The Journal The BMW Club magazine September 2016 £3.00 2 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 The Editorial Team Editor: Debbie Sampson. ‘Trevilla’,18, Contents The Journal Ropehaven Road St. Austell PL25 4DU. 07762 347 768 [email protected] President’s Platform 4 Features/Articles: Please contact the Editor From The Editor’s Desk 5 September 2016 until further notice. Torque Reaction 6 Torque Reaction: Paul Nadin, 49 Berkshire The Official BMW Club within the Drive, Congleton, CW12 1SB. 01260 279 443 Remembering Steve Knight 9 UK and Republic of Ireland [email protected] Remembering George Saunders 10 www.thebmwclub.org.uk Mutual Aid: Maurice Weldon, 21 Lawnwood ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Drive, Goldthorpe, Rotherham, S63 9GD An Irish Adventure 12 07752 904 334 [email protected] Past but Present 13 Commercial Display Advertisements: Chris Austin. Email: [email protected] Peanuts Brittany Rally 15 Small Business Advertisements: Position Spain and Portugal 19 Vacant. Section News: Steve Foreman 07770 827 574 German Jottings 24 [email protected] The Social Scene 27 Correspondence on any Journal matter not covered Diary of Events: Bob Barker. The Sections 28 by the officers listed here should be sent to the Editor [email protected] who will forward it as appropriate. For general Club Around The Compass: Bob Barker (see Around the Compass 30 administration and membership matters please see the above). list of Club officers on this page. Club/Section Display Ads: Piers Kurrein. Diary of Events 32 For problems regarding distribution of The Journal, [email protected] please contact your Section Membership Secretary. Section News 36 Should there still be a problem then contact the National Mutual Aid (Club member ads) 44 Membership Secretary whose contact details are listed ADVERTS CLOSING DATE IS 5TH OF on this page. Small Business Advertisments 45 The Editor reserves the right to alter/amend any item or EACH MONTH. image submitted to The Journal. 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BMW Club Journal or Website. 01792 862 152 [email protected] 01343 870 389 [email protected] Sporting Register Secretary: Robert Bensley, Delegates to other organisations Oak Tree Farm, Heath Road, Banham NR16 2HS BMF: Ian M Dobie. 01793 729 016 or This month’s cover photo is by Tim 01953 888 415 [email protected] 07803 206 893 [email protected] Read, Oxford Section of his R1200RT Register Secretary: Keith Thomas, Vehicle dating & DVLA enquires: Robert with Melvyn Baker’s S1000RR on the Hawkbarrow Cottage, Gosforth, Cumbria Freeman. 169 Creek Road, March, PE15 8RY Silvretta Pass. CA20 1ER 01354 656 569 [email protected] 01946 725 152. [email protected] FBHVC: Robert Freeman (as above)

September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 3 The President’s Platform

Sad news about the passing of George and the first service done the BM will be Saunders and John Smith they were long getting more use and can stop sulking. One term and enthusiastic members of The thing I did pick up on Facebook was the BMW Club. Our thoughts go out to their introduction of the 2017 BMW models families. and colours, I’m not sure if this was an It’s that time of the year again and we “official” statement but what did catch have to look forward to the journey into my eye was that it said something about autumn a great time of the year when the gearbox modifications, I wonder, perhaps roads start to get a little less crowded and someone does listen to us. our riding senses take on different view of I know it may seem early to say this what the road surfaces will be like, leaves, but the Club has a National Committee shade under trees and of course the dreaded meeting in November and it would be a ice will tune us into a different outlook on good chance for you the members to put our riding skills. Wrap up warm and enjoy. your idea’s to your Section Rep on how three twins in the garage. I say well done All seems quiet in The BMW Club you think the Club could be improved/ to the person who got Motorrad to change land at the moment the Sections are busy altered/made more efficient etc. The their outlook and well done to Motorrad meeting all over the country and Europe. National Committee are always looking Looking at Facebook we can get real time for new idea’s and you the members are the for taking the risk, I think it worked. reports of our members doing their trips direct link. If nothing is said or suggested Before I sign off must mention around the world, who says we don’t use the Club officers can only assume that you Motorcycle Live at the NEC. Brian and our bikes. If you are new to the Club don’t are happy with the way we are acting on Anita Johnson have agreed to run the forget that you are welcome to attend any your behalf. Club Stand for us again this year and we meetings (including guests) organised by Not so long ago we would never have the Club and it is a great way to get to know thought that BMW Motorrad would be thank them for managing the show for folks with a like interest. If you are a visitor talking about customising their bike’s, but us. The stand will run in the usual format. or a new member make yourself known and look at the range and accessories now, I The organisers of the show don’t charge who knows maybe you will get involved in don’t think anyone can say that the range us for the Club Stand if we buy and sell putting on an event for others to enjoy. is “pipe and slippers”. I don’t know who is Give it a go, after all that’s how we started. in charge of design but they have turned 200 tickets in advance. Brian has sold the Our R1200RS is going fine and the BMW’s bike’s into works of art and how tickets in the past but doesn’t have time to miles are bedding the bike in. A pleasure to they managed to convince the bosses this is do it this year. We need a volunteer to sell ride except the gripe about the engagement the way to go would have had the Motorrad and process 200 tickets for us, if anyone is (when the engine is up to temperature) boardroom hospitalised a few years ago. interested will you get in touch with me from neutral to first, nuff said. The RS has Like or hate some of the designs is in the a stable mate and I have been running that eye of the beholder, but if I had the chance please a.s.a.p. in over the past weeks, now that’s sorted (or afford it) there would at least be another Mike

4 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 From The Editor’s Desk

Hello Members, THAT SUIT! THE WET LOOK IN Already the summer months are TECHNICOLOR [MINUS SUZY!] heading too quickly towards the shorter daylight hours although not helped as is Thought you’d be proud of me ... Still in use and can’t find anything better. the trend of the past few years, the weather Bought the suit with a new K1200RS from pattern continues to give us changeable Sawbridgeworth , probably conditions, hot and sunny today, wet and around 1980 and is still perfect. True to windy tomorrow, as it does here in the say I’ve never got wet wearing it in 36 years far South West regularly! My days out [really?] of riding with it so far even on a as pillion on Phil’s bike have up to now week long trip in pouring rain through been far and few between as I downgraded France, Germany and Switzerland one from an all weather rider a few years ago, summer. sadly the comforts of four wheels took Will be in (but hopefully not seen in it) preference and I needed to drive to rebuild the Pyrenees in a week or so! my confidence on the busier roads. Steve Bucksey from East That a side, I hope you have been Anglia Section. enjoying your Section rallies and other gatherings further afield for those of you who enjoy the mile munching bike riding freedom out there. Although the National Rally at Llandovery College shall be over and done by the time you receive this copy of The Journal, I am unable to give you my thoughts of the weekend event as I am writing this in advance of the rally happening due to a short break coming up for myself visiting family in the North West. Since I started my new role of Editor I can honestly say that I have had very little evening time away from my ‘desk’ as I feel in order to get on with a job and give it your best [I hope?]one has to put in maximum time you can allow yourself. I do not have a family of my own that require your time and attention nor do I belong to other clubs or social activities. What I like about receiving the content from members who have also given their time to help Bruce and myself put together The Journal is for example a surprize email that arrived recently on my Editors club account so I have decided to publish the photo that accompanied the details in response to my June issue archive piece entitled The Wet Look. This replaces my usual Journal archive page due to limited space on my Editor’s desk. Enjoy the read and all that your biking offers you out there. Debbie. September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 5 Please send all submissions for Octobers Torque Reaction to Paul Nadin (details on page 3) before Torque Reaction September 5th please.

Can Anyone Match This? I got on to my local BMW dealership to discuss strategy, our rally route and other find out what could be done. worldly affairs in Leicester Premier Inn. Those of you with the latest newest BMW’s They took photographs of the engine The Special Tests were 8am next day, might like to try this as the gentleman did and confirmed that with no problem the Saturday morning, in the huge car parks in 1937. whole engine would be replaced as this around Leicester County Council and The model is an R5, sold in March1937. was a common BMW K1600 fault and we were there, on time, in sweltering The 1st series. Very collectable now. Anyone would be dealt with by BMW. After some temperatures. After a determined attempt know the location or the rider? weeks I received a phone call confirming at the tests we set off to our Start Control The machine is listed in the AFN that BMW would confirm that this was for midday at Syston and the beginning of Archive, Engine / Frame number, date sold a warranty claim and was redirected to our 540 mile route (in reality 590miles). and the purchaser, a Mr. Pirie. There looks BMW service. We had to visit 23 controls and finish in like the name Fred ?? on the advertising After a long phone call I was informed Stevenage by 8 am Sunday morning. board in background. that BMW would contribute 50% to the During our 20 hour ride covering a large That’s all, except is DMP 842 still cost of a new engine to replace the faulty part of England the weather treated us to a around? Answers please. It is described as paintwork engine, the cost being up to full demonstration of extremes. a ‘Mr Simpson’ in ‘London streets’ in 1938 £5000 to me. The low points:- approaching the Peak but that’s all. After paying the cost of the bike, district from the east praying that the Robert Freeman. DVLA another £5000 would bring it up to the immense dense black cloud with tendrils Representative. The BMW Club. cost of replacing it with a new bike. This of rain we could see in the distance would has only CONFIRMED the comments not be there when we arrived! Wrong! It that I received in the first place about was definitely still there and stretched from BMW build and customer service. Rotherham in the East to Buxton in the I own two but will be putting West and down to Ashbourne in the South. them up for sale ASAP. As we passed through the Peaks other Lord Allan Freeman. motorcyclists were taking shelter under Southern Section. trees and anything they could find. Us, no, we had to press on to meet our schedule. The ACU National Road Realising that the two BMW NAV V’s Rally. (Les’s and mine) disagreed with each other Camping at Rhayader. even though they were set up exactly the This year I convinced Keith Thomas same was a particularly low point. George and I have just returned from Bob (Sidecar Register Secretary) and Les The high points:- looking out from and Pam Harrison’s very sociable ‘mid- Flynn (GS Register Member) to join me under the huge black cloud at areas in the week’s camping’ at Rhayader, attracting in entering this event. The top category is a far distance basking in sunshine. Arriving eleven participants riding five solos plus Platinum Award and to give ourselves a real at Ashbourne as the torrential rain three outfits and eight tents. challenge we thought we would attempt it. stopped. Arriving at the finish in glorious In addition to on-field ‘tyre kicking’, Just to make it a bit more interesting we sunshine at Stevenage and realising we general chat and walking, evening decided to also put in a Team entry as “The had actually done everything we had set socialising took place at the welcoming and Good, The Bad and The Ugly”. Keith said out to do. Finding the finish control had friendly Eagle, just up the footpath from he would use his R Nine T, Les his GS, and I bacon butties and sausage butties and they the campsite. Just a refreshing and simple used my GS. On the Friday afternoon, after were really cheap! Getting to the hotel and return to ‘how it used to be’. travelling from Cumbria, South Wales and collapsing on the bed! So well done to you both and may it the South East of England, we met up to When the results came out we found we encourage others to give it a try. June Lukins. Hereford. Bad BMW Experience.

After years of owning many makes of motorcycles and listening to different comments on BMW motorcycles and their build quality I went ahead and purchased a BMW K1600 GTL on an ‘11’ plate with 3K on the clock that had been loved and cherished in a warm garage and never been in the wet. After a BMW colleague pointed out to me that the engine paintwork was flaking and corrosion was happening on the block, 6 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 had achieved a Platinum Award each. A .Provide a qualified driver to drive your fault and not the bike. The other was that week later the Team results came out and vehicle and up to 7 passengers back to your at about 77,000 miles all the adjustment we were stunned to find we were third! home address in the UK; or had been used on the clutch itself and the As we rode the route we met many .Pay any extra costs to transport your most cost effective thing was to replace the other BMW riders some of whom were vehicle, up to 7 passengers and luggage clutch plates. That bike was eleven and a club members. A number were GS Register back to the UK as long as these costs are half years old and had 133,000 miles on it Members. So next year how about you and not higher than the market value of your when part exchanged for an R1100 RS. So a few friends having a go? It would be good vehicle. pretty reliable. to see a number of GS Register Teams and I can’t comment on how well it works as The R1100 RS had one problem in the BMW Club Teams entered. How about it? I have not (yet) had the opportunity to put two years I owned it. This was when the Neville Jones. GS it to the test. plastic fuel tank went porous under the Register Secretary. Further details can be found at; www. right hand side and started dripping fuel lv.com down the engine but as this was a known Raising the Bars. I have no connection with the company manufacturing problem (and which was other than as a customer. sorted as a warranty claim) I don’t count it Having purchased an R1200 RS this year as a reliability problem. It was just a shame the only problem I had was with position of Mick Welch. Wallington,Surrey. the bike was destroyed by a car at two years the bars as I have a wrist injury. old. The second R1100 RS had no problems I can recommend this product which BMW Reliability. at all in the year I had it. So two bikes in is from a company in the U.S.A as they three years and about 43,000 miles and look good and the bar height is just over Having received the latest ‘Journal’ I was only one problem. 1 inch higher and the same towards you. again surprised to find a letter bemoaning I have had two R1150 GS’s. Number 1 They come powder coated and with great the lack of reliability from BMW was purchased at 2 years old and the only instructions. No need to alter anything and motorcycles. problem I remember was when the sliding can be fitted in under an hour. The latest letter (from Neville Jones in splines in the drive train stopped sliding. You find them in the U.K at bikeebptz. Western Section) is regarding a series of This caused the shaft to turn elliptically co.uk. I have nothing to connect me with four GS’s; one 1150 and three 1200’s; all of in the swing-arm which took out the oil this company but think it’s a great product. which have had ABS failure among other seal, bottom bearings, and took teeth off John Green. Yorkshire Section. things; in the space of two and a half years. the gears in the drive hub. Fortunately my I have to say that this is not my experience mechanic was able to source a shaft and Vehicle Repatriation. of BMW motorcycles at all. drive hub gears from a low mileage wreck I first purchased a new K100 RT in and this was fixed for around a third of the In reply to Stuart Greig’s conundrum September 1986 and it has to be one of the price of all new parts. Bearings and seals (Torque Reaction, August 2016) most reliable bikes I have ever owned. My were all new. At 98,000 miles on the clock regarding the repatriation of a vehicle in wife and I went to Scotland in 1987 and a building fell on the bike. This doesn’t do the event of illness of the driver rather the bike waited until we had been home a bike much good. Even one as tough as the than the breakdown of the vehicle, if my for two days before it split the fuel filter. 1150 GS. understanding of the conundrum is correct This resulted in the injection system losing Number two was a 2008 bike and I had then there certainly appears to be an pressure and it acted as if it was running to start again with my preferred mods. answer, at least for individuals from Great out of fuel. Cost of the repair; a new filter, One of which is a Remus pipe with no cat. Britain visiting Northern Ireland. was the huge sum of...28 pence. This makes the bike run smoother, sound Britannia Rescue from Liverpool Apart from normal servicing the bike better, takes the mid-range dip out of the Victoria offer a ‘Relief Driver’ section as had two other things that could be noted. power and torque curves, and improves fuel part of their breakdown cover which reads; The first was at the 1993 TT when I forgot efficiency. It does this by making the bike Section G5 – Relief Driver that the side-stand is retracted by the clutch run slightly leaner. I was putting a tank of If the only available driver cannot and pulled the clutch in while the bike Shell V-Power fuel through the bike every continue a journey because of illness or was in gear and resting on the side-stand, so often as it helps clean the internal whirly injury, we will: thus snapping the cable. Which was my bits. It also helps with fuel efficiency. It does this by making the engine run slightly leaner. Sustained high speed for about 100 miles burnt out an exhaust valve, followed by a lot of thrashing about which resulted in a snapped cam-chain tensioner and a badly gouged guide. That resulted in a call to the RAC from the side of the A3, and a large bill for bits. But again, my fault for not thinking about it first. The current bike is a 2008 F800 GS purchased from Bahnstormer in Alton at three and a half years old with 14,000 on the clock. This bike has let me down just once when the alternator packed up leaving me with, according to the RAC man, “a total loss electrical system”. This happened September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 7 in June 2015 when the bike had just over 54,000 miles under its wheels, four days before leaving for a motorcycle tour round La Belle Francais with four friends (when else is it going to happen?). Fixed while we were away (I hired a rather nice F800 GS) the bike now has 61,000 miles on it (and counting) and otherwise has been totally reliable. So I have had six BMW’s in 30 years and done some 400,000 miles. I have had what I consider to be reliability problems just once. Anything else was either wear’n’tear or me not thinking, and I’m not blaming the bikes for that. Stephen Thomson. East Anglia Section.

8 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 Remembering Steve Knight (1952 - 2016)

By Shaun Mulligan, Mick Foxwell,and George Barlow.

Sadly we have lost another of our South East Section members, Steve Knight this month succumbed to the Cancer he has been fighting over the last year. He enjoyed many of our social functions, and with his wife Angelique, attended our Annual Dinners and BBQs etc. He was a good club member, peaceful and honest, knew what he wanted to do and did it. His dry wit and quiet easy going nature meant he was popular with those who got to know him. He rode for many years with The Gold Wing Owners Club, I.A.M. and us, The BMW Club, particularly enjoying camping at our Hippo, Rhino and The National Rallies. Appreciating a spirited ride, we enjoyed riding together on our Wednesday runs, Steve liked riding, socializing and covering good distances, we had great times to Poland, Portugal and Germany enjoying his company on camping trips with his K12/1300GT`s and latterly his 800GT or Yamaha Tracer. As a freelance auto engineer he was a willing and useful source of information. One of his last wishes was to have his last ride along with his friends on their bikes and we hope he will not be disappointed. Steve will be missed by all those who knew him and our heartfelt condolences go to Angelique and his family.

September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 9 Remembering George Saunders (1928 - 2016)

By East Anglia Section Members There will be many people in the Club Mr Manwaring’s “stupid boy”) “huh, being Mike Davies: “I always enjoyed chatting who will remember George Saunders shot at is exciting!!!” to George as he had a wealth of information and for whom the following selection of Deborah adds “The actress that Dad on the Club and some very interesting memories from fellow Club members will interviewed all those years ago was Susan stories of his time in the police force. ring reminder bells loud and clear. As Hampshire and her then partner, Nicky He set some of the East Anglian Trophy you may have seen in last month’s Journal Henson. I remember Dad telling me competitions, mainly pubs around the area (in the Editor’s section), George has been that he went to meet them backstage at a and after I was successful in winning one of very involved in the Club at National and London theatre and that Susan was very his, I set one or two myself. It was a good Section levels for many, many years and nice. He also once interviewed Sir Ralph way to ride to places one never visited. whilst it is a shame that only one member Richardson, with whom he had a few gin George had a number of motorcycles was able to attend his funeral I have received and tonics – despite the fact that he was over the years I knew him and we would try many emails passing on their condolences actually on duty with the DPG (diplomatic and guess what he would turn up on next.” to his daughter Deborah but also relaying protection group) at the time! Luckily, he Deborah adds “I also remember the their memories of George. Before I pass had a driver and car to pick him up! East Anglian Trophy competitions as he on these memories I would like to quickly I can hear my dad’s voice in your detailed used to give my husband and me copies, to mention just how active George has been, conversation about riding fast; although he encourage us to get out and about in East not only in the running of the Club but may not have raced on a track many family Anglia. also his desire to make motorcycling members have been taken for a ride and In later years he did dabble with safer for all of us. As well as holding the seen the speedo needle hitting the 100 mph alternative machines whilst still Secretary post here in East Anglia he mark...” maintaining his love for previous BMWs was also President of the Club for 2 years Martyn & Veda Parker: “We first met that he had owned. He also used to change and held the national post of “Associate George shortly after we joined the BMW his bikes (and cars) at very regular intervals Secretary for America” for at least 11 years club well over 10 years ago - when I became and I have all his records of the machines and as was shown by the article reprinted a born-again-biker! He was very welcoming he owned and even their registration plate by the Editor last month, he maintained to us and we subsequently had many chats numbers! He was indeed a prolific owner of close bonds with the American owners with him at various club meetings. Also, motorbikes, although only one at a time!” Club. As well as regular letters to Torque we went on some of the very enjoyable ride- Mike provides us with a photo of George Reaction, George also wrote a thought- outs which he organised and led. He could with one of his bikes and Deborah provides provoking article for the Journal putting talk about any topic and usually had strong one of her and her father with wonderful forward his opinions on full-face helmets views on things - sometimes controversial. smiles. which was reproduced in other magazines I must admit I could not keep up with what including the BMW Touring Club of New he rode or drove at any particular time South Wales in Australia. After coming because he changed his transport (cars and off his bike in 2006 due to a slippery road bikes) so very frequently.” surface, the incident resulted in George Gerry Douglas-Sherwood: “George was publishing letters and articles of research already an established figure in the BMW and advice on the use of the particular Club when I joined the ranks in 1977 road surface treatment (Stone Mastic and from that point onward it was always Asphalt or “SMA”) in a campaign to at a great pleasure to enjoy his company at least get us more informed. One of these our regular Club meetings and events, was published by the Telegraph. Needless both local and national where he took his to say, even though he apparently broke his voluntary responsibilities seriously and wrist, George did return to riding as soon effectively. No doubt he drew on those as he could. managerial skills he developed in the Police So now on to some of the memories from Force. Indeed, many of his anecdotes Club members with some lovely insights by stemmed from his time in the service, his daughter Deborah: stories that would keep us highly amused Robert Bensley: George was the envy of and entertained. In latter days I would ride all of us when he interviewed the television my ex- Norfolk Constabulary Velocette LE star couple, about 35 years ago, I think it to a number of Club events, which would was Susan George and her partner. Some always provide George with a prompt for 15 years ago he called in at my home in more fond memories. Norfolk and I was fiddling with my bike, George was a good sport and would take I used to do a bit of club racing and now it kindly when the membership would rib organise track days, I said to George “you him about the number and variety of cars never fancied riding on track” he replied “I and bikes he would acquire, often in quick don’t know why you guys want to go tearing succession, claiming that each one was the around so fast” I said “I love it, it’s exciting” “best ever” - until something else took his he replied in his unique way, (as unique as fancy.” 10 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 11 The Flying Boats at Foynes - An Irish Adventure

By David Jordan Club member David Jordan takes his best way to travel. If you haven’t been to most luxurious Flying Boat of them all 25-year old K100RS across the Irish Sea Dublin for a few years you’ll be surprised and although none of the original planes to visit the birthplace of transatlantic by the amount of traffic in and around the have survived this impressive replica gives passenger flight, nestling in one of Ireland’s city. The Celtic Tiger brought a period of visitors a first-hand taste of what it would most enchanting locations. prosperity to Ireland, but with it came have been like to fly in them both as a the trappings, and the M50 that encircles passenger or a member of the crew. There’s Dublin is as hectic as London’s M25. even a simulator where you can try your

Thankfully, once away from the capital hand at being a pilot – after having a go The small port of Foynes on the southern the atmosphere of old Ireland begins to myself I decided to stick to motorcycling. banks of the river Shannon in county return and the heady scent of peat fires We spent several hours looking around the Limerick may seem an unlikely place for hangs heavy in the air. I’d set my satnav for museum and eating in O’ Regan’s café next the early transatlantic airlines to choose Limerick using the scenic route setting, but door. Later on,another pleasant evening as their gateway to Europe, but it was here as the sky drew darker and the first spots with friends and the Guinness. that aviation pioneer Charles Lindberg of rain splattered on my visor I switched to I spent the next two days enjoying the - then working as an advisor to Pan-Am - the M7, opened the taps on the old RS, and quite winding roads of Ireland stopping off recommended back in 1938. sped down the now deserted motorway. now and then to take in the landscape and Unlike the mighty airliners of today, the For the next few weeks I expected the bad breathe the clean Irish air. slow, lumbering, though luxurious, Flying news to arrive in the post! Soon it was time to head back to Dublin Boats of the 1930s barely had the range to After drinking many pints of Guinness and the ferry back to Blighty. It had been a cross the Atlantic from Newfoundland, and trading yarns with my four new ‘best great trip and the RS performed faultlessly and the west coast of Ireland was as far as friends’ in a dimly lit pub in Limerick, I hit over the four-day 900-mile journey. If they could safely fly in a single hop. Having the sack to dream of blue skies and empty you’ve never been to Ireland, or even if crossed ‘the pond’ wealthy passengers Irish roads winding into the distance on the you have, the Flying Boat Museum is well including stars like Humphry Boggart, way to the museum at Foynes. Sadly I awoke worth a visit. Just remember to take your Gracie Fields, Bob Hope and Yehudi to leaden skies and fine misty rain – the Irish waterproofs! Menuhin would transfer to smaller land- call it a ‘soft’ day I believe. Nevertheless I www.flyingboatmuseum.co.uk based aircraft to complete their journeys enjoyed the 20-mile ride along the N69 and to the UK and elsewhere in Europe using soon the tail of a Boeing B314 Flying Boat, the fledgling Shannon Airport a few miles the pride of the museum came into view. away. After paying our 11 Euros we watched a Today the Foynes Flying Boat Museum, film about how Foynes became an aviation based in the original terminal building, hub in the years just before and during tells the story of those pioneering days the second-world-war and how the Flying of transatlantic passenger aviation and Boats operated by Pan Am and BOAC - the provides an excellent excuse to visit the forerunner of British Airways - used the Emerald Isle and experience all this port before the completion of the tarmac beautiful country has to offer. runway at Shannon Airport. The museum I’ve known my 1991 K100RS since houses artefact and memorabilia from that it was three year’s old and despite its age bygone age including radio equipment, it’s still fun to ride and, in my opinion, uniforms, menus and even wreckage from still looks good in the queue for the ferry. one unfortunate plane that crashed on a Quality, they say, never goes out of style! nearby mountain, its pilot disorientated Irish Ferries’ high-speed craft ‘Jonathan and blinded by fog. Swift’ crosses the Irish Sea from Holyhead The highlight of the visit is the replica to Dublin in a little under two hours, and of the Boeing B314 I’d seen when I on a relatively calm day at least, it’s the arrived. The Boeing was the largest and 12 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 Past but Present - Fitting a Boyer Bransden Micro Digital Power System to a 1973 R75/5

