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) Whitby Rideout Report
2) BIRT BBQ
3) MAP Debrief
4) The ROAD
5) Yorkshire AGM
6) Branch Products
7) Branch Website
8) Forthcoming Events
Twenty participants on seventeen bikes met at Stork Lodge Tea Rooms on Sunday 24th August for our monthly rideout. We were joined by Bob & Neil from our 'Buddy' branch, Barnsley MAG, and is was great to see these guys along. We set off slightly later than planned to allow Barnsley Bob to change his bike as his Honda was playing up a little (or protesting about the amount of rain we have had this summer, more like !!).
We took the scenic route to the A64, via Towton, and the scene of the Battle of Towton in the Wars of the Roses, which was (and still is), the largest and bloodiest battle ever fought on British soil. Nowerdays, it's a very pleasant country road through rolling farmland.
Progress was good until we got near the first roundabout at York on the A64, where we hit solid bank holiday traffic. Fortunately, we could filter through and then made a quick stop at the Highwayman Cafe, for the smokers amongst us to get a fix, and the rest of us to make use of the watering facilities. Whilst stopped, the heavens opened and it absolutely poured down for about 10 minutes, before clearing up and remaining warm and sunny for the rest of the day.
We left the A64 to head towards Pickering and the scenic road through the North York Moors National Park to Whitby. Bank holiday roadwork's at Sleights held us up slightly, but we were in no great rush as it was a most pleasant ride just enjoying the scenery. We arrived in Whitby for lunchtime and the obligatory fish & chips. Whitby was absolutely heaving and anybody would have thought it was a bank holiday weekend !?!
We had a look around Whitby, a few 'team' photos with Whitby Abbey as the picturesque backdrop, then repeated the whole trip in reverse on our return to Wakefield.
A hugely pleasant day was had by all and a tremendous turnout from the Wakefield & Barnsley branches.
Our next rideout destination is the Tan Hill Inn, England's highest pub, and star of the Everest double glazing TV commercials. I'll let you know the exact date for the rideout when we have set it.
Our planned BBQ, at the Brain Injuries Rehabilitation Trust's Daniel Yorath House in Garforth on Friday 15th August, had to be cancelled as the lawn was heavily waterlogged. However, this event, which was being held as a thank you for our generous charitable donation earlier in the year, will now be re-arranged for a later date. More details on this, as and when it gets re-organised.
Magic Action Promotions (MAP), the Yorkshire MAG events arm, is holding a debrief on Saturday 13th September, at Hutton Cranswick, Nr Driffield. The debrief will cover all four of Yorkshire MAG's main events this year, namely, Into the Valley, Farmyard Party, Ganton Gathering and Yorkshire Pudding Rally. Mick will be attending on behalf of Wakefield MAG, and representing our interests. We have already had our own events debrief at previous branch meetings and Mick will be taking these comments to the MAP debrief. However, if anyone has any other comments (good, bad or indifferent) on this years Yorkshire MAG events, or suggestions as to how we can improve the events for next year, we would love to hear from you.
The Yorkshire MAG events are major fund raisers and support MAG's political lobbying activity (which helps protect motorcycling from unsympathetic legislation threatening the pleasure and freedom of all riders). It is therefore important (nay, vital) that we run these events as best as we possibly can, and continue to offer outstanding value for money for our members.
Send any comments by email to the branch account (wfd_district_mag@hotmail.com), or come to a meeting and tell us personally, and we will feed these into the MAP debrief on the 13th.
Wakefield MAG, as you have probably noticed, feature highly in this months edition of The ROAD magazine. We have prominent coverage of our visit to the Edinburgh MAG rally, and the May Day Bike show, which we hosted at the Wakefield Hospice May Day Gala.
Keep an eye out for next months issue also, as we have submitted reports from our recent hosting of the Yorkshire MAG stand at the VJMCC Show at Lotherton Hall, and our Treasure Hunt.
The date for this year's Yorkshire MAG AGM has been set, and is Saturday 18th October, at the
Dean Park Sports Club, Beverley Rd, Dunswell, HU6 0AA (East Yorkshire MAG's meeting venue).
