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) ITV Report
2) Wakefield MAG Bike Show Report
3) Wensleydale Creamery Rideout Report
4) Leeds MAG Demo Run Report
5) Bike for Sale
6) MAG prepares for The Next General Election
7) Tougher Sentences for Banned Drivers
8) Rally Tickets
9) Barnsley and Doncaster MAG Launch (Evening Rideout)
10) MAG President Slams MCN Article
11) Soapbox Articles Required for The Road
12) Huddersfield MAG are 21
13) Forthcoming Events (for June and beyond)
Check out the event report Here
2) Wakefield MAG Bike Show Report
Check out the event report Here
3) Wensleydale Creamery Rideout Report
Check out the rideout report Here
Check out the event report Here
2002 Honda Hornet 600 For Sale. Yellow. MoT'd until September and Taxed until February 2015. 6000 miles - all dry by previous owner, and a few wet ones by me (if only to prove it doesn't disolve in the rain).
VGC, New Tyres, Coolant, Battery, and recent Oil Change. Hugger fitted to protect the back shock.
Bargain at only £2,400.
Call Tony on Wakefield (01924) 210953 or 07757 891398 (Please call Fri-Sun Only Please)
6) MAG prepares for The Next General Election
It's official! We're less than one year away from the next General Election. MAG has never been more focussed, determined and able to get its message across. And the message is simple: Riders are Voters too. That sounds like a slogan. It is. But it's a slogan for a reason. Almost 1 in 10 electors are qualified motorcyclists, people who understand the excitement, attraction and economy of using motorcycles and scooters. In the past, we've been gentle. We've tried to appeal to politicians from a distance. Now, we're right in there, up close and personal. We're asking each of you to write to your local MP, and all the candidates standing against them. Ask them two questions:
By securing a meeting, you'll ensure no candidate can ignore riders' rights after the next General Election. We've never had so much momentum. Help us turn it into something which helps make the UK the riding capital of the world !!!
7) Tougher Sentences for Banned Drivers
In a move announced in early May, the government has changed its policy on causing death or injury on the roads through driving while disqualified. Now, if the person who caused an accident leading to someone's death, was found to be already disqualified from driving, then the driver will face up to 10 years in jail.
While it is too late for Brian Hampton whose actions led to the death of Jade Clark in Dorset, or the many others whose lives have been taken due to someone who should not have been on the road, MAG supports the change. MAG’s National Chairman, John Mitchell says, "This change is a victory for common sense. MAG will still keep the pressure on to change the sentencing guidelines for all cases. It is wholly unacceptable that someone who should not be on the road in the first place can cause someone's death, then get away with a metaphoric slap on the wrist in the form of a short prison term."
The Wakefield MAG allocation of Yorkshire MAG rally tickets are selling fast at the weekly branch meetings. However, we still have tickets available for:
Be sure to buy your tickets early, especially for the YPR, which sells out every year well ahead of the event (once the FYP is over, tickets start running out for the YPR, therefore, it is well advisable to buy your YPR tickets in June - Don't leave it to the last minute and risk disappointment !!!) If you want some rally tickets reserving, do let me know.
9) Barnsley and Doncaster MAG Launch (Evening Rideout)
The official launch of the new combined Barnsley & Doncaster MAG is on Thursday 12th June at the Skellow Grange W.M.C, 223 Skellow road, Doncaster, DN6 8JL at 20:00. This is great news for South Yorkshire (or the southern part of the West Riding of Yorkshire !!!) as the 4 hub towns / cities (Barnsley, Doncaster, Sheffield and Rotherham) will be well served by local MAG groups.
Wakefield MAG are supporting the launch by having a rideout to their inaugral meeting. Meet at Redbeck Cafe, 339 Doncaster Road, Crofton, Wakefield, WF4 1RT, from 18:30 onwards. We will be setting off at 19:00, for the short ride over to Doncaster.
10) MAG President Slams MCN Article
Our President writes to MCN in response to a High Viz item.
High-viz Myths
Your MCN Law column asserts 'There is little doubt that high-visibility gear makes bikers more visible to other road users. Now with the greatest of respect (i.e. none) this is cobblers (insert rubbish if you like though cobblers is better). You go on to quote 'a study' which 'found that a third of bike accidents might have been prevented by hi-viz.' You may as well say that if I'd worn an Armani suit when I met Penelope Cruz we could be married by now. These groundless speculators who pontificate on the basis of presumption are the biggest threat to motorcycling freedoms alive today.
A breed of optimists are currently riding around dressed like canaries because subconsciously they think they are visible. Wise up people; this issue is more complex than you're giving it credit for. Being able to see things and registering them mentally are not necessarily the same thing. I was a courier in London for five years in the 1980s riding in all weathers, often in the dark. I never wore high-viz, my headlamp was off in daytime, I never used my horn and I never hit anyone or anything. I remember one week that started with four high-viz wearing and body armour-clad riders out of a total workforce of ten off with injuries. They all blamed those 'bloody blind motorists.'
