Riders News 4 Singles.indd - The Royal British Legion Riders Branch

Transcript

Issue Number 4 www.rblr.co.uk April 2006 Safeguarding the welfare, interests and memory of those who have served in the armed forces. A Registered Charity. Charity No. 219279 Chairman's Foreword Riders, Postal Address for all Branch Officers and Committee Members: The Royal British Legion Riders (BR 3542) RBL Village Kent County HQ Aylesford, Kent ME20 7NY So here we are in April already, still cold enough to freeze your proverbials and not a drop of rain in sight. I expect like the rest of the country nothing much has happened too you over the last couple of months and unless you are foolish like the management you have kept to your four wheeled chariots and not braved the elements. Well, maybe not all of you but how RBL Contact Details many can truly say hand on heart that they ride all year round or in Tony’s case – stay on all year round? Legionline Start of our second year and by the time you get this we have had our first 08457 725725 (call charged at local rates) committee meeting in Swanage, in deepest darkest Dorset. A good www.britishlegion.org.uk number of you turned up for some beers in the evening and the results of that are somewhere within these pages. Disablement Pension Claims The Branch Officers went to Leeds for a Branch Management Course 020 7973 7236 during early February and we can now pretend that we know what we are talking about, and yes it will probably be the same ‘BS’ but in a more Compensation Claims condescending manner! 020 7973 7236 The Branch Standard arrived at the end of March and we are in the process of arranging its dedication service prior to its use. Thanks to all Disability Section those who donated their readies towards its purchase. 020 7973 7249 Lots to do this year kicking off with the South West Custom at the end of April and then to Great Yarmouth in May to remember Andy Simmons and Careers Advice all those little trips in between that you are all arranging. 0800 169 4073 (Freephone) Membership to date 191 and growing! Not been on a ride out for a while? And then somewhere down the line is our trip to France/Belgium; look at the dates if you can get the time off, stick your name down, it’ll be a gas but Pick the phone up, talk to other members in remember always ensure that you ask permission of an adult before your area, and arrange something; Bike shop, signing up for anything! Coast Run, Rally, Cafe - "Just Do it" Ride Safe, Rubber Side Down I raced a Harley today and after some really hard riding I managed to Paul, Chairman RBLR PASS the guy. I was riding on one of those really, really twisting sections of Purbeck road with no straight sections to speak of and Contacts I knew if I was going to pass one of those monsters with those big-V-Twin motors, it would have to be a place like this where handling and rider skill are more important than BHP alone. Chairman Paul Pollard 07732 543252 [email protected] I saw the guy up ahead as I exited one of the turns and knew I could catch him, but it wouldn’t be easy. I concentrated on my braking and cornering. Three corners later, I was on his tail. Catching him was one thing; passing him would prove to be another. Treasurer Andrew Jackson 07866 059745 [email protected] Welfare Officer Kate Williams 01284 725833 (office) 07776 152642 (mobile) PR Dave Bowen 07967 593588 [email protected] Committee Ross Yeaman - Stewart Waterson Bob Anderson - Roy Lodge Andrew Webb Events & Newsletter Tony Carr [email protected] 07740 145860 2 I had a race with a Harley today..................... Vice Chairman Graham Barber 07968 342613 [email protected] Secretary Pete Bradley 07866 481843 [email protected] where most of the bends have warning signs that say “15 MPH”. Two corners later, I pulled up next to him as we sailed down a long downhill. I think he was shocked to see me next to him, as I nearly got by him before he could recover. Next corner, same thing. I’d manage to pull up next to him as we started to enter the corners but when we came out he’d get on the throttle and outpower me. His horsepower was almost too much to overcome, but this only made me more determined than ever. My only hope was to outbrake him. I held off squeezing the lever until the last instant. I kept my nerve while he lost his. In an instant I was by him. Corner after corner, I could hear the roar of his engine as he struggled to keep up. Three more miles to go before the road straightens out and he would pass me for good. But now I was in the lead and he would no longer hold me back. I stretched out my lead and by the time we reached the bottom of the canyon, he was more than a full corner behind. I could no longer see him in my rear-view mirror. Once the road did straighten out, it seemed like it took miles before he passed me, but it was probably just a few hundred yards. I was no match for that kind of horsepower, but it was done. In the tightest section of road, where bravery and skill count for more than horsepower and deep pockets, I had passed him. though it was not easy, I had won the race to the bottom of the valley and I had preserved the proud tradition of one of the best bits of brit iron. I will always remember that moment. I don’t think I’ve ever pedaled so hard in my life. And some of the credit must go to Raleigh cycles, as well. They really make a great bicycle... A Motorcycle Combination. Retirement eventually comes to us all, that is those of us who survive the risks that life throws at us. No one gets to retirement age without losing a few friends and loved relative’s en-route. The knocks and bumps of life fill our minds with memories, and it is in retirement you get the time to look back over happier times, and if you are lucky, some money to be able to do something about it. In my case, the story starts back in the mid-1970s when I was serving in the RAF at Valley, on Anglesey. I was virtually given 90% of a 1961 Panther 650cc M120. Now is the time to mention that I am a great one for re-cycling. That simply means I seem to be able to fix almost anything with an engine in it. I have also always had a motorcycle of one sort or another since 1962, and the P&M Panther was a real challenge. I re-built it and fitted it with a BSA single seater sidecar and chassis. My wife, son and I had a great time with it, attending rally’s, show, meetings, going on runs, and using it to commute to and from work at Valley. There I worked on Hawk trainer aircraft, and my son would sometimes accompany me, being very keen on aircraft and motorcycles, like myself. He has been dead now for eleven years, killed by a speeding motorist who was doing 55mph in a 40mph limit. They never stopped, so no one was ever prosecuted. Only his left arm was not broken, he became a donor for five people whose lives he saved. Do not let anyone ever tell you time heals such wounds. But he certainly loved that old Panther; he is the one by my left shoulder in the photo, then 7 years old. Like I said, the knocks and bumps of life are never kind. manage 25-30. Annual road tax was half that of a car. The speeds of 40-50mph seem slow now, but in those days cars were no faster; commercial vehicles and heavy lorries were then limited to 40mph anyway. Few could afford the superbike combinations of the day, some costing more than a small car. Such machines as Ariel’s square four, or an HRD Vincent with a chair, were just dreams. Mr. Average owned functional transport. The gearing of a motorcycle combination normally has to be lowered, usually by fitting a smaller engine sprocket, to enable it to cope with the extra drag and weight. Some manufacturers even offered stronger fork springs to cope. The sidecar wheel had to ‘lead’ the rear wheel by a few inches, so the bike could steer round it. Tyres with a much flatter profile were fitted, as the bike no longer had to lean Very few people will think of the little family man of the 1940s, over on bends. The riding technique was special, and had to be mastered quickly. Any one who has driven a combination 50s and early 60s, and how