The AGM will start at 10:00 and registration is from 09:30 onwards. All Yorkshire MAG members are invited to attend (don’t forget your MAG membership card otherwise you won’t be able to get in). A free lunch will be laid on for all attendees and the AGM will finish no later than early afternoon. Ian Mutch (MAG El Presidente) is likely to be attending and will no doubt entertain us with some of his fine nautical stories (or Moroccan bike touring escapades, if we are really lucky!!!). 75 Branch points will be awarded to all Wakefield MAG members who attend the AGM. Hope to see you there.
Still plugging our branch products as we have a small stock of most items for sale (see our web site for full details). Newly ordered are Wakefield MAG branded beanie hats at £7.50 each. We should have these from the supplier very shortly so if you want one (or more), please let me know. The beanie hats will be very very useful for keeping the cold out at the forthcoming autumn rallies !!!!
Numerous content updates have been made to our branch website over the last month, including:
If anyone would like to submit an article detailing their bike, or a particularly memorable biking adventure, send in a report and photos, and we'll publish it on the branch website.
Forthcoming events for September and beyond:
Friday 5th - Sunday 7th September - NE MAG's Stormin' The Castle
The North East's Premier Motorcycle Rally, this year at a new site alongside the A688 at Streatlam, between Staindrop and Barnard Castle. Pre-Book Tickets £22; On The Gate £30 (subject to availability & only available to those arriving on a bike or trike).
Saturday 6th - Sunday 7th September - Headless in Halifax Rally
The 2nd Headless in Halifax Rally, run by Halifax MAG. The site is at the Causeway Foot Inn, Causeway Foot, Ogden,Halifax, (A629) and tickets are £5.
Saturday 13th September - A Bit of a Do!
York MAG One Nighter at the Bumper Castle, Clifton Moor, York. Live Band, DJ, Raffles, Beer & more beer! 1pm licence. Limited Camping available (prebook only).
Friday 19th - Sunday 21st September - East Yorkshire MAG's Spat Out of Hull
East Yorkshire MAG's exclusive 2 night party with Bonfire, Comedians, 4 Live Bands, Excellent food and much more. Dean Park Sports Club, Beverley Rd, Dunswell, HU6 0AA. Tickets £10. Strict 500 limit. FREE ENTRY FOR FYP MARSHALS
Friday 3rd - Sunday 5th October - Leathered in Lincoln 3
Halfway Heroes MCC Leathered in Lincoln 3 (MAG affiliated club rally). Marque event, 6 bands + disco, Full bar at pub prices, real loos. New site at the Epworth Showground, Lincolnshire (between Scunthorpe and Doncaster). Tickets £15. FREE ENTRY FOR FYP MARSHALS
Saturday 18th October - MAG Yorkshire Region Annual General Meeting
Dean Park Sports Club, Beverley Rd, Dunswell, HU6 0AA (See Above)
Saturday 25th October - Huddersfield MAG's Twelfty Party
7:30pm onwards at The Gas Club, Gas Works Street, Huddersfield. £5 on the door. FREE ENTRY FOR FYP MARSHALS
Wednesday 12th November - Wakefield MAG 5th Annual Bikers Quiz Nite
Advance notice for our hugely popular quiz night, to be held on Wednesday 12th November at 8pm in the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, Wakefield.
One Hundred bike related questions covering the whole spectrum of bikes, personalities, sport, history and biker culture. There will be a general invite to the whole of Yorkshire MAG and beyond and previous years quizzes have been very well attended. Leeds MAG have won the trophy for the last four years but each year it has got closer and closer. Previous year have gone all the way to the tie breaker. Could this be 5th time lucky for Wakefield MAG ?!?
This is an event not to miss and you have ample time to do a bit of subject matter cramming !!!! There is a nominal entry fee of £1 p.p to cover the cost of the prizes. Enter individually or as a team (but pick your fellow team members well !!!!)
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 8:30pm every Wednesday. New (and Old) faces are always welcome.