When everyone stops bleating like victims and adopting good hazard recognition protocols and sensible caution instead of grasping at populist gimmicks like high-viz, road safety will take a great leap forward.
Ian Mutch
MAG President
11) Soapbox Articles Required for The Road
A call from the Editor for copy for The Road (Soapbox)
Any budding writers out there who want to get something off your chest, The Road is always looking for articles to fill the Soapbox slot.
Get those fingers limbered up and type out your thoughts. We're not looking for great wordsmiths, just people with a view to air. Soapbox articles should be around 750 words and sent to: theroad@mag-uk.org
Our good friends in Huddersfield MAG are hosting a 21st birthday parade through Huddersfield Town Centre and up to the Field Head at Quarmby afterwards. It's on Saturday 7th June 2014 and they are meeting from 10:15 for a 11:00 set off.
They'll be doing a couple of laps before they head on up to the Field Head because the town centre just ain't that big! Lot's of marshals will be at the front, the back and throughout the group in case the procession get stuck at lights.
This is a celebration ride and not a demo - There is no police escort so we must obey the rules of the road and stop at lights, etc. It is a celebration of 21 years of Huddersfield MAG and of our pride in our beloved rides.
All bikes, trikes and scooters are welcome; it's a learner-friendly route and on 30mph roads so no worries about getting lost or left behind.
We also have to say that if you come along you take responsibility for your own riding! (Ed: Same as Wakefield MAG ride-outs ;-)
There will be burgers, hot dogs and veggie options available to buy up at The Field Head ... and cake! Well, it is a birthday party. They'll also have a raffle too, so it would be great if you could stay on afterwards and join the party.
13) Forthcoming Events (for June and beyond)
Saturday 7th June - Huddersfield MAG 21st Celebration Parade
See Above. A Celebration Ride to celebrate 21 glorious years of Huddersfield MAG. The parade of bikes will pass through the centre of Huddersfield and back to the Huddersfield MAG meeting venue for food, beer and a speech or two. Meeting at St Andrews Road, public car park (next to Cummings Turbos) - postcode is HD1 6RA - at 10.15 am for an 11.00 am set off on the route around Huddersfield town centre, and then onto the Field Head pub at Quarmby (HD3 4FB).
Thursday 12th June - Evening Rideout to the Barnsley and Doncaster MAG Launch
See Above. The newly amalgamated Barnsley & Doncaster MAG will hold their first meeting at the Skellow Grange W.M.C, 223 Skellow road, Doncaster, DN6 8JL at 20:00. Wakefield MAG will meet at Redbeck Cafe, 339 Doncaster Road, Crofton, Wakefield, WF4 1RT from 18:30 onwards, leaving at 19:00 for the ride over to Doncaster.
Saturday 14th June - Farmyard Party Marshals Briefing
The Farmyard Party Marshals Briefing will be held at 14:00 at the FYP site (in the marquee at the Duncombe Park Estate, Helmsley, North Yorkshire, YO62 5E) and it's a great opportunity for you to come up and have a relaxing weekend before the madness of the Farmyard starts. MAP will be putting food on for tea in the evening and having a bit of a fire to sit around. You can also leave your tent up until the next week as there is no need to take it down as it will be perfectly safe, and enjoy a less packed bike on the journey there.
Sunday 15th June - Yorkshire MAG Region Meeting
Every Yorkshire MAG member is invited to attend the Yorkshire Region Meeting and have your say in how the region is run. The meeting is being held at the FYP site (in the marquee at the Duncombe Park Estate, Helmsley, North Yorkshire, YO62 5E), at 11:00.
Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd June - The Farmyard Party
See Above. Europe's Biggest and Best Motorcycle Only Rally. Location: Duncombe Park, Helmsley, North Yorkshire. Tickets available at our branch meetings. www.farmyardparty.com
Sunday 6th July - Wakefield MAG Rideout (Destination: Mr Moo's Ice Cream Parlour, Skipsea)
Meet 08:30 (leaving at 09:00) at Redbeck Cafe, 339 Doncaster Road, Crofton, Wakefield, WF4 1RT
Sunday 27th July - Wakefield MAG at the VJMC Show
We will be hosting the Yorkshire MAG stand at the popular VJMC Show at Lotherton Hall. More info at: www.vjmc.com
Friday 1st - Sunday 3rd August - Yorkshire Pudding Rally
See Above. Escrick Estate off the A19 just above Selby. More info at: www.yorkshirepuddingrally.co.uk
See the events page for further details and more !!!
That's all for this month, and I 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.