he managed to get to and from will know how easy it is to lift the side car wheel off the work and transport the family. The family motorcycle ground on left hand bends, and even turn it all over. Rightcombination is still a bit of a Cinderella in the classic bike handers’ are a pleasure, as the chair supports the bike. But world, and I think this is just grossly unfair. Many, many big even here you must not get over-confident, too fast and the singles, both side valve and over head valve, and later the bikes rear wheel lifts with devastating results. And therein parallel twin bikes found themselves hitched up to a single lies a tale, and maybe the reason why the motorcycle seat side-car at first; and as the family grew, so a child/adult combination seems to be held in less awe than the shiny chair would be attached. Today, names like Busmar, Squire, sporting machines. That is quite simply, their road Watsonian, and Steib are rarely heard, where as Bonneville, Trophy and Bullet roll off the tongue. Lots of names are given performance. A 500cc combination could cruise at around 45-50mph at the most, with perhaps the later 650cc models to the motorcycle and sidecar, such as combination, chair, touching 55-60mph. How ever, the social historical value of outfit, and combo. the combination in the story of the motorcycle far outweighs any contribution to society, than that of the sports bike. So where are all those thousands of motorcycle Thousands of families went to the seaside on days out, on combinations of yesteryear? There was a time every street holidays, visiting relatives, to family weddings and funerals, had any number being ridden. So popular was this cheap went shopping, commuted to and from work, in their form of transport in the 1950s that the ‘Practical Motorists & motorbike and sidecar. Millions of miles were travelled by Motor Cyclist’, edited by F.J. Camm, in the September 1956 family men huddled up in a thick water-proof coat, peaked issue ran a series of articles on how to build your very own helmet or flat-cap on back-to-front, goggles, and huge child/adult side car. The October and November issues gauntlets; all doing their best to get as many miles per gallon covered completing it and fitting it to a bike. There were so as possible. The majority would do their own servicing and many combinations on our roads then, chugging about, repairs, and know the machine like the back of their own powered by Panther Model 100, Ariel VB, BSA WM21, and hands. Norton 19S that the exchequer charged extra duty on the road tax if a chair was fitted. But so safe was the combination So what killed off this unique form of transport? We simply in mature hands of the family man, that the insurance became too well off. As incomes grew and small cars charged then was between 40 to 50% less than a solo. The became cheaper, so families moved up to four wheels, a ideal bike to power a combo is one that has good torque at roof and a heater, (though this was often an ‘extra’). The real low revs; one that can slog on unworried, and is reliable and nail in the coffin was the arrival in 1959 of the BMC Mini at strong. A lightly built, fast, large engined sports machine just over £400. would be hopeless. The attraction of the outfit for the family man was its cheapness, ease of maintenance and economy in running. This icon of the mid-twentieth century workingman Where once millions knew how to set up the sidecar toe-in, and machine lean-out, what a swan-neck was; today few will is now a very rare sight. He might be a fitter, or a turner, even know what those terms mean. The sidecar wheel has miner, mechanic, toolmaker, toolsetter, pattern maker or to toe-in to the bike’s wheels, just as rear-wheel driven cars similar; either way he would probably be a time-served have toe-in on their steered wheels, and for the same apprentice in his chosen trade. This would mean he had a reason; otherwise the sidecar would drag the outfit to the good grounding in engineering, so maintaining his steed nearside all the time. A swan-neck is the stout steel tube on would be second nature. The top-speed of a combo was a the front mounting, bent at right angles. The bike has to lean good 20% lower than the equivalent solo machine, and one out slightly when the outfit is stationary with no one on it. could carry up to four people. You have to ‘drive’ a combo, This is to permit the sidecar suspension to sink when weight not ‘ride’ it as a motorcycle. A gallon of petrol would last 50is applied, such as a passenger. I sold my Panther 120 back 60 or even 70 miles, when small family cars could only in 1983,moving myself up to a family car. I have now 3 The photos show the results of my labour. The first time I took it out, it attracted quite a crowd, and that was in late January 2006. The sidecar spent its formative years on the Isle of Wight, being purchased by a chap who then took ten years to restore it, never used it, leaving it in a shed for another ten years. Then I purchased it in 2005. A Motorcycle Combination. (cont) It was very moving building the combination up, as it brought back happy memories of those years on Anglesey, and my son. The first time I took it out, and the memories came flooding back, I had to stop to dry the tears, as I could not see out of the Mk9 Goggles. But I was very happy and pleased with it. Then the dynamo packed up; but that is quite normal on anything so ancient, and something else to fix. Neil Cairns. obtained a 1950s child/adult Watsonian sidecar, along with its frame, and am busy attaching it to my 1953 500cc AJS 18S. I feel that it is only right that people should be aware of what our forefathers did and why. I have taken the route of producing just what was about in the 1950s, with both a classic motorcycle and a classic sidecar. You might not want to take this route, as one can buy a shiny new combination ‘off the peg’ so to speak. But today they are no longer cheap. Watsonian-Squire offer the ‘Indian’ Royal Enfield Bullet attached to a selection of beautiful chairs. Then in 2004 the second reason for building a combination arrived. Whilst out on my bicycle, a lady driver in her little blue Vauxhall Corsa took no notice of my reflective coat, my white cycling helmet, or the fact I was cycling along a clear main road. She shot out of a side road, smashing into me at about 25mph. She had tried to beat the traffic lights under a railway bridge, and roared across the boxed junction as I cycled across it. I had a smashed hip, broken femur, broken ribs, a huge hole in my back and my glasses rammed into my right eye. My cycling helmet saved me from serious head injury; I still have it with its flattened side. The end result is I now have a 20% functional disability, and cannot swing my right leg up over a saddle, and supporting a solo motorcycle will eventually be impossible. You cannot fall off a combination. Once my contribution to social history, my AJS motorcycle and sidecar takes to the road again, I will have get ready for all those lay-enthusiasts who will ask many questions, and explain to a younger generation to whom such a contraption is alien, what it is all about. Marine Corps General interview: FEMALE INTERVIEWER: So, General Reinwald, what things are you going to teach these young boys when they visit your base? GENERAL REINWALD: We’re going to teach them climbing, canoeing, archery, and shooting. FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Shooting! That’s a bit irresponsible, isn’t it? GENERAL REINWALD: I don’t see why, they’ll be properly supervised on the rifle range. To be specific about mounting the ‘standard’ Watsonian sidecar frame onto the ’53 AJS’s frame, only one problem FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Don’t you admit that this is a terribly arose. Being an early version of the AMC sprung frame, dangerous activity to be teaching children? there is no threaded lug on the rear frame for the ‘ball-joint’ to screw into. So I had to adapt the 1953 AJS’s lower GENERAL REINWALD: I don’t see how. We will be teaching nearside frame