Wakefield MAG September 2011 Newsletter

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) Lincolnshire Splitters Rally
2) Lincs MAG Teddy Bears Picnic Rideout
3) 8th Yorkshire Pudding Rally
4) 10th Birthday Party
5) Wakefield MAG Patches
6) Yorkshire AGM
7) September Demo (EU Hands Off Biking !!)
8) EU anti tampering Petition
9) Euro-Watchdog backs MAG members complaints over EU interference in biking
10) September Rideout (Wakefield MAG goes racing)
11) MAP meetings
12) Forthcoming Events (for September and beyond)

1) Lincolnshire Splitters Rally

Check out the rally report Here

2) Lincs MAG Teddy Bears Picnic Rideout

Check out the rideout report Here

3) 8th Yorkshire Pudding Rally

Check out the rally report Here

4) 10th Birthday Party

Wakefield MAG held it's inaugural meeting on Wednesday 9th January 2002, which means that in just 4 months time, we will be 10 years old !!! And what a fantastic 10 year history the branch has had !!!

To celebrate this most momentous occasion, we are hosting a 10th Birthday Party. We don't do things by halves in Wakefield MAG so have booked a top notch band - the aptly named Big Day. Big Day do classic rock tracks but also lots of modern stuff from the likes of Snow Patrol, James and the Stereophonics (their rendition of Dakota is awesome). They headlined at the Farmyard Party in 2009, and went down a storm there, and also headlined at the 2010 Yorkshire Pudding Rally, and are nothing short of excellent.

Recognising our much loved HQ, the Grey Horse, isn't quite big enough on this occasion, we have booked the function room in Balne Lane WMC, Wakefield, which has a huge stage and a seating capacity of 350 .... Come along and help us fill it !!!!!!

Our 10th Birthday Party will be held on Saturday 14th January 2012 and tickets will be going on sale soon !!!! Buy Some, Be There, Let's Party !!!! It is also Lisa Brooker's (Wakefield MAG's Social & Fund Raising Officer) Birthday that very same day, so even more reason to celebrate !!!!

5) Wakefield MAG Patches

We have just received a new batch of Wakefield MAG patches having sold all of our old supply. We have sourced the new batch from the main MAG suppliers, getting an extremely good deal in the process. The new Wakefield MAG patches are being sold at just £3.50 (the old ones cost a fiver, which is a saving of 30% - no refunds on the old one's sold though !!!).

Place your order with Mick Culpan, our Products Officer, or if you cant get down to the weekly meetings, drop me a note and we will reserve one (or more) for you.

And remember, with Christmas not that far away, Wakefield MAG products make mighty fine Christmas presents !!!!

6) Yorkshire AGM

A big thank you to Bob and the Barnsley MAG branch for organising the 2011 Yorkshire MAG Annual General Meeting.

This years AGM will be held on Saturday 22nd October at Barnsley Rugby and Football Club (where Barnsley MAG meet), Shaw Lane, Barnsley, S70 6HZ. Meeting from 13:00 with the official proceedings starting at 13:30.

Hope to see you there. 75 branch points awarded to all Wakefield MAG members who attend the AGM.

7) September Demo (EU Hands Off Biking !!)

There's a raft of issues emanating from Europe that will have a profound effect on riders and the motorcycle industry generally and we must stand up. Some of them are driven by the EU Commission, like the new Type Approval and Market Surveillance Regulation that will see the introduction of compulsory ABS, the sealing of powertrains from airbox to the diameter and aspect ratio of the rear tyre, restrictions on the aftermarket industry, possible roadside checks by police or other Government agencies to inspect emissions or for owner 'tuning' and more.

There's EU funded development of electronics to control and govern speeds either through warning systems or actual throttle control and the plans in Ireland for compulsory, full sleeve day-glo jackets for riders and pillions.

As with France, where reflective/day-glo clothing is being debated, the onus should not be on the victim. Will insurance companies start saying that because we weren't dressed in day-glo it's our own fault that an inattentive driver drove into us?