By Mike Davies

Each time I adjust the points on my R75/5 tank - I do this by unscrewing the unions prepared wires from the new Transistor I am frustrated by the difficulty not only in immediately below the taps rather than Box after feeding them over the rubber air checking the gap but also adjusting the gap. pulling off the two petrol pipes. inlet on top of the engine and after prising Also the tick over has never been entirely Once the front cover is removed I out the grommet on top of the casting at the satisfactory. removed the existing advance and retard front of the engine, running them through the grommet and to the two Stator Wires - you can’t connect them wrong as they are male & female spade connectors. Next the Magnetic Rotor is fitted to the camshaft taking care it fits on the “D” shape on the camshaft - Boyer Bransden suggest trying it in reverse and it any stiffness, file out the “D” on the Rotor carefully. In my case it fitted first time. This is the only moving item of the whole system - two magnets rotating! The rest is done following the instructions to complete fitting the wires to the existing coils - all wires supplied come with fitted male & female connectors so the job is straight forward. One oddity with some pre-1979 bikes is that if wired using the main instructions, it may be found that when switched off the engine continues to run! You stop it by applying the front brake - this is because a small amount of electricity is still powering the system. The answer is to amend the Recently after an oil change and then mechanism and the back plate holding the wiring as they explain clearly by removing check of the points I decided to do away points. These items are no longer required. a red wire to the battery and re-positioning with the original system and fit a Boyer The wire to the condenser is removed as two green wires on the left hand coil - I Bransden Micro Digital System. the condenser is no longer required. tried the system the first way and yes the I ordered the unit from Moto-Bins and Before going any further, as I had a slight engine continued to run after switch off. it arrived the next day, as did a new Gunson weep from the cam shaft oil seal I removed So I re-wired as Plan 2 and all was well. See Strobe timing light via Amazon. the old oil seal and fitted a new oil seal. drawing. I won’t go through the entire fitting The new Stator Plate is then fitted over When all wires are connected I decided instructions as they are very clear on the the cam shaft and into the recess in the where to fix the Transistor Box. instructions provided. front casting and attached with the old The enclosed instructions showed I had downloaded these instructions a screws removed from few days before I received the kit and read the original back plate, them through several times with reference aligning it with the to the wiring on the bike. screws in the centre of On the R75/5 it is necessary to remove the two adjustments the horn to facilitate removing the front slots - as I don’t like cover. slot head small screws I used new Allen headed screws and the two washer per screw supplied. The long black rubber grommet (by condenser) is retained and fed with the new wires (2) from Next with all bikes, disconnect the the new Stator Plate. positive battery lead and remove the These connect to two September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 13 were both clean and light grey as they should be. This Boyer Bransden System has alleviated any future maintenance - i.e. no points gap checking or replacing and much less timing checks/adjustment. The Stator Plate does have elongated slots (similar to the old back plate), so if any adjusted is needed to the timing it can be done here. In order for any engine to perform at its best other components have to be in good working order. A year previously I had replaced the forty two year old coils and totally rebuilt both carburettors with new jets, main needles, “o” ring seals, floats, needles and float chambers. To summarise: it fitted under the frame immediately bike ran beautifully and tick over was much Removed totally: Points, advance and rearwards of the coils where it is safe and smoother and slower than ever before. retard unit and condenser. See photo well clear of the seat, tank and tool tray. I When back home I attached my new wrapped the Transistor Box in a plastic Gunson Strobe timing light, removed the Fitted: New Stator Plate, Magnetic bubble envelope and attached it here. rubber timing hole bung and tested the left Rotor, Transistor Box. See photos. I then cable tied up the loose wires, hand spark plug HT lead first - result at tick I attach drawings of the new system for replaced the front cover and reconnected over the “S” mark was clearly visible in the the positive battery lead. The tank went on hole, dead centre and at 3000rpm the “F” clarity. next and both petrol pipes re-connected. mark was also dead centre! I repeated on Cost £126.00 delivered. No for the moment of truth! I turned on the right HT lead and obtained the same the petrol taps, kicked the bike over a few results. Before this I had cleaned up both times, pushed down the ignition key and marks on the flywheel and applied white pressed the starter button - bingo it fired up Tippex to make them stand out. and after a few minutes settled down to a Overall I am very pleased with the result steady tick over. and after another ride, it was quite apparent I went for a run and after 30 miles that this Digital System works very well noticed a definite improvement in power with overall better starting, smoother tick- at all throttle settings and after small over and improved acceleration through adjustments to both carburettors - both the rev bands. slow running jets and throttle stops, the I removed both (new) plugs and they

14 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 Peanuts Brittany Rally 2016

by Mark Corben Thursday 2nd June to Friday 10th June Thursday night crossing, the Pont Aven and fuel if needed. I was now having trouble 2016: Twenty members and guests joined duly sailed at 21:00 hours and made it just of my own with my sat nav not getting any me for my third BMW South West section passed Drakes Island where she moored power and it duly shut down. Luckily for rally in Josselin Brittany. up for 4 hours before finally firing up her me I knew where the service station was but it is a bit of a faff getting into it. Five minutes later the rest of the posse followed in led by Dave. Dave was now designated ride leader ( due to the fact he has the latest BMW navigator on his GS1200 ) and the drop off system deployed. The drop off system is without doubt the best way to get a large group of bikes from A to B and thankfully it worked spotlessly on this ride down. Ron Lyfords Trike had lost a nut from the gear lever and he could not get any gears, cable ties and a roll of electrical tape where improvised and soon sorted the trouble temporarily but a twenty minute delay ensued. At this point I wish to praise Ryan and Chris who stayed at their drop off Camping Des Cersiers must be popular engines and getting underway at 01:00am. points. Full credit to them and to the fact with the membership as everyone seems Disembarking at just before 09:00 hours that being in their early twenties showed to fall in love with this charmingly rustic a rather large group of motorcycles and a trike huge maturity and insured that this drop site and twenty one is a good healthy started the 110 mile ride down to Josselin. off worked seamlessly, the leading group number especially for an overseas rally. I One of our continental newbies soon found realised no one was following them and kept getting asked “when are we returning out that its just not about concentrating on pulled over in a small rest area a few miles to Josselin ?” So I went about setting up riding on the opposite side of the road but further on, they certainly are the future of this rally. Numbers would have been more also concentrating whom is in your own this club. but we had a few cancellations and to be group and duly followed another group Just after 1:00pm we arrived at Camping honest I breathed a huge sigh of relief as of bikers! Luckily he was spotted by an Des Cersiers in Brancillet just outside the my original target number was a max of eagle eyed Dave Charlton who managed stunning medieval town of Josselin greeted 15. However at one point the whole rally to round him up. Unfortunately this split by the ever cheerful camp site owner seemed to be in jeopardy as the French the group somewhat but thankfully I had Nathalie. We all soon quickly settled into went on strike and petrol became a scarcity told everyone that we were stopping at Porz our accommodation for the week and just days before our departure. Keeping a An Parc service station for breakfast, coffee headed for the Super U around 2 miles sharp eye on proceedings ( I was forced to read some news for the first time in 8 years ) and getting a good real time picture of the situation from my neighbour who had just returned from La Rochelle, it appeared that as with all things in the news these days , this story was blown out of all proportion and we really had nothing to fear. Thursday 2nd & Friday 3rd June: Arriving at the ferry terminal in Plymouth our gang with the exception of Ron & Jan Lyford were already waiting for me, John and Sally Robinson had travelled a day earlier via Portsmouth and Rod and Chris Baker were catching the early Friday morning ferry and would join us on Friday evening. Our ferry across to Roscoff was the impressive Pont Aven. We soon boarded, found our cabins and made our way to the bar only to find it wasn’t going open until 20:00! So much for Brittany ferries “board early and enjoy our facilities policy!” As on a number of occasions now when using this September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 15 think of. The Billionaire owner certainly is a petrol head! In fact John Robinson said there was just too much to see and you simply couldn’t take it all in. The museum also has several race tracks built around its perimeters and some kind of event was taking place with people taking out rather fast cars on one of the circuits. However you could pay to sit in with a pro driver and let him take you around and we stood up on the bank and watched this superb professional driver put his car through its paces with I can only imagine one terrified passenger at his side! Our route back took us to the standing stones at Monteneuf. When I first visited these stones, some 12 years ago, they were just hidden in an over grown forest and their location only known by the locals. However, their importance has been well noticed and now you must enter through a newly built visitor centre, thankfully this away for food and drink and other supplies. British Triumph Bonneville followed by was unmanned on a Sunday. Saturday 4th June: The whole idea of a complementary glass of calvados whilst Monday 6th June: Its Monday and no this rally was a motorcycling holiday in a doing so. Our route home took us over longer half term and another glorious day. stunning location and to enjoy good food, the old suspension bridge at La Roche We used this opportunity to visit the World drink, company and ride outs on some of the Bernard which spans the La Vilaine river. heritage town of Dinan in the north of the best biking roads in Europe. Ride outs were Here we parked up at the viewing point province and it worked! Dinan was very planned for each day and to a particular to take in the great views. We then visited quiet for Dinan! We plotted a route that destination and you could choose to drop the beautiful town of Rochefort en Terre would take us to the superb lake side abbey in or out of them as you so wished, it was enjoying a fabulous big cooling ice cream in at Paimpont where we stopped for coffee all about relaxation and enjoyment. On the hot June sun before heading back to the and sat outside in the morning sunshine on Saturday I asked Dave if he would like to be site for a few chilled beers and wine and an the sofas. We then went inside the abbey ride leader for the week a challenge that he evening of merriment. itself to witness the splendid architecture, jumped at and Pete Frost duly took up the Sunday 5th June: Sunday is always a leaflets were available in English which gave position of tail end Charlie. Some chose to quiet affair in Brittany with most shops a potted history of the place. Soon we were rest today and some to have a gentle stroll closed. We chose a lazy morning before on the road again (a song by Willie Nelson into Josselin and visit the impressive street leaving at 13:00 for a one hour ride to the I believe?) and heading up through Gael, market which fills the town every Saturday small village of Loheac to visit one of the through Caulnes and on into Dinan. Every morning. The rest, a group of eight people finest motor museums you will ever see, time I have been to Brittany I have visited on seven bikes, headed for the pretty seaside which is at Le Manoir Automobile http:// Dinan, with its twisty streets and higglety town of Piriac-Sur-Mer on the suggestion www.manoir-automobile.fr/home/ and pigglety buildings it is a place I have never of Dave .Our destination was Le Croisic given that it is a private collection, just tired of. Given that it also has some of the but deciding to have lunch in Piriac – Sur adds to the awe of it all. This coincided most superb roads for motorcycling on the – Mer we gave it a skip as we have visited with the museums afternoon opening of way up. We all congregated around the it before. 14:00. There are halls of F1 cars, Ferraris, city walls which tower above the La Rance Our route took us down the D139 and Lamborghini’s, rally cars, every car you can taking in the breathtaking views which this over the impressive barrage at Arzal before arriving in Piriac -Sur-Mer where parking was a little tight due to the weekly market being held on the large car park. It was a hot day and walking around its small narrow streets in bike gear was not great. After wandering down to the marina we chose to eat in a restaurant called Crepiere Burglin -Lacomere located on Rue De Keroman. Most of us opted for the Plate De Jour and this was our first taste of what the French do best…Food! The starters were a meal in themselves followed by cauldrons of freshly cooked moules (mussels) and chips and a choice of great sweets. The owner Messr Burglin spoke great English and revelled in showing us his very 16 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 ride back only marred by a learner driver who was well over the solid white line who duly detached Petes pannier into the centre of the road. Celine the driving instructor was horrified and gave Pete her details (lucky chap!! She certainly was a looker) but apart from a scuffed and scratched pannier no real harm was done...It could have been far worse. For the evening we decided to make use of the sites communal barbecue and those that stayed behind at the site set about buying the sausages and burgers etc for the event. It was a great bbq and still so hot in the evening sun, bowls of salad and large bags of crisps were passed around and Sally made an exceptional fruit elevated position allows. It was soon time Wednesday 8th June: Today we said cake which was soon scoffed down. Many for lunch and we split into three groups goodbye to the four youngsters, identical thanks to Jim, Jon and Mark who did the with some bringing their own, others twins Dale and Ryan (who also celebrated cooking and serving, another fantastic day eating in a boulangerie and the rest opting their 22nd birthday whilst in France) in Brittany was over. for a sit down meal. and Joe and Chris all of whom had to Thursday 9th June: Today was time Our route home followed one of the best make their way back early due to work for a little Shakespeare “ much ado about roads for biking, taking the D793 down commitments. So it was over to Jim & John nothing” or rather “nothing much to do!”. through Brusvily, Yvignac -La-Tour and to move into their vacated static. The ride We had all decided to have a lazy time back to Josselin, only to be slightly blotted today was down to and over the impressive on another glorious hot day. We had also by road works and a few detours. Thunder Pont Saint Nazaire suspension bridge decided to have a meal in the medieval storms were forecast in Josselin for this which bridges the mouth of the Loire river square this evening in Josselin as this was evening and it rained for a while, but we and onwards to beautiful Pornic led by Mr our last night. Just after lunch time a group were still able to congregate in one of the Isherwood, however a rather heavy chest walked down into the town and went on a statics. cold or a night mixing red & white put pay voyage of discovery. Some decided to brave Tuesday 7th June: Any sign of the to this and the task of squadron leader was the very steep climb of the church tower overnight rain and storms have now gone handed over to Pete Frost. Dave Charlton but say the chest pounding palpitations and its a stonking good day, clear blue had left at 8:00am to travel solo down to on reaching the top were well worth it as skies and hot! Our destination today is to Nantes to see the the World famous stones at Carnac and a fantastic machines lunch stop at the seaside town of Quiberon. at Les Machines A large group decided to join this ride and De L’ile http:// Dave and Pete again managed to get us all www.lesmachines- there together, even though a rather large nantes.fr/en/ so just French camper tried to prevent it. He had the four of us rode obviously taken a wrong turn, decided to down to Pornic. reverse out into us group of bikers, totally It was a scorching oblivious to what he was doing. A lot of hot day, the hottest horn blowing and pointing soon put pay to of the week so far that. We could basically choose any spot we and walking in bike wanted at Carnac to park up and chose to gear was no fun. view the stones from the viewing platform We found a lovely built above the small visitor centre and little restaurant in shop. Onwards as ever and the slow ride the back street that into Quiberon with its one road in and one runs behind Quai road out and a myriad of roundabouts! It is Leray called L’Antre all so worth it once you reach the seafront Amis. It was a though. Most of us ate at Le Colibri and pizzeria and we ate mostly opting for the two course Plate in the courtyard Du Jour although some decided their under the shade and bodies needed building up and went for as always the food the three courses. There was also a rumour was excellent. Pete spreading around that somewhere there decided to have a was a restaurant offering a four course plat little fun on the du jour and a bottle of wine for just eleven way back and set his euros, some say that this is a myth, others Tom Tom Rider to say this restaurant is in Brigadoon and only twisty routes and appears every 100 years? If you know where we certainly got it is send a postcard please! that. We had a great September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 17 out at a packed creperie full of dripping bikers! However, neither of them ever got ruffled and calmly went about serving us as well as other customers who had come in including two French bikers on a Harley. It was now onwards and up through the national park of Amorique but thankfully the rain had eased considerably. By the time we reached Roscoff the rain had stopped and we queued to board an half full MS Amorique. Jon met up with his wife ok and continued his holiday and we all enjoyed a millpond crossing back to Plymouth. At this point I would like to thank all those who attended my rally and special thanks to Dave Charlton for leading the rides and to Pete Frost for being tail end Charlie and to Phil Sampson who carried the section flag and pole on his bike and to everyone who sent me such a good selection of great photos. Will I do another Brittany rally? Well this is the third time I have held this the tower offered spectacular views over another week and in front of her, guiding rally with The BMW club and around Josselin, the château and canal. I rode down the way soaking wet! I think the plan now the seventh time I have done Brittany by and made a reservation for the evening for was to find an aire for the evening to try bike. There where half cut musings about thirteen people as Phil, Glen and Lisa all and dry out. Huelgoat is a fascinating place, running a rally down towards La Rochelle decided to stay back at the site and finish with the large lake emptying into a steep next year? Will it come to fruition? I don’t off what food they had left. We ate al fresco boulder valley covered in moss, with tales of know although it wont be me running it, and had another cracking meal before fairies and goblins not dissimilar to Becky just keep an eye on The Journal. making our way back to the site. The bar Falls at Manaton. Small creperies and cafes manager also offered to act as a taxi service surround the lakeside with most having for us and whilst the majority decided to outside seating, but not on a day like to day. walk off their meals three of us took him We tentatively went inside a small creperie up on his offer. called “Le Creperie Bar” dripping wet and Friday 10th June: So its morning time asking if they were able to accommodate and packing up time too...Boo! The skies us? The proprietor, an older lady didn’t are looking rather ominous. Everyone speak any English but rearranged the with the exception of John & Sally (who seating and made us welcome. She called are staying on in France) are making good on her middle aged daughter to come and their departures. Nathalie comes to say help and you couldn’t help but notice the her goodbyes and warns us to ride careful, look of horror on her face as she looked as very heavy rain has been forecast. Dave as the nominated squadron leader decides to take a more rural route back and this was showing a journey time of 3hrs 35mins opposed to 2hrs 11mins the direct way. Everything was plotted into his navigator and a lunch stop planned in the small lakeside town of Huelgoat. Nathalies warnings were correct , fifty minutes after leaving the site it started to rain. As the rain got heavier Dave pulled over to allow us to put on our boil in the bag suits. Arriving in Huelgoat the rain was starting to ease slightly but for Jon it was no fun as he had trusted his gear to keep him dry but in fact was soaked through to the skin, so he and Jim both carried on in hope of finding an outdoor store to buy some kind of waterproof attire. The problem for Jon was that he was riding up to Roscoff to meet his wife in their camper (she was on the inbound ferry from Plymouth) then riding back down south for 18 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 Spain and Portugal

