rubicon. Ticket: Free for delegates or £5 for all others.
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.