France also wants to ban bikes over 7 years old from urban areas for environmental reasons! Their congestion is already terrible and putting more riders into cars that pollute terribly when they are stationary, is bonkers.

Bikes are part of the urban transport solution, not the problem.

ENOUGH !!!!! There will be a vote by the MEP committee discussing the above Regulation, at the start of October (4th/5th or 6th). We need them to listen. They're meant to represent us !!!

MAG and many others in the motorcycle community are negotiating hard with our own Government and our European representatives, but in the meantime; Join us to keep EU Hands Off Biking, it's time for Action now!!!!

On the 25th September you can make your voice heard. Starting from service areas right across the country, we all ride at 1pm, 45mph, using the inside lanes and disperse 20 minutes later. Negotiations are ongoing and as citizens we must be considered. This is the first time. Let's show what we could be capable of. We have the legal and democratic right to peaceful protest.

This is a local yet national demo, so no need to travel miles to get there, it will cost little in petrol and only a small time commitment, in fact, it's so simple, it's brilliant !!!! No overheating engines or fried clutches. No need for marshals, just one person with a watch to see when it’s nearly 1pm. In addition to the MAG website, Motorcycle News (MCN) will be advertising all the start points, as will numerous other bike magazines, so literally thousands of bikers will know about this.

Needless to say, 75 Branch Points awarded to all Wakefield MAG Members who attend our demo.

Wakefield MAG are meeting at Woolley Edge Services (M1 Southbound) at 12:30 onwards, leaving at 13:00 on the dot. We ride south for 20 minutes, then pay a visit to Sheffield Motorcycle Centre (SMC) (35 Walker Street, Wicker Arches, Sheffield, S3 8GZ), with a possible scenic ride back via the snake pass (weather dependent). Learners are catered for too - simply join the Barnsley MAG demo route (see below).

Other concurrent Yorkshire MAG Demos:

Sunday 25th September! Keep it Free!! Direct Action Politics is back !!!

If you are still not convinced this is an issue, check out this tale from a Sportster owner in Spain:
"Want a reason to turn up for the demo, well here's one. Just had my old Harley ITV (MoT) in Spain and the tyre sizes have to match factory standard, they measure the length and height to the handlebars of the bike so you can't change them and on your docs they now list the decibels allowed by the factory pipes which you cannot exceed at all as they do a SOUND TEST. Mine failed due to it not having an EU stamp on the mirrors and although the rear light lens had the number the little white lens to light up your plate didn't, so got a warning for that. It will come to the UK soon !!!"

8) EU anti tampering Petition

There's a petition on the No.10 website to force a debate on the EU anti tampering laws that we're going to be protesting about on September 25th (see above).

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/5334

If you can all take a couple of minutes to sign it and pass it on to anyone you know that has an interest in motorcycling, that would be great.

There needs to be 100,000 signatures to force the debate, and we are a little short of that at the moment, so please sign it !!!

9) Euro-Watchdog backs MAG members complaints over EU interference in biking

MAG member Jon Strong has had yet more success in his highly detailed challenge to some of the EU Commission's most lazy assertions about what's good for you and me as riders.

The European Ombudsman (responsible for checking whether the EU is playing the game fairly) recently found that the European Commission unjustifiably refused to answer Jon's queries or to supply official documents relating to a range of issues that will have a big impact on biking, e.g.; the changes to EU Type Approval, the potential for a Europe-wide Super-MoT test, EU spending on aspects of road safety and development of safety technologies that could threaten biking as we know it.

Now you can do something very simple that will help Jon press his case and shine a spotlight on attempts to steam-roller further restrictions on bike design, modification and use.

ACTION: All that is needed to show the authorities that there is genuine public concern about this, is for enough people reading this article to contact the Ombudsman asking for copies of Jon's original complaint and the supporting documents. That will make sure the complaint won't get buried.