By John Rodda January and February are usually fairly quiet months for me Around 2,000 motorcycling miles in seven or eight riding days work-wise. So, since I’d built up some credit in the bank of DIY was going to take quite some doing. Fitting in the ferry crossing and dog-walking, what better way to spend a little downtime from Portsmouth to Santander, working out just how far I could than with a short solo trip away somewhere on a motorbike? get each day and finding some comfortable, but inexpensive hotels would take a bit of planning so it was time to get cracking. The tour I was basing my trip on is to be found in a supplement included with the March 2016 edition of Ride Magazine. But I was going to be performing some jiggery-pokery on-the-fly to fit roughly the same distance into fewer days. What could possibly go wrong? Brittany Ferries were offering a 20% discount so I picked some dates and grabbed my credit card before I could change my mind. The Cap Finistere is one of their newer ships which boasts very comfortable en-suite cabins as well as bars, restaurants and a cinema so there would be plenty to do apart from sleeping during the twenty five hour crossing. Out at around lunchtime on 27th January and returning on the late afternoon ferry from Santander on 4th February. Little did I know then that the mild weather we’d recently been enjoying (and I’d been counting on) was about to come to a very abrupt end as Storm Janus, which had just paralysed the eastern seaboard of The United States, was now well and truly heading our way. Packing was pretty straight forward. I was going to be travelling to warmer climes and if I had to buy a few cheap and “disposable” t-shirts and socks on the way that would surely cover any immediate needs. A few basic tools, a puncture repair kit, mini electric compressor, compact first aid kit, iPhone, iPad mini, cables and chargers, etc. etc. was all I’d need. So how come I suddenly found both panniers and my top box were completely filled? Packing ultra-light or even fairly light is a skill I’ll never master, but finally, it all got squeezed in and I was ready to go. I’d recently bought a 2006 BMW R1200GS, ridden it back Day 1 - Princes Risborough to Portsmouth 27/1/16 home from Manchester to Buckinghamshire and hadn’t wanted I’d been awake on and off right through the night partly due to get off the thing, so it had been in the back of my mind for a to excitement, but mainly because of the weather. The wind had few weeks that a little adventure could be on the cards. Having been howling and rain had been lashing against my bedroom had various GS’s as loan bikes and demonstrators over the years I window as I lay there and I started to wonder if this really was hadn’t liked them much and had never really understood what all one of my brightest ideas. But we’re not made of sugar so, when the fuss was about, but I’d recently developed an itch, it just had the alarm started ringing at 6.30, it was time to get up and get to be scratched and I was thoroughly enjoying it. This machine out there. had no special extras, just ABS, heated grips and a full set of The journey started off pretty dry but with strong, gusting luggage. It hadn’t cost me too much either but, an ’06 plate with just 30,000 miles on the clock, good tyres and a fresh MoT when I picked it up, it had plenty of fun left in it and I was going to see if this new winter hack could finally get under my skin. The only fault I could find was an unreliable fuel gauge, common to many BMW’s of that age, but more of that in due course. Thumbing through a few motorcycle magazines (and the advice of a friend) revealed some very interesting routes through Spain and Portugal and a quick check on the likely weather I’d encounter over the next couple of weeks turned a maybe into a definite. Fifteen degrees up north around Santander and Porto rising to twenty or more as I headed south towards Lisbon and on to Faro. That would do me, thank you very much. “The Best Road in The World” and “The Portuguese Stelvio” beckoned and I was too weak to resist. Planning and Booking September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 19 bought coffee, chocolate and biscuits, I was ready for the return trip to my cabin and getting to work, starting to write this blog. Looking out of the porthole it was clear we weren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Long queues of truck and cars were still lined up waiting for their turn to board. We eventually left Portsmouth over an hour late as the apologetic tannoy announcer mentioned something about “rough seas” causing delays on the inbound service that morning... It was one of those late January days when it never really gets light so the harbour we were now leaving looked grey and miserable as we slipped our moorings and headed out into the cold and dark of the open sea. The effect of that delay would mean that the extended ride I’d planned for the first day would now have me searching for my first night’s accommodation in the Spanish cross-winds pushing hard against the bike find. Unusually, there was just one biker darkness when I eventually arrived at the as I left Buckinghamshire far behind me about to board this ship - and that was me! Hotel Spa Convento in Coreses which and headed south towards Basingstoke and I’d booked a cabin for the crossing looked like it was going to be a bargain at on to Portsmouth. because I can’t think of anything worse just £30 for the night. Coming down the A33, from Reading it than trying to sleep in wet clothes on an Free wi-fi on the ship via satellite is great, soon started to rain. Not too hard at first, armchair during such a long boat ride. So but don’t expect it to be fast and you have to but that was just part of the softening up within a few minutes of getting aboard log-in again every half hour. I can’t imagine process and, before long, the drizzle turned I’d found my bunk and had slipped into it would be of much use in the summer into a torrent driven into all the wrong something more comfortable for the when the ferry is packed with tourists and places by what felt like a gale force wind. journey ahead and was ready for a wander all their smartphones and tablets. The reassuring “thrum” I know and love about. Dinner was good, but I thought it a from that classic German boxer engine The ship is huge and the passengers bit weird that they had no fruit (not even burbled up at me as we battled our way were few. So different from my last ferry an apple or some grapes) to eat with their through the splash and spray coming up crossing when I was part of a group of cheese plate. from the drenched road below. But, apart eight or so riders and we were making our Retiring for a sip or two of red wine, I set from a couple skips and hops over smoothed way to France for one of Tony Gurr’s most about charging my iPad, Bluetooth Headset off metal man-hole covers, spotted too late excellent Flash Tours. On that day, in June and Powerbank for tomorrow’s 280 mile to avoid safely, the trusty old GS still felt 2014, there must have been at least eighty ride down to the first hotel. Some of this sure footed and very well balanced. Why other motorcyclists heading off for summer first run was going to be on motorway and hadn’t I taken this model seriously when adventures across all parts of Europe. fast main roads which would be an ideal I’d ridden it before? Having booked a table for dinner, opportunity to get back into the rhythm of My first stop en-route was going to be at Loomies Cafe in West Meon, a master stroke of planning (though I say it myself), for a last breakfast of champions before I left this sceptred isle and I wasn’t to be disappointed. Eggs, sausages, bacon, tomatoes and mushrooms came with toast and hot tea and all were duly devoured. Besides, I’d earned it. The last few miles down to the docks were wet and windy, but pretty uneventful though I have to admit to jumping the check-in queue of about fifty cars and caravans as I slotted in towards the front of the line and the promise of being able to get out of my cold, soaked clothes. Waiting on the dockside while the incoming ferry was still disgorging its cargo of trucks, cars and camper vans, I had plenty of time to look around as I stood huddled under what little shelter I could 20 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 continental riding. cross-country on a fast and amazingly quiet occasionally flooded roads with slippery And so to bed. trunk road along a river valley, working my bitumen filler in cracked tarmac along Day 2 - Santander to Coreses (242 way south and westward with the towering with wide metal edged gaps on expansion miles) 28/1/16 Picos, away to the west. At Valle, I turned joints in bridge sections were making me A quiet night and a surprisingly smooth right onto a mountain road and spotted the seriously question just how long the Conti- crossing over much of The Bay of Biscay, signs that said all the passes were currently Attacks fitted to the GS were going to last. which can be truly horrendous at times. open and usable. Now up we climbed, Thankfully, I arrived at oddest hotel for Looking out of the window this morning zig-zagging as the road twisted an turned miles around to be told that dinner would revealed a cloudy grey sky, a slate black, higher into the mist. Looking back I saw be served between nine and eleven pm. So gently rolling sea and, surely not?, it would amazing views down into the valley, but I made my way up the baronial staircase to appear to be drizzling.Off to find some time was tight and I didn’t want to be up my boiling hot room (great for drying out breakfast, I walked from one end of the here, alone and in the dark. No photo stops my kit for tomorrow). ship to the other without seeing a single this afternoon, despite some very interesting Day 3 - Coreses to São Pedro do sul (280 soul. sights that would normally have demanded miles) 29/1/16 Then over the tannoy came the a few minutes for closer inspection, like Day dawned but I didn’t. The shutters announcement that, due to the bad weather the old guy I rode past wearing amazing on my windows kept out any trace of conditions, our arrival would not now be wooden clogs with raised pegs lifting him sunlight so I slept. Until 9.15 and what a until 13.30 Spanish time. Nothing to do up off the ground by an extra couple of comfortable sleep that was. In and out of about it but sit back, relax and work out inches. I wondered what they were for? the shower in record time, I was packed, how all my stuff would squeeze back into Then a few miles further on I rode through out on the bike and ready to go by 9.45. a wooded section of road where all the trees First stop was the nearest petrol station were blanketed in thick, vivid green lichen on the outskirts of Zamora. I wasn’t going which I guess meant that the pollution here to get caught out again and had decided must be virtually zero around here. There to apply the “top-up whenever you get are always amazing sights are all around the chance” rule for this trip. Besides, the you when you’re out on a bike. Turning the GS does have a much smaller tank than next corner, I suddenly found myself in the I’m used to on my R1200RT but doesn’t middle of a herd of cows standing around everything? all over the road. They’d obviously decided Having pushed so hard to get ahead it was their feeding or milking time and yesterday, I didn’t want to waste the were patiently waiting for the farmer who headway I’d made but I also didn’t want those panniers. Time to return to my cabin was nowhere to be seen. to set an unrealistic target by booking for some Time was getting tight now. I’d added accommodation too far in advance. The serious route planning. over one hundred miles to my target for the plan today was to ride until I’d had enough The closer we got to Santander and as the day but with that two hour delay to beat I and then use booking.com and Trip horizon darkened to reveal the cliffs and really needed to push on. Advisor for a good deal on a reasonable coastline of Northern Spain, the more that The mountain twisties started to hotel near to wherever I ended up. earlier drizzle now seemed to be turning straighten out as I came down from the Only about an hour into my ride I was into persistent rain but a trip planned for peaks and I barrelled along some long passing along the spectacular and beautiful the end of January was always going to be straight stretches leading into clear open Duoro river with dams and hydro-electric something of a lottery. bends. plants in each valley. Luckily all my riding gear had dried out Next, I had to get back on the motorway Just after the second valley I crossed by now so it wasn’t too much of a chore to and get some serious miles under those the Portuguese border and the riding just get ready for whatever lay ahead. wheels and was heading past Valladolid kept getting better and better. Landscapes Back down on the lowest car deck of all, when the fuel gauge decided to jump from changed from mountainous to agricultural I reached my bike to find that all was safe 3/4 full to almost empty. Great timing in and sound. I already knew I’d be one of the the pouring rain and now I was having to re- last off the ship, but then there followed program the GPS to find the nearest petrol an hour long wait while a broken down station as I had no idea how far I was going to Jaguar was resuscitated and cleared from get on that one last block remaining on the the hydraulic exit ramps and back to shore. gauge. Acting on the confident instructions Leaving the ferry two hours later than provided by Gar min, I turned off and into I’d originally expected was throwing all a small town. The lanes I rode now got kinds of spanners into my finely tuned progressively narrower until I pitched up plans for the day’s journey, but none of that at a dead end. Typical. Don’t you just love mattered right now. Spain and Portugal lay technology sometimes? Nothing for it but before me and it was time to get on that to turn around and follow my nose to the road. opposite edge of town where I did manage but with each subtle variation the common After negotiating my exit from the port, to find a petrol station, re-fuel the bike and theme was an exciting, challenging and the first thirty miles or so were covered in myself. Kit-Kat nearly finished, I was ready rewarding road. good time by well maintained motorway. for the last hundred or so mile dash down Vineyards came and went as I rode on Next I was going to try a few of the smaller to Corveses. though the scenery of terraced hills, valleys roads and I turned off the Autovia at This was becoming quite a tough and mountain sides. The work of hundreds Cabezon de la Sal and started to head start to the trip. Completely soaked and if not thousands of years, the N15 is an old September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 21 4 degrees to start and 16 by the end of well worn, tram-lining and getting noisy as the day, farther south I slow down, even on a gentle lean, because Woodsmoke rising from the valleys the tread blocks of the Conti-Attaks have The Amazing N2 snakes its was south become so unevenly worn. through some of the most picturesque Then to start my trip back up north for scenery you’re ever likely to find, adding the ferry on Thursday and time to visit some another delightful dimension to the ride. more of those enticing mountain roads. On I went, and was considering reaching Day 6 - Lisbon to covilha (230 miles) Faro before the end of the day, but playing 1/2/16 on my mind, was the condition of those First job this morning was to find tyres. I’d also fancied visiting Lisbon or new tyres and get them fitted. The tread Roman road and, although it’s obviously Porto on this trip so after a five minute leg on the old tyres has taken a hammering been updated and improved, you can still stretch I though I switch a few plans around over the last few days and it’s time to get imagine what an engineering task that and stay in Beja tonight, before heading off some new rubber before heading back up must have involved when it was first being to Lisbon in the morning where I’d surely to the mountains as I continue my ride carved into the hillside. be able to find some new rubber. northwards, back to Spain and the ferry Looking down at my GPS, I realised I’d And hey presto, tonight’s hotel was just home. MotoCentre in Lisbon had a pair lost an hour’s riding somewhere in here and £28 - including breakfast! After a bit of of the new Dunlop Trailsmarts in stock I’d have to get a wriggle on. It wasn’t until surfing on Trip Advisor I was able to find and had them on the bike within an hour I stopped that evening that I remembered a great restaurant too - Vovo Joaquina in for €252 which I didn’t think was too bad that Spain is on CET - Portugal is on GMT Beja. a price including new valves, balancing - Confusing when you cross the border for Day 5 - Beja to Lisbon (170 miles) and fitting. What a difference they made! the first time. 31/1/16 Steering became light and responsive - Stunningly beautiful scenery, technical A clear, warm start to the day and it just especially at low speeds and I the bike felt roads all day long through terraces cut into kept getting warmer. way more planted and confident on the vertiginous slopes. I even made it through I’ve paused my sticky adherence to the road. the day without getting wet and the bike Ride magazine’s tour of Portugal route for It was a long boring ride for the first didn’t miss a beat. I’m liking this old oil the moment because I couldn’t pass Lisbon ninety minutes on the way out of Lisbon. cooled GS a lot. (twice) without stopping by to say a quick Busy but narrow trunk roads and very Another £30 hotel. This time at a “hello”. few overtaking places. I’m not used to so thermal spa town, complete with steaming A circuitous route which took me back much traffic any more. Mostly on the N10 fountains in the local park. Too hot for to the N2 northbound and then on to but things started to get more interesting anything more the a quick hand-dip into the coast road to Portinho da Arrábida, once I’d crossed the Tagus and got onto the water flow and a crazy visit to a local south of Lisbon. Busier than the mountain the N118 at Vila Franca de Xira. Up in the restaurant, ordering a meal without a word roads of the last few days, but spectacular mountains later, I was riding along, making of Portuguese or English in common. I scenery on the mountain route with views good, when the Sat Nav told me to turn left. know that being here at this time of year out to The Atlantic in one direction and I’d missed the tiny turning by the time I really helps. Prices are low. distant Lisbon in the other, made the trip spotted it, so I had to find a good spot, turn Day 4 - São Pedro do sul to Beja (280 well worthwhile. Lisbon is a fabulous city, the bike around and head back fifty metres miles) 30/1/16 packed with historic sights - which, thanks or so in order to follow the instructions. Next morning, leaving the delights of the to Portugal’s neutrality during World War As soon as I left the main road, I started hot springs behind me, I was now heading 2 were spared the destruction of both the to think something wasn’t quite right, but into thick cold fog and the temperature Nazi and Ally war machines. it was pretty much too late. It was narrow, showing just four degrees. The start to this I spent a very happy three hours steep and cobbled and I thought it would morning was spent with visibility down to wandering around the city, but could be riskier to try and turn around for a 25 metres in places on technical mountain have done without being pestered to buy second time than to carry on down the roads much reducing my progress. Oddly cannabis from furtive ne’er-do-wells. hill and see where I ended up. A couple though, just a little higher up the hillside, An evening of Tapas and Fado of very interesting kilometres followed. A I broke through into bright sunshine as the (a traditional Portuguese song style deeply rutted cart track, sections of gloopy impenetrable mist was pooled in the valley mourning loss and how things should red mud and loose stones finally gave way below me. Not at all sorry to get out of that have been) at Café Luso, a restaurant at to gravel and then, at last, a bit of tarmac. one. the top of one of Lisbon’s many steep hills. Good job those new tyres were on already. Terraced mountainsides give way to €44 bought “Menu B” of prawns, sea bass Day 7 - covilha to Chaves (200 miles) rocky fields the size of pocket handkerchiefs and a fruity, ice-creamy meringue dessert. 2/2/16 with the most amazingly elaborate dry Most important of all, a glass of port was It was cold last night. Temperatures fell stone hedges. Some built with giant required to round the whole thing off, to just one degree but I had a feeling that boulders. “when in Rome” and all that. It was late this was going to be the very best days Tiny farms, not much bigger than a now, so I said my fond farewells and made riding so far. I’d taken a quick look at the garden growing oil-seed rape it back to the hotel in about fifteen minutes route on Google and it all looked very Olive groves everywhere and cork oak as it was downhill all the way home. promising. Today was the day for the Serra trees by the thousands as far as the eye can Off to get new tyres in the morning da Estrela. The highest mountain range in see. because there’s no way I want to ride continental Portugal at 6,539 ft. Here and there in village gardens, another eight hundred miles on the tread Starting from Covilha, I had a short orange, mandarin and lemon trees. I have left. The front tyre in particular is four or five mile trip to Vale Formosa to 22 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 join the N232 from where the roads just anywhere near Santander or Léon for that care, but each time I glanced down to my kept getting better and better. The early matter and not swing through at least part GPS, the arrival time at Santander was sections were like the Col de Tourini in of The Picos de Europa, wouldn’t it? The getting a little later. But there was nothing the South of France, sharp twists and turns only problem was a pesky appointment for it, I certainly wasn’t going to ride any on a narrower road as we seemed to climb I just had to keep with that ferry in faster than I felt was safe and that was that. little for all the effort of those tight bends. Santander which would leave, with or Long stretches of the Castille and Because the northern half of Portugal has without me, at three-thirty this afternoon. Léon (South) side of the mountain roads so many mountains, the road engineers Oh, and one other small problem was that are in need of repair and resurfacing but certainly gained plenty of experience in temperatures had plummeted overnight fortunately, once I’d reached the highest their construction and boy, has that paid and this morning it was -5 degrees in Léon point near Llanaves de la Reinna, crossed off for motorcyclists. On top of that, so it was bound to be bitterly cold up where into Cantabria and begun the long, curvy the roads are very well maintained with I was headed. descent towards Potes the road quality virtually no potholes or slicks of gravel on Because time was short, I’d modified the improved dramatically. At the same time, bends or at junctions. It doesn’t mean you route just a little from the Ride Magazine the sun had begun its work and the surface don’t have to be careful but it does mean a original so that I ended up riding further was dry and ice free. Still taking care on swift, safe ride. yesterday and thereby had a fighting chance sections in mountain shade, I was able to Great roads mountain passes and the of getting to the ferry in time. However, I pick up a little pace and finally saw my ETA most fantastic twisties followed. Over two was still going up to around 5,000ft on a shorten to well within my safety margin for hundred tough and demanding miles, but bitterly cold day and started to ask myself if getting that boat. all of it on the most amazing continuous this was the smartest thing to be doing. But On down to Panes now. A very satisfying routes I’ve ever ridden. off I had to go. Just a few miles south east of ride as the mighty BMW boxer engine If I had limited time in future, I’d surely Léon I picked up the N625 and started my roared and ricocheted its merry tune off the choose to ride the Duoro Valley and Serra journey north and up into the mountains. sheer mountain walls on either side of me. da Estrela again and again. The day could not have been more beautiful. The hills were alive with the sound of that Scenery of almond blossom, citrus Totally clear bright blue skies and, when the very special music. trees and pines as I worked my way up to mountains weren’t blocking the sun’s rays, Next for the sweeping curves and still the mountain top, followed by yet more it felt pretty good. Through the sections some more tight bends on the pretty coast terraced hillsides. Some of them were that had yet to see sunlight I had to be oh so road to the beautiful little town of San new ones being cut into the mountainside careful in case of ice. Next onto the serious Vicente de la Barquerra and on to Santillana with huge diggers, a far cry from the back- stuff promised by the N621 and it was clear del Mar. Sadly, and all too soon, the magic breaking laborious drudge of the past. that the gritting trucks had been at work, was shattered as Santander’s traffic chaos I made it to Chaves in good time today though sometimes I was concerned in case broke the spell and all that was left now was and booking.com found me a former castle they were ice instead of salt crystals spread to follow the signs for my ferry. tonight at £40 including breakfast! all over the road, In twenty-five hours, I’d be back in Day 8 - Chaves to Leon (230 miles) Cornering speeds were kept right Portsmouth but I had spent nine days with 3/2/16 down but those new Dunlop tyres coped my new friend. Reliable, rewarding and Left early - I wanted to press on a little brilliantly, never giving me anything but a a whole lot of fun, the GS had delivered further today and hopefully get as far as sense of confidence and control although everything I’d asked of it through torrential Léon which would set me up well for the there was no way I’d be asking anything rain, mud and on sub-zero roads. I have to Picos tomorrow before the dash for my more of them than I’d absolutely have to. say, that after years of tourers, I’m a bit of a ferry back to UK. Little by little, on and up I went with convert! Yet more outstanding roads of course as I thread my way from one mountain to the next and National Parks are left scattered behind me. Saw my first black squirrel today. He was hoping to run across the road but thought better of it and dash for cover back in the pine forest to my right. Just a few miles further on, a family of wild boar crossed the road about fifty metres ahead of me. Quite a few cyclists out today too, and even a few tourist coaches, but they were all passed easily on the steep inclines when the roads straightened out for a hundred yards or so. Overnighting in part of a converted monastery right in the centre of Léon and a very good dinner at nearby restaurant, la Trastienda de la 13. Day 9 - Léon to Santander (177 miles) 4/2/16 Well, it would be rude to find yourself September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 23 German Jottings - Summer 2016 Enduro Tyre Test

By John Bentall

This year’s Motorrad test (issue 11/2016) was conducted using six identical BMW R1200GS’ to compare the latest batch of enduro tyres in the sizes 120/70R19 & 170/60R17. No attempt was made to conduct any prolonged off-road testing as a quick forest excursion showed that all the tyres would master a dry and dusty trail with ease and all six would have failed similarly on a particularly muddy path. Anyone wanting to do serious off-riding would be advised to opt for a pair of Continental TKC80’s or similar. Far more important is their suitability for motorway cruising and back-road curves. Bridgestone A40: Vastly improved in the areas of feedback and turn-in compared to the previous Battlewing, the A40 scores well for handling and grip in both wet and dry cornering. It maintains those qualities even when partly worn and has good tyre life. Continental Trail Attack 2: This is a great tyre in the dry: agile, neutral and precise. It is quick to inspire confidence and, despite higher wear rates, maintains these qualities when worn. It does not have great reserves of grip in the wet and does not inspire confidence due to narrow margins of controllability at the limit. Dunlop Trailsmart: This is a very stable tyre whether solo or with pillion. The obverse side is that more effort is required to turn into corners and sharp turns are not its forte. The tyre performs well in the wet, offering good grip and excellent braking performance. It suffered the most wear in the test with 25% of the tread depth on the front remaining after 4,000 km, compared to 60% for the best tyres. Metzeler Tourance Next: This tyre provides very agile handling and inspires confidence immediately. It is light and neutral on turn-in as well as being stable at high speeds. These benign characteristics are maintained even when worn. Good grip in the wet will keep the rider smiling as will the excellent braking performance. Michelin Anakee III: So long as the road is straight the Michelin will provide a satisfactory performance, although it is rather noisy and bounces over bad road surfaces. The tyres do not impart great handling through the corners and there is a marked tendency to sit up when braking into bends. Matters do not change when the tyre is part worn. Wet road performance is unimpressive compared many Michelin tyres, exhibiting poor grip and longer stopping distances. . Pirelli Scorpion Trail II: The R1200GS negotiates curves with great steering precision and stability. Motorway cruising behaviour is also excellent. After 4,000 km the tyre still gives atop performance. In the wet the tyre provides first-class feedback, plenty of grip and great controllability at the limit of adhesion. The wear after 4,000 km was astonishingly modest. After all points had been tallied the road testers were asked to nominate their favourite tyre. All six placed the Pirelli as number 1, with four placing the Metzeler in second place and the other two choosing the Continental as runner-up 24 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 Maximum Bridgestone Continental Dunlop Metzeler Michelin Ana- Pirelli Scor- Enduro Tyre score A40 Trail Attack 2 Trailsmart Tourance Next kee III pion Trail II Test 2016

Country of Japan Germany France Germany Thailand Germany Manufacture Dry Test Handling 30 27 29 25 28 26 29 Steering preci- 30 26 27 25 27 25 28 sion Stability in 20 18 `18 19 18 17 19 Corners Grip on cor- 10 9 9 9 9 9 9 ners Grip under ac- 10 9 9 9 9 9 9 celeration in corners Straight Line 10 9 8 10 9 10 8 Stability Handling with 20 17 17 16 17 16 18 Pillion Feedback at 10 8 8 8 8 7 9 the limit Tendency to 10 8 8 7 8 7 8 self-right un- der braking in corners Total - Dry 150 131 133 128 133 126 137 Position 4 2 5 2 6 1 Total -Dry af- 150 128 130 125 130 124 135 ter 4,000 km Position 4 2 5 2 6 1 Wet Track

Handling 10 9 10 8 9 8 10

Steering preci- 20 17 18 17 18 16 19 sion Grip on cor- 20 17 15 19 19 17 20 ners Grip accelerat- 20 18 16 19 19 17 18 ing in corners Feedback at 20 17 14 18 18 17 19 the limit Braking 10 9 8 9 7 7 9 Braking dis- 50.8 53.6 50.5 53.5 54.5 51 tance from 100Km/h (meters) Speed in 180° 67.1 64.3 68.5 69.4 66.9 71.1 curve (km/h) Total -Wet 100 87 81 90 90 82 95 Fastest lap 1:22.34 1:28.98 1:19.09 1:18.62 1:22.26 1:18.34 Total – Tyre 100 83 81 71 93 82 91 Wear Overall - Total 500 429 425 414 446 414 458 Position 3 4 5 2 5 1

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26 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 The Social Scene

We are well into the really busy social period you are booked in to go! Thanks again to with events available just about everywhere Colin, Sue, Denis and Jean and the rest of and any when. Unfortunately the holiday the team for all of your efforts. I have my injury to Jean’s knee has kept us off the bike fingers crossed that my Jean will be back on as a couple so we have not visited as many the bike by then so we can attend on the RT events as we usually do, although I have and join in on at least one of the ride-outs - especially when you see all those smiling certainly enjoyed my morning and evening through the Brecon Beacons. faces. work rides in the better weather. After the August rally the next National Lastly, my experience with the new The service and MOT are due on the is the AGM in April 2017 at Tavistock, Metzeler Roadtec01 tyres continues as I put R1200RT in the next few days so I am hosted by the South West Section. Debbie more and more miles on them. Although I looking forward to seeing what bike I and Phil Sampson have taken the lead here started motorcycling in 1970, I can still be will get whilst it is in the workshops. It is - which was a very munificent decision surprised at the difference between tyres. I nearly always fun to try one of the newer considering Debbie has just taken on am now used to the Roadtec01s turning in models and compare it to what I already the role of Editor of the Journal. They quickly and have found they make even the have. In the meantime the overhaul of the are a lovely couple and typical of the R1200RT quite ‘flick-able’ and I certainly GSPD has uncovered a worn bearing in the many volunteers that keep our club up feel very confident on them in either the gearbox so a complete gearbox overhaul and running. Information on booking wet or dry, especially as I had so much ‘free will take place. Although I intend to accommodation and dinner after the AGM practice’ in the wet! They give off a slightly sell the bike I also want to make sure it is shall be going to first print in the October different road noise to the Michelins that without issues when it goes. I’ve made a issue of The Journal. were on before but they are not louder (or lot of friends through motorcycling and I Thanks must also go the East Anglia quieter). I am beginning to really appreciate don’t want to lose one by passing on a bike Section who will host the 2017 August their cornering characteristics and the one with problems I’m aware of. It will be sad National at Framlingham. I love this bend I really enjoy on my commute (it’s when it goes - I have owned for more than location even though it’s a bit of a pig to get 10 years and it has taken Jean and I far and to from where we are as we have to choose not particularly fast but it is tight with a wide both within the UK and abroad, but to pass around London on one side or positive camber) has become such good fun I don’t collect bikes, hence its eventual the other. Still, it’s well worth the effort. I actually look forward to it every morning. departure. Thanks to Cliff and Dik for kicking this It will be a while before the ‘wear’ test is Looming on the horizon as I write this one off. complete, but I’m sure Llandovery will help is the August National in Llandovery at So looking towards 2018 - have you and I have yet to test them two-up, which I the Llandovery College. It doesn’t seem considered a National event hosted by am very interesting in, as the rear tyre was that long ago that I met Colin Ross at the your Section? We will need an AGM in the ‘heavy motorcycle’ option. I’ll let you location and we went through any issues April followed by an August National. It know how I get on. that would need to be addressed. The is certainly not too early to start thinking I hope to see you at Llandovery but in Western Section have done a great job about this and please - give me a call if you the meantime enjoy your motorcycling and of pulling this event together, so if you just want to talk through what is involved. everything our Club has to offer. read this after the event, I am sure it went Believe me it will be one of the most Jim Bettley well, and if you read it before - make sure satisfying things you will do for the Club National Social Secretary

September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 27 The Sections

The Section Secretaries, Social Secretaries and regular meeting places.

AST ANGLIA SECTION ERCIA SECTION ORTHERN SECTION ESecretary:Dik Langan 6 Hazel Rise, MSecretary: Jane Scott, 31 Marston Brook, NSecretary: Ms Lynn Sumner, 63 Ambrose Claydon, Ipswich, IP6 0DB 07906 584 676 Hilton, Derby, DE65 5HS, 07968 266 187 Court, Moss Lane, Leyland, Preston. PR25 or 0845 003 688 046 eastanglia.secretary@ [email protected] 4XA. 01772 431 324 northern.sec@bmwclub. bmwclubuk.net Membership Secretary: As Above org.uk Membership Secretary: As Above Social Secretary: Colin Ainsworth 07799 653 Membership Secretary: As Above Social Secretary: Cliff Batley. 07966 015 607 789 [email protected] Social Secretary: Robert Harrison 01257 793 209 [email protected] [email protected] See diary for dates and times: Repton Village 2nd Wednesday, 13.00: Settle Market Place 1st Sunday:12.00, The Cricketers, Spring Hall, Askew Grove, Repton, DE65 6GR. Lane, Fordham Heath, Colchester, CO3 9TG. BD24 9ED. Barry Warner 01617 611 702. Every Wednesday, 09.30: Hoar Park, The 12.00, The Three Tunns, 2nd Sunday November to March, 13.00: 1st Wednesday: Craft Village, Nuneaton Road, Church End, Weathersfield Rd, Finchingfield, Essex, CM7 Rixton Community Hall, Manchester Rd, Rixton, CV10 0QU for breakfast. 4NR. Warrington. 1st Sunday, 10.30: Brunch/Breakfast at Barton 2nd Sunday: 12.00 noon, The Chequers, 7 2nd Sunday April to October, 13.00: Knowle Marina Tea Rooms, Barton under Needwood, Church Road, Wimbotsham. Norfolk, PE34 Green Village Hall, Clitheroe Road, Knowle 3QG Burton on Trent Staffs DE13 8DZ Green, Preston, PR3 2YQ. The Highwayman, Peel, 3rd Sunday: 12.00, The Cross Ways Inn, 2nd Wednesday, 19.00: The Clock 3rd Tuesday, 19.30: Bridge Road, Scole, Diss IP21 4DP Warehouse, London Road, Shardlow, DE72 Isle of Man. Harvey Garton 01624 625140. 2GL. 3rd Wednesday: 12.00, The Lamb and Flag, XFORD SECTION Main Street, Welney, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, 2nd Wednesday, 19.30: The Dog, Henley OSecretary: Rosemary Hicks, 15 Orchard PE14 9RB. Road, Mappleborough Green, Studley, B80 Rise, Chesterton, Bicester, OX26 1US 01869 2nd and 5th Sundays: Various Café and Pub 7DR. 240 529 [email protected] meetings see diary of events for details. 3rd Tuesday, 12.00: The Pensioners & Membership Secretary: As Above Layabouts, Pillaton Garden Centre on the Social Secretary: John Broad 01869 324 008. RISH SECTION B5012 just East of Penkridge, Cannock Road, [email protected] Secretary: Pat Munnelly Ballinasleva, I Pillaton,Staffs.ST19 5RZ 1st Tuesday, 19.00: The Dashwood Arms, Old Foxford, Co Mayo, 00 353 86 338 3499 Oxford Road, Piddington HP14 3BH [email protected] 3rd Sunday, 10.00: Salt Box Cafe, A511 Derby Road, Foston (near Hatton) Derby, DE65 5PT. 2nd Tuesday, 19.30: Waggon & Horses, Membership Secretary: Brian Clarke, 21 Southmoor, OX13 5BG Broadway Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. IDLAND SECTION 3rd Tuesday 18.30: The Sun Inn at Coate 086 4035758. irishbmwmembership@hotmail. MSecretary: Kevan Stevenson 8 Meden Swindon SN3 6AA. com Road, Mansfield Woodhouse, NG19 8JJ 01623 4th Wednesday 20.00: The Fox and Hounds at Social Secretary: Chris Wright 00 353 83 479 152 [email protected] Sunnyside, Theale, Nr Reading, RG7 4BE. 0032400. [email protected] Membership Secretary: As Above 2nd Sundays 14.00 (Winter): Uffington Village Every Tuesday, end April - end August, Social Secretary: Jim Beach 01908 373 327 or Hall, Oxfordshire, SN7 7RA. 18.30: Cork meet at the Great Gas Station 07415 683 120 [email protected] opposite the Island Gate Restaurant. Dave COTTISH SECTION The Three Kings, Power at 0877833663 1st Tuesday 19.30: Secretary: Marjorie Burnett, Crawick Lea, Saltersway, Threekingham, Lincs NG34 0AU, S 1st Tuesday 20.00: Limerick meeting Glasgow Road, Sanquahar, DG4 6BZ 01659 Woodfield House Hotel, Ennis Road, Limerick. 01529 240249. 50091 [email protected] Pat Mulcahy 00 353 87 2377312 1st Sunday October to March 12.00: Membership Secretary: As Above Judy Lepley 01592 874 592 2nd Sunday, 10.00 March-November: Dublin Wollaston Cafe Racer, BMW Wollaston, Social Secretary: [email protected] ride-out, meet at The Lucan Spa Hotel. Jim Bedford Road, Northhampton.NN1 5SZ Powmill Milk Bar, Sweeney 00 353 87 2300736 jimlucan@gmail. 2nd Sunday 12.00-15.00 : Barnsdale 2nd Sunday, 12.00: Rumbling Bridge, KY13 OQG. com and Sean O’Briain 00353 87 2680120 Gardens Tea Rooms, The Avenue, 2nd Monday, 19.30: Douglas Park Motorrad, [email protected] Exton,Oakham,Rutland, LE15 8AH 13 Braeview Place, East Kilbride, G74 3XH. 2nd Sunday and 4th Sunday February - 2nd Thursday 19.30: The Old Reindeer, Main Ron Gow. [email protected]. November 11.00: Galway ride-out, meet at St., Edingley Notts, NG22 8DE. 3rd Sunday, 12.30: Buccleuch Arms Hotel, Sweeney (Maldron) Forecourt, Headford Road, 3rd Wednesday 19.30: The Griffins Head, 28 High Street, Moffat DG10 9ET. Galway contact: Ronan Gill ronanfgill@gmail. Wilby Road, Mears Ashby, Northamptonshire, 4th Sunday, 12.30: Hopeville Social Club, com NN6 0DX. Harlaw Road, Inverurie, AB51 4SR. 2nd Sunday: North West meeting. Pat Munnelly 00353 86 3383499 tapmun@hotmail. ORTH EAST SECTION OUTHERN SECTION com NSecretary: Simon Johnston, 24 Stone SChairman & Secretary: Godfrey Potter, 20 Last Thursday 20.00: Dublin meeting, West Row, North Broomhill, Morpeth, NE65 St. James Avenue, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 2TH. County Hotel. Jim Sweeney 00353 87 2300736 9UE 07702 709063 northeast.secretary@ 02086 424 076 or 07932 606 349 chairman@ [email protected] and Sean O’Briain 00353 bmwclubuk.net thebmwclubsouthern.com 87 2680120 [email protected] Membership Secretary: As Above Membership Secretary: Bob Denman, Social Secretary: Bradley Gane northeast. 1 Mount Pleasant Close, Lightwater, ONDON SECTION [email protected] GU18 5TP 01276 475853 membership@ Secretary: John Lynch, 166 Chaulden thebmwclubsouthern.com L 1st Wednesday, 19.30: The Dun Cow, Lane, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 2BT 01442 Social Secretary: Erica Body 07528 873 056 Primrose Hill, Houghton le Spring, DH4 6DY, 267694/ 07860 663092 london.secretary@ [email protected] 0191 385 2631. bmwclubuk.net First Wednesday, 12.00: “Old Gits” Loomies Membership Secretary: As Above 3rd Wednesday, 19.30: The Beresford Arms Diner on A32 at West Meon Hut cross roads Social Secretary:Peter Jones 07762 205 660 Main Street, Walton, Morpeth, NE61 3UZ 01670 A272 & A32, Hampshire. or 01923 270 838 [email protected] 775273. Alt Tuesdays, 2000: The Seven Stars, Newark Section meets are as rideouts and are All run start points are printed in the Diary. Lane, Ripley, Surrey, GU23 6DL. irregular. Please see the website and The Please contact the ride leader if there is any Alt Thursdays: The Half Moon, 32 London Journal Diary for meets. doubt. Road, Petersfield, GU31 4BE, just North of