rail, under the gearbox, to take the mount them proper rifle discipline before they even touch a firearm. via a clamp. AMC in the following year’s model of the 18S and G80, in 1954, did fit this threaded lug on the frame! My FEMALE INTERVIEWER: But you’re equipping them to 18S has very little chrome work fitted, as it was built during become violent killers. the nickel shortage of 1952-53. Therefore the wheel rims are stove enamelled an aluminium colour, called GENERAL REINWALD: Well, Ma’am, you’re equipped to be a ‘Argenized’ by the factory. I used the AJS&MOC web site prostitute, but you’re not one….., are you? forum pages to get advice from other 18S owners who had sidecars fitted, as well as obtaining the necessary 18-tooth The radio went silent and the interview ended. engine sprocket, to replace the standard 21-tooth item. The AJS 18S is a single cylinder 500cc-touring bike, built from 1945-1963. It is based on the 350cc AJS 16M, itself based on a 1935 350cc Matchless model G3. The G3 became Disclaimer The Royal British Legion Rider's Branch famous as the bike to ride in WW2 as the WD G3L, rider by (RBLR) Newsletter (Legion Rider) accepts for publication lots of Don-R’s (army motorcyclist messengers.) Two Avon articles and letters written in good faith; however, the views Sidecar Triple Duty tyres came from Armours, and material expressed in articles and letters which are published are not and studs for the chair’s sunroof from Woollies. The child/ necessarily those of the editor of the newsletter or those of adult chair itself came from an enthusiast who had halfthe RBLR or its officers or members. This newsletter is restored it; I completed the fiddly bits and fitted the interior. published for and on behalf of the RBLR. 4 Don't Drink & Ride - it's tricky not spilling any..... Seriously, its not worth it - No Licence =No Fun! 2006 Summer Party details.............. We will be joining in with the boys and girls of the Scrumpies over the weekend of the 5th & 6th of August. It will be a camping weekend, the site is an excellent venue, with good camping facilities and a purpose built (indoor) western style bar and stage area with live bands. There will be full toilet and wash facilities and hot food vendors for the weekend. There is a web site to get the details from (Don’t be put off that it is a country “Kids” park as well as a country and western venue) the weekend we are there it’s just us and the Scrumpies http://www.courtfarmcountrypark.co.uk/ facilities.htm Charges for the weekend are just £5 (per person) payable on arrival, then you just need camping kit, and lots of money............ ‘Riders’, what can you offer to your Branch? Do you own your own business? Do you have contacts able to provide the Branch with a service? Do you know anyone who owns a Pub with a field? Do you own a Pub with a field? Are you in the Motorcycle Repair Business? Do you work or run a printing company? Do you own or run a Hotel/B&B or Campsite? If the answer to any of those questions are ‘YES’ and there are many more, then we need to hear from you. Call us ‘NOW’ (Paul) 01752 253849 - (Pete) 01929 405050 or Email us at: [email protected] or [email protected] The address for the venue is: Court Farm Country Park Wolvershill Road Banwell Nr Weston-super-Mare Somerset BS29 6DL Remember, we are doing this for branch members to be able to get together and meet each other (some for the first time) and enjoy a good social gathering. So there you go, all that needs to happen now, is for you to tell us your going to be there, and then for you to tip up! Please let us know if you can attend at either [email protected] or 07866 481843, so we can give the numbers over to the Scrumpies ASP, Your support is appreciated. Pete Ladies & Gentlemen Please remember to let us know of any changes of address, Phone numbers or E-Mail you'd hate to miss out on a great newsletter like this....... 5 What do you ride? A quick guide to the types of Motorcycles available out there. New riders are often unaware that there are many types of motorcycles. These motorcycle types or styles have evolved from the standard motorcycle. No one can tell you what motorcycle type is best for you. That’s part of the fun, sitting on bikes and looking at specs to determine what type fits you. The odds are, you will go through most of the types during your riding career. That’s just the way it is. What suits you as a beginner looks and feels less appealing later on. A Standard bike is what most new riders see when they start off. The rider sits pretty much straight up with the foot pegs directly straight down. The angle of the fork -- the rake -- is slight allowing for easy turning of the handlebars and easy balancing of the bike at all speeds. Cruisers are normally motorcycles with low seat height, fat rear tires, raked front forks, and forward controls with the foot pegs way out in front to the point that your rear end takes a lot of the road jolts. With a standard bike, your foot pegs are straight down allowing you to lift yourself off the seat when you see a pothole coming. With the cruiser, you hope the rear suspension will take care of that for you. Cruisers are great to look at. They handle beautifully at high speeds but their low speed handling can find you on the ground if you happen to be turning the front wheel just as you have to grab a lot of front brake. Most Harley-Davidson motorcycles are cruisers. Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki have many cruiser models. In fact, the cruiser type is the most popular motorcycle type. A Naked bike is basically a standard motorcycle with little wind protection and an exposed chassis. It’s an example of a motorcycle you can usually see through. Sport-bikes are the flashiest of all motorcycles. They’re lightweight, fast, and include colourful paint jobs. Sport-bikes are the bad boys of motorcycles. They’re pretty to look at and inexpensive to buy, but with the wrong rider aboard, they can become a deadly weapon. The speed and acceleration of sport-bikes make them very quick in traffic. Since they’re fast, a lot of new riders want their first bike to be a sport-bike Dual-Sports or dual-purpose bikes are universal bikes. For those who want to ride on the street and also not be afraid to take an off-road detour, the dual-sport bike is the perfect choice. Dual-Sports have tall seat heights, long suspensions, and are street legal. These are not bikes for beginners. Adventure-touring bikes are similar except have added saddlebags, windshields, and other long distance features. Touring Motorcycles are the ultimate long distance motorcycles. They come with the biggest engines, great acceleration and cruising speed, lots of storage including top trunks and saddlebags, amenities like cruise control, stereo radios, CB communications, reverse gears, onboard air compressors, large fairings and windshields, heated seats and grips, and high reliability. Although it’s possible to tour on any type of motorcycle -- and many do -- these touring motorcycles make riding two-up on a 3000 mile trip as comfortable as riding down to the local ice cream store. Some bikes with somewhat less amenities plus superior handling characteristics are a cross between a sport-bike and a touring bike. They’re called Sport-Tourers. Some people would not define Trikes as a motorcycle type. However, the growth of trikes is certainly noticeable as more and more riders find themselves unable to ride a two-wheeler anymore or just like the concept of triking over biking. The trike is symmetrical, unlike a sidecar rig. They have a low center of gravity, shaftdrive, reverse gear, and all the creature comforts of a GoldWing. These days, other brands are also being converted, notably Harley-Davidson. With half a dozen major trike conversion companies, the market is booming. A Classic bike can be an old motorcycle or it can just as well be a new bike with a classic or retro style. As was the case for trikes, Motor Scooters are not really a motorcycle type either. They are, however, taking a more prominent place within