Please quote 'Ref 0875/2011/jf' in your request and just asking for it will have sent the message across.

Use the contact form on the Ombudsman's website: www.ombudsman.europa.eu/shortcuts/contacts.faces

Alternatively, send a letter or fax to:
Mediateur europeen 1 avenue du President Robert Schuman
CS 30403
F-67001 Strasbourg Cedex
France
Fax: +33 3 88 17 90 62

Why are we asking you to do this ?

There are signs that the Ombudsman isn't yet fully convinced or supportive of Jon's efforts in trying to hold the Commission to account. The Ombudsman did not agree that Jon had tried hard enough to get the Commission to rethink the proposal that motorcycles should be subject to roadside emission spot-checks in future - this seems odd given that it was the Commission themselves who wouldn't respond to Jon's questions. Since raising these various examples of the Commission not doing its homework before proposing further restrictions on biking, Jon has also asked to be shown the evidence in favour of EU proposals for random/regular roadside inspections of motorcycles and for the Commission to show whether it has properly considered the liberty issues.

10) September Rideout (Wakefield MAG goes racing)

For our September rideout, we will be heading to Cadwell Park and the Auto 66 Club Bike Championships Race Meeting on Sunday 4th September. This is one of the cheapest ways to see a full days worth of highly competitive racing. The meeting includes the Cadwell Masters Road and Race Championships, 125s up to Superbikes plus Formula 1 and 2 Sidecars.

On The Gate ticket prices are £13 for adults & £10 for OAPs (a bargain compared to other race meets). Meet 8:00am (leaving at 08:30am) at the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, Wakefield, WF1 4EJ.

11) MAP meetings

The good folks at MAP (Yorkshire MAG's Events Arm) have chosen one day to get an awful lot of stuff out of the way in one shot. The day is Saturday the 24th of September and the meetings are:

All this is taking place at the Breighton Ferry Pub, Clay Lane, Breighton, Selby, YO86DH.

MAP AGM and 2011 events debrief will start at around 13:00 and will finish at the latest 17:00 (hopefully sooner). There will then be a buffet at 18:00-19:00, followed by the birthday party. The pub has camping facilities with showers and you can order breakfast for the Sunday morning. This will set you up nicely for the motorway demo's planned for the 25th.

If you plan to attend, please reply back to Pete Walker (pwalker@maphq.karoo.co.uk) before Thursday the 22nd of September, stating if you will be eating and camping over.

12) Forthcoming Events (for September and beyond)

Sunday 4th September - Monthly Rideout to Cadwell Park

See Above.

Friday 16th September - Sunday 18th September - Spat out of Hull Rally

An exclusive 2 night party. Bonfire, Comedians, Live bands, Excellent food, and much more. Tickets on sale "NOW" Phone 0870 225 8352 Or Cheques (with SAE) Made payable to East Yorkshire MAG to 17 Laughton Road, Beverley HU17 9JR (before 09/09/2011). Ticket: £12 in advance or £15 on the gate (if available, strict 500 limit). Free to FYP Marshals with a marshals free rally ticket voucher !!!! Location: Dene Park Sports Club, Beverley Road, Dunswell, HU6 0AA.

Saturday 24th September - MAP Annual General Meeting & MAP events 2011 de-brief

See Above.

Sunday 25th September - EU Hands Off Biking! MAG National Demo

See Above.

Sunday 2nd October - Monthly Rideout

Destination TBA in next months newsletter

Tuesday 4th October - VJMC Lotherton Hall Show Charity Donation Presentation Night

The Plough Inn, Warmfield, Wakefield, WF1 5TL. 19:30 for 20:00. A thank you to our VJMC Lotherton Hall Show marshals, back in July, with an invite for the marshals to this Charity Donation Presentation Night. Buffet meal provided and a chance to see what the bike show managed to raise (if it is anything like last year, it was a considerable amount !!!).

Saturday 22nd October - Yorkshire AGM

See Above.

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.