28 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 Petersfield on the old A3. and Cafe, Compton Park, Nr. Callington PL17 B4293 next to the Village Green. 3rd Wednesday, 12.00: “Old Gits” Loomies 8EA. Phil Sampson 07850983144 1st Tuesday 19.30: The Bull Inn, 152 Droitwich Diner on A32 at West Meon Hut cross roads Last Thursday 12.00: The Fishermans Cot, Road ( A38), Fernhill Heath, Worcester, WR3 A272 & A32, Hampshire. Bickleigh, Nr. Tiverton EX16 8RG Ron Lyford 8RS. Ric Dentith 01905 754 674 3rd Thursday 20.00: Drusilla’s Inn, Wigbeth, 01803 391 811 1st Wednesday, 19.30: The Lamb Inn, Wotton Horton, BH21 7JH. 01258 840297. Road, Iron Acton, Bristol, BS37 9UZ. LSTER SECTION 1st Monday, 20.00: The Cricketers Arms, 232 2nd Tuesday, 11.00: Dick Lovetts, Laurel Charlie McConnell, 6 Cameron Chestnut Avenue, North Stoneham, Chandlers USecretary: Court, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol. BS10 7TU. Park, Ballymena, Co Antrim BT42 1QJ. 02825 Ford, SO53 3HN. 023 8062 9878. 3rd Tuesday, 19.30: The Pheasant, Heol 647 730 [email protected] Eglwys, Pen Y Fai, Bridgend, Wales CF31 4LY OUTH EAST SECTION Membership Secretary: Gordon MacFarlane, from April to September inclusive. Cliff Cakebread, Meadow 2 Dorchester Park, Lisburn, Co. Antrim BT28 SSecretary: Last Monday, 12.00: The Honey Cafe, Springs, Sevenoaks Road, Otford, Kent TN14 3DE 07742 537927 ulster.membership@ Bronllys, Brecon, Powys LD3 0LH from April to 5PA. 0797 3312983 southeast.secretary@ bmwclubuk.net September inclusive. bmwclubuk.net Stuart Greig 02897 528 526, Social Secretary: 1st Saturday 11.00: Riders of Cardiff, Sloper Membership Secretary: John Hawker, 25 [email protected] Road, Cardiff. CF11 8AB Pickering Street, Maidstone, ME15 9RS, 01622 1st Tuesday except January, July & 4th Wednesday March to October 11.15: Old 744665 southeast.membership@bmwclubuk. December, 20.00: Corr’s Corner Hotel, Barn Tea Rooms Ystradgynwyn, Torpantau, net Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim. Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Glamorgan CF48 2UT01685 Social Secretary: Debbie Morris 0208 301 Sunday 11.00: runs from Corr’s Corner 383358 1600 [email protected] throughout the year 1st/3rd Wednesdays, 20.00: The Bull, Lower Wednesday between September and May, ORKSHIRE SECTION Road, East Farleigh, nr Maidstone, ME15 0HD 11.00: runs from Corr’s Corner YSecretary: John Elvidge 2 Birstwith 2nd Friday, 19.30: The White Hart, Lower Tuesday between May and August, 11.00: Grange, Birstwith, Harrogate,HG3 3AH 01423 Horsebridge, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 runs from Corr’s Corner 770866 [email protected] 4DJ. Wednesday evenings from beginning of Membership Secretary: As Above Last Friday, 20.00: Borders meet. May to end of August, 19.00: run from Corr’s Social Secretary: Piers Kurrein. 07866 622 Last Sunday, 12.00: Lunchtime meet. See Corner 196 [email protected] Diary for details. All runs are weather dependant. 1st Sunday 12.00: TJ’s Café, Cracoe,BD23 6LB. (Village centre on B6265) OUTH WEST SECTION ESTERN SECTION 2nd Saturday 11.00: The Ignition Coffee Shop, Debbie Sampson ‘Trevilla’,18, Sue Ross 7 Pintail Grove SSecretary: WSecretary: 256 Hull Road, Anlaby, Kingston-upon-Hull, Ropehaven Road St. Austell PL25 4DU. 07762 Kidderminster, DY10 4RT. 01562 820 458 HU4 7RR 347 768 [email protected] [email protected] 2nd Sunday 12.00: Cubley Hall Hotel,Mortimer Phil Sampson 07850 As Above Membership Secretary: Membership Secretary: Road, Penistone, S36 9DF. 983 144 or email as above Social Secretary: Denis Bradbeer 01454 3rd Sunday 12.00: Howsteen Gorge Don Rabson 01840 212 913 775786 [email protected] Social Secretary: Café,Lofthouse, Pateley Bridge, HG3 5SF. [email protected] 2nd Sunday, 13.30: The Hood Memorial Hall, Fourth Saturday 12.00: Seaways Café,Fimber The Engine House Bistro Devauden, Chepstow. NP16 6PL. On the 2nd Tuesday 11.00: Road, Fridaythorpe, YO25 9RX.

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September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 29 Around The Compass Please send Around The Compass changes to [email protected] with “Compass” as the subject 9 - 11 September. Scottish Section Vicar & Beemer Ed weekend: At tents, low priced Cabins for hire suitable for 2/4 persons with electric Moffat Camping & Caravan Club Site, Hammerland, Moffat, DG10 9QL. and heating. Camping £7 pppn. Cabins 1 person £20pn. 2 persons £30 Book in as a Backpacker between 1pm – 8pm. Saturday ride out for pn. Bed & Breakfast £76.50 per room per night based on 2 sharing. For lunch to Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery & Tibetan Centre. For info phone Camping, Cabins and B&B please book direct with Helen or Mark tel. the Vicar 01434 683610 or email [email protected] No. 01855 831539 quote BMW Club. Early booking is advised. More information on Scottish Section website.www.thebmwclubscottish.com 9 - 11 September. South West Section Dartmoor Rally: Harford Bridge Holiday Park, Peter Tavy, Tavistock, PL19 9LS. BBQ and or contact Sue MacDonald tel no. 01387 372727 email: sussrosie4@ aol.com Concours on the Sunday. Camping is £7.50 per person per night. Hook up is £2.50 per tent or unit per night. Pasty & Pudd supper on Friday 30 September - 2 October. Oxford Section trip to to BSB at Assen: £5.00 per person essentail to book choice prior to rally. Rideout and contact Henk Gouws at [email protected] Fish and Chip tea on the Saturday. Ring Phil and Debbie on 07850 30 September - 3 October. Oxford Section Norfolk Hotel Weekend: 983144 or 07762 347 768 or see website. Details from Rosemary Hicks 01869 240529 9 - 11 September. Yorkshire Section ‘Autumn Spectacular’: Lythe 14 - 16 October 2016. Northern Section Scottish Hotel Weekend: A Caravan & Camping Site, The Stiddy, Nr. Whitby, YO21 3RT. The large 2 night B&B biking weekend based at the Buccleuch Arms Hotel, Moffat camping area will be reserved for the Club for the weekend. Book a (www.buccleucharmshotel.com). Sharing a twin/double room is £75.60 camping pitch with the Yorkshire Social Sec, Piers. Phone: 07866 622 for the weekend, and single occupancy is £97.20 for the weekend. 196. Email: [email protected]. Two nights camping Deposit is £35 per person. Further details from and bookings to: Bob FREE for Club Members & their guests (First 30 campers only). Extra Crawley, 3 Station Road, Kelso, Scottish Borders, TD5 8DQ. Tel: 01573 nights just £6 pppn. Pro-rata discounts for those in camping pods or in 223203. E-mail: [email protected] rooms at the Stiddy Inn. Book soon to get this concession. Caravans and motor homes are also welcome but book direct Tel: 01947 893300 21 - 23 October. Irish Section Hotel Weekend: Leenane House Hotel , Clifden Road, Co Galway €130.00 per person for 2 x nights B&B and 2 or go to http://www.lythecc.co.uk/contact-us.html Other types of evening meals. bookings/enquiries to Elaine Wright via email: book@ accomodation available include camping pods which sleep up to four, bmwclub.ie - Can be paid via Pay Pal a Shepherd’s Hut (luxury double bed with room heating), and ensuite rooms are also available at the Stiddy Inn which is owned by the same 21 - 23 October. South West Section Hippo Rally: Camping at the people. Lythe is close to the traditional holiday resort of Sandsend and North Tawton Rugby Club. Prices & Booking form in the Journal advert there is a bus service to Whitby. This event coincides with the famous or on our section website: thebmwclubsw.org.uk To book call Jim Saltburn Classic Hill Climb on the Sunday. Isherwood 01769 573 258 Mob. 07926069777. 9 - 17 September. Mercia Section French Chalet Weekend: By 28 - 31 October. Yorkshire Section ‘goes to Scotland’: Hotel weekend special arrangement with Benodet Breaks based in Benodet, Southern at the Portpatrick Hotel near Stranraer. Three nights dinner, bed & Brittany, in self catering, well appointed, holiday chalet accomodation. breakfast for £125 per person based upon 2 sharing a twin room. Single 2 bedroom chalets starting at £320 and 3 bedroom chalets starting and superior rooms are also available on payment of a supplement. from £400 for 8 nights. These prices are based on two people sharing; Contact: Piers [email protected] Tel: 07866 622196 additional persons are £70 extra each for the 8 day stay. This is a 18 - 20 November. Western Section Hotel Weekend: Mayfair Hotel, self catering holiday and the chalets are well equipped and clean, with 27 Bath Rd, Bournemouth BH1 2NW - Contact Graham Wiltshire 01453 good facilities, including full kitchen and a BBQ outside. Book direct 899046 with Steve Jackson of Benodet Breaks on 01543 473089 or email him Cairn Hotel, at [email protected] - he will also provide information on the 9 - 11 December. Yorkshire Section Christmas Dinner: Ripon Road, Harrogate, HG1 2JD. The menu should be available to discounted ferry bookings. If you need any further information, please see on the Yorkshire web site soon or contact me as shown below. The contact Colin Ainsworth, Mercia Social Secretary on 07799 653789 or special price is just £21.95 per person for dinner and a complementary email [email protected] prosecco or similar aperitif before dinner for all Club Members! (Coffee at 15 - 18 September. South East Section: Rother Valley Camping, the bar is extra). B&B double rooms are available at £39.95 pppn based Northiam, East Sussex. Details please contact John Burton 01323 upon two sharing. So enjoy some Christmas shopping and everything 841498, else that Harrogate has to offer. Book soon to avoid disappointment. 15 - 18 September. Western Section Sorebutts Rally: Mill Park Piers: [email protected] or phone: 07866 622 196. Camping and Touring Caravan Park, Berrynarbour, Nr Infracombe, 10 December. South West Section Christmas Dinner: At The EX34 9SH. GS and Sidecar Registers Southern Rally included. All Fishermans Cot, Bickleigh, Nr Tiverton. 1830 for meal at 1900 served bookings through Paul Rodriguez 07979 974005. at table. Cost £16.99 with menu to follow. Rooms available at 84.95 per 23 - 25 September. East Anglia Section camping weekend: Our third double room. More details availible on the website or contact Jim on at Fakenham Race course, Fakenham, Norfolk, NR21 7NY just a few 01769 573 258. miles from the glorious North Norfolk coast. Note there’s no horse races this weekend! The camping field is flat and the showers/toilets warm and clean. The friendly bar will serve breakfasts, lunches & evening meals with entertainment to be arranged. Accommodation includes camping, motorhomes, caravans and limited rooms. Camping £7.50 pp per night. Motorhomes and caravans £16.50 per night including electric hookup. 3 rooms available at £17.00 pppn. No advance booking or pre payment for camping. Enquire/book directly with the site mentioning “BMW Club Weekend”. Enquiries: Mark Handley 01354 740908, 07814938512 or http://www.fakenhamracecourse.co.uk 23 - 25 September. Irish Section Thatch Rally: “Seven Hogs” , Tralee Bay Holiday Village, Tralee, Co Kerry. €130.00 for 2 nights B+B and dinner on Sat night bookings/enquiries to Elaine Wright via email: [email protected] - Can be paid via Pay Pal 23 - 25 September. Scottish Section Gathering in Kinlochleven: MacDonald Hotel & Cabins & Camping, Fort William Road, Kinlochleven PH50 4QL. Superb venue with Camping, Cabins, Hotel, B&B, Restaurant, Bothy Bar all on the one site. Camping facilities for 2 man 30 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 020816

The following businesses have agreed to join the BMW Club Discount Scheme. Most already take advertisements within the Journal. See these advertisements for additional information. Please quote your membership number when making an enquiry or purchase.

THE ADVENTURE BIKE SHOP B&B FARMHOUSE, LOIRE ANTLANTIQUE. 10% off all Rev’it Clothing and 10% off all Sena Intercoms. In Normandy, France. Pat and Rich offer Please contact, Phone: 01787 372 901 5% discount when stopping 2 nights or more. email: [email protected] La-Janais. [email protected] SPORTOURING (WOODYS’ EMPORIUM) LYNBROOK INSURANCE 10% to 15% discount on most items. Offer 15% discount to club members with a free increase to Contact Mike Bines for best offers. £1000 on value of accessories (worth £94.50). Also Classic Tel: 01480 399 499 [email protected] Bikes with no mileage limit (if required). Tel: 0345 130 4662 or 01277 206 285 [email protected] PIDCOCK MOTORCYCLES, LONG EATON Offer discount to members who join their VIP scheme. Visit RIDE MOTORCYCLE TOURS www.pidcock.com Click on the VIP logo. Offer 5% discount on motorbike touring holidays Tel: 0115 946 2233 www.pidcock.com Europe and the UK. www.ridemotorcycletours.com MOTOSCOTLAND.COM Scottish Highland off-road training centre. We provide the IRISH FERRIES 10% discount Ireland to Britain, Code: 16BMWB. latest enduro motorcycles. 10% discount when quoting 10% discount Britain to Ireland, Code: 16BMWI. ‘BMW Club’ and membership No. Phone: 01499 320 460 5% discount Rosslare to France, Code: 16BMWF. www.motoscotland.com Bookings at [email protected] FOOTMAN JAMES CLASSIC INSURANCE At least 10% discount plus £750 helmet and leathers cover CHESTER MOTORRAD included. Contact: Martyn (Club member). 10% discount on parts, accessories and on clothing with a [email protected] current membership card. Phone: 0151 373 4802 Or phone: 0333 207 6068 (State membership No.) ADVENTURE TRAIL RIDING STARCOM TECSTAR ELECTRONICS LTD 15% discount on our Adventure Trail Riding UK Tours Offer 5% discount to club members. www.adventuretrailriding.co.uk Stockists of high quality motorcycle intercoms and ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE TOURS & RENTAL communication systems. Tel: 01480 399 499 5% discount on BMW GS Hire from our fleet in Transylvania and Romania. Call UK Free line: 0808 101 6781 More VISORCAT or 00 40 364 405641. email: [email protected] Discount! 15% discount off this innovative over-glove visor wash/wipe www.motorcycle-tours.travel system. Discount Ref: ‘BMW’. Details at www.visorcat.com Phone: 07920 145 706. [email protected] HEAR THE ROAD-MOTORCYCLE TOURS ITALY 8% discount for groups of 8 or more from May to September. ULTIMATE EAR All tours start and end in Rome. Hearing Protection Services. 10% discount. www.motorcycletoursitaly.com Online discount code: BMWclub16 (new) Email: [email protected] MOTO TOURS ROHAN 10% discount on Morocco Tours. 10% discount on all full priced Rohan purchases. Present Visit: www.mototours.co.uk valid membership card in store. Discount ref for online & Phone: 07887 528 623. Quote membership number mail order is BM10. www.rohan.co.uk Phone: 0800 840 1412 COTSWOLD OUTDOOR COTSWOLD MOTORRAD 15% discount. Use code online & in store: AF-BMWOC-M5. Offer 10% discount on all genuine BMW parts, Must show membership card. accessories, and rider equipment. 01452 872 666. See web page: www.cotswoldoutdoor.com WWW.ALLEARPLUGS.COM NEW WILDIRISH Motorcycle Tours 12% discount on all orders plus free carriage on orders over Guided & Self Guided Motorcycle Tours of Ireland. Ride on £30. Promo code: BMWCLUB Phone: 01473 603 533 the ‘Wild Atlantic Way’ (Best bits!). Explore ‘Ireland’s WILDCAT ADVENTURES MOTORBIKE TOURS Ancient East’ or go ‘Road Racing’. 5% discount for BMW Club members. Phone: 00 353 (0) 87 9889940. 5% discount on all motorbike adventures. Must provide www.wildirishmotorcycletours.com proof of current Club membership. www.wildcat- adventures.co.uk Phone mobile: 07802 470 880 NEW JUST HELMETS email: [email protected] Schuberth specialist offers 10% off new E1 Adventure and EDZ PERFORMANCE LAYERING other premium helmet brands. More discount for multiple purchases. (Voucher code: BMW). Phone: 0191 653 1303 10% off all items including all climate base layers, innershell www.justhelmets.co.uk and accessories. www.edzdirect.com Use discount code BMWOC-2016. Also available at the Keswick Shop Outlet or R.A.C. Offer 25% discount to members. phone: 01900 810 260 Tel: 0808 101 7805 Quote ref: DT1000