motorcycling. That’s because they get better gas mileage, are simpler to operate, take up less space, are easier to manoeuvre, and are easier to mount and dismount. Anyone with problems with leg movement who can’t flip a leg over a bike anymore, can easily step into a motor scooter and ride off using an automatic transmission. Motor scooters are step-through or feet-forward vehicles with smaller wheels than motorcycles. They tend to have automatic transmissions. They range in engine size from 50cc to 600cc with the 400-600cc machines most capable of sustained highway speeds and capabilities to keep up with regular motorcycles. Choppers are motorcycles that have had certain components “chopped off.” That was the original definition when returning soldiers looked at the bikes on the market and decided that they needed to be lighter, more streamlined, have more performance, and be as utilitarian as possible They also wanted their bikes to reflect their personalities and often make a statement of their philosophy of life. So they began to take components off and modify the rest. They wanted to have a chopper. Choppers tended to be creations executed by their owners. In recent years, motorcycle companies have been formed to create mass produced choppers. Custom motorcycles may look similar to choppers or they may be complete customisations of an existing bike, or ground-up builds of new designs using off-the-shelf and custom made parts. - Paul WANTED VOLUNTEERS FOR STANDARD BEARERS ALL REGIONS - MALE OR FEMALE - NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY BE NOTICED - STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD “Enquires to the Chairman” Right you lot! - Spring has Sprung - Time to dust off the lid, buy the obligatory new pair of gloves, complain that your leathers have shrunk again over the winter! - Have a good moan about the cost of servicing, then pay it (or be brave and do it yourself). Then take the bike out, and within seconds all your stress and worries have been blown away..... Even better still, meet up with another rider from the branch, and go off on a jolly boys outing! - and don't forget to invite me! 6 Not managed to get to any runs or events yet due to other commitments, but I wanted to say hello and introduce RBL members to the work of my wonderfully talented fiancée Georgina. Between us we have a collection of five motorcycles, two of which are Triumphs: my 1996 Speed Triple and my 1955 framed Tiger 100. The others are Georgie’s ZZR600, her YZ125 race bike (she used to play in the mud) and my trusty RD04 Honda Africa Twin which is used for commuting and riding over cars etc. Recently achieving a BA in model making at Bournemouth University, Georgie submitted this 1:7 scale model of my Tiger to the examiners. The model took her 5 months to build and measures approximately 10 inches long. It is totally scratch built Hello from Wiltshire to the exact dimension and design of the real thing, and even boasts the real machines exact mileage on the Speedo dial, which only measures 5mm across! She was not only awarded a BA but also swept the boards at the ‘New Blades’ model makers show in London where she was awarded best in show and presented with a solid gold scalpel in recognition of the realism of the machine. Other details include the ‘Lucas’ badge etched in the middle of the headlamp glass, the ‘Amal’ logo on the side of the 5mm long concentric carb and a final drive chain that is riveted together just like the real thing, only with 3mm link plates and 2mm pins! It does everything but fire up and leak oil. I have included a shot of the real bike, next to the model bike – I should explain that the real Tiger was painted black in memory to George’s father who passed away suddenly a few days before her graduation – I dedicated the Tiger to his memory and ‘William’ (or little Willie) as it’s more affectionately known takes pride of place our collection. I also include shots of my ever so slightly modified 1996 Speed Triple – ‘Cabbalistic Ascendancy’ is a demonic street-fighter which has won many shows with the quality of Georgina’s paintwork. Taking her 500 hours in total to complete, it tries encompass mystic symbolism and occult images surrounding the tenuous relevance of religion and links with local Pagan Wiltshire legends including Silbury Hill, Stonehenge and Uffington White Horse on one side, moving through to the Pyramids, the Orion mystery and the even features the Martian Sphinx – it also scares the crap out of most car drivers not to mention the local vicar. Look forward to meeting some of you on future runs!! Cheers – Vince Povey 7 National Events These are just a few of the many events that branch members will be attending this year. For a full list please visit the website and click on "Events" - Tony National Events 28-30 April Bath & West Bike Show Bath & West Showground Note: Volunteers needed to man the branch stand Contact Mike Baxter 07766 904986 12-14 May Andy Simmons Memorial Run (Branch organised event) Ride from Lulworth to Great Yarmouth Contact Pete Bradley 07866 481843 20-21 May BMF Show Peterborough Showground Pete Leverett 27-28 May France & Belgium Shakeout Run Start in Chepstow on Fri 27th, ride up through mid Wales. Overnight in Conwy then ride back to disperse at Chepstow on Sunday. All welcome Contact Tony Carr - 07740 145860 16-18 June Farmyard Party High & Dry 2006 Duncombe Park Estate Helmsley North Yorkshire YO62 5EB Contact Andrew Jackson (Jacko) 23-25 June Beaulieu Motorcycle World Beaulieu, New Forest Note: Volunteers needed to man the branch stand Contact Pete Bradley 07866 481843/Tony Carr 07740 145860 5-6 August Summer rally – Joint venture with the “Scrumpies” Please try and attend – good chance to meet everyone! Court Farm Country Park Wolvershill Road Banwell Nr Weston-super-Mare Somerset BS29 6DL Contact Pete – 07866 481843 25 Aug-3 Sep Annual Branch Sponsored Poppy Run France & Belgium including formal wreath laying at the Menin Gate Contact Tony Carr - 07740 145860 8 Sep National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD) Oxford Jack was about to marry Jill and his father took him to one side. “When I married your mother, the first thing I did when we got home was take off my trousers,” he said. “I gave them to your mother and told her to put them on. When she did, they were enormous on her and she said to me that she couldn’t possibly wear them, as they were too large. “I told her, “of course they’re too big. I wear the trousers in this family and I always will. “Ever since that day, we have never had a single problem.” Jack took his father’s advice and as soon as he got Jill alone after the wedding, he did the same thing; took off his trousers, gave them to Jill and told her to put them on. Jill said that the trousers were too big and she couldn’t possibly wear them. “Exactly,” replied Jack. “I wear the trousers in this relationship and I always will. I don’t want you to forget that”. Jill paused and removed her knickers and gave them to Jack. “Try these on,” she said, so he tried them on but they were too small. “I can’t possibly get into your knickers,” said Jack. “Exactly,” replied Jill. “And if you don’t change your attitude, you never will.” Got the rebuild finished on the bike and decided to go to town. Came out of a shop and saw a copper writing out a parking ticket, I said come on officer give an old soldier a break I was only in there for 10 minutes, he ignored me. I called him a fascist he glared and wrote a ticket for tyres and stuck it on the screen with the parking ticket, I called him a s..t he wrote another ticket, this went on for 20 minutes I called him names, he wrote tickets, the windscreen was covered in them. I wasn’t too bothered by it though.......... I walked into town! 8 Many thanks to Bristol Kawasaki for sponsoring us for our Poppy Run 2006 T-Shirt costs..... Really appreciate the help guys! Please visit Bristol Kawasaki in person, or on the web at: http://www.kawasaki-bristol.co.uk/ I have an addiction! It started when I was very small, influences from my Dad