LEOMINSTER CLASSIC MOTOR CYCLE CLUB NEWSLETTER Website: www.lcmcc.uk Email: [email protected] November 2017 WHO’S WHO The “remaining” committee members. From left to right Mike (Bigfoot) Davis, Mike England – printer, Steve Hackett – membership secretary & web master, Dave (postman Pat) Peake – secretary. 1 FROM THE EASY CHAIR Thanks to all those of you who have sent me thoughtful messages about my accident; my broken wrist may be curtailing my activities at present but I hope to be back on the bike early December. The new club financial year has started already and the accounts show £2751 and £2593 for the current and savings accounts respectively. The chosen charity is now St Michael’s Hospice and, as you will read elsewhere, Macmillan Cancer Support will receive £1000 at the December Awards night. We also will be giving a further donation of £420 to Hereford MS Therapy Centre bringing their donation to £500 for the year in line with members’ wishes at the AGM. We have proposals to bring to members, hopefully in the Dec newsletter, regarding the number and mix of smaller charities to help us improve the effectiveness of our donations. Look out for these as we will be asking for you to choose what you feel is most appropriate for the club. The December raffle will have a Christmas hamper theme, i.e. one (or maybe two) larger, more substantial prizes rather than the ten smaller ones usually on offer. Consequently, we are asking members to donate seasonal items such as puds, fruit (not dozens of ‘Eat Me’ dates) wine, candles, gifts etc. but not the turkey! – you know the sort of thing. Helen Sims has kindly offered to assemble the hamper on the night as you bring in your items. We would also like to appeal for some ‘raffle babes’ (hairy legs optional) or ‘beaus’ to help sell tickets once or twice a year. Could you volunteer to do this? Strictly speaking, this should not be ‘from the easy chair’ as I stood down at the AGM to take on Membership to ensure we could secure the prime income stream for the club. Where this leaves us is rather uncertain at present but as membership renewal will, hopefully, be concentrated mainly in Dec & Jan clearly I must focus on that as a priority. Steve Hackett MAG (MOTORCYCLE ACTION GROUP) UPDATE MAG hails Home Office anti-moped crime talks ‘a promising start’ The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) welcomed the first meeting dedicated to dealing with the current moped-related crime epidemic as a promising start towards finding a multiagency solution to an escalating problem. The summit, held at Home Office headquarters in Westminster, was chaired by two Ministers – Sarah Newton MP and Nick Hurd MP – both of whom hold crime and policing responsibilities in the Government. MAG was represented by Colin Brown (who also attends the Motorcycle Crime Reduction Group for the organisation), and Lembit Öpik, MAG’s Director of Communications & Public Affairs. Colin commented „the importance of the issue nationally was underlined by the people in attendance. Tony Campbell, the new chief of the Motorcycle Industry Association, was present, as were top brass from the police, Home Office and other interest groups including the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Community, as well as insurance companies. The figures for crimes involving mopeds are high, with 16,180 recorded crimes of this nature across the last 12 months. 2 Four out of five of these crimes involved attempts at property theft and just about all of them involved stolen mopeds being driven illegally, for example on pavements. Riders are around 16 times more at risk of falling victim to bike theft in the West Midlands, versus car theft where bike theft is on the increase. Figures for the first 6 months of 2017 show that thefts have risen by 51% compared to the same period in 2016. The solutions discussed ranged from better motorcycle security from manufacturers to more secure parking options for riders, especially in urban areas. It was also noted that if the authorities don’t act then vigilantism will inevitably increase; a point noted by the ministers. MIB reports rise in claims from collisions involving uninsured drivers For the first time in more than a decade, the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) has reported an increase in the number of claims made following collisions involving uninsured drivers. Since 2004, the MIB says the number of claims against uninsured drivers has reduced by more than 50% - from around 25,000 per year to around 11,000. However, new figures published 29 August show that in the last 12 months MIB has seen claims against uninsured drivers rise by almost 10%. Survey uncovers biggest driver distractions A survey undertaken as part of a 'driver focus' event has revealed that sat-navs and in-car technology are the biggest distractions for motorists. On 25 August, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) joined colleagues from Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Services and officers from Highways England to talk to drivers at a number of service stations on the M1 motorway. Representatives of the Safer Roads Alliance, a partnership between NFRS, Northamptonshire Police and Northamptonshire Highways, were also involved in the event. Of the drivers surveyed by the NFRS, 50 picked sat-nav or other in-car technology as the biggest culprit for distracting them from the road. A further 45 said stress, emotions, tiredness, daydreaming or road rage, while 41 said talking to passengers. Other distractions revealed by the event were looking at passengers/children in the back seat (39 drivers), eating, drinking, doing make-up/hair (35 drivers), and adjusting in-car controls (34 drivers). Nine people admitted being distracted as a result of using a handheld mobile phone when driving, while 26 said using their mobile on hands-free was a distraction. which compromise road safety. Sue (Editor: [email protected]) BIGFOOTS MUSINGS ON ALL SORTS The end of September and I was off on a VMCC run into Gwent. A really enjoyable run, the Aerial purred it’s way round, the scenery was good as was the company. Pete, who organises the runs, does an excellent job of putting on the sort of routes I love, lots of hills and valleys with big scenery. He seams to find good lunch stops which is getting harder these days with so many pubs closing. The last Thursday in September we had a cracking walk from Luston. The sun shone showing the autumn tints off. We followed the course of an old canal that was never finished, had one muddy field, good views and one very wobbley stile. The Memorial run has come and gone and with it the last Bigfoot run. With an appalling weather forecast of heavy rain, high winds and pestilence it did not look good. Well, they got it very wrong because 7 of us had a dry run. On the Saturday, I spent most of the day re jigging the route to avoid the worst of the mucky bits so we had a gentle ride to the New Strand for coffee then followed the Wye before going down the Golden Valley, Vale of Ewyas and the Dulas Valley to a very convivial lunch at the Crown Inn. We then trundled through the Black Mountains, Hay on Wye, along the Paincastle to Rhydspence, Drovers road and back to the New Strand for tea, coffee and cake. So that’s it, Bigfoot runs are over after 41 years. I have had a great time over the years and wanted to finish while I was still enjoying it. 3 We had a good day, it stayed dry, it was warm and the views were good. I would like to say a big thank you to all of you who have supported the Bigfoot rides over the years. The runs would have been nothing without you. Doing them has allowed me to indulge myself in doing what I enjoy most, ie riding motorcycles through glorious countryside in good company. Will I miss it? Probably, but I wanted to finish before it became a drudge, so once more, thank you all for the company over all the years, I’ve had a good time. October 5th I led a walk over the Marcle Ridge, through the Hyde Valley, Woolhope and Sollers Hope where Dick Whittington was baptised. We had an almost perfect day that showed off Herefordshire at it autumnal best. On a bright sparkley October 8th myself and the Arial were off on a Worcs VMCC run and what a great day we had. A mix of bikes from the late 20’s to the mid 70’s, a super route with big, big views. A mix of A B & C roads though the Clee Hills and into the Severn Valley followed by Sunday lunch and drink for £8.50, and it was good. The Ariel purred and growled its way around starting 1st kick every time. What more could one ask for? At the AGM it was good to see a room full of people but I was disapointed that at the end of he meeting we still need a Chairman, Treasurer, Social Secretary and a couple of committee members. Please think about helping out, the club can’t run itself, the more of us there is the less each one has to do. As I’m sure by now you will know Steve H has had a coming together with a tractor. Fortunately he came out of it not too badly with a factured wrist and a badly bent Blood Bikers BMW.