Page managed by: Graham Parker, [email protected] Mob: 07843 211 280

September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 31 Diary Of Events: September & October September = October = Weekends = Red Text Diary of Events closing date is the 5th of each month These activities have been arranged as agent for and on behalf of The BMW Club. All organisers are covered by our insurance, provided the event guidelines are followed. Southern 12 noon ‘Old Gits’ Loomies Diner, Loomies Cafe, West September Meon Hut, GU32 1JX 1 Northern 18:00 - 21:00 Classic Bike Nights, Bridge House Farm Western 19.30 Lamb Inn, Iron Acton. BS37 9UZ: Monthly Tearooms, Wray, Lancaster LA2 8QP wjsmithson@ meeting. Contact: Denis Bradbeer 01454 775786 btinternet.com Bill Smithson 01539 736454 8 Midland Pub Meet :The Old Reindeer, Main Street, Edingley, Yorkshire Lunch Meeting at the Redwell Inn, Harmire Road, Notts, NG22 8DE. Start 19:30 Barnard Castle DL12 8QJ Tel 01833 637002 http:// Southern 8pm The Half Moon, 32 London Road, Petersfield, theredwellinn.co.uk/ If you intend to join us, please GU31 4BE contact: Peter Brindle [email protected] 9 S. East THE WHITE HART, Lower Horsebridge, (A271), BN27 01904 672883 4DJ. 7.30pm 1 - 30 Nov GS Register GS Register - The Challenge (the 9 - 11 S. West Dartmoor Rally. BBQ and Concours Bike Show on club’s own competition). Entries are open until 1st the Sunday. Friday evening pasty or chilli and pudd November. Entry Forms and details at http://www. supper. Pre booking essential. Phil and Debbie 07850 gs-register.org.uk/ or contact Nev at gs@bmwclubuk. 983144, 07762 347 768 or see website. net or phone 07860 532876 9 - 11 Scottish The Vicar & Beemer Ed Camping Weekend. Camping 2 - 4 Midland Hope Valley Camping weekend. Hardhurst Farm is & Caravan Club Site, Hammerland, Moffat DG10 9QL the venue for this ever popular event. Bookings to 9 - 12 Yorkshire “Yorkshire Autumn Spectacular” Camping at Steve Foreman, See Journal for Details. Lythe Bank and Saltburn Hill Climb. 3 S. East “Curry&Chilli” at Matty’s, Paddock Wood, TN12 6QQ. Contact: Piers [email protected] 3pm (Please Book) 07866 622196 Western 11.00 Riders of Cardiff, Sloper Road, Cardiff CF11 9 - 17 Mercia Mercia Rally - Benodet Britanny. Self Catering 8AB. Monthly meet with complimentary tea and accomodation, phone Steve Jackson direct to book biscuits. a place 01543 473089. 3 - 10 Southern Week in the Dordogne (camping spaces still available) 10 Western 11.00 Ilfracombe Bike Show. Meet on sea front near 4 E. Anglia Cricketers, Spring Lane, Fordham Heath, CO3 9TG. the Landmark Theatre at 11.00 £3.00 to park inc entry 12:00 noon Yorkshire The Ignition Coffee, 256 Hull Road, Anlaby, Hull HU4 Mercia Breakfast / Brunch, 10am Barton Marina Tearooms, 7RR Barton under Needwood, Burton on Trent, Staffs, 11 E. Anglia Chequers, 7 Church Road, Wimbotsham, Norfolk DE13 8DZ. PE34 3QG. 12:00 noon N. East Led ride-out – Coast and Castles. Meet at Castle Irish Galway ride out 11.00am Sweeney (Maldron) Square in Morpeth at 10am. Simon Johnston – 07702 Forecourt, Headford Road, Galway contact: Ronan 709063. Gill 087 0995028 [email protected] Northern 08:00 - 09:00 After Breakfast Run, Rooster Café Off Irish Leinster Ride-out Spa Hotel (near Lucan) 10.00 am J40 M6 at Penrith. [email protected] John Bell 01228 Jim Sweeney 087 2300736 email: jimlucan@gmail. 535173 com Yorkshire TJ’s Café, Cracoe, BD23 6LB. 12.00 noon. Irish Nth West Sunday Run - Patrick Munnelly 086 3383499 [email protected] 5 Southern 8pm The Cricketers Arms, 232 Chestnut Ave, North Stoneham, Chandlers Ford, SO53 3HN Mercia Trough of Bowland & Gisbon Forest ride out. Leaving prompt at 9.30am from the Little Chef, just off M6 J16 6 Irish Limerick Meeting, 8:00pm, Woodfield Hotel, Ennis Crewe, CW2 5PT. Contact Adrian Sedden on 01270 Road, Limerick (Opposite GAA Ground). Pat Mulcahy 258062 for more details. 0872377312 N. East Joint Yorkshire Section meet – Hill Climb, Saltburn. Irish Cork ride-out 6:30pm Great Gas Station (opposite See Section News and Forum for further updates. the Island Gate Restaurant) Dave Power 087783663 Northern 13:00 Monthly Meeting Knowle Green Village Hall [email protected] PR3 2YQ. Refreshments Available, also Bring & Buy. Midland Pub Meet : The Three Kings, Saltersway, [email protected] Lynn Sumner Threekingham, Lincs.NG34 0AU Start 7:30 01772 431324 Oxford Pub Social, Dashwood Arms, Piddington, HP14 3BH Oxford Ride out: A ride Up on the Downs. Meet at The Sun from 19.00 hrs Inn, Coate Water, Swindon, SN3 6AA at 10.30 for an Ulster Club Meeting 8pm Corr’s Corner 11.00 start. Mike Warrilow (01793 782428) Western 20.00 The Bull Inn. 152 Droitwich Rd, Fernhill Heath, S. East “Thomas’ Tour”. Depart Headcorn Aerodrome, TN27 Worcester. WR3 8RS. Monthly meeting - Contact: Ric 9HX. 10am Dentith 01905 754674 Scottish Lunch Meet @ 12:00. Powmill Milk Bar, Rumbling 7 E. Anglia Three Tuns, Wethersfield Rd, Finchingfield, CM7 4NR. Bridge, KY13 0QG 12:00 noon Ulster Meet and Eat - Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh. N. East Lucky Few Ride – The Lakeland Motor Museum. Meet 11am Corr’s Corner or 1pm at Folk Park. at McDonalds in Consett at 10am. Phil Oughtred – Western 13.30 Hood Memorial Hall. Devauden. NP16 6NX. On 01207 544851 / 07951 159025. the B4293 next to the Village Green - Bring and Buy N. East Natter Night – The Dun Cow, 7.30pm onwards Table Top sale S. East Club Night THE BULL, E. Farleigh, ME15 0HD. 8pm Yorkshire Cubley Hall Hotel, Penistone, S36 9DF. 12.00 noon. 32 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 12 Scottish Natter nite 7.30pm. Douglas Park Motorrad, 13 [email protected] Braeview Place, East Kilbride, G74 3XH Mercia Pensioners & Layabouts, 11am Pillaton Garden Centre 13 Irish Cork ride-out 6:30pm Great Gas Station (opposite on the B5012 just East of Penkridge, Cannock Road, the Island Gate Restaurant) Dave Power 087783663 Pillaton, Staffs ST19 5RZ. [email protected] Northern 18:30 The Highwayman, Peel, IOM Harvey Garton Oxford Pub Social, Waggon & Horses, Southmoor, OX13 01624 625140 or [email protected] 5BG from 19.00 hrs Oxford Pub Social, Sun Inn, Coate Water, Swindon, SN3 6AA S. West Tuesday Brunch, 11.00am, Engine House Compton from 19.00 hrs Park, Callington PL17 8EA Western 19.00 Evening Meeting at The Pheasant, Church Southern 8pm The Seven Stars, Newark Lane, Ripley, Surrey, Road, Pen y Fai, Bridgeend CF31 4LY Haydn Rees GU23 6DL 01656 659848 email [email protected] Western 11.00 Dick Lovett Motorrad, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol. 21 E. Anglia Lamb and Flag, Welney, PE14 9RB. 12:00 noon BS10 7TU. Monthly meeting with complimentary Midland Pub Meet: Griffens Head, 28 Wilby Road, Mears coffee and cakes Ashby, Northamptonshire, NN6 0DX. Start 7:30 14 Mercia Natter Night, 7.30pm The Dog, Henley Road, N. East Natter Night – Beresford Arms, 7.30pm onwards Mappleborough Green, Studley, B80 7DR. Northern 10:00 Midweek Run, Devils Bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale Mercia Natter Night, 7pm Clock Warehouse, London Road, [email protected] Mike Gibson 01229 Shardlow, Derby, DE72 2GL. 582787 N. East Lucky Few Ride – Dales Wanderer. Meet at Morrisons S. East Club Night THE BULL, E. Farleigh, ME15 0HD. 8pm Car Park in Consett. Rob Winstanley – 07908 150921. Southern 12 noon ‘Old Gits’ Loomies Diner, Loomies Cafe, West Northern 13:00 Gathering at Settle Market Place Barry Warner Meon Hut, GU32 1JX 01617 611702 22 Oxford Pub Social, The Red Lion, Evenley, Nr Brackley, NN13 S. East Midweek Run from COOPER, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 5SH from 19.00 hrs. 3UE. 10.30am Southern 8pm The Half Moon, 32 London Road, Petersfield, Western 12.15 Meet for luch at La Passione Restaurant 66 GU31 4BE Rounceval St, Chipping Sodbury, Bristol, BS37 6AR 23 - 25 E. Anglia Fakenham Race course, Fakenham, Norfolk, NR21 15 Southern 8pm Drusilla’s Inn, Cranborne Road, Wimborne 7NY Minster BH21 5AD 23 - 25 Irish Thatch Rally - Tralee Bay, Co Kerry. See “Around 15 - 18 GS Register GS Register Southern Rally (for the second year the Compass” for full details or email Elaine: book@ after the success of 2015) All Bookings Contact Paul bmwclub.ie; Rodriguez (Western Section Sorebutt Rally) Phone 23 - 25 Scottish Gathering in Kinlochleven. MacDonald Hotel & Cabins 07979 974005 & Camping, Fort William Road, Kinlochleven PH50 15 - 18 S. East Rother Valley Camping, Northiam, E. Sussex. (John 4QL. Burton 01323 841498) 23 - 25 Ulster Irish Section Thatch Rally. 15 - 18 Sidecar Sidecar Register ‘Southern Rally’ – the Western 24 S. West Saturday Ride out a Mystery Tour with Helen Beer Section have invited the Sidecar Register to their starting at top car park Moto Services junction 30 “SoreButts” rally in North Devon, EX34 9SH. Details 9.45am leave at10.00 ring Helen on 07866953940 in Around the Compas and on the Western Section Yorkshire The Biker’s Café, Fridaythorpe, YO25 9RX. 12 noon. calendar of events. Please contact Keith Thomas 25 E. Anglia Orwell Truckstop. A14 Eastbound, Nacton, Ipswich, in the first instance 019467 25152 or sidecar@ Suffolk IP10 0DD bmwclubuk.net if you think you might attend (with any Irish Galway ride out 11.00am Sweeney (Maldron) form of transport). Forecourt, Headford Road, Galway contact: Ronan 15 - 18 Western Sorebutts Rally at Mill Park camping & Touring Gill 087 0995028 [email protected] Caravan Park EX34 9SH. www.millparklimited.co.uk Mercia Meet at McDonalds, A52 / A38 Derby. Leave prompt - see Western Section Website for more information at 10am. Full tank of petrol please. The destination - Contact: Paul Rodriguez 07979 974005 is “The Oil Can Cafe” Butt Lane,Holmfirth,HD9 16 - 18 N. East Section Weekend Away. Either Lincolnshire or 1AF. Further details from run organiser / leader Ian Scotland. Details to follow. McNaughton 07503 083174 17 S. West Saturday Ride out Around Exmoor. Start 10.30 meet at Midland Ride in to Barnsdale Gardens, Tea Room. 12:00 till Bridge car park next to Bridge Inn in Dulverton TA22 3:00. Come and enjoy the Gardens in there early 9HJ. Full details of stops in news letter / website or autum colours, or just a last ride on the bike before ring Dave Fox Spencer 07786 957228 email david@ the cold sets in. windowsmagic.co.uk N. East Teesside Classic Bike Show at Coulby Newham, bikes 18 E. Anglia The Crossways Inn, Scole. 12:00 noon needed on club stand. Contact Ashley Boal – 07922 London Ride-out for Fish & Chips at Aldeburg, Suffolk leaving 140138. See The Journal and Forum for further Junction 26 at 0900 hrs. details. Mercia Breakfast Meet, 10am Salt Box Café, A511 Derby S. East Lunch - Coastguards Tearoom, Fairlight, TN35 4AB. Road, Foston (near Hatton), Derby, DE65 5PT. Run 2pm Northern 11:00 Brunch Meet, Market Square, Milnthorpe LA7 Scottish Lunch meet @ 12:30. Hopeville Social Club, 34 Harlaw 7QJ [email protected] Bob Harrison Road, Inverurie AB51 4SR 01257 793209 27 Irish Cork ride-out 6:30pm Great Gas Station (opposite Oxford Ride out: Kop Hill Climb, Princess Risborough. Meet the Island Gate Restaurant) Dave Power 087783663 at ‘H’ Café, Berinsfield, OX10 7LY at 09.30 for a 10.00 [email protected] start.Frank Butler (07833 469602 or frank.butler@ Southern 8pm The Seven Stars, Newark Lane, Ripley, Surrey, mdinsurance.co.uk) GU23 6DL S. East “Rove” with Ron R. Depart Thurrock Services (Petrol). 28 Oxford Pub Social, Fox & Hounds, Theale, RG7 4BE from 9.30am 19.00 hrs Scottish Lunch Meet @ 12.30. Buccleuch Arms Hotel, High Western 12.30 Meet at the Old Barn Tea Room Ystradgynwyn, Street, Moffat, DG10 9ET Torpantau, CF48 2UT. Southern Ride-out - Mystery Ride 29 Irish Dublin Meeting. West County Hotel, Chapelizod. 8:00 Yorkshire How Stean Gorge Café, HG3 5SF. 12 noon. PM Jim Sweeney 087 2300736 email: jimlucan@ 20 Irish Cork ride-out 6:30pm Great Gas Station (opposite gmail.com the Island Gate Restaurant) Dave Power 087783663 S. West Thursday Café Meet 12.00 Fishermans Cot Bickleigh, September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 33 Tiverton EX16 8RG Ron Lyford 01803 391 811 Suffolk, IP31 1SW. Free tea, coffee and biscuits from 30 S. East THE DOG & DUCK, Plucks Gutter, Nr. Stourmouth, 10:30am CT3 1JB. 7.30pm Irish Galway ride out 11.00am Sweeney (Maldron) Forecourt, Headford Road, Galway contact: Ronan 30 - 2 Oct Oxford Trip to BSB round at Assen. Details from Gill 087 0995028 [email protected] Henk Gouws (07823 330221) Irish Leinster Ride-out Spa Hotel (near Lucan) 10.00 am 30 - 3 Oct Oxford Norfolk Hotel weekend. Rosemary & David Jim Sweeney 087 2300736 email: jimlucan@gmail. Hicks (01869 240529 or rosemaryhicks@hotmail. com com) Irish Nth West Sunday Run - Patrick Munnelly 086 3383499 October [email protected] 1 Mercia Ride to the Wall. Details to follow Mercia Mercia Section AGM, 10.00am for tea and coffee. Free lunch time finger buffet supplied by Lorraine. Repton Midland Ride To The Wall. National Memorial Arboretum, Village Hall, Askew Grove, Repton, Derbyshire, DE65 Croxall Road,Airewas, Staffs DE14 7AR Details in 6GR. Journal. Midland Barnsdale Gardens, Tea rooms, The Avenue, Exton, S. West Saturday Ride Out with a visit to Healeys Cider Farm Oakham, Rutland, LE15 8AH SECTION AGM 12;00 Penhallow Truro Cornwall finishing in Padstow for TILL 3;00 fish and chips for those who want them. Don Rabson 01840 212913 start at 11.00am at Morrisons Bodmin N. East Un-led ride-out – Meet at The Waggon at 10am. Including Sunday Evening Natter Night from 6pm. Western 10.00 Riders of Cardiff, Sloper Road, Cardiff CF11 Northern 13:00 Section AGM, Knowle Green Village Hall PR3 8AB. Monthly meet with complimentary tea and 2YQ. Hot Pot followed by AGM at 14:00. northern. biscuits. Ride with Neville Jones at 11.00 into Wales [email protected] Lynn Sumner 01772 - Contact: N.Jones: 07860 532876 431324 2 E. Anglia Cricketers, Spring Lane, Fordham Heath, CO3 9TG. Oxford Ride out: National Motorcycle Museum. Meet at Pear 12:00 noon Tree Services, OX2 8JZ at 09.30 for a 10.00 hrs Mercia Breakfast / Brunch, 10am Barton Marina Tearooms, start. Dave Shanks (01869 573117 or dave.shanks@ Barton under Needwood, Burton on Trent, Staffs, bmwoxford.com). DE13 8DZ. S. West Sunday AGM at Whiddon down village Hall Phil Midland Wollaston Cafe Racer, BMW Wollaston, Bedford Sampson, Election of Committee and Officers. Road, Northampton, NN1 5SZ, Meeting starts 12:00 Scottish Scottish Section AGM. Rob Roy Hotel, Aberfoyle, FK8 till 15:00, Come and have lunch and a chat. 3UX N. East Led ride-out – South West Scotland. Meet at The Scottish Lunch Meet @ 12:00. Powmill Milk Bar, Rumbling Waggon at 10am. Roger Barr – 0191 366 5656 / 07875 Bridge, KY13 0QG 542549. Ulster Meet and Eat. 11am Corr’s Corner or 1pm Bushmills S. East “Cavort” with Cliff & Julie. Depart lay-by Oakdene Garden Centre. Cafe, Wrotham. 10am Western 13.30 Hood Memorial Hall. Devauden. NP16 6NX. Southern Forge Day with Dave Wright - 10 a.m. On the B4293 next to the Village Green Yorkshire TJ’s Café, Cracoe, BD23 6LB. 12.00 noon. Yorkshire Yorkshire Section AGM at the Cairn Hotel, Harrogate, 3 Southern 8pm The Cricketers Arms, 232 Chestnut Ave, North HG1 2JD. Start at 12.30p.m. Free tea, coffee and Stoneham, Chandlers Ford, SO53 3HN biscuits on arrival (from noon) and free light lunch 4 Irish Limerick Meeting, 8:00pm, Woodfield Hotel, Ennis of sandwiches etc following the meeting. There will Road, Limerick (Opposite GAA Ground). Pat Mulcahy also be a guest speaker Noel Whittal who will give an 0872377312 illustrated talk on his UK and European adventures Midland Pub Meet : The Three Kings, Saltersway, riding his 1918 Triumph Model H. Threekingham, Lincs.NG34 0AU Start 7:30 10 Scottish Natter nite 7.30pm. Douglas Park Motorrad, 13 Oxford Pub Social, Dashwood Arms, Piddington, HP14 3BH Braeview Place, East Kilbride, G74 3XH from 19.00 hrs 11 Oxford Pub Social, Waggon & Horses, Southmoor, OX13 Ulster AGM Club Meeting 8pm Corr’s Corner 5BG from 19.00 hrs. Western 20.00 The Bull Inn. 152 Droitwich Rd, Fernhill Heath, S. West Tuesday Brunch, Engine House Café Compton Park, Worcester. WR3 8RS. Monthly meeting - Contact: Ric Callington PL17 8EA Dentith 01905 754674 Southern 8pm The Seven Stars, Newark Lane, Ripley, Surrey, 5 E. Anglia Three Tuns, Wethersfield Rd, Finchingfield, CM7 4NR. GU23 6DL 12:00 noon Western 11.00 Dick Lovett Motorrad, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol. N. East Section AGM – Dun Cow. Primrose Hill, Houghton-le- BS10 7TU. Monthly meeting with complimentary Spring, DH4 6DY. Starts at 7.30pm prompt. coffee and cakes S. East Club Night THE BULL, E. Farleigh, ME15 0HD. AGM 12 Mercia Natter Night, 7pm Clock Warehouse, London Road, 8pm Shardlow, Derby, DE72 2GL. Southern 12 noon ‘Old Gits’ Loomies Diner, Loomies Cafe, West Mercia Natter Night, 7.30pm The Dog, Henley Road, Meon Hut, GU32 1JX Mappleborough Green, Studley, B80 7DR. Western 19.30 Lamb Inn, Iron Acton. BS37 9UZ: Monthly Northern 13:00 Gathering at Settle Market Place Barry Warner meeting. Contact: Denis Bradbeer 01454 775786 01617 611702 6 Southern 8pm The Half Moon, 32 London Road, Petersfield, S. East Midweek Run from COOPER, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 GU31 4BE 3UE. 10.30am Yorkshire Lunch Meeting at the The Ham and Cheese, Main 13 Midland Pub Meet :The Old Reindeer, Main Street, Edingley, Street, Scagglethorpe, Malton YO17 8DY, Tel 01944 Notts, NG22 8DE. Start 19:30 758249 http://www.hamandcheeseinn.co.uk If 14 S. East THE WHITE HART, Lower Horsebridge, (A271), BN27 you intend to join us, please contact: Peter Brindle 4DJ. 7.30pm [email protected] 01904 672883 14 - 16 Northern Bob Crawleys Hotel Event - 2 nights, location TBA. 7 - 9 Southern Hotel Weekend - Fisherman’s Cot, Bickleigh, Devon [email protected] Bob Crawley 01573 8 Yorkshire The Ignition Coffee, 256 Hull Road, Anlaby, Hull HU4 223203 7RR 15 - 17 S. East Weymouth Beach Races with George. (Details see 9 E. Anglia AGM at Fornham Village Hall. Starts 11am Sharp! Social Secretary) Village Hall, Fornham St Martin, Bury St Edmunds, 16 E. Anglia The Crossways Inn, Scole. 12:00 noon 34 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 London Mick Miles`s Cotswold Run. Meeting place and details Yorkshire The Biker’s Café, Fridaythorpe, YO25 9RX. 12 noon. to be confirmed. Contact Peter Jones for an update. 23 E. Anglia The Rose Café, London Rd, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 Mercia Breakfast Meet, 10am Salt Box Café, A511 Derby 8TG Road, Foston (near Hatton), Derby, DE65 5PT. Irish Irish Section AGM - to be held in Leenane House N. East End of Season Hard Arse ride out – Meet at Wolviston Hotel @ 10.30am Contact Club Secretary: Patrick Services (A19 / A689) at 9.30am for 10am departure. Munnelly 086 3383499 [email protected]; Tim Gorman – 07718 057278. Irish Galway ride out 11.00am Sweeney (Maldron) Scottish Lunch Meet @ 12.30. Buccleuch Arms Hotel, High Forecourt, Headford Road, Galway contact: Ronan Street, Moffat, DG10 9ET Gill 087 0995028 [email protected] Southern Southern Section AGM - 10.30 a.m. Oxford &Western Skittles challenge – Oxford Section v Yorkshire How Stean Gorge Café, HG3 5SF. 12 noon. Western Section. Wellesley Arms, Sutton Benger, 18 Mercia Pensioners & Layabouts, 11am Pillaton Garden Centre SN15 4RD. Contestant / attendees names to on the B5012 just East of Penkridge, Cannock Road, John Broad 01869 324008 or john.broad85@ Pillaton, Staffs ST19 5RZ. talktalk.net please. Chips & bangers available. Northern 18:30 The Highwayman, Peel, IOM Harvey Garton Western Section see section website. 01624 625140 or [email protected] S. East “Autumn Leaves” with Kevin. Depart Maidstone Oxford Pub Social, Sun Inn, Coate Water, Swindon, SN3 6AA Services (Petrol). 10.30am from 19.00 hrs S. West Sunday Pub meet 12.00 the Queens Head, 79/80 19 E. Anglia Lamb and Flag, Welney, PE14 9RB. 12:00 noon West Street, Tavistock PL19 8AQ (Wetherspoons) Midland Pub Meet: Griffens Head, 28 Wilby Road, Mears Don Rabson 01840 212913 Ashby, Northamptonshire, NN6 0DX. Start 7:30 Scottish Lunch meet @ 12:30. Hopeville Social Club, 34 Harlaw N. East Natter Night – Beresford Arms, 7.30pm onwards Road, Inverurie AB51 4SR Northern 10:00 Midweek Run, Devils Bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale 25 Southern 8pm The Seven Stars, Newark Lane, Ripley, Surrey, [email protected] Mike Gibson 01229 GU23 6DL 582787 26 Oxford Pub Social, Fox & Hounds, Theale, RG7 4BE from S. East Club Night THE BULL, E. Farleigh, ME15 0HD. “Photo 19.00 hrs Competition”. 8pm Western 12.30 Meet at the Old Barn Tea Room Ystradgynwyn, Southern 12 noon ‘Old Gits’ Loomies Diner, Loomies Cafe, West Torpantau, CF48 2UT. Meon Hut, GU32 1JX 27 Irish Dublin Meeting. West County Hotel, Chapelizod. 8:00 20 Southern 8pm Drusilla’s Inn, Cranborne Road, Wimborne PM Jim Sweeney 087 2300736 email: jimlucan@ Minster BH21 5AD gmail.com Southern 8pm The Half Moon, 32 London Road, Petersfield, Oxford Pub Social, The Red Lion, Evenley, Nr Brackley, NN13 GU31 4BE 5SH from 19.00 hrs. 21 - 23 Irish Leenane Hotel Weekend - See “Around the Compass” S. West Thursday Café Meet 12.00 Fishermans Cot Bickleigh, for full details or email Elaine: [email protected]; Tiverton EX16 8RG Ron Lyford 01803 391 811 21 - 23 Ulster Irish Section Weekend, Leenane, Co. Galway. 28 S. East THE KINGS ARMS, Biggin Hill, BR2 6DU. 7.30pm 22 Western Scenic Ride Out with Nick & Monica. Meet at Tintern 28 - 30 Yorkshire “Yorkshire goes to Scotland” Hotel weekend. At Abbey Car Park 10.00am returning to Abbey Coffee Portpatrick Hotel near Stranraer. Contact: - Piers: Shop, Wye Valley Centre, Tintern, Monmouthshire [email protected] Tel: 08766 622196 NP16 6SE - Contact: Nick & Monica 01594 835917 30 S. East Lunch -Tenterden Garden Centre, Tenterden, TN30 or 01454 775786 7HT. Run 1pm