and uncle mainly. So at 16 and now being legally able to indulge I had my first fix, a 250 Ariel Arrow. I thrashed the life out of it but like any addict I needed a bigger fix, that was cured by a 650 Matchless. Wow, over a ton. I stalked the North circular road and other parts of North London looking for other junkies so we could race everywhere. But I still needed more.....a BSA Rocket Goldie filled the space nicely, a ton fifteen on the A41 and I was caught by a Speed cop when I slowed for the Busy Bee cafe. Speeding, excessive noise and no chain guard. But it still did not cure me. Then marriage and kids came along and I tried to cure myself, went cold turkey, didn’t buy bike mags and wouldn’t look at bikes on the road. Then I was lured by the seduction of the Far East, 4 cylinders 10000 rpm. That was it back to my old ways again a GS 550 was my sensible choice, got the leathers, started going to rallies again to speak to other junkies and then I had to go onto more again. But I resisted until a dark fateful day that a pusher got me into his dim garage and lurking at the back was a Spondon GS thou. I did the deal and spent days prowling Hampshire and Surrey looking for victims and luring them into 140 mph races over the Hogs Back, but it all ended in tears and I parted company with my baby in a spectacular way and she died on the side of the A31 at Bentley. Spirits of Adventure Take one dream, a wife and husband, namely Monika and Simon Newbound (ex-Royal Navy Submariner), two powerful, new generation all-terrain, continent crossing BMW motorcycles and a charity fundraiser for Children of the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. Introducing Guinness World Record Breakers Spirits of Adventure. Imagine months after passing your motorcycle test & with no mechanical experience or support vehicles over landing around the world from east to west by the greatest landmass exceeding 1350 days and 122,000 miles and then breaking the MC Endurance Guinness World Record - Who said dreams never come true? Guinness World Records For Monika to visit a greater number than 102 Countries in one continuous journey currently 54 countries visited from May 2002 - May 2005. For Simon and Monika to exceed a greater distance of 16300 Kilometres - Achieved April 2005 In April 2005 it was confirmed we had successfully broken the first of two world records and today after nearly four years and 121,000 miles we are just 48 countries short of the second world record. We are extremely proud to have carried the Union Jack “East to West around the earth’s greatest landmass” and represented our sponsors on National TV in almost every country that we visited. I was in turmoil, what could I do? I was saved by an Italian, 1200cc’s of Laverda Mirage, she wore black and gold and growled as only a big triple can. Everybody loved her and we were happy companions rallying and thrashing round Kent, then a baby came to join us another Italian, another Laverda 500 Montjuic. Loud fast and furious I was on a high with these two lovelies to play with but alas tragedy struck and my big buxom Mirage was murdered one dark night by a mad woman in a Fiat, I still had Monty but for a junkie like me she was lacking. The Insurance paid me to bury the Mirage and I was back to the Far East, a CB 900 was offered and taken. Stripped and with a CB 1100R rolling chassis a big bore kit I had a big tuned Jap again and we lived together for 12 years in harmony and I still own her. But I am a junkie and last year a black 750 Laverda in Formula spec slid noisily into my life and this also gave me the chance to rebuild the big CB. So I am still addicted wont and can’t cure myself and I still have to meet other addicts at lonely locations to talk about our fixes. Bob s y l l "support your local legion" We all too often moan about our local RBL clubs and do nothing about it. They need our support and our custom. Local legion clubs are closing at an alarming rate. Do your bit, go visit your local club, introduce yourself, maybe even offer to help, you never know, you might just enjoy yourselves............ Through our experiences we endeavour to seek out the culture, history and cuisine from each and every country we visit. We look for the best in every person and location that we visit and we are delighted to share with the world all of our positive experiences. With one Guinness World Record and almost 1500 days accumulated we can confidently say 99.999 percent of the world’s people are kind, generous, hospitable and friendly and never will we let the .001 percent from every country we visit, detract us from achieving our goals. Full details of Simon and Monika’s epic and continuing journey can be found on their website at www.spiritsofadventure.com. A detailed article on their record breaking attempt will be in the next issue of the newsletter. 9 10 the riders branch - The clue's in the title - stop polishing it, and get out and ride it! The Bikers Code? By Unknown Author It used to be that all bikers shared a common bond, an unspoken code of ethics and behaviour that transcended words and was built on actions. There was never a bible written on this Biker’s Code and there was no need for such. But the times are a-changin’ and there seems to be a lot of new riders out there. These days the riders you see blastin’ down the road are just as likely to be clad in shorts and sneakers as jeans and engineer boots. And the roughest, toughest-looking biker you pull up next to could be your doctor or lawyer and may be wearin’ a Rolex watch under his leathers. There’s nothing wrong with that, so long as these new riders learn the Code just as we old-timers did. Being a biker used to be about using your creativity to take a basket case old hawg and using only grit and ingenuity, turning it into a one-of-a-kind eye dazzler, then risking your life on the asphalt on a bike you made yourself out of pride. Bikers wore leather and grease because they new cagers would just as soon run them down as look at them, so they had to be intimidating. We were a bred unto ourselves with no union, no support group, and in many cases, no family (they threw us out). We had to make it in the world of our own, against all rules, against mainstream society, and against all odds. We survived and prospered because of the Biker Code and we never took shit from anybody. As an old scooter bro once said, “It’s every tramp’s job to school the young. How else are they gonna know a Panhead from a bed pan?” With that in mind, we bring you a primer on the basic two-wheeled Code. Take heed, brothers and sisters, for our Code is a hallowed one filled with honour and loyalty, the likes of which have not been since the days of knighthood: Don’t take any shit. Be kind to women, children and animals, but don’t take any bullshit. This is an essential part of being a biker. It has to do with respect and honour. Anyone can be a quick-tempered fool. Be cool, stand tall and backup what you say with action. Never lie, cheat or steal. Another way of saying this is to always tell the truth. Bikers are always the greasy bad guys in the movies, but every real biker knows that his word is his bond. Your word is all you have in life that is truly yours. Guard it carefully and be something noble, for you are a true knight of the road. Don’t snitch. If you see a wrong, fight it yourself, if you are about anything. You’ll take care of problems yourself and never feel the need to snitch someone off. Snitches are the lowest life forms on earth, right up there with biker thieves. Don’t whine. Absolutely no one likes or respects a whiner. Another way to say this is hold your mud. Still another way to think of it is, “Don’t sweat the small stuff”. Most of like’s little inconveniences work themselves out whether you whine r not. Keep your chin up, dammit! You’re a biker, not some lowly snail….. Never say die and never give up. Whether it’s in a fight, a debate, or a business deal, no matter how bad it gets, a biker never gives up. Help others. When a brother or sister is broken down by the side of