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) 5th Wakefield MAG Biker Quiz Nite
2) NEC Bike Show Report
3) Test Pass
4) Christmas Pub Crawl
5) Wakefield AGM
6) Post Christmas Auction
7) Two Wheels Good, Parking Fees Bad
8) Branch Products
9) Christmas Meetings
10) Forthcoming Events
1) 5th Wakefield MAG Biker Quiz Nite
We held our 5th Wakefield MAG Biker Quiz Nite on Wednesday 12th November in the Grey Horse. The Quiz was very well attended and we were pleased to welcome along teams from Leeds MAG, York MAG, Barnsley MAG, East Yorkshire MAG, several Wakefield MAG teams, and a smattering of others. One Hundred bike related questions were asked, covering the whole spectrum of motorcycles sport (mainstream and the downright obscure), bike press and adverts, bike knowledge (marques, models and types), biking personalities, bike culture and the bike scene, bikes on films and TV, law relating to motorcycle use and biking history and milestones. This year we restricted the size of the teams to a maximum of 5 to even out the competition as it were.
We kicked off at 08:20pm, after waiting for the very late Leeds MAG contingent (who were running to Leeds MAG time, if you have ever been to one of their events, you'll know what I mean !!!).
A quick fag break half way through the questions then it was time to swap the papers and top up the correct answers. The results of the Quiz were ............ cue drum roll ..........
1st Place - East Yorkshire MAG, with 58½ points. A case of Stella Artois for their achievement and the coveted winners trophy, held by Leeds MAG for the last four years.
2nd Place - Leeds MAG, not far behind with 56 points. A case of Becks for their achievement
3rd Place - Wakefield MAG team #1, with 54½ points. A case of Carlsberg for their achievement
Booby Prize (for the least correct answers) - Wakefield MAG team #2 (Dodge, Chris & Mick), with 29½ points. A case of ASDA Smart Price Lager and our traditional booby prize, which does the rounds on all our competitive events - the fat bird on a scooter trophy !!!!!
For the first time in 5 years, the quiz made a profit and covered the cost of the prizes. Also, for the first time in 5 years ....... Leeds MAG didn't win !!!!
It was a great night, and a huge huge thanks to everyone who attended, particularly East Yorkshire MAG, who had a fair distance to travel, although winning will have made their journey all the more worth while.
Our mass visit to the NEC Bike Show on Sunday 30th November went ahead as planned, albeit without our free minibus. The free minibus offer unfortunately didn't materialise (not surprising given the credit crunch), but it proved only a minor set back in our quest to park our bottoms on every bike at the show. We priced up the cost of hiring a minibus but the cost was too prohibitive, so instead, the 13 of us split ourselves between 4 cars, and we all journeyed south, as planned at 08:00 on the Sunday morning. A good run down there, only hitting traffic once within spitting distance of the NEC, and amazingly, we didn't even get lost.
Lots of checking out new models, lots added to the wish list (for when the lottery numbers come up !!), and a fair few Christmas presents purchased.
A good day out was had by all.
Congratulations to Wakefield MAG member Tracey Sheard, who has just passed her test. Tracey was presented with a bottle of wine at last weeks meeting, as is our long standing tradition to celebrate this rite of passage and freedom to the open road. Tracy has swapped her 125 for a Yamaha 650 Dragstar and can't wait to come on the next rideout (which is likely to be the Fred Hill run in February). Well done Tracey.
The Wakefield MAG Christmas Do, which is this coming Saturday (6th December), will be one of our now legendary pub crawls, starting from the Jockey on Northgate, Wakefield, at 07:30pm (Note the change of start point, which was previously advertised as the Grey Horse). From the Jockey, we will be visiting Inns of Court, Barristers, Gate, Talbot & Falcon, Strafford Arms, Black Rock, Graziers, O'Donnohues, Fernandes, Snooty Fox & terminating at our base, the Grey Horse. We will be joined by our very good friends from our Buddy Branch at Barnsley MAG.
Fancy Dress, Reindeer Antlers and Santa Hats are all strictly optional.
Really hope you can make it and i'll see you there.
Our 7th branch AGM will be held in the Grey Horse, on Wednesday 14th January, starting at 8:30pm. 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. 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 the new year !!!
The Annual Wakefield MAG mailshot will shortly be posted to all eligible Members, i.e. current or recently expired MAG members with a WF postcode, to formally place notice for the meeting. The meeting is also advertised in the events section on the MAG website, and the previous AGM minutes are posted on the branch website (under the AGM's menu item, spookily enough !!).
6) Wakefield MAG Post Christmas Auction
Our 5th consecutive Post Christmas Auction will be held on Wednesday 28th January at 08:00pm, 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. Our last auction raised £280 (rounded up to £300 from branch funds). which, bearing in mind the bidding on a lot of items started at 50p (or less), is a staggering and truly impressive result !!!! There are always some real quality items donated, and hence, some real bargains to be had.
Proceeds from the auction will be split with a donation to a charitable cause (1/3) and 2/3 to the MAG fighting fund. I hope to see you there (and don’t forget to bring your unwanted Christmas pressies !!!).
7) Two Wheels Good, Parking Fees Bad
MAG PRESS RELEASE:
Parking charges introduced for PTW (Powered Two Wheelers) by Westminster City Council, run contrary to the Government’s aim to ‘mainstream’ motorcycling and to the Mayor of London’s plans to make London more motorcycle-friendly, say representatives of the motorcycling community.