September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 35 Section and Register News Please send all Section News entries and contact detail changes to Section News (see page 3 for details) - not to the Editor please. come up and I will somehow make room for it in the BMW Cruiser Rally, (organised by The BMW East Anglia Section garage (we have seven bikes between us now so Cruiser Club in Austria) in Hipping, Austria that they three more to go to get to double figures !) went to with other club member John Walsh in early Sunday Café meet at Lollipop Diner had a good turn I would like to finish with a contribution from Gerry July was a great success. The rally was attended nine members, there was already three bikes there Douglas Sherwood – by 185 chromeheads on 85 cruisers, with people when I arrived at 09.50 with several more arriving Just in case you may not have received a report after me, in all about 10 bikes from the club plus a from Austria, Germany, France, Spain, Slovenia, on the Sizewell do last Sunday, I can confidently few other bikes as well, I could not make it to the Belgium, England, Wales & Scotland and Tony/ say it was a great success. It’s a popular spot that Sizewell Café meeting due to surgery on my knee Anne and John on their 2 cruisers from Ireland. attracted not only a goodly bunch of Club members, but Ken Mullet came in the shop yesterday and This was held over 3 days, with ride-outs averaging but also a wide assortment of people enjoying the informed me that there was a pretty good turn out 180k each day in great weather and they partied delights of Sizewell and the surrounding district. and there was a lot of bikes there in addition to the late into the night, with great music, food and craic Access was straightforward, the café deserved club members, Ken reports that everyone seemed in the marquee adjoining their hotel in Hipping its commendations for quality of food and service. to have a good breakfast but that it is definitely a until the wee small hours. The next Cruiser rally in There was plenty of safe, firm parking with instant summer venue as there was not enough room for Europe will be held in Allsace in early July next year access to the beach and sand dunes. This venue everyone inside the cafe and is being organised by the BMW Cruiser Club comes highly recommended for a repeat visit. Ken also tells me that there was a good turnout in France. The previous Thursday Louise and I attended at the Three Tuns mid-week meeting with a couple George’s funeral in Enfield. George’s family was of members attending for the first time, each time well represented, but taking into account Louise I have been to the Cricketer’s there has been a is no longer a member of the BMW Club and was good turnout, usually about 20 bikes, I have not there purely as a friend and acquaintance of many managed to make it to the Crossways Inn yet this years standing, I was the only Club representative, year, I always seem to be busy on that Sunday but having known George ever since I joined the I am planning to make it to the next meet there so Cub in 1977. It struck us as being a pretty poor by the time you read this I will have finally been to showing set against the number of members who all the Sunday meetings, I am told the Crossways would recognise George’s contribution towards the always gets a good turnout so I look forward to running of the Club both on a national and sectional getting there. level. That brings me to my dilemma, I have a few Gerry members wanting the 5 miles put back on the I must admit that I am surprised that Gerry was Sunday calendar, I know at one stage when Peter the only club member there, We would have both was social sec that he tried having the 5 miles and attended if I had not had surgery only two days the Crossways on the same Sunday, personally I did prior to the funeral, we did discuss Jenny attending not think it was a good idea and that was confirmed on her own but getting there was a problem and by a number of members who when they were in with me out of the shop it was just too busy to get the Adventure Bike Shop asked me if I knew which away, George did a lot for the club over many many one they should go to, my reply was take your pick years and as s former President of the club as well I don’t know which is best or busiest, maybe the as American rep, section secretary and regular one that is closest ? I have been to the Chequers a contributor he deserved better from the club. couple of times this year and ok the first time was February but the weather was ok but there was only Cliff Batley two of us, both on bikes turned up, next time it was April and there were about five bikes plus about five [email protected], 07966 cars, a reasonable turnout I thought. 015607 So – Most of the meetings are reasonable well attended including the Café meets so which one do I drop from the calendar to make space for the 5 Irish Section Miles? At the moment if I was to change any of the meets it would be to swap the Chequers for the 5 All is quiet at this end, everyone away on family Miles, how do you the membership feel about that? holidays or trips on their bikes. Rides going well but please let me know, ideally by email please but you our Irish summer and liquid sunshine is putting a can call me if you like, I need your feedback before damper on things. Dave tells me in Cork runs are all the section AGM in October so that I can get next going well on the Tuesday evenings, well attended Our next club event is the Thatch in Tralee Bay, year’s calendar organised. putting up a lot of miles touching in on good biking probably booked out by the time you’re reading If you are not attending the national rally the Café roads and scenic areas. this and this is the second-last event of the club meet at Whitwell might be worth a visit as they will In Galway Ronan Gill is gone mad for road ride- year, after that we will have the North west hotel have steam trains running, most weekends they outs most Sundays due to some cancellations due weekend in Leenane, a very good event and always only have the diesel engines so it will probably be to very wet weather. Ronan is putting a lot of effort well attended with the AGM the Sunday morning at busy, I shan’t be there myself as we will be away at into recruiting new members, with BMW club flyers 10:30 sharp after breakfast and should only take the Overland event on the bank holiday weekend handed out at every opportunity, maybe we should about one hour so here is a chance to air your views I have to have this report submitting just a day all be as dedicated as we are an aging club with to make this a better club for all members. Thats or so before Lind Motorrad have their 8th birthday members falling. about it till next time, celebration, I will be there with the club stand with In the Northwest, we are struggling with the Pat. Dik and a few others, hopefully we will have seen second Sunday ride-outs with just myself, Miffy, a good few members there but hopefully we will John and Sarah Vesey showing for the last few recruit a few new members on the day, I will take my ride-outs. Its a lot of effort for two bikes so come London Section old R100RS and the club gazebo to Norwich and join in, if you want us to do something different just then the next day take them both to the Langford let us know, we can go to the cinema or bingo or The Section News, for August, below, should have Bike Show on the 7th, I hope to see many members something. appeared in the August Journal but it did not - This there and enjoy looking at a selection of bikes, I In Dublin the ride-outs are well attended with was due to Steve Foreman being away on holiday especially enjoy seeing lots of bikes from the 70’s as some good interesting places being visited . I ( his fault ) and me having been instructed to send that’s the era when I got my first bike (A BSA A7 500 had the pleasure of meeting Brendan Lang and our news directly to the Editor, which I did in good Twin which I used to ride on the old disused airfield Jim Sweeney in Donegal town last Saturday for time; However, I got one digit wrong in the e mail behind my parents) the bikes that really influenced dinner as they were doing photo points in the area. address and therefore it did not arrive as intended. me in my teen age years were the Honda CB400/4 Brendan on his slick 1200GS, very nice, and as for My fault ( entirely !! ) and the BMW R90S, then a friends dad bought a Jim he should pay less property tax and more road A bunch of us had a nice little August Ride-out, in brand new R100S in smoke red, wanted one ever tax because that Yamaha never leaves the road. good weather, to the Hatton Locks, in Warwickshire since but never did get one, maybe one day one will I hear from Tony and Anne McDonald that the accompanied by Bill and Anna on their first 36 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 outing with the Section. I think that they enjoyed [email protected] bag and the holiday saved for 147 euros. we then themselves and hopefully we will see more of them headed across to Dusseldorf to catch the overnight in the future. train to Vienna, second surprise Andy and Jane Sunday, 18th September, will see us heading Mercia Section arrived with no Paul or Heather we then hear there off to Aldeburgh, ( did anyone spot the “deliberate” had been an accident and they had been knocked Charlie Hall has sent in this report on his July fish spelling mistake in the Section Diary of Events ? ) off, the bike was in a bad way, Heather having a and chip run: Once the rendezvous was left this run on the Suffolk Coast, for fish and chips; this will be broken leg and Paul being knocked about, our proved to be totally rain free -much to the delight a 200ish mile round trip and so a prompt start is a best wishes go out to them. this was still the first of the six of us (Ian, Ian, Max, Arthur, Bob Ingram day of the holiday, we boarded the train, having called for – off at 0900 sharp ( ish ) and myself). When is the summer going to begin? put the bike on a train before it is still a daunting For October, Mick Miles seems to have “gone to Two stops were planned- Scarcliffe bike meet and task even I have to duck, well it is a GSA. once all ground” and so I will be leading the annual Cotswold Matlock Bath. the bikes were strapped down we were off, a few Run and I am open to suggestions as to a change of The bike meet at the Elm Tree Pub is a good one hours into the journey there was a smell of smoke lunch venue – there are plenty that I can think of but and easily and quickly reached from Derby via the in the carriges the next thing we stopped at Bonn “you” may have a better idea . Let me know ! A38 and M1. There were plenty of bikes already Station and told to evacuate the train, so we are By the time you read this our last 2016 Club Track there and there is always something to catch now on Bonn Station in our PJ’s waiting to see if Day will have passed and it may have been our last. the eye. A favourite for some was a 1948 Norton we can carry on our journey, the problem was an Organizing these events is extremely stressful ( for International which had been recently restored. overheating brake melting the bearing grease RB) and is dependent on participants support which Food and drink is available; it is good. once sorted we continued on to another wonderful is often very much lacking until the last moment. After a brew we set off for Matlock Bath; it is a holiday, the weather was great, the places we The August day is now fully subscribed ( at time decent run at that time of night with little traffic to stayed and visited were brilliant, and all the people of writing) with disappointed late applicants having hinder good progress. We were greeted at Matlock on the tour perfect, in some place’s on the rides the been being turned away, but this was not the case a Bath by Dave Morris who went by car as he is road simply run out with us all keeping going on couple of weeks previous. recuperating from a minor op. The gastronomical gravel roads this was the times when Kieran and With Dave Ensor in retirement I have offered RB feast at Kostas Café was eagerly anticipated and Sharon’s 1600GTL became a GTLGS, Hats off to support but I am not blessed with Dave`s computer the ‘mini fish deal’ was the most popular, which at them and everyone else we just kept going. I did skills and as bulk e mailing seems to be a problem £4 includes a drink - a bargain! Parking charges forget to mention that the ride to Harwich was some maybe someone in the London Section could help have yet to be introduced, how it will be monitored of the worst rain I have ridden in, the visibility on the in this regard – if so, get in touch. is open to speculation but during the weekdays I A14 was down to a few yards we all made it to the Off to Snetterton now, in the meantime, go wouldn’t imagine it will be a problem. pub for the first of many meals together, although carefully. Current weather forecasts are unreliable and this they did have to keep mopping the floor by us, many run proved the point of ‘just get out there and do it’! Peter Jones thanks Steve for another memorable holiday. Adrian Sedden sent in this report of his Staffs and Wales run: Five riders left Uttoxeter Services London Section August promptly at 9.30, Steve Ikin, Charlie, Bobby Ingram, myself and Tony who took the role of last man Well, those of you who did`nt take part in the Charlie. We made our way over to The Swan with Section June French Hotel “weekend” missed a Two Necks at Blackbrook for a further pick up via the great “craic” altogether ; during our five day trip the back lanes, enjoying the landscape. Unfortunately sun only came out twice – once for two days & once there was nobody waiting so we pushed on to for three. Actually, it did rain a little bit but Brittany, Dobbies Nursery at Shrewsbury for our coffee and the venue and the company made up for it; the cake break, picking up Ian Morris plus John & Rosie only complaint that I had was that my Room at the Green. Back on the road we quickly got back into Hotel ( at extra cost for a “sea view” ) was looking the countryside and enjoyed what it threw at us, directly at a stand of mature trees . One could get a pushing along when we could. We finally arrived at glimpse of the water but only through the foliage or Crossgate Cafe in the drizzle for lunch. After lunch by hanging out of one side of the widow using the we left Crossgate and headed towards Newtown on nearby Rainwater Downpipe for support. It did`nt the A483 enjoying the twisties and on to Knighton, really matter though because it was dark when we then Craven Arms and finally to the end point of the got back to our rooms at night and, in the morning ride at Telford Services; only to discover we had lost is was a rush to get down to petit dejeuner before Tony with a rear flat 3 miles down the road. Thanks Block Buster Marks consumed all of the Oeufs to John and Rosie who returned with me to find him. which he nearly managed every day. Tony plus one sad bike enjoyed the ride home on a Clive ( Blazers) had a problem with his Ferry back of a breakdown lorry! crossing to Le Havre – something to do with the Just to update you all of a last minute run sailing schedules apparently not coinciding with his organised by Ian McNaughton on Sunday 25th initial ticket acquisition to the extent that poor Clive September 2016. Ian will depart from McDonalds at did not know whether he was coming or going or, the junction of the A38 / A52 Derby, at 10am prompt. in which particular order ! - suffice to say that new Please allow time to get a drink and fill up with fuel tickets were purchased and all was well in the end. before the start time. Destination address is “The Oil Can Cafe” Butt Grahame, “ you don`t want to do that” ( ex Lane, Holmfirth, HD9 1AF. Chairman, London Section) actually should have The week after we came back there was a rideout The Mercia Section AGM will take place at the “done that” and stayed in a cheap Ibis type Hotel, on to the long mynd in Shropshire, this saw 10 bikes Repton Village Hall, Askew Grove, Repton, Derby, the way back to Cherbourg , like “what we did” on and 15 people meet at the M42/A5 services we DE65 6GR – details in the Journal. All posts are our way back to Calais ; our cheap Hotel was cheap left there after tea and coffee and made our way to up for re-election as always. Please send your but clean and very comfortable – directed to a local Craven Arms after more tea and something to eat. nominations for elected posts and any apologies Chinese carvery (help yourself) type Restaurant, for Those that wanted to followed Steve up and over for absence to Section Secretary Jane Scott by 30 our evening meal, we (Blockbuster, Section Sec. & the Long Mynd, I had forgotten what a stunning ride September. The meeting will commence at 10am for Moir ) enjoyed a very grand feast and a lift home by it is over this small road and in some circumstances coffee and tea with a planned AGM start at 11am. the proprietor who insisted on driving us back to our and in some places it can be quite challenging Hotel free of charge – he would not accept a penny Colin Ainsworth [email protected] anyway over we went after photo’s we continued ( or cent – good job as these are now worth a very phone 07799 653789 back to Craven Arms for more tea and then the ride small fortune – bloody referendum ! ) Apparently home. A round trip for me of 300 miles, thanks to all those that turned out as there was a few from the Grahame`s “you do want to do that” Hotel was crap! Twitter – AinsworthColin @BMWClubMercia A reminder that this years final Club Track Day , holiday and I think we all did the same milage or at Snetterton, is on Monday 8th August – apparently more. Next for us was the pub meet at The Griffens Cadwell was wet but we always seem to be lucky at Midland Section Head, 8 of us duley arrived with Shane and Denise Snetterton so sign up if you have not already done even turning up on their new 1600 GTL, we all so. July has been a busy month for the section the sat outside which I think is a first for us. The next Next Ride-out after receiving this Journal is to start of the month saw a few of us away on tour to weekend was the Barnfarm at Birchover weekend The Tiger Inn, East Dean, for lunch on Sunday 21st Slovenia and Croatia. The tour started with a few Graham Parker has put a few words together for August. mishaps, the first being that someone forgot all their this weekend, Teresa and I was unable to attend Off to attend classic Le Mans for a few now , in medication [no names writer’s privilege] this meant this weekend and sounds like we missed a good the meantime, go carefully. that the first stop in Holland was a Chemest shop one . to see what could be done to save the holiday, as it “Over the week end of July 22nd 24th the Midland Peter Jones was we came out with all my medication in a carrier section held a camping weekend in Derbyshire at September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 37 Barn Farm in the small but pleasant village of averaged 23mph but managed a heady 30mph on the Ribble valley. Climbing up out of the valley on to Birchover, the return. Barry Warner was the lead rider on the the high moor road we quickly left the rain behind 44 members attended the weekend after dash back to the campsite which accounts for the before dropping into Ribblesdale at Langcliffe. assembling on Friday and the ritual assembly of the high average speed. Considering the type of single Here the main road let the bikes breathe as far as section marquee which turned out to be a bit of a track grassy roads we were using I think we did Ribblehead where the pub beckoned for some more problem as George forgot the assembly instructions, very well and were suitably worn out on returning rehydration; necessary now in the afternoon heat. but we got there in the end. Friday evening and to Rhayader. Hardly saw a car all day. Interesting Onwards to Hawes and the interesting road up to most of the members scuttled off to the local pub that participant Dennis Rushton from Rochdale Garsdale Head, and thence to Sedbergh. From for food and booze (AGAIN as we do) Saturday and rode the same roads in the 1967 Welsh three day there it was but a short hop back to Devil’s Bridge, a run around Derbyshire and the Staffordshire hills trial on his 250 Greeves. He produced the original and the end of the run. My thanks to the others for taking in some of my best playing ground (well on 1967 programme for our interest. Wednesday having faith in what the day might bring and turning the back of a RT ) and under strict instruction to evening saw everyone in the pub watching Wales up despite the ominous forecast. keep away from the fords and grass covered roads, being beaten at football by some other team, can’t September events include John Bell’s breakfast (well I did follow one of the instructions) 14 bikes remember who they were. event on the 4th, Knowle Green on the 11th, and 19 members started the run and using the Paul and Heather Stewart were knocked off their Barry Warner’s Settle on the 14th, Brunch meet in drop off system got most of us around but we did bike in Holland on the first day of a summer tour, Milnthorpe on the 18th, Peel in the Isle of Man on managed to lose one of the bikes at some point, being hit from behind by an out of control vehicle the 20th and Mike Gibson’s midweek run on the after a short stop for coffee at Monsal Head and on the motorway. Unfortunately Heather suffered a 21st. to take in the views and a further meander into broken ankle hence the fetching red leg enclosure Don’t forget the Section AGM on Sunday, October the Edale hills and down to Grindleford Station for she was wearing at the July Knowle Green meeting. the 9th at Knowle Green. Complimentary hotpot a spot of lunch. I did warn the members that this Paul escaped injury but his nice new 1200GS was at 1 o’clock followed by the meeting at 2 o’clock. place does not understand a small lunch even a written off in the crash. Full marks to BMW recovery Should you want a go at being a committee member chip cob is a major task to consume. who transported Paul and Heather home very contact Lynn for the relevant form. A few games to pass some of the evening around efficiently. The bike was repatriated just two days Pam and I should have been at the Section’s the section marquee and more booze again!|The after the accident. We wish Heather a speedy and Scottish Strathpeffer hotel event in August. Since weather was perfect. Saturday evening and a full recovery. you will be reading this in September we hope to planned BBQ with a short quiz and a very warm have seen lots of you there. and dry and pleasant just to sit outside. It was nice to have some guests from the North East section Bob Harrison Eric and wife along with members from Yorkshire, Northern, and Western sections, Thanks to all the members who helped with the BBQ and the North East Section weekend.” Hello all, me again! I am sitting writing this in a static Graham Parker caravan in The New Forest in typical British weather The 28th saw 5 bike’s and 6 people turn up at with two hyper kids and having an interesting AJ’s Diner after tea and breakfast we started out time. I hope your travels have taken you to some for a ride through the Northamptonshire villagesto wonderful places so you can tell us about them at a end up at the Navigation Pub in Stoke Bruerne this Natter Night soon. all started out as a nice comfortable ride on small I bumped into a lovely couple after finishing our country roads, at the furthest point away the sky Stick Man trail while I was admiring a lovely Land changed and it started to rain, I stopped to change Rover Defender as they came back and found me. from summer gloves to waterproof ones and put After explaining it was purely admiration, I noticed on overtrousers the rain came down harder a few the chap had a BMW Enduro T-shirt on, well that miles on and I stopped again and we decided on was it. He and his partner Hayley told us all about the quickest route to the pub sat navs are wonderful their GSA watercooled and the F650GS they had things in the right hands, not necessarily my hands, and it was good to know they had recently joined we got there in the end is all I’m saying. our club in the Oxford Section. It was so nice That night Teresa and I went to BMW Wollaston’s meeting club folk completely out of context and for their Start Of Summer BBQ and guess what I got having a good chat. another soaking getting there and getting home, but We begin the month with a Led ride out led by nice to meet a few club member’s there and have Simon Johnston on Sunday 4th September, riding a nice burger. his popular Coast and Castle run, and this is followed Looking ahead a reminder that the Section AGM by Phil Oughtred’s Lakeland Motor Museum ride is on the 9th October at Barnsdale Tea Rooms for his Lucky Few Ride on the Wednesday 7th Meeting to start at 12:15 this allows us time to get September. The Yorkshire Section is going to the the tables sorted out. The visit to CCM Motorcycles of Bolton, organised Saltburn Hill Climb on Sunday 11th September, so September starts with the ever populer Hope by David Mathers, attracted ten of us on a rainy if you are free get yourself along to join them. We valley camping weekend, rideout and BBQ on Friday morning in July. David gave an entertaining have Rob Winstanley’s first foray into ride leading Saturday see Journal for details. the usual pub and informative presentation on his 6500 mile ride on Sunday 14th September heading into the Dales meets are on during the month and on the 25th there through Africa in 2015 aboard his own CCM GP450. from Morrision’s in Consett. Hope you have a good is a ride in to Barnsdale gardensfor perhaps the last The staff gave us a short talk on the history of CCM first ride out Rob. ride before the cold arrives although for some of us followed by a tour of the compact factory where the Ashley Boal has emailed me the following plug there is Ghent in Belgium to look forward to, this is bikes are assembled. Six of us took the opportunity for the Teesside Classic Bike Show that he is co- the finel section trip of a busy year. to go for a ride on the bikes along a variety of roads ordinating which will be a great chance for us to That I think is about it for now this month, including some unpaved and muddy sections. Very sign up some new members and strengthen our September could be another busy month with impressive machines fitted with the BMW 450 membership south of Durham. So please come and plenty to look forward to. single cylinder engine. Such a light machine and a complete contrast to our usual heavy road bikes. support this show if you are able. Jim Beach Thank you to David for organising the event. The Teesside Classic Bike show 2016 is being Mike Gibson’s Midweek Run Report 20- held on Sunday 25th September. Once again it 07415 683120 July-2016. The day didn’t start off well. Dark is to be held in the grounds of the Middlesbrough skies illuminated with many flashes of lightning & District Motor Club at Coulby Manor, Coulby accompanied by heavy rain and the road like a river. Newham, Middlesbrough, TS8 0RP. The show runs [email protected] Ah, well, let’s go. By Kirkby Lonsdale the storm had from 10am – 4pm and the club intends on having a abated and the sky looked promising to the east. presence there this year to promote both the profile Northern Section That’s the direction the other seven hardy souls of the club and BMW motorcycles. and myself headed. A good decision as when we The show is open to bikes made around the mid- The July midweek camping event in Rhayader went stopped for coffee at Gargrave the sun was shining 90s. So if you have a classic ‘Airhead’ or ‘Brick’ that very well with eleven of us attending on two BMWs, and the roads dry. Rehydrated, we continued to join you are willing to display, please let Ashley Boal, two Hondas, three Yamahas and one Vincent. One the Harrogate road as far as Bolton Abbey where who is the co-ordinator for this event, know on 07922 BMW, one Honda and one Yamaha were attached the Wharfedale road led us to Burnsall and our 140138. The show is free to exhibitors and there is to an adjacent sidecar which was nice to see. lunch stop. After a pleasant meal by the river we a small charge for day visitors. The motorcycle club Club members came from Northern, Midland and carried on through Grassington and Kilnsey to pick has refreshments available throughout the day. If Western Sections. Four solo bikes went on the up the valley of the river Skirfare. Really, this was to you are able to come and support this event, come Saturday rideout of 130 miles. Ridng to our chosen avoid the darkening sky and lightish rain which we on down. It gives the section the opportunity to head destination of a water driven wool weaving mill we had caught up, in favour of blue skies over towards southbound and showcase our section. 38 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 Advance warning – Our Section AGM is taking BMW bikes to pull onto the area by the club stand in fine form. 80 next birthday and still one of the best place at the Dun Cow on Wednesday 5th October, even if they didn’t want to. David & Rosemary set on his NEW 1200GS WC.” starting at 7:30 prompt. Please submit any up their gazebo as the focus for the Section, which Reminders: nominations for the governing roles in the section proved to be useful later in the evening when it 9 – 11 September: The Vicar & Beemer Ed to Simon Johnston for inclusion by Friday 30th rained rather heavily. Camping weekend in Moffat. September. Please make every effort to attend Over at Calne, John Russ had set up a gazebo 23 – 25 September: Kinlochleven Gathering: as your views are important in the running of the and the club banners in our usual place to make Sheltered Camping, low cost Cabins for a bit more section and any ideas or changes are best carried an excellent presentation with member’s bikes comfort and B&B. Breakfast available in the Hotel out after consultation with as many as possible attracting visitors. Phil Carter organised a short, for campers/cabiners and a Drying room that works. instead of the usual suspects. The last few years short notice ride (SNR) from the Sun Inn to the Meet up in the Bothy Bar in the evening for a meal, have shown a definite downturn in the numbers Calne event by wandering round Wiltshire for a bit. a few drinks and good company then stagger a few attending, so come along and be heard. Thanks. All those who went on the ride did enjoy it though yards to bed in tent, cabin or hotel. There is a plan for a section trip to the Isle of and so thank you Phil. They do have some very Scottish Section AGM will be held on Sunday Man in September 2017 to replace the advertised tasty home made cakes for sale at Calne as many 9 October at the Rob Roy Hotel, Aberfoyle, FK8 Section Weekend Away this year. As usual this will members can testify. 3UX. Time: 11.30am for coffee/tea, meeting to only be a viable option if there is enough interest The pub socials are being well attended and start 12 noon followed by a soup & sandwich to go on a first come, first served basis. If this is proving to be friendly places to meet up with old lunch. ALL committee positions Secretary / something you would be interested in, please talk and new friends. If you haven’t been, pop along and Membership Secretary, Treasurer, Social Secretary to Simon or me so we can gauge section-wide enjoy the company. and 2 Committee members are up for re-election. interest. Once we confirm viability, we can then look Our esteemed President is going to lead us on a Nomination forms can be downloaded from the at practicalities of ferries and cost of hotels. ride up on the downs on the 11th September that he Scottish Forum, Scottish website or contact Marjorie Well that is all for now. Take care and ride safely. tells me will visit places people never knew existed; Burnett, Scottish Section Secretary address/ tel no. sounds intriguing. page 28 of Journal or email scottish.secretary@ Bradley Gane Other members will be off to Europe and even to bmwclubuk.net Nominations and items for the Norfolk where I understand there are lots of steam agenda must be with Marjorie, at least, 28 days [email protected] railway museums to see. prior to the date of the AGM. If you would like to get For those who have never been to the Kop Hill involved in the running of your section now is your Oxford Section Climb, near Princess Risborough, you’ve been opportunity. Find a sponsor and 2 seconders and missing a treat. Frank Butler will be leading a ride send in your nomination form. out from the ‘H’ Café on the 18th September and I If you require the free lunch please let me know. With the year rapidly going past we are reminded recommend this as a good day out. The reason for asking is to ensure we order enough that ‘time waits for no man’ and maybe this is true Looking further ahead we have the regular food for all but do not order too much and waste for the ride out on the 10th July, ably led by Dick Skittles Challenge where this year the Oxford section funds (your money). Robinson to Abberley Clock Tower, his first as leader Section will attempt to extract defeat from the jaws For anyone wishing to stay Saturday night prior of a run. Dick reported that there were “18 people of victory again. If you fancy supporting the section, to the meeting The Rob Roy Hotel is offering dinner on 13 bikes headed towards Evesham on the A44 let me know as soon as possible please. bed & breakfast at £80.00 for a double//twin room with a ‘landing’ at the Wayside Tea Room just over Even further ahead in November, Oxfordshire or £60.00 per room breakfast only based on two an hour later for bacon butties. Continuing towards Fire & Rescue have offered us another special sharing. To book tel: 01877 382245 Quote BMW Abberley, the eagle-eyed were able to see the clock “Biker Down Workshop” evening for BMW Club Club tower from several miles distance as it can be seen members on the 10th November at the Slade As always please check for latest news or from six counties. Tony, our guide, took us right up Fire Station, Headington. If you are interested in information, if there is any, on our website www. to the bell chamber and parapet with wonderful attending please let me have your names ASAP as thebmwclubscottish.com or Facebook or Scottish views - passing several rooms on the way. He there are only 12 places available. demonstrated the clock winding mechanism and When it stops raining, this time of the year can be Forum answered all our questions with enthusiasm”. The really good, make the most of it as, remember ‘time Ride safe. success can be summed by one attendee as “many waits for no man’! Judy: tel. 01592 874592 or email: social@ thanks to Dick and Jane for an excellent ride out thebmwclubscottish.com today, fabulous route, cracking pace and no one John L Broad lost, enjoyed the tour of the tower as well. Cracking day”. Dick also thanked Geoff Clough for assisting [email protected] and being tail ender. Southern Section or check the website at bmwcluboxford.com You can tell the summer has come as July was a busy month. There were 8 of us at Guildford Archery & https://www.facebook.com/groups/ session on 9th July in ideal weather. The club kindly bmwoxford/. supplied us with volunteers, and after kitting us all out with our equipment and bows and arrows, we Scottish Section were given the ‘safety talk’. We were then let loose at the targets. Practise makes perfect, or so we During July a large number of Scottish Section thought, but for some of us the arrows went all over members clocked up many miles. Two groups made the place. They even needed a metal detector to their separate ways to Garmisch and met up at the find one of mine. Anyway, with time we improved, BMW Motorrad Days. From the postings and photos and with the final tally, Richard Evans was the on the Scottish Section Facebook page a great time highest scorer, but he did have his own bow and was had by all. arrow. Erica was second, so the ladies did not Some things seem better if time slows down a Our irrepressible Gerry posted on the Forum: disgrace themselves. Great time had by all. bit and that might be said of the excellent run to “Pete & Diane Smith and us Watt’s travelled via the Morgan Car factory on the 18th July. Morgan Newcastle and Amsterdam to Vianden, then met up Cars have a history of manufacturing in the good with Jim Esson in the Jura a couple of weeks ago. old traditional ways although not all has stood still We toured down to Provence the pretty way ... apart as the Aero 8 shows. In fact they are right up to date from Grenoble, which bitter experience had taught with the latest version of their three wheeler that us was best “transitted” on the motorway and down is electrically powered but that was hidden away. to a charming hotel in the hills near Mt Ventoux. Rob Allin made the arrangements and 33 members Striking it lucky with the weather we had a series rode to Malvern with Geoff Clough again being tail of days out, Mt Ventoux, Ardeche Gorges, Tarn end. I know some members were tempted by the Gorges, Millau, Camargue, Nimes and local 4 ‘cols’ cars but it seems that all they got were small pieces ride. Jim then left us to return to Lausanne. The of genuine Morgan Ash, suitably stamped with the survivors travelled up to an overnight near Dijon logo. and then on up to Waterloo. This was Bastille Day, The Section had stands at two more bike a good day to travel, roads empty as long as you gatherings in July, the first on the evening of the have mastered unattended filling stations and don’t The following day, Trish led her now infamous 12th at West Hagbourne, again organised by Rob mind virtually everything being shut. A visit to the Cream Tea Run, renamed The Drizzle Cake Run by Allin and the second at the Calne Bike Day arranged battle ground and museums to relive old victories Bob Melvin who sent me the following report. ‘The by John Russ. At West Hagbourne, Rob was seen and a short day back to Amsterdam where extra rain and drizzle did not auger well for the run. We standing in the middle of the road waving his arms security, army, was much in evidence. A stunning arrived at Newlands with 30 minutes in hand, with about as usual to try to entice all the owners of trip – 3000ish miles. For those that know him Jim is September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 39 have seen the face book pictures. By the time you inland from Folkstone. Following lunch Kevin led read this, I hope I have managed to meet some of us indirectly back to Chilham where several “Cream you at the National in Wales. For those who did not Teas” were devoured at Shelly’s Tea Rooms. go, I will be able to let you know all about this next Fourteen of us sat down to breakfast at “The month. Royal Oak” Wrotham on the 17th and further a five September. joined us just before Paul Ashby departed leading We have our week in the Dordogne starting on 16 bikes weaving his way down through Kent and 3rd. This is always a great holiday, lots of food and pausing at Biddenden Vineyards for a visit. Paul drink and amazing rides and events, all organised continued his sojourn through the lanes of Kent by Tim and Sarah. Best wishes to all who are going, before arriving at his mother and father-in-laws have a great time. The mystery run on 18th is still a where we were made to feel very welcome sitting mystery. More details will be on the website as soon in the sunshine consuming tea and numerous as we can sort it out. homemade Muffins and pieces of Bread Pudding. October We have our Section AGM on 16th at Rake Village hall. Come and join us for the legal stuff, then a buffet lunch and a great social event. Have you considered helping out on the committee. If so, this is your chance to have a go. Erica would really like someone to take on the management of the website as she needs more time for her social life! We need someone who is tech savvy, no other obvious participants. We parked next to a so if this is you, please contact her to ask about the Honda Integra scooter and failed to notice the BMW job. Although all the rest of the present committee sticker on the top box, until a voice behind us asked members are still willing to stand, if anyone wants to if we were here for the Cream Tea run. Others riders have an input into the club, we will be really pleased gradually appeared and 9 bikes made up the ride- to welcome you. Just contact Godfrey, his details out. As we waited, the rain continued, forcing Erica are in the Sections information page in the Journal. to start the famous bikers’ rain dance. This is the th Have fun on two wheels while summer, of sorts, Sunday afternoon (24 ) was the start of Chris ceremonial hopping up and down on one leg whilst is still here. Knight’s Ardennes & Eifel trip. Seven bikes met trying to insert the other, booted, foot into the leg of at junction 11 services prior to arriving at the a waterproof. Enter Jim and Trish with the tip of the Erica Eurotunnel. We knew it was going to be very busy day: put a plastic bag over the boot, then the foot but was “pleasantly” surprised we only queued for slips easily into the leg of the suit. More practical, 07528 873056 just over an hour to check-in and our departure was but not as much fun to watch. Prior to departure only delayed an hour. We stayed overnight at The Trish briefed us on the nature of the roads, the [email protected] Ibis hotel in St Omer. Monday morning we embarked presence of potholes and gravel. Also declaring a on our journey through France and Belgium our timidity about said obstacles. Trish, it’s not personal, destination being The Hostellerie du Cerf, Bouillion any rider not respectful of such conditions deserves Gerri where we were met by John and Jackie Lippiett who anything that comes their way. Personally I think that had arrived the day before. James Ingham and Piers gravel is an underrated hazard on country roads. 01895 446896 Kurrein both of the Yorkshire Section joined us for More than once, I have found myself performing part of the trip travelling from Hull on the overnight a ‘wall of death’ ride around a soil embankment [email protected] ferry to Zeebrugge. They arrived in Bouillion having been thrown off line by an errant pile of shortly before us. Thursday we left Bouillion shingle. Kitted and ready we set off into the Surrey and meandered our way to the Hotel Forsthaus, Hills. Despite the weather and advised natural South East Section Volkesveld passing through Luxembourg en route. hazards, the surrounding beauty of the sumptuous Sunday was the start of our return journey (James Our first event this month is on Saturday 3rd being green trees and grassy embankments were a and Piers left us to head back to Zeebrugge) and our “Curry & Chilli” extravaganza at Matty’s from delightful reminder of how fortunate we are, living we had an overnight stay at The Hotel Les Jardins 3pm - £7.00 per head - . “Thomas’ in this picturesque part of the country. Our route please book De La Molignee, Anhee before heading back to Tour” will be departing from Headcorn Aerodrome, took us from Newlands Corner, down the hill before the Eurotunnel to queue again for over an hour to TN27 9HX at 10am on the 11th. The Midweek taking a brief run along the A246, Epsom Road. check-in and an hour to reach passport control – no Run from Cooper is on the 14th swiftly followed by Shortly we turned and climbed back up to the crest time for a coffee we were put straight on the train! John Burton’s Rother Valley Camping Weekend. of the Downs before dropping down the far side of Chris, your efforts in planning the routes, ride-outs For those not camping “Rove” with Ron R. will be these majestic hills. We negotiated our descent of and sourcing the hotels were not in vain but very departing from Thurrock Services at 9.30am on the steep, scarp slope, encountering one of the few, much appreciated by us all. A great 8 days. James true, hairpin bends in this part of the country, before the 18th. Coastguards Tearoom, Fairlight TN35 th and Piers thank you for your company and we hope reaching the village of Shere. On a more pleasant 4AB is the venue for lunch on the 25 - the run will to see you again. day this village would be teeming with visitors but commence at 2pm. The Friday evening gatherings Ten bikes, one outfit and a car arrived at are The White Hart, Lower Horsebridge on the 9th with the inclement weather, we passed through Hawkhurst Fish Farm on the 31st for lunch and and The Dog & Duck, Plucks Gutter on the 30th the without the normal delays. Heading deeper into the afternoon run. Club regulars were joined by a the Surrey-Surrey weald, having originally started two Club nights at East Farleigh are on the 7th and st couple of old faces, Colin and Jo Ace and one new from home in Cranleigh, we were bemused by the 21 . one, Paul from Sevenoaks. We very much hope familiarity of the roads, retracing our steps from an It’s with great sadness that I have to report that th to see you all again. Kevin Goldfinch volunteered hour earlier to within a couple of hundred yards of Steve Knight (63) passed away on the 7 July. to lead the run taking a scenic ride to one of our the end of our road. Susan and I are lucky living Steve had been a member of the Section for a favourite “watering holes” Beech Court Tea Room long time and he loved touring and camping with where we do in terms of good riding roads. Our at Challock. route continued in a westerly direction, following the lads. His dearest wish was that friends would a line in the shadow of the Downs, through the accompany him on his last ride on their bikes and Debbie Morris Wealden landscape, criss-crossed with numerous he had a cavalcade of 16 on the 28th. Steve you streams and rivers. As always, the drop-off-system will be sorely missed by us all. 0208 3011600 worked seamlessly, with the route following some On the 10th July Cliff and Julie Cakebread took of the more interesting, single track and ill-repaired, the lead leaving Thurrock Services with fifteen [email protected] roads that Surrey could offer. Contrary to the bikes in tow in drizzling rain. After stopping for a weather forecast, the rain was almost continuous refreshment break at The Tiptree Jam Museum ranging from down-pours to light drizzle. I became Tea Room they continued their journey to The East South West Section completely disorientated riding these delightful by- Anglia Transport Museum Lowerstoft. The weather ways, but clearly Trish was well at home as we improved by the time they arrived and all enjoyed At a recent committee meeting, Debbie Sampson rounded a few sharp bends before turning down a couple of hours riding on forms of transport from has given notice that she will stand down as an even smaller path leading to manor Farm Craft bygone days’ trams and trolleybuses etc... A very section secretary after the AGM in October 2016, Centre and tea room. large and busy McDonalds was the final stop of the having served six years in this capacity . As we We had another food event on 13th when 6 day for a cuppa and chat. know Debbie has recently taken over the role of members with guests and one ex member hoping Kevin Goldfinch led 21 bikes from Cooper on the National Journal Editor and will continue as our to return to the fold, met up at Jack’s fish and chip 13th making his way through the Kent countryside to National Representative at National meetings, so a shop in Bagshot. Then on 24th Gregg organised the Kent Battle of Britain Museum, which is situated very busy lady. The role will entail attending around the Segway. I have not been sent any details, but at the former RAF Hawkinge WWII Airfield 4 miles four locally based meetings a year ( currently 40 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 held in Sticklepath nr Okehampton )and taking some interesting developments. Thanks for coming, second time in as many months I got a quare gunk minutes of the proceedings, preparing papers it was great. Jim Isherwood. when I discovered the restaurant scheduled for our for the meetings and AGM and liaising with the On Tues. 12th. July ten members turned up at the Meet and Eat ride-out was found to have stapped Membership Secretary on membership queries and Engine House at Callington for our monthly meet, dealin’. Such things can happen when our events other occasional issues. The position entitles the six came by bike and four in two cars, Alistair and calendar is prepared almost a year in advance committee member to free membership of the club, Jane had a good reason as Jane has just had a and, although presenting a minor challenge for a 24p per mile travel allowance and a meal/drink knee replacement so as yet is not allowed on the us, these closures clearly pose a major headache allowance of up to £10 at the committee venue. If bike. Whereas Debbie and myself came by car as for the business-owners concerned. Sure, as if to you would like to take on this role please contact it was raining when we left Hartland. After a couple underscore this run of misfortune, didn’t thirteen Debbie on 07762 347768 or email her at dksamp@ of hours we all went on our way, after a good natter riders turn up at Corr’s Corner on 17 July for the run gmail.com She will be only too pleased to give you and some good food and drink. That’s all for now to an alternative venue in Kilkeel? Still, on a brighter information and help with what is required, and sit in hope to see you all again next time regards Phil. note, we were pleased to greet potential new with you at a meeting. member Steve Shearer on his brand-new 1200RS Section Treasurer. There is also a position and hope he enjoyed his day with us. As it was, available as section Treasurer , Mike Groves our bendy route along the picturesque minor roads is standing down after two years in the seat. If leading to Kilkeel was blessed with perfect weather you would like to be considered for this position revealing the scenery in-and-around the Mournes in please contact Phil Sampson on 07850 983 144 . all its glory. We arrived at ‘Cunningham’s Kitchen’ - a [email protected] The position entitles the newly-launched annex to an established farm shop committee member to free membership of the club, of the same name - at Newcastle Street in the town a 24p per mile travel allowance and a meal/drink and were received warmly by James, the manager. allowance of up to £10 at the committee venue. As we settled-in for a top-notch lunch we were Mike will sit in on a pre AGM meeting to show the first joined by Noel Irwin then Michael and Sharon new incumbent the ropes. General Committee Wood freshly-home from their Alpine trip which was Members : If you feel you would like to join the enjoyed by several of our Section members. committee and help with the everyday running of An’ see yer talkin’ about Alpine trips…, to break our club then please contact our current Chairman from traditional routine takes courage, foresight and Phil Sampson. Starting from the Lifton Farm Café on Saturday the planning but this is exactly what a group of Ulster Five days of forecasting rain for Bryan’s rideout to 16th, 6 bikes left and headed towards Holsworthy, Section riders did when organising their July biking St Mawes Castle didn’t stop nine of us from starting we left Phil behind to wait for a member who was holiday to Europe. Living in Northern Ireland we from Morrisons at 10.30 on Sunday. Somebody’s held up on the A30 road works. After Holsworthy we have customarily been obliged to squander several righteousness put paid to it so we started off to made our way up to Torrington through nice biking days’ travel to simply reach the alps and dolomites: Lanlivery, through Bugle turning right towards High roads, this is where the drop off system went wrong sailing on two ferries and covering around one Street via the vast Blackpool clay pits down along and unfortunately we lost Bryan and Charles, after thousand extra miles on boring motorways burning Chegwin Hill to admire the far-reaching views over leaving messages on mobile phones with Bryan gallons of petrol – and the same again on the return towards the west of Cornwall. Then turning off at the and now Phil, we headed back down to Winkleigh trip. So this year, Leslie Allen tried a new approach top of Long Lane we drove down towards Sticker through to Copplestone, with the hope of meeting and organised the services of a motorcycle via what seemed like endless Cornish motorway? up with our lost comrades. On arrival we found Phil transportation firm called “Overlanders” based in making it easy to join the main road for a few and Brian waiting, but no Bryan or Charles, after Gorey, Co. Wexford. The group’s bikes, complete hundred yards before joining the ponderous twisty another desperate phone message, we left for our with luggage and a large bag containing helmets, road through Tregony leading to St Mawes. Having final destination, The Stoke Cannon Inn near Exeter. boots and motorcycle clothing were loaded onto a parked up in the castle car park we all bought our Two years ago this pub had closed down, and with specialised truck and transported from Belfast to tickets before walking to our lunch place whilst help from the community (also run by community Memmingen, a small airport in Southern Germany. taking in the ambience of the picturesque small volunteers) it has been renovated and become A few days later the riders and pillions flew out, were harbour. At the castle (built by Henry viii as part of an active part of the Village, it is worth a visit or reunited with their bikes and proceeded to their first south coast defences against the French) we all to make it part of a ride out. Checking the mobile stop - the “BMW Motorrad Days” rally at Garmisch/ collected our tour players and wandered through a message from Bryan to say all Ok, at least they Partenkirchen. From there they continued their the different levels of the castle taking in the brilliant were lost together, so not really lost, just not with holiday-adventure travelling through Austria, Italy, views across the Carrick Roads to St Anthony’s us! We left the Stoke Cannon Inn and headed back Switzerland and France to finish at Nice on the lighthouse and westward to Falmouth. In brilliant with Phil taking the lead to show us some short cuts Cote d’Azur. After spending a fantastic two weeks sunshine we chatted and took photographs before around Crediton and eventually arrived at Sourton exclusively riding in the Alps, the “Overlanders” setting off to the King Harry ferry across the River Services, we went our separate ways home. A big truck picked up the bikes and gear at Nice airport Fal knowing that was on the way to an ice cream at thank you to all who came and for your patience in allowing the group to fly home. Everyone involved Trellisick Gardens. From there we rode home after trying to get things sorted out. An apology to Bryan agreed this was an uncommonly quick means of a pleasant day, I hope all enjoyed it as much as I and Charles for losing them off the back of the ride! getting a bike to southern Europe in order to pass a did….. Bryan from Fowey. Wednesday 27th the fish and chip meet at Bude full fortnight riding there, rather than wasting time on Once again the Lavender Rally at Hartland, with a new venue ‘Rosies’ just off The Crooklets ‘unnecessary’ travel. Devon proved to be a popular one with 21 Beach with a handy car park, fish and chips with people attending in 6 camper vans and 8 a bit of style, on china plates, nice piece of fish tents on the weekend of 8th 9th & 10th July. with chips and with bit of side salad, plus a varied The weather once again proved to be challenging menu for those not wanting fish and chips. It was and although we didn’t actually get too wet because nice sit outside on what turned out to be a pleasant the rain happened mainly overnight, the gale force evening, everyone enjoyed their grub and banter winds were a bit of a problem with the Section and eventually we drifted off home. Thanks Dave, gazebo getting a battering and Peanut’s tent a good choice. Just a brief mention about a change suffering a snapped pole. Good job the barn was of date of the Christmas Lunch which will now be available for us to party in on the Saturday night. on the evening of Saturday 10th of December and Ron and Jan’s fire log provided entertainment the venue will be The Fishermans Cot, a 3 course taking at least 6 people to get it lit but was cosy meal at £16.99. Mark has put all the details on the once it got going. Good to see new member website. Simon on his first camping weekend with us -he To check ‘what’s on’ look in the Journal, our might even stay the whole weekend next time! website and the news letter email that is sent out I hope Chris is feeling better now as he had to at the beginning of the month, if you don’t get the leave us early due to a medical problem. The news letter send me your email address to get your ride out went to the ex RAF Davidstow Moor name added to the list. Don’t forget to keep up to airfield where there are 2 museums dedicated to date with latest changes as on the website, www. the armed forces. We visited the one for the RAF thebmwclubsw.org.uk and were impressed by the enthusiasm shown by the owner, explaining some of the exhibits to Mark’s email is: webmaster@thebmwclubsw. us. An interesting and well kept attraction. Lunch org.uk and my email is southwest.social@ was taken at the nearby Widemouth Bay cafe. bmwclubuk.net Also the walk to the Hartland Quay led by Hilda was enjoyed by 8 energetic people. Thank you to Hilda, Jan and others for providing cakes and a buffet on the Saturday evening. ULSTER SECTION Next year’s Lavender Hurricane Rally should have Are we the ‘kiss-of-death’ for café owners? For the September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 41 Much credit is due to Guy Thomson for leading combination which looked the real deal (speak to the campers. Nothing to do with Denis and Jean a successful Wednesday evening run on 20 July Ian for all the details). There is also a rumour of and the rocking caravan! On Saturday, Ian and Jan which finished for coffee and biscuits in a restaurant another combination joining the section which is dropped in for a one night stay on their way back at Lisbane near Comber. The post-run refreshments said to be a real “Trophy”. We appear to becoming from a family holiday and Haydn’s wife Anne, also were paid for by Guy himself and a collection from over run with UK motorcycles. There must have joined us on Saturday. the riders raised the sum of £35 for our annual been a referendum in the air causing this change In all, 27 of us enjoyed the splendours of the fresh charity “Shine”. Alas, as with all good things, these in loyalties! Devonshire country air. popular Wednesday evening runs finished at the Friday Ian, Mich and myself went off to shop for end of August and special mention unquestionably the BBQ and obligatory, red wine, white wine, beers goes to Len Wilson for single-handedly rounding- and ciders, (well Deb was coming down later). up and managing the riders throughout the summer Everyone else did their own thing and went off to months. His warning whistle is now off-the-road and Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton, Dawlish and various will be booked-into Hursts Motorrad over the winter other places of interesting. for servicing. By 5 o’clock (wine o’clock for some) most of us The exceedingly successful Treasure Hunt on where convened in the gazebo eating biscuits or 31 July was organised by Charlie Carruthers with cake and drinking tea and coffee. The BBQ’s were a wee haun’ from some other Section/Associate fired up at around 6 30pm and cooking commenced members. Around twenty participants started the with me on the burgers and Ian in charge of onions hunt at Corr’s Corner Hotel and, with fine weather and sausages. The ladies did us proud yet again throughout (save for the odd jap of rain), the route with salads of a varying nature. With everyone well first wound its way eastwards in the direction of feed we shut the BBQ’s down and the rain started! A Larne Lough and the Antrim Coast Road then cut bit of a clear up a few drinks and the entertainment back westwards to Lough Neagh eventually finishing The section rally held at Tralee Bay Holiday commenced...... Bingo!! We had a trainee caller at Lylehill Young Farmers Club on the outskirts of Village in South West Ireland was a great success., in the way of Michele but Colin and Sue kept a Templepatrick for a BBQ (at which, traditionally, the The venue was ideal, in a good location for ride outs watchful eye on her especially when calling out meat is cooked by the men - as women, bless them, to explore the area. The pub on site made sure there numbers like 6 and 3, 36! We all put down to flu..... don’t know how to burn it properly). The treasure was plenty Guinness, good food and entertainment wine flu! hunt was won by Sharon Wood riding her own bike, to be had and even the weather was kind to us. After two games we woke Mike Warrilow up, not Shane Noble came in second while I managed Everybody had good journeys the Ferry crossing that we wanted to but his snoring was drowning to bring up the rear in third place. A total of forty was nice and calm and there were no mishaps on out our conversation ! Pete was presented with the people attended the BBQ at which we were pleased route. All in all a good time was had by all. A big traditional Gnome to take home and join the other to welcome representatives of ‘Shine’ charity. The thank you to Colin and Sue Ross for organising the two . By 11 o’clock everyone was ready for some whole event raised the superb sum for “Shine” of adventure and a big thank you to all who came and shut eye so we all disbursed to our accommodation £429, almost half of which was contributed by the helped make it such a success ready for an” early start” on our ride out, 10.30 up at caterers (much thanks to them). Well done Charlie, Wednesday 20th July brought one of the hottest the main reception. a very enjoyable day relished by all who attended. days of the year so far for our meeting at the Hollow Saturday saw Paul and Cas celebrating “15 Oh, I nearly overlooked the fact that a birthday cake Bottom Inn at Guiting Power. Road works right happy years of marriage” although it was their 35th appeared in front of our Chairman, Paul. Maybe he, outside the Inn didn’t help with the parking situation, Wedding Anniversary!! The weather forecast was too, wanted to overlook the occasion, particularly but as it turned out there was plenty of space. a bit hit and miss for the day, but 7 bikes joined when blowing out the huge number of candles We took up residence in an outside seating area the ride out whilst others went on walks or to visit made his head light. affectionately called ‘the beach’ due to the pebbled local National Trust sites. Everyone on the ride The guest speakers at our Section meeting on floor and parasols. This area used to be a car park, was reminded of the drop off system and Paul and 2 August were Jon and Louise McClean who run hence the fairly limited parking. 4 couples turned up, Jenny Rodriguez took up rear gunners position. Motorcycle Valet N.I. which they established in 2014. Marg and Ray, Jean and Denis, Neville and Judith We all lined up for the off and were videoed by The business, located in Islandmagee, specialises and yours truly Jenny and Paul. The new owners Colin and photographed by Neil from Castle Brake. in motorcycle valeting, custom work, restorations of the Inn, a young Australian couple, couldn’t have (Some of the photo’s that Neil took can be viewed and storage as well as being distributors for leading been more attentive. Seating was arranged for us on the Castle Brake Facebook site and Colin’s on cleaning products. His top valet takes one and a half and bottles of iced water brought to the tables. The the Western Section web site.) days – testament to the detailed work he carries out food was scrummylicious and a couple of the girls The ride took us through some picturesque on a bike. Jon answered many questions from the even had a pudding to round things off. Denis held a villages and great scenery. From the site to floor giving valuable advice on cleaning, protection free raffle for some of his produce from the garden. Woodbury Common through East Budleigh to and winter preparation of bikes (which I have Jen won a bunch of sweet peas and Marg took Otterton and the back road into Sidmouth with already passed onto my wife). His professional home a bunch of runner beans. All in all, a splendid fantastic views across Lyme bay. We rode along the enthusiasm generated such interest that no doubt social occasion with weather to match. sea front through the back roads across a ford. All many of us will be contacting him over the months Camping Weekend at Castle Brake nr. Exeter. safely through the ford with just Ray and Sue giving to come. Our 3rd consecutive year at this 5 star site us one twitchy moment! On to Lyme Regis and out Our planned Section events are starting to thin situated between Exeter and Exmouth. With the other side heading for West Bay. out as we approach early autumn with the main spectacular views over the Exe Estuary towards Once in West Bay we made for The Harbour Cafe event in September being a Meet and Eat at the Dartmoor, 2 minutes from Woodbury Common with where we had a table booked for 18 of us. Haydn Ulster-American Folk Park near Omagh. Gather at some great walks over some beautiful country side. had to give his bike a late spring clean as one of Corr’s Corner at 11am for the group run which will The “weekends” tend to be starting earlier! the many flying rats singled his bike out to empty take in some scenic roads or go direct to the Folk Thursday seems to be the new Friday and the contents of its bowls all over his tank! Dave and Park itself to meet up at 1pm. As already mentioned, Tuesdays the new Monday or is it just that I’m (we) Sue and Colin and Sue had arrived in their cars the Wednesday evening runs may have finished but are getting a little older and have more time on and met us for lunch. The Cafe coped and served our regular Sunday and Wednesday daytime runs our hands. Though it does get you away from the us expertly. Cod and chips for a fiver, scrumptious continue - leaving Corr’s Corner at 11am on each Grandchildren for a bit longer.) ! The Manager was Spanish and Paul Rodriguez of those days. Our AGM is scheduled for 4 October On Thursday there were 11 sleeping in 6 tents. started a conversation with him in his native tongue so please make an effort to attend to help ring in the Roger and Sandy being the first to arrive. Ian was which surprised us as much as it did him. Bet he changes and, in the meantime, give some thought on his own for one night, until Deb joined him on wasn’t expecting that today! The rain chucked it as to how you might put forward suggestions to help Friday but there was some strange noises coming down while we were in eating but had cleared by the Club prosper. from his tent according to Colin and Sue camped the time we finished. We all made our way over next door in their trailer tent. Ian put it down to his to Helmet City for a look around. Again it chucked Stuart Greig new expo sleeping bed!! Yeah right. Ray and Sue in it down while we were window shopping . Our their camper van with bike in tow on the trailer. Denis departure time was 2.30 and we all re -assembled [email protected] and Jean made use of mine and Michele’s caravan as the sun came out again. while we roughed it in the caravan awning! Tony and We set off back to camp without the need to rush Karen set up at the end of the row of campers. Mike as Anne wasn’t coming down to join Haydn, or so Western Section and Peta were over on “The Management” side of he thought! We took the A35 towards Axminster Our monthly meeting was held on the Queens the field. and turned left towards Whitford onto some county birthday and Julie Wiltshire baked an array of By Friday we were joined by 3 more campers, roads, then onto Colyton. We joined the A3052 to cakes for the occasion including some decorated Lee and Mandy from Southern section and our Sidford through Newton Poppleford. Turned right at with the Union Jack set in the icing. It was good Welsh Attaché, Haydn. Dave and Sue from Mercia the roundabout staying on the A3052 to The Half to see Ron Elmslie attend the meeting on his bike Section were “Clamping” in one of the sites statics. Way Inn where we turned left onto the B3180 back after a long break. I guess he heard about the (They wouldn’t tell us which one just in case we all to Woodbury Park and to Castle Brake. In all around Western section celebrating the Queens birthday. joined them during the night when it started to rain 80 miles. Some lovely scenery and a good mixture Jan and Ian arrived on their new BMW 1200 R !) Mich and I also pitched our tent on Friday with of roads to suit all. 42 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 We arrived back together, all safe and sound at our glasses sang happy birthday to her. I am sure Sidecar Register ‘Southern Rally’ – the Western around 3.40pm. Just in time for Anne to surprise everyone had a great time in spite of the rain, I know Section have kindly invited the Sidecar Register Haydn! Those who went off to do other things all I did. Regarding the Saturday ride-out; Mark said to their “SoreButts” rally at Mill Park Caravan returned unscathed. Everyone made their own that Piers’ ride out was a challenge at times, but he and Camping Park, Mill Lane, Berryharbour, Nr arrangements for their evening meals by either really enjoyed it. His quote was “Piers knows them Ilfracombe, North Devon, EX34 9SH. Campsite using the site Bistro, cooking their own or using country roads like the back of his hand!”(Which details at www.millparklimited.co.uk or on the the local Chinese Take away. 9.30pm saw a few I suppose I do after 30 years of riding round Western Section calendar of events. The GS of us return to the Gazebo, by just after 10.00pm Yorkshire!). I’m just back from a cool day’s riding Register will be there too. Good time had by all at there was about 16 of us retelling tales of the day’s at the Meridian Quest Run which was on Saturday this rally last year. Please contact Keith Thomas events. Around 11.30pm it was time to get some 6th August. James Ingham chose some excellent in the first instance 019467 25152 or sidecar@ more shut eye, so most of us left to carry out our back roads loosely following the 0 degrees meridian bmwclubuk.net if you think you might attend (with abolitions, some of us having legs like Bambi in East Yorkshire. He combined this with some any form of transport). And if North Devon isn’t far when standing, (it’s the soft water in the area Mr. interesting clues to solve. In all it was a pleasant enough for you, have a look at the Federation of Rodriguez, not enough of it in the Jim Beam!). We ride with plenty of our regular attendees taking part. Sidecar’s “Isle of Man Sidecar 70” taking place left Lee and Mandy, Ian and Deb to switch the lights Next year’s Meridian Run may follow the same on the same weekend http://www.sidecars.org. line but in North Lincolnshire!? Since last month, off after their Ovaltine . uk/events.html -- a mass (at least 70 hopefully) we’ve also enjoyed the run up to Hartlepool which Sunday morning saw us having to break camp assembly of in the Isle of Man, with ferry attracted about 25 bikers on a lovely sunny day. in the drizzle, unless like Dave and Sue you were and accommodation details sorted out for you. All in The Heugh Battery Museum was very interesting staying the extra day in their static van. Although a good cause too. we did hang on hoping for a bright spell which but after that many turned for home and didn’t join did happen for about ten minutes then it would the organiser to the second venue which was the Keith Thomas start to rain again! By midday the field was clear Hartlepool Maritime Experience with its restored square rigged ship, The Trincomalee. Seven of and everything back to normal. We hung on at our 019467 25152 caravan and by 1.00pm the sun was out the ground us were left to look around and had an enjoyable was steaming and we managed to dry our tent out couple of hours there. before setting off home . The next major event for all of us is the National [email protected] Thanks to all who came and made the weekend Rally at Llandovery in Wales over the August bank worthwhile organising. holiday weekend. I know that many Yorkshire GS Register Next year will be booked in very shortly (30/6 - members are already booked up so we hope to 2/7 probably) and instead of a ride out I’m looking see you there and have a chat and a few drinks! It’s September 2016 and as we look forward to next at arranging a guided tour of the Exmouth Life Boat Shortly after that on 9th to 12th September we have year its decisions, decisions, decisions! What to do. and Station. Numbers are limited so the sooner you our Yorkshire Section Autumn Spectacular at Lythe What not to do. book the more chance you will have of getting on Caravan and Camp site north of Whitby. This is For 2016 we put forward four BMW Club camping the tour. Watch the Western Section web site for now well booked up with no more rooms available events for GS members to attend. Inclement further information ! at the Stiddy Inn. There are a few camping spaces weather, change of venue, and uncertainty about still available so contact me if you’re interested. Brexit have held back the number of GS Register Many are staying over until the Monday so as to members attending these. Friday to Sunday enjoy a full Sunday at the nearby Saltburn Classic events seem to deter members who have to travel Hill Climb. This is a great day out with a fantastic a distance on Friday, then have only Saturday on mix of old cars and bikes tackling the hill so do get site before going home a distance on Sunday. For along if you can. Yorkshire goes to Scotland; our next year we will change tack. It is proposed that late season hotel weekend at Portpatrick on 28th to 31st October is also well booked now but the we run one or two GS Register events which would Hotel contacted me recently to say there are a be open to all comers. A recruitment initiative. What few rooms still available. £145 per person based do you think? In particular we need to know which on two sharing is a great price for three nights dates would attract most GS Register members to dinner bed and breakfast and not to be missed. attend. What venue to use? Over a weekend or I’m certain this will be one of those superb warm midweek? Would you be more likely to come if the and dry late autumn weekends (Well, as certain as venue offered B&B, Static Caravans, Glampods, anyone can be!) so do think about joining us and Cocoons, Tent pitches? It would also be good to Cameron and Michele. riding some of the back roads of this lovely region. know how many members never camp but always The Western section visit to the AV8 café at Finally for this month, a reminder of our Christmas stay in accommodation. Cotswold International Airport was well attended Dinner Gathering at the Cairn Hotel in Harrogate on Please let us know your ideas and preferences by over 20 members. Fortunately we had seats Saturday 10th December. Again we are well booked by sending emails reserved in the V.I.P area of the departure lounge as up for the dinner table but have room for a few more to :- [email protected] we had the MGB club attending along with a large members. Dinner is just £21.95 per person for three The Challenge Awards group of airman who had flown in to commemorate courses with a free aperitif to get things rolling. Our touring event for all BMW Club members and 75 years of racing at Cotswold along with the race There are no more rooms available at the hotel but non-members. cup. In addition there was a large number of bikers Harrogate is full of accommodation so you should First Quarter (March April May) from all makes. The menu was extensive and be able to find a bed nearby if you want to stay over. The top entrant in each class has already enjoyed by Denis. In fact a jolly good time was had Hope you are all enjoying the season’s riding received his/her award: by one and all! despite the mixed weather this year. Solo Award Shane Noble We look forward to the Ilfracombe Bike Show if Sidecar Award Keith Thomas Piers Kurrein. 07866 622 196 last year was anything to go by, and our bring and Team Award No award this Quarter buy sale which should create a bit more garage Passenger Award Joint First Rachel Stockwell space, and the now famous Sorebutts Rally for all [email protected] and Helen Page those camping enthusiasts. Vintage and Classic Award Keith Thomas Veteran Award No award in this quarter Richard Frost. 01275 472797. Sidecar Register Congratulations to all our winners. By the time Anyone fancy a reverse gear for their pre-1980 that you read this the second quarter awards (for Yorkshire Section boxer outfit – a company in Germany are supplying June, July and August) will be being processed. exchange gearboxes (plus 3000 euros): www. The Challenge is running well this year and we Vincent Hart from the Northern Section is a regular motoren-israel.de . Now that the new liquid-cooled continue posting entrants’ photos on our website and very welcome attendee at many of our Yorkshire boxer BMW’s have the shaft-drive on the left-hand http://www.gs-register.org.uk/page25.html events and sends this report about the Kettlewell side, I am wondering who will be the first to adapt Why not join in? Anyone can enter at any time up camping in July. a left-hand chaired outfit to have optional sidecar to November. ‘In spite of evil weather Chris Rodgers and Mick wheel drive; needless to say, several companies in Events in 2016 McFarlane did pretty well organising our Kettlewell Germany already offer 2-wheel drive conversions Our last camping event this year (to which the GS Camping Weekend. Plenty of campers turned up for right hand outfits, one being www.mobec.de . At Register is invited) is and the Saturday dinner was well attended with two £15000 for a new liquid-cooled boxer, such an outfit The Western Section Sorebutt Rally huge tables and 19 rowdy bikers taking their seats. will not be cheap; as I write this (and I expect, still 15th to 18th September 2016 at Mill Park Caravan The food was excellent with most plates scraped as you read this) there is a R1200GS & SBW outfit and Camping in Berrynarbor, by Ilfracombe. Can we clean. Christine who was sat next to me was the on Ebay for £26000 for sale by Watsonian – liquid- make this the largest turnout of GS’s yet? birthday girl and Chris presented her with a cake cooled, standard ‘mono-wheel’ drive. with one candle on top where upon we all raised Next on the calendar: 15-18 September 2016 GS Register Secretary Nev Jones September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 43 Mutual Aid Mutual Aid Adverts are to enable BMW Club Members to buy or sell motorcycles or related items that they own. The service is free but subject to the rules below, and is not normally available to trade advertisers.