the road, always stop and help them. Even moral support, if that is ally you can give, is better than riding on by. Remember life is about the journey, the ride, not getting there. You already are there. And don’t just help biker’s; show the world that we are better than our image portrays us. Courtesy costs you nothing and gives you everything. Stick to your guns. Do what you say you’ll do, be there when you say you will. This is called integrity. This also goes back to standing for something. Like the song says, “You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.” Life is not a drill. Yeah, this ain’t no dress rehearsal. This is life – go out and take big bites of it. You’ve got no time to lose and bikers don’t stand around waiting for the party to come to them. You only go around once. Tomorrow you could be road kill, thanks to a chain smoker asleep at the wheel of his Caddy. Lie life now, make the most of each moment. All right, now let’s review. • • • You are a biker, a modern-day knight of the road. Your word is your bond. Don’t take any shit. • • • Protect the weak, walk tall and stand proud. Stick to your guns. Life is not a drill. Now go forth and ride. When in doubt, ride. That’s what we do…ride. If you want to ride around in a Day-glo Hawaiian shirt and sandals, go for it, but if you intend to look like an idiot, at least don’t act like an idiot. These commandments are just a few of the broad strokes, there is a lot more to being a biker than buying a bike. If you just buy a bike, you are a motorcyclist. Being a biker is a way of life, a proud way of life we hold in high regard with a burning passion for the open highway. What say you? A koala is sitting up a gumtree smoking a joint when a little lizard walks past and looks up and says “Hey Koala ! what are you doing?” The koala says: “Smoking a joint, come up and have some.” So the little lizard climbs up and sits next to the koala and they have a few joints. After a while the little lizard says his mouth is ‘dry’ and is going to get a drink from the river. But the little lizard is so stoned that he leans too far over and falls into the river. A crocodile sees this and swims over to the little lizard and helps him to the side, then asks the little lizard: “What’s the matter with you?” The little lizard explains to the crocodile that he was sitting smoking a joint with the koala in the tree, got too stoned and then fell into the river while taking a drink. The crocodile says he has to check this out and walks into the rain forest, finds the tree where the koala is sitting finishing a joint, and he looks up and says “Hey you!” So the koala looks down at him and says: “Jeeesus dude.......how much water did you drink?!!” 11 Lofty Crofts (ALR) Merchandise Don't forget we have a number of items available to Branch members, all items include P&P (UK). PayPal is now available by sending details of your order (including your email address) to [email protected] - Postal order's to: Lofty Crofts, an American Legion Rider made contact with the branch last year and said he would be visiting the UK in March 2006 and that he would welcome as much contact with branch members as possible. Merchandising (RBLR) C/O 77 Andover Green, Bovington, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 6LP (updated address). To make things interesting, Oxford BMW kindly agreed to allow branch members a 2 hour session on all of their demonstrator bikes followed by a wreath laying in Chinnor and a visit to the National Motorcycle Museum near Solihull. RBLR Riders Badge (Wire Embroidered Blazer “Type” badge) £10.00 Each (members only) RBLR (Black) T-Shirts available in various sizes: (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL & Water Buffalo) £10.00 Each Pewter Tankards. Heavy duty Selmark pewter “Tavern” tankards. Engraved with Branch logo, “legion Rider” & “Lest we forget” - price includes engraving of your name/nickname. Excellent Quality...... £25.00 Each RBLR Non members badges. 2 sizes, nearly out of larger ones! Badges are flat embroidered on a black edged background Sm 8cm x 6cm - Lge 12cm x 9cm £5.00 Each for Small £10.00 Each for Large Also Avaialble, various Stickers for bikes/ cars. Go to the RS Graphics website at: http://www. rsgraphics.co.uk/rblr.htm The day itself started off with a very bracing Northerly wind and never really warmed up at all. This did not deter Graham riding up from Dorset, Ian from South Wales, Gary from London, Martyn and Tony (local) and two non-branch members (Jocke and Tony) from joining in the fun. After the session on the demonstrators, dyed in the wool non-BMW riders were uttering phrases like “awesome”, “fantastic”, “blow your socks off” and other choice phrases in praise of the bikes. One member said that during his ride on the 163bhp K1200R he felt that the bike was in control such was the massive power available and the way it delivered it. Jocke, who hails from Finland, owns one of these models and exploits its potential at every opportunity which he amply demonstrated on numerous occasions by temporarily converting it to a monocycle! We bade our farewells to Phil and Matt at Oxford BMW and headed for a small church in the village of Chinnor where the family of Pete Bartlett were waiting for us. Pete was a serving Royal Marine when he was tragically killed in 1997 at the age of just 24. We gathered around the graveside, Graham laid the wreath and Tony said a few words then it was off for a very welcome cup of tea and home made cake with the family. All too soon it was time to leave, so we saddled up and went across country to the National Motorcycle Museum only to find that the café had closed and so had the museum as there was a function on that evening. Nonetheless, there were still around 100 bikes on display in the shop area (which we didn’t have to pay to see) and the heating was turned up so this allowed us to warm up. Whilst we were doing so, and ex-Royal Marine in his late 60’s approached us and started chatting, it took us over 20 minutes to prise Graham away - “…once a Marine…”. We then got on the motorway and 45 minutes later were safely in the bar of the Fox and Hounds at Ardley with Fewcott (J10 of the M40). Once thawed out in front of the Branch Raffle 2006 real fire, the social evening began with an excellent scoff provided by Clive and Kelly and some of the finest ales England can muster. We were joined mid-way through by We have been kindly donated some quality items from Jocke, Tony, Caz and Claire (all of whom write articles for George White Motorcycles in Swindon to raffle off in order to Motorbikestoday.com) and a very convivial atmosphere raise funds for Branch Funds. It is the intention to have three developed. At about 9.30, one of the locals popped in for a quality items totalling around the £400 mark, and as many pint and started talking to Graham - it transpires that Leon is other items as we can convince people to donate! also an ex-Marine and the pair of them were reminiscing for ages - “…always a Marine…”. The main items will be 1st prize a leather jacket, 2nd prize a helmet and 3rd prize a pair of boots. Tony dug his hand deep into his pockets and presented Ian Winners of the raffle will be able to collect their prize from with the bottle of Jack Daniels he had won on the forum - the George Whites to ensure correct fitment. pictures tell the full story. You will have found inside this newsletter a sheet of 4 raffle tickets, you are asked to try to sell these tickets and forward the stubs and cheque on to the address on the ticket. If you want more, please email me at [email protected] or phone 01929 405050 and talk to Pete. Suffice to say, we all had an excellent time and would like to thank Clive and Kelly of the Fox and Hounds for their hospitality and Phil and the team at Oxford BMW for looking after us and allowing us to use their petrol! - Tony - These items are of high quality so winners will be guaranteed a great prize, buy a whole load, sell tickets to anyone you know and help raise funds. Big thanks to Chris Waldron of George Whites for