Coming out in support of a protest demonstration arranged for December 14th MAG and BMF, jointly representing some 150,000 motorcyclists, say that at a time when Mayor Boris Johnson is opening up bus lanes to PTWs and more and more people are turning to motorcycles and scooters, increased and free parking provision should be provided, not punitive charges introduced.
Throwing their combined weight behind the ‘No To Bike Parking Fees’ (NTBPF) campaign (notobikeparkingfees.com), the group say that motorcycles and scooters provide the ideal solution for commuters seeking a genuine door-to-door solution and especially so for low paid key workers. In fact, where public transport does not serve their needs and cycling is not an option, PTWs provide the only realistic alternative for those seeking personal mobility.
Warren Djanogly, Chairman of NTBPF said: “Westminster Council say it’s only £1.50 a day or £150 if paying for a year, but this misses the point. PTWs are the only viable means of transport for many low paid workers and this hits them hard. That’s why we welcome the support of the wider motorcycling community in opposing these unwarranted charges.”
What has particularly incensed PTW users is that charges have been introduced with the barest minimum of consultation and crucially, with minimal notification of implementation. This has resulted in confusion with users and consultees being led to believe that charges were being introduced for an experimental trial period, whereas the only experimental part was the provision of extra parking spaces, the charging was not to be a trial, it was for real! The group is now asking all those affected to contest the charges by writing to Martin Low at Westminster Council, West One, 59 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6AJ, quoting reference 5303-03/AJ
Concerned that the Westminster model is likely to be adopted elsewhere in the UK, the group is now calling for all PTW users, whether directly affected or not, to support the next demonstration being held at 11am on Sunday 14th December 2008 at Golden Square, London, W1
Note:
As well as being economical, PTWs with their efficient use of space do not cause congestion, are able to filter through congestion where it does take place and occupy less space for parking. They are environmentally friendly, comply with current European emission limits and, coupled with their ability to avoid dense traffic, pollute far less than four-wheeled traffic.
For further information contact MAG Central Office - 0870 444 8448 or e-mail general-secretary@mag-uk.org
Wakefield MAG note: Although in London, a good many local councils will be carefully watching developments, and unless we act, we may well see unwanted and unwarranted parking fees for bikes being introduced ‘oop North’. Any Wakefield MAG member who attends the demo will earn 75 branch points, and the accolade of being a hero of the working classes !!!!
We have a small number of Wakefield MAG branded products in stock for immediate supply, including beanie hats (£7.50 each), baseball caps, patches, stickers, bandanas, most clothing items and bike flags/pennants, so if you want something, please let me know. With Christmas just around the corner, remember that Wakefield MAG products make mighty fine Christmas presents !!! Aunty Ethel will just love that Wakefield MAG bandana, and it will go down a storm at the Darby and Joan Club !!!
There will be no Branch meeting on Wednesday 24th December or Wednesday 31st December, due to the close proximity to Christmas & New Year.
Forthcoming events for December and beyond:
Saturday 6th December - Wakefield MAG Christmas Pub Crawl
As detailed above. Meet 07:30pm at the Jockey, Northgate, Wakefield. Fancy Dress, Reindeer Antlers and Santa Hats strictly optional.
Saturday 13th December - Scarborough MAG petfood run
Petfood run to local dog rescue centre. Bring dried or tinned dog food and assorted doggy treats. Meeting at the Hare and Hounds pub, Staxton, on the A64, 12:00-12:30
Sunday 14th December - London Parking Fees Demo
As detailed above. Meet 11:00am at Golden Square, London, W1
Wednesday 17th December - Leeds MAG Christmas Toy Run
Leeds MAG will be holding their annual Christmas Toy Run to Lineham Farm Children's Centre on Wednesday 17th December, starting out from the Rising Sun (290 Kirkstall Road, Burley, Leeds) at 18:30, thereby giving plenty of time to go on the run and still be back in time for our weekly meeting at 20:30. Lineham Farm is a charity which provides outdoor activities and events for underprivileged children from Leeds and beyond. It’s a worthwhile cause which Leeds MAG have supported for a number of years. The centre at Lineham Farm has also been used by MAG on a number of occasions as a venue for Reps and MAG activist training weekends.
Saturday 10th January 2009 - East Yorkshire MAG's Blow Away Your Christmas Blues Party
FREE Party, featuring, all the way from Richmond N.Y.: The Spirit Levellers. The Party starts at 8pm at the Sun Inn, Flemingate, Beverley, and will go on to about 1am. The party has a purpose and that is for us all to have a great time, but also as a fund raiser to raise funds for childhood cancer research (via donations and raffle / tombola).
Lots of places to stay locally overnight so give me a shout if you want the details. A good few of us from Wakefield are planning to attend so hope you can make it. Did I mention it was FREE ?
Wednesday 14th January 2009 - Wakefield MAG AGM
As detailed above.
Wednesday 28th January 2009 - Wakefield MAG 5th Post Christmas Auction
As detailed above.
That's all for this month, have a great Christmas, hope Santa brings you lots of biking goodies, 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 8:30pm every Wednesday. New (and Old) faces are always welcome.