1.Note – adverts are NOT accepted over the phone – please send them 7.Please note the copy deadline in the Journal and understand which by post or email to the Mutual Aid Officer whose name and address edition it applies to before querying why your advert doesn’t seem to are on page 3. Please remember to include your full postal address. have appeared. Please submit your advert well before deadline date if 2.All adverts should be readable, well punctuated and unambiguous. If at all possible.The BMW Club cannot be held responsible for the quality handwriting, please use capital letters for clarity. If e-mailing, please only or availability of items or goods or for any arrangements for delivery or use a simple font such as Arial or Times New Roman in normal sentence payment. case, NOT ALL CAPITALS. NO ATTACHMENTS PLEASE! 8.Adverts from non- members are accepted at a fixed cost of £16 (including 3.The maximum length is 65 words, excluding your phone numbers, name V.A.T.) for up to 65 words plus your phone numbers, name and email and email address. If you wish to use more than 65 words your option is address. For parts offered at £50 or less this is reduced to £5. For further to pay for the advert at 24p a word (including VAT) for the WHOLE advert. information, please contact the Mutual Aid Officer. In that case, we would need payment with the advert when submitted. 9.Neither the Club nor the Mutual Aid Officer can advise advertisers Note – one advert/month per Mutual Aid category. Adverts may be edited regarding the value of goods offered for sale. Neither can the Club or the where deemed necessary by the Editor. Mutual Aid Officer recommend suppliers of goods or services to members. 4.In your advert, please include your forename, phone number(s) and an Business Advertisement (Disclosure) Order 1977 email address if available. Any advertiser who places an advertisement concerning the sale of goods 5.You must include your name, full address, Section and membership being sold in the course of business shall clearly indicate this fact. This number. These will not be published (unless requested) but we will applies whether the advertiser is acting on their own behalf or for another check membership. party. If you have reason to believe that you have been misled as to the 6.Mutual Aid Adverts are accepted for a one-month insertion only. Any status of any advertiser, please inform your local Trading Standards subsequent submissions are the responsibility of the advertiser. Department and the Editor immediately. The fine for breaches of this order is up to £1,000.