his kind donation and support. Dave Bowen PR. 12 St. Tropez or Bust Report by Alec Hayton Ok, so I have got a lot of {mainly out of date} maps and I really enjoy planning and arranging trips on my bike to faraway places. Was I going to St. Tropez? Of course I was and if you lot want to follow me, out of pure curiosity, I am happy to lead the way. It started with a lunch in Wallingford last November for the gullible team who followed me to Barcelona – and back, this time they brought their wives. As it happened there was an offer on with Eurotunnel that finished on 30th November so we just had to take advantage of the ‘cheapo’ tickets. Whilst the guests finished my lunch, I was on the Internet paying for their tickets. Why on earth can you not book a passage for a number of bikes and riders on one reference number beats me – no every ticket has to be individually done – and ‘my friends’ almost ate my pudding as well. Accommodation in France is easy, Pat and I have used the Campanile motels for several years either by booking direct with the location or using their UK central booking line (0207 519 5045). They have a web site but the telling bone is easier if your spoken French is not up to par. The Campanile Restaurants are good value and have menus in English. All set for June 7th departure? Yes, but we had better have another lunch to make sure. An excellent event provided by Sarah and David Thomas at which I revealed that I had found ‘La Bastide’ an English-owned B&B with a swimming pool, about half an hour from the rally site – with a choice of 5 double bedrooms including one with a four-poster bed. Our hosts, Alison and Norman will collect visitors from the local TGV train station and Nice airport for a nominal charge. Tuesday 7th June arrived and we met at 9.30 at Reading Services on the M4. The motorway was jammed solid because an overturned truck had shed a load of paper waste at Lower Earley. One of the delights of riding a solo bike in such situations is that you just doodle along between the lines of cars, hoping that some clown doesn’t try to change lanes without warning – my new air horns were very useful. A straight run to Clacket Lane Services to collect the last member of our group, top up the tanks and go to Ashford for the tunnel. It could have got a little silly there, because we were in separate entry lanes and the tickets had been bought with one credit card, luckily it all went smoothly and we went straight through on to the 2pm train. A very smooth trip and out onto the motorway towards Calais – to find that the entry slip road was closed and we had to ride the long way round via a roundabout at Cité du Europe. We thundered along towards Reims and then on to Chalons sur Champagne to the first Campanile. “Bon Jour”, I said cheerfully, “I have five rooms booked” – “Zer as bin no confirmation” she said. “Zer are no rums” – “Bugger says I, I confirmed by E-mail”. – Shoulders shrugged and sickly smile from Receptionist. We realised that there was a group of about 30 ‘suits’ in the adjacent conference room and guessed that we had been dumped to accommodate them. Never mind we will try the Balladins hotel next door, we were lucky and got the last five rooms (cupboards). Wednesday dawned bright and clear and we set off south following the Marne River through lovely countryside via Chaumont and Langres. We stopped for lunch at a small Café to be greeted by the chef who had two ponytails, very baggy shorts and a winning smile! – Strange as he looked, the food he produced was super. Leaving the Marne Valley we continued down south past Dole to Lons for large ice creams, before riding on down to Bourg en Bresse for the night. Thursday was the day we thought to take the jacket linings out. On to the Autoroute, around Lyon, and up to Grenoble quickly, then some nice hill riding along RN75 to Sisteron and Digne. Then the superb descent of the Bas Alps on the RN85 to Castellane and Draguignan where the B&B was located. We arrived about 6 pm to find two wives already in situ, one by plane and one by TGV train. Friday saw the remainder of the ‘charm department’ arrive and we rode through the local vineyards to register at the Rally and get a feel for Port Grimond – round the corner from St. Tropez and where the Rally was actually located. I don’t know quite how, but David Thomas and I were directed to remove our bikes from the parking area and we ended up being sent out of the site and having to ride around to the entrance to get in again. On return of course our wives were nowhere to be found, their mobile ‘phones were switched off and in their handbags. However, find them we did, and went to sample the very welcome coffee provided by a stunning 6ft tall Dutch girl in the local HOG Chapter’s tent. A walk around the site to look at the stalls, selling the usual wide variety of biker-inspired merchandise, together with some quite interesting items of clothing that included a very closely shaven lady, wearing and selling a variety of very small but colourful G Strings. 13 St. Tropez or Bust (cont) Lunch in the on-site catering tent was absolutely excellent, a great variety of biker food and drink – and a healthy eating option too. Port Grimond itself is delightful, built in the 1960s on a reclaimed swamp, it is a series of curved promontories interspersed with canals, with houses, apartments and shops and restaurants, all with access to a boat mooring, outside their back door. Apart from regular visits to the Rally Site, we all spent time riding through the local countryside. Excellent riding country, with well-surfaced roads and lovely scenery, through woodland and vineyards and delightful villages and towns. Our return journey began on Sunday afternoon with a run along the Autoroute past Aix and Arles, across the Carmargue, past the rice paddies and fields with the famous white horses grazing then around the western side of Montpellier to our overnight stop in Clermont l’Herault. Monday morning was misty and a little cold as we rode up the newly completed A75 up the twists and turns and through the tunnels onto the top of the Larzac plateau where the sheep whose milk provides the raw material for Roquefort Cheese graze. Our aim was for the newly completed suspension bridge at Millau over the River Tarn. Designed by the Norman Foster Partnership, it is now the highest bridge in the world. The central column is higher than the Eiffel Tower. I have watched the construction over the past two or three years whilst travelling to visit friends living in the area and it truly is a magnificent feat of design and engineering. As you ride over the plateau you see ahead of you, a line of high-intensity lights about 100 feet above in the mist. You ride down the slope of the Autoroute to be faced with over a mile of gleaming concrete and tarmac ahead of you and the town of Millau to your right and several hundred feet below. Apparently on some days you traverse the bridge in bright sunshine and find the clouds below you, obscuring the river valley and the town. A long haul, up the A75 past Clermont Ferrand, home of Michelin tyres through to Bourges and Auxerre to our overnight stop in Troyes. The town is having a new ring road, so the signs were either temporary, missing, or in our case, facing around the wrong way. We managed a tour of the inner city and the old ring road before finding the Motel and a really good meal. Tuesday was going to be a bit of a race to the tunnel to get on the 1.15 train. The new day dawned, and it was p*****g down, we had almost forgotten what rain was. Luckily it didn’t last too long and after about an hour of riding, we were out of the waterproofs and thundering up the A26 towards Calais to arrive at 12.40. Too late for our booked train, no problem you have time for a coffee and a bun before to 2 p.m. train. Into the café, where is Julian Freeman? He has sweet talked the lovely blonde in the booking office and got the last place on the 1.15 train – he should be fined him for deserting his friends when it was his turn to buy the coffees!!!! An uneventful trip back to Wallingford via Clacket Lane and a return to what passes for normality at home. Put away the faithful Wide Glide and calculate it was 2188 miles door to door. Back to my own pit at last, herself will be back tomorrow to be collected at Waterloo at 7.15 p.m. NB. Having left Nice at 10 a.m., her train was 1 minute early arriving in Waterloo. Alec Hayton Four people in the carriage of a train - an Englishman, a pretty young blonde girl, an ugly old woman and a Frenchman. It all goes dark when the train goes through a tunnel. In the dark there’s the sound of an almighty slap, and when the train emerges from the tunnel the Frenchman is rubbing his face, and there’s a huge red mark on his cheek. The old lady thinks “I bet that Frenchman fondled the blonde in the dark and she slapped him” The pretty young blonde thinks “ I bet the Frenchman tried to fondle me in the dark, got the old lady by mistake, and she hit him”. The Frenchman thinks “I bet that Englishman fondled the blonde in the dark, but the blonde thought it was me and hit me” 14 The Englishman thinks “I hope there’s another tunnel coming up soon so I can slap that French prat again Poppy Run 2006 THE POPPY RUN - BRANCH SPONSORED RIDE TO FRANCE AND BELGIUM Following 2005’s successful sponsored ride to Germany, we are again expecting a high number of volunteers for 2006, but in the interests of safety, there will be a maximum of 20 riders on the run. If this number is over-subscribed it may be possible to split into two smaller groups for travelling purposes. In the unlikely event that we are under-subscribed, consideration will be given to riders who can only attend for certain days. The aim of the ride is to raise funds for the Poppy Appeal and all riders taking part will be expected to raise a minimum of £100.00 in sponsorship. Costs to Individuals The following is a breakdown of anticipated costs per person and although we are working away behind the scenes to try and reduce these cost even more, please be aware that these are in addition to your fuel and food costs, we will be asking for a 50% deposit (currently standing at £75.00) at the end of May and the remainder (a further £75.00) at the end of July. Ferry B&B at Ypres YHA in Paris BBQ Battlefield Tours £45.00 £35.00 (2 Nights) £40.00 (worst case, likely to half) £10.00 (food and beer) £20.00 (Juno Beach, Cambrai, Ypres) other charges not known i.e. entry to Pegasus Bridge, Merville Battery, Sword Beach - all may be FOC Provisional Itinerary Date 25/08/2006 26/08/2006 26/08/2006 26/08/2006 27/08/2006 28/08/2006 29/08/2006 Timings 1600 on 1100 1630 2130 0900-1200 1230-1700 1730 1830 1000 1330 1900 1000-1700 2000 2100 Event Arrival at RBL Village Dedication of Standard Depart Dover on Ferry Arrive Rouen Free Time Ride-out to Dieppe Depart Dieppe Arrive Rouen Ride-out to Ypres Arrive Ypres Ypres Ypres Menin Gate Service Ypres Square Date 30/08/2006 31/08/2006 01/09/2006 02/09/2006 03/09/2006 Timings 1100 1700 1900 1100 1500 1900 0900-1300 1300 1900 TBC 1900 0730 1115 1330 Event Ride-out to Bethune Arrive Rouen BBQ at Rouen Ride-out to Paris Arrive Paris Visit to Paris RBL Free Time D Day Landings Farewell Party to Hosts Cambrai Free Time Depart for Docks Depart Calais on Ferry Arrive Dover Your will find sponsorship forms in this edition of the newsletter, please help us help the Poppy appeal, even if your not riding this year. Try to raise some money to help. Full details are on the sponsorship form. If you wish to take part in this worthwhile event, please pass your details to: Tony Carr - 01926 647877 (W) - 01869 345850 (H) - 07740 145860 (M) - [email protected] At a time when more and more of us are turning to the pleasure and excitement of two-wheeled motoring, it is great to be able to offer the best range of bikes, products and services to meet all of your motorcycling needs. George White has been established for over 45 years and is now the leading motorcycle dealership in the UK. Our mission remains to ensure you get the right bike at the right price with the right terms together with the best possible personal service. We have a reputation for quite simply offering the best deals around, with exceptional after-sales service brought to you by experienced people who are truly passionate about motorbikes. 2006 is an exciting year for George White, with a vast range of new models launched by all manufacturers, from the awesome Kawasaki ZZR1400 and Suzuki M1800R to the truly original Kawasaki ER6 and Yamaha MT-03. We now have a full range of 2006 demonstrators for test ride, so give us a call on 01793 716716 and book today! During March we launched the all new George White web site, unbelievably the old one was over five years old! The objective for the new site is to provide more interest and information for motorcycle enthusiasts. Just register your email address on the site and we’ll regularly update you with the latest news, events and special offers, no ‘gimmicks’ or ‘spam’ just current information on motorcycles. This is our first appearance in The Legion Rider and we would like to thank Dave for the opportunity of appearing in the publication. We are also pleased to offer all Legion members 10% club discount on Clothing, accessories (excluding sale items) and servicing at any of our showrooms. Chris Waldron - Group General Manager 15 We have put a lot of effort into creating our own branch web site, which includes lots of information on who, what and where we are. It also has links to many service and biking sites, lots of photos of the "Usual Suspects" out and about spreading the word. www.rblr.co.uk - www.rblr.co.uk Did you know that 1 in 4 homeless people are ex Service? It is a sad fact that ex Service people sometimes find it difficult to adjust to leaving the Armed Forces. The Royal British Legion provides support and assistance to ex Service people who are homeless or in temporary accommodation (although we have no actual accommodation to offer). The help we can give includes: • • Immediate needs, ie. Rent and deposit, household goods Education/training grants • • Practical advice on housing and getting a job Assistance for your partner and children Ongoing financial assistance is not possible however continual encouragement and support is in abundance! However to assist with our increasingly varied applicants, the Legion requires volunteer Caseworkers. Our volunteers are the public face of The Royal British Legion and a vital link between the ex Service Community and many related charities and welfare services. Caseworkers visit applicants at home and identify and assess the need for assistance and eligibility for help. We provide full training for volunteer caseworkers and a Criminal Records Bureau check must be completed. Should anyone be willing to give some of their time to the Legion for a worthwhile cause then please contact me at [email protected] or telephone 01328 864543 during office hours. Without our volunteers, the people who really needs the Legion’s assistance aren’t being reached. That person could be you! Kate Williams, Welfare Officer - RBLR The Legion Rider is designed and produced by Pete Bradley, Tony Carr & MSW, HQ Armour Centre, Bovington © RBLR 2006 - By probably more importantly, it houses our on line forum, this is a place where registered members can go and chat with other branch members, leave messages, arrange ride outs or social evenings, find out who is doing what (and to who)! Catch up with the latest events, gossip, jokes, for sale items and a whole host of other branch related stuff. If you are able to, please visit the web site at www.rblr.co.uk and if you have an email address as well as access to the web, please sign up on the Riders Forum at www.rblr.co.uk/forums/index.php (and for new users click on the Register button). See you on-line soon, Pete (Webmaster) Photos & Articles with permission of Riders Branch members. The Riders web site and web Forum For those who have not yet ventured onto the information super highway, might I suggest you take a deep breath and jump on in, its not that bad really!