Note: Mutual Aid closing date is the 1st of each month Motorcycles for Sale a bereavement. £1,995. Clifford 07958 726510 R1200R - 2006 - Two owners. Silver/grey matt. (West Sussex). 23,000 miles. 24,000 service completed by main dealer. Top box, panniers, V stream screen, “F” Series R90S - 1973 - Black smoke. Matching numbers, rare early model with /5 switches. Solid discs. heated grips, good tyres, head protectors. Tax exempt, MOT, many bills. Probably the Radiator protector and fenda extenda. Will have F800GS - 2008 (June) - Sunset yellow/black. most iconic BMW ever. Beautifully presented 12 months MOT. Comes with spares package - MOT until June 2017. 19,300 miles. I am the and eminently useable. Email for photographs. new rear sub frame and rear shock. Can deliver only owner and the bike has always been kept £10,995. Roger 01932 240150 or email f.o.c. up to 100 miles. Reason for sale - R1200R in a garage. Superb condition and full BMW [email protected] (Surrey). Classic. £3,995. Chris 07764 789752 or 01933 service history. Centre stand, heated grips, on 401201 (Northamptonshire). board computer, Scott oiler, BMW top box and R100GS PD - 1994 - Green. 40,000 miles. 12 hand guards. Photographs available. £4,245. months MOT on sale. Twin plugged. BMW panniers. Good condition. £6,595. Malcolm Nigel 07860 268442 or email nigelc57@icloud. Bits & Bobs com (Oxfordshire). 01694 723439 for pictures and any more details required (Shropshire). BMW PANNIERS - Black/silver variable R1100S SPORT - ‘W’ reg. - 51,000 miles. panniers. Fit 1200GS. £50 the pair. Eddie 01434 “K” Series Showroom condition in black with full service 681604 or email [email protected] history. BMW panniers, tank cover and bag, (Northumberland). K100RS - 1986 ‘C’ registration letter - 38,000 MRA touring screen, centre stand, raised bars. Much uprated from standard ‘S’ model. May CLARKS - Foot operated Hydraulic Motor Cycle miles. Blue. Touring panniers. Inner bags. Work Bench. As new, with table height safe bar. Owner’s handbook. Tool kit. Givi top box. 20 swop for something to fit my 76 years. Possible delivery. £1,995 o.n.o. Eddie 01325 721313 or Side stabilizers, front vice for securing the wheel. years with present owner. Current MOT. Low 07580 008731 (North Yorkshire). Pictures can be provided. £300 (pick up only). annual mileage. Serviced March 2015. Good Andrew 01964 562396 or 07900 920928 or email clean machine. £1,800 (or nearest offer). Can R1200C (non ABS) - 1999 - Finished in cream [email protected] (East Yorkshire). email photographs. Ken 07718 101864 or email with blue leather comfort seats and panniers. F800 MANUALS, HUGGER AND BELT FOR [email protected] (North Essex). 18,000 miles. Now on SORN. MOT until 4 April 2017. Extensive and detailed work including: SALE - ‘Haynes Manual’ for all F800 models All fixings in stainless steel, lots re-chromed, 2006-2010, £10. BMW official F800ST and F800S Workshop Manual on DVD, £10. “R” Series new rear lamp, full service including all fluids and filters, polished BBS wheels and polished Ilmberger carbon hugger for ST/S, £80. Also fork legs. Power socket. Original pillion seat used final drive belt, only one minor mark. Would R50 - 1956 - Has been extensively refurbished available. £6,250. Brian 01420 88329 or email make a very good spare, £10 o.n.o. Postage at by BMW specialist. Looks fantastic with two [email protected] (Hampshire). cost for all items. Ian 07718 050005 or email ian. separate saddles. It is a pleasure to ride. Could [email protected] (Berkshire). be shown at events. It can only appreciate in R1200GSA - 2011 - 20,800 miles. Previous value. Photographs are available on request. owner BMW. Triple black. Premium and FREE : BMW COMBINATION SOLD - These parts to clear. Free to collector. All sidecar £9,750 o.v.n.o. George 07887 752991 or email Dynamic packages. Full set aluminum boxes. parts. One Metzler 400×18 rear tyre, low miles. [email protected] (Hertfordshire). GS tank bag. Smoke tinted screen. Bike Trac. Alloy tool box. More useful extras fitted contact Pair Hagon rear shocks. Sidecar rate Exide gel R80RT - First registered August 1994 - MOT until for list. Long journeys and not in the wet unless battery. Holds full charge. Watsonian/Squire April 2017. 48,558 miles recorded. Many extras caught! Garaged. Full service history. MOT 12 sidecar tow ball kit. Complete lugs cable lights including panniers and inners, top box and tank months. This cared for bike must go, new on etc. Few various sidecar stays, lugs, eye bolts. bag. Full service history. It has been on SORN order. £9,250 or £9,500 with Sargent saddles. Rear crown wheel 35/9 for sidecar reduce drive. for two years and is in good condition for its year. Clive 07864 587315 or email clivecraven5@ Repeat all free to collector. George 07523 Owned for past 18 years but now for sale due to hotmail.com (Wiltshire). 971861 (6 to 10 p.m. please). Sutton (Surrey). 44 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 K1200, K1100, R80 & ‘K’ - K1200RS 1998: Bagster tank cover and bag. Blue, good condition, £90. Panniers for above, good condition (on one key), £85. BMW inners for these, £50. K1100RS: Panniers, slight repair to one (on one key), £70. Rails for these, £25. Topbox inner bag (Kappa, STAINLESS STEEL SILENCERS new, 42 litres), £40. R80RT: Luggage rack, £25. 10 YEAR GUARANTEE The silencers listed are manufactured by us to original specifications and produce Two off ‘K’ Series: Seat racks, £15 each. All with comparable noise levels. German TUV approved. 14 day money back guarantee. P&P@50%. Rob 01309 692479 or email rob. SILENCERS BMW 5/6/7 SERIES 38MM ...... £282 .31 PR [email protected] (Forres). BMW R100RT .RS .RCS 38MM OR 40MM ...... £282 .31 PR BMW R45/65 & LS ...... £282 .31 PR MAXTON SHOCKS FOR 1150GS - Pair BMW R65/80/100 MONOSHOCK ...... £282 .31 PR BMW R100/GS PARALEVER TYPE ...... £316 .60 EA of Maxton shocks, very little use, excellent BMW R80GS/ST ...... £296 .02 EA t: 01333 429451 m: 07734 683429 BMW R69S ...... £316 .60 PR condition (still look like new). Full rebound and BMW R50/60/2 1955-68 ...... £296 .02 PR e: [email protected] compression damping adjustment, owners BMW 1200GS WITH LINK PIPE ...... £230 .35 EA EXHAUST PIPES w: scotiasidecars.com set up manual. £250. John 01189 332152 BMW 6/7 RS RT RCS SINGLE BALANCE 38MM/40MM . .£174 .47 ST BMW 38MM TWIN BALANCE ...... £199 .96 ST (Berkshire). BMW R45/65 SINGLE BALANCE ...... £174 .47 ST BMW R45/65 TWIN BALANCE ...... £199 .96 ST PEEL FAIRING - Will fit all Earles Fork twins. BMW R100/80GS .ST/PARALEVER ...... £163 .69 ST BMW R65/80/100 MONOSHOCK ...... £174 .47 ST £300. Fred 01983 755381. BMW R50/60/69s ...... £196 .03 ST BMW 1200GS EXH .PIPE + CAT ELIMINATOR ...... £289 .11 ST R1200RT 2008 - 49 litre Titan silver top box COLLECTOR BOX/BALANCE PIPE, ETC BMW MONOSHOCK H PIECE (COLL BOX REP) . . . . . £116 .64 EA not locked, perfect condition inside and out. BMW R80GS/ST COLLECTOR BOX ...... £127 .42 EA BMW GS PARALEVER Y PIECE (COLL BOX REP) . . . . £142 .13 EA Dealer has to code new owners bike key to box, BMW R100R Y PIECE (COLL BOX REP) ...... £142 .13 EA BMW 1150GS Y PIECE (COLL BOX REP) ...... £184 .27 EA £250. Rear fender extension, perfect condition BMW SINGLE BALANCE PIPE (STATE MODEL) . . . . . £33 .79 EA BMW TWIN BALANCE PIPE (STATE MODEL) ...... £58 .31 ST (no marks), £10. Handle bar risers, perfect STAINLESS STEEL CLAMPS ...... £6 .37 EA STAINLESS STEEL ANGLE BRACKETS ...... £13 .72 PR condition, £20. Brian 01513 423405 or 07973 STAINLESS STEEL PUSH ROD TUBES ...... £38 .22 ST 427405 or email brian.kewley01@btinternet. EXHAUST SPANNER BRASS ...... £25 .48 EA BMW SHOCK SHROUDS /5,/6, KONI ...... £30 .87 PR com (Cheshire). All prices exclude VAT. For mail order (UK) add £10.00 B98 0RB Lane, South Moons Moat, REDDITCH, Worcs KEIHANS SYSTEMS,Unit 24, Padgets Email: [email protected] Web: www.keihan.co.uk R1200RT pre-2013 - Heated riders Sargent Tel: 01527 518525 Fax: 01527 518526 seat. Very good condition. New this year. Hardly used. £270 including P&P. Doug 01603 868368 (Norfolk). Small Business Adverts

Small Business adverts are available to any individual or business. For rates and terms please contact Editor (details on Page 3) Accommodation & Touring GERMANY, WESTERWALD. Great stopover Check us out on www.orchardfarmsomme.com or for destinations N/S/E. Great for the Dambuster Tel: 0033 (0)3 2286 5672. run. The roads are superb with virtually no traffic. UK & IRELAND Meals and Bar. For more information: www. vinecottage.de 0049 274 291 1728. SOUTHERN BRITTANY. Close Redon three BED AND BREAKFAST MOFFAT SOUTHERN spacious, comfortable gites, set in three acres of SCOTLAND. B&B, garage parking, wonderful tranquil grounds which may be rented separately biking area. One mile from M74 J15 on LE MANS FARMHOUSE B&B AND GITE. - or altogether for a larger group. Sleep 2-16. Edinburgh scenic route. Why not break your www.lehamel.co.uk - 40 minutes to Le Mans, 15 Secure garage parking for bikes. Contact: Anne long journey here or spend a few days riding minutes Alencon. Large cosy manor farmhouse and Dave Chapman. Tel: 01732 456459 email: the local roads, enjoying the hills and bends. (17thC) with four letting rooms set below the [email protected] Club member. Chris: 01683 220378 see www. Perseigne Forest with miles of Green Lanes, guesthouse-moffat.com empty roads and a great location for touring the Anglo- South Normandy/Pays de Loire Area. Le Grand VALRÉAS PROVENCE FRANCE. French Les Ecureuils guesthouse, five en-suite Chauvel (15thC) is a three bedroom (two en- BED AND BREAKFAST IN RURAL rooms. Large tranquil private garden, secure suite) fermette 30 minutes from Le Mans with ABERDEENSHIRE. Two en-suite bedrooms. parking and pool. Ideal stopover or base when enclosed garden and situated next to the walled Situated on the Castle Trail with easy access touring southern France. Contact Mike and village of Bourg Le Roi. Both properties have to the Highlands. Lovely quiet roads with plenty Chantal at www.rib84.com (01/16). been sympathetically renovated. Tel: 0033 243 interesting features. Free secure garaging 34 02 59. Email [email protected] for motorbikes. Sue: 01467 651438 www. knoweheadcroftbandb.co.uk Services & Parts LAKE DISTRICT. Holiday bungalow – comfort LOIRE VALLEY. Charming boutique B&B with for four plus garage. Ideal touring location and three recently renovated en-suite bedrooms near available April to November. Member owned. Chinon in tranquil wine village. Private parking, LYNBROOK INSURANCE. For Special Tel: 01695 422210. WiFi. Dinner on request. www.leclosdelagarde.fr Member’s terms including Classic and Modern Motorcycle Insurance (all makes). Tel: 03451 304662 or 01277 206285. Also Travel Europe SOMME BATTLEFIELD B&B AND TOURS. and Europe wide Breakdown/Recovery. Tel: Our quiet, secluded farmhouse is 100 miles from 01513 365881 (quote Lynbrook). Calais and close to the A1 autoroute. We have B&B for up to eight people and a self-catering B&B NORMANDY-FRANCE. Three en-suite apartment sleeping four-six. Evening meals STAINLESS STEEL FASTENERS. Part or full bedrooms, great roads, lovely region, perfect for are available. We have secure, covered bike kits available, most models covered. SAE or weekend escape, 10% discount on B&B rates parking, a trailer and workshop for emergencies. email [email protected] for list. Chris Shaw for club members. Tel: 0033 2336 40023 www. Take a battlefield tour of Somme or Ypres with Engineering, 24 Station Road, Halton Holegate, maisonlaudiere.com GS riding author and military historian, Martin Spilsby, Lincs., PE23 5PB. Tel: 01790 755515. Pegler, who will show you all the best roads! Mobile: 07702 862508. www.shawstainless.co.uk September 2016 The BMW Club Journal 45 Servicing & Repairs Spares. Rebuilds. BMW’s bought for spares. Airhead specialist but all models catered for. PORTSMOUTH HAMPSHIRE. Roger Downey Collection available. Contact Dave at 07941 Motorcycles. Independent servicing, repair and 950266 or 01454 851461 email scoot42@gmail. MOT workshop. 10% discount on MOT’s for ANDREW SEXTON. NORTH OXFORDSHIRE com WARWICKSHIRE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE Members. Very close to Portsmouth Ferry port. BORDER. BMW Quality service, repairs, Over 30 years experience. Tel: 02392 825515 restoration and special tuning work, on all INDEPENDENT BMW SPECIALIST DORSET. or www.rdowneymotorcycles.co.uk or email models. Collection and delivery arranged. Tel: Servicing and repair centre. Qualified technician [email protected] 01608 730111. with 20+ years experience. Diagnostic testing and after service date resets. Studley’s THE BOXER MAN – THE INDEPENDENT Motorcycles in Dorchester, Dorset. Tel: 07884 AVON - WILTSHIRE MOTORCYCLE TYRES. BMW SPECIALIST. Full Service, Repair 180968 www.studleysmotorcycles.co.uk Visit Carson Tyres, in Melksham for great deals and Restoration facilities for R and K Series on Motorbike tyres, ride in ride out service and machines. Mobile service available within an tyres fitted to loose wheels. Always at least 100 JIM HILL MOTORBIKE SERVICES. (formerly 80 mile radius of Leicester. Call: Phil on 0116 bike tyres in stock, Bridgestone main agents t/a Mobile Motorbike Services). We offer 2668913 or 07860 588076 or email www. other makes stocked. Visit our web site www. professional repairs and servicing for all BMW boxerman.co.uk (12/15) rideinrideout.co.uk for prices or Tel: 01225 709335 models at realistic prices. We now operate from ask for David or Adrian our bike specialists. Unit 2, Acton Street, Long Eaton, NG10 1FT. Collection service available. Contact: Jim 07971 THE WORKSHOP (YORK) NORTH YORKSHIRE. Independent BMW specialist B.E.M.W. For competitive prices on: 236087 or www.ifixyourbike.com based in York. Servicing, Repair and Restoration/ Restorations, repairs and spares. Spares for vintage/classic BMW’s from 1935. CJ750, Bespoke projects. Over ten years working with copies of 1938 BMW R71, from £3,455. Some NORTH EAST. Independent BMW Specialist. some of the best race teams in the British, AMA new 1957 models in stock, LH/RH sidecars plus Full service and repair for all models up to and the World Championships. Over five years OHV machines available. Machine tools for the present day. Factory trained senior technician. working with the Metropolitan Police. BMW small/home workshop, including Chester Multi Mobile service within 60 miles of Sunderland. passport. Diagnostic equipment. For more Function lathe/mill/drill. Parts made to pattern Now breaking bikes. Call: Mike Kendrick 0191 information please visit www.theworkshopyork. or drawing. S.A.E. for specification and services 510 0265 or 07828 281003. com or call Paul on 07881 798445. or visit our website. 2 Forman Street, Derby www.bmboxer DE1 1JQ. Tel/fax: 01332 298523 evenings and Looking for a used weekends 01332 824334, www.bemw.co.uk part for a Boxer or K series ? BMW Motorcycles For spares you can BEDS HERTS & BUCKS. - BMW motorcycle servicing and repairs - Motoscot Ltd (Steve our always rely on, take a Grover - Senior BMW Technician with over look at 35 years experience). Loan bike available. www.bmboxer.com Suppliers of Rukka, Schuberth and Daytona. Tel: speciality 01582 419812 email [email protected] www. motoscot.co.uk for over 30 years We service and repair all models from the F650, early BERKSHIRE. & Surrounding Counties. airhead & oilhead boxers & K series to the present day BMW Motorcycle services. K, R & F Series. twins, fours and sixes. Independent BMW Specialist Servicing, Repairs

For more information contact Ian on 01694 723546, .com & Spares. Collection & delivery. Weekend work & loan bike available. For all enquiries please check online at www.churchstrettonmotorcycles.com contact Garry Webb. Tel: 01344 860580/07770 or visit us at 444794. Email [email protected] Crossways(A49), Church Stretton Shropshire SY6 6PG

CENTRAL LONDON BMW SPECIALISTS. All models to date 2v, 4v, BMW Diagnostic equipment, ex dealer Tech, 30 years exp. Servicing, repairs, insurance work. Tyres, spares FROM stock. 5 star workshop - full facilities. BMW authorised supplier. Bikes bought/sold - see Biketrader web page. Jap & German 102 Druid St, London SE1 2HQ. Tel: 02072 372299, www.japandgerman.co.uk

CRAY ENGINEERING. BMW Twins road and race performance specialist. Fully equipped workshop for servicing, repairs, rebuilds and engineering. Tuning packages to suit your requirements. New and used spares. Tyres fitted and balanced while you wait. (Callers by appointment only.) Tel/Fax: 01795 538282 Faversham, Kent.

FERALWORKS BRISTOL. Independent qualified engineer with over 30 years BMW experience. Servicing. Repairs. Used Airhead 46 The BMW Club Journal September 2016 BMW Club Journal 210x297 44787_Layout 1 12/11/2014 10:07 Page 1

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n UK’s largest supplier of new and used parts. 1989 2014 n Salvage collected nationwide. n After market parts and accessories from major manufacturers. n All models from 1970 onwards. n Knowledgeable staff always happy to advise! 01484 353 600 • 0845 458 0077 September 2016 www.motTheo BMWr wClub Journalorks.co.uk 47 BMW CLUB MERCHANDISE

HOODIES SALE Sapphire Blue with Products to clear now. Heather Grey inside. Subject to availability Or Navy Blue with Hawaiian Blue inside. Roll neck shirts. S,M,L,XL,XXL. Black S,XL,XXL only £23 Navy S,XXL only £15.00 each.

Soft Shell Jackets £30. Navy S only GENTS POLO SHIRTS Black S,M only Navy, Light Blue or Turquoise. Sizes S,M.L,XL,XXL. Old style £18.00 each. Beanie Hats £4.50 each

Polo shirts in LADIES POLO SHIRTS black S & M only Magenta or Turquoise. £15.00 each. Sizes 10 12 14 16 18 £18.00 each.

Casual Shirts £20. S,M,XL,XXL. FREE MOUSEMAT & PEN WITH SALE ORDERS

NEW BEANIE HATS Black, Navy or Stone. One size fits all £6.00 each. NEW NECK BUFF Blue. One size fits all £8.00 each. COMPACT FOLDING UMBRELLAS £5.00 each

RIPPER WALLET Red only. £4

BAG FOR LIFE Ideal for home or away BMW MINT CARDS Top Box or Panniers. Ideal for home or away, £2.50 each Fit easily in pockets, UTAG I.D. TAG bags or bike. £1.50 £15.00 Products NOT shown to scale! Telephone sales, enquiries and sizing advice to Cath Broughton on 01604 416 896 Calls between 9.00am and 8.00pm. Email enquiries to: [email protected] Order on line at www.thebmwclub.org.uk/merchandise Order by post to:- Cath Broughton, 17 Strawberry Hill, Northampton, NN3 5HL. Please give your membership number when ordering by post. Cheques payable to ‘The BMW Club’. From Aug 2016