Notices
and website changes
Latest Newsletters from:
18th July
Reports on the Follow the Velo run and Ireland visit with the West South Wales Section are now on the reports page in the Lounge. Don't forget Geoff's "Historic Tour" this coming Sunday - leaves at 10.30am from the Caerphilly Mountain cafe.
15th July
Vale of Glamorgan entry form etc now on the events calendar page at the bottom.
3rd July
Last
nights BBQ went off very well, especially as the weather was very good.
We had two new members attend, which was a real positive. We
were down on numbers a bit at something like 40 odd, but much of
the grub went, which means that I don't have to eat burgers for the
next two weeks.
Some of us are off to Ireland on Friday, so
this is a reminder for the "Follow the Velo" run on Sunday the 15th -
10.00 am meet at the Caerphilly Mountain Cafe for a 10.30 start.
IMPORTANT
It
came to my notice in the past couple of days that there is, in
existence, a so-called "five year plan" for the club. It has not been
well distributed and I had to ask the Chairman for a copy - find it here.
He needs responses within the next ten days, which gives very little
time - so please read it and pass any comments direct to Pat on his
email here. I must say that I
find much of the historical analysis incorrect and it would appear that
it is obviously based on much of the agitation that a small group
within the club have carried out over the years. Then there's our
President, who openly stated at the AGM that his position was
'apolitical' and who is not following that line at all. The plan also
seems to be suggesting an 'area' event - just as we held at the Dare
Country park in June - what amazing planning. It would appear that
there has been two consultative exercises - I remember one only, but
may well have 'missed' the other. Personally I see little in this five
year plan to cheer me up concerning the management of the club. The
management structure is dire at the moment - we don't seem to elect our
directors any more and likewise our area reps, let alone their deputies.
29th June
Final episode of Rob's Scarboro report now in the Library. BBQ next Monday - please don't forget, we need you.
28th June
Scarborough report updated daily, as I get reports and photos from "our man oop North"
26th June
Rob has been sending in reports and photos from Scarborough and I've compiled them on a new Scarborough report page in the Library. More will be added, on a daily basis, as Rob sends the pics and notes.
20th June
Latest HQ Section Secretaries newsletter in now on the button above.
17th June
Some photos and a few notes from the Banbury Run now on the Reports Page.
15th
June
After the news that Cefn Carnau Lane was re-opened I got a bike out and
took my camera for a ride. The lane at each end is still
marked as "No through road", but the gates have gone and
the lane has been cleared of debris and patched up very well.
The important bit is where the Nant-y-pwyntel stream used to ford the
road and I found that "proper" culverts had been put in. All of which
indicated that the opening was not a short term measure. The VMCC and
TRF can take a pat on the back for the six year effort to get the road
re-opened.
14th
June
Some
super news - after a six year campaign by two of our members
and
one from the Trail Riders Fellowship, the dear old Caerphilly
council have repaired Cefn Carnau Lane and removed the gates and
re-opened the road last night. The council had 3 x 18 month
TTROs(Temporary Traffic Restriction Orders) in place from time to time
over the past six years and gated the road with the stated intention of
permanently closing it. Despite numerous letters to the council and the
Welsh Office, objecting to the councils actions, the last letter that I
had from the council stated that they were repairing the road and that
it would be re-opened soon. That I didn't believe, as I've had a lot of
'fobbing-off' rubbish quoted to me by the council in the past and, in
fact, Paul D squeezed his Tiger cub through the gates to ride the lane
and found nothing being done at all after I posted my note, dated the
11th May, below. It seems that it was a final letter from counsel that
tipped the scales. Lousy weather, as I write this, but tomorrow - the
sun is out and I shall get a bike out and go for a ride with my camera.
13th
June
A few notes and pics on the "Great Gathering" and Black Mountain event
are on the Reports page.
Something to note
- whilst at the Dare Country Park someone canvassed us all with details
of the Three Cocks Show on the 12th August. The entry form contained a
declaration that you had to sign that you accept the conditions of
entry. One of those conditions that you are agreeing to is
"All
exhibitors should carry appropriate Public Liability Insurance for
their exhibit". Your road legal insurance covers you for that, of
course, whilst the bike is in motion, but you wil not be covered as a
static exhibit, yet you have stated that you are covered by entering.
In fact it is the organisers who need to have PL cover for the whole
show and they should not try to shift the requirement and cost on to
the exhibitors, which many organisers do in the hope that any problems
are not theirs and that they do not have to pay out for PL insurance.
This is something that the VMCC flagged up years ago - hence the Yellow
Permit insurance, that we run our events under. So if you see a show
organiser asking you to declare that you have PL insurance - my advice
is avoid the event like the plague - because - guess who they'll point
the finger at, if a problem occurs whilst your bike is a static exhibit.
7th June
More for sale in the Bar, including a very good Lomax.
Don't forget the "Gathering" this coming Saturday - arrive around noon
at the Dare Country Park, Aberdare.
Latest CMB magazine on the above button.
5th
June
Seaside run report now on the Reports
page in the Lounge.
1st
June
34
entries for the Seaside run and we could do with more please - see you
on the day in Penarth. The weather promises to be good for the whole
day.
Back in 1994 a Leslie Jenkins applied to HQ to set up a
section in Bridgend. That was only a mere 10 miles from where we were
meeting at that time and we objected, so the Bridgend VMCC section did
not get off the ground. All a bit of a shame that they did not want to
attend our meetings or discuss matters with us. Consequently, Les
Jenkins set up the Bridgend and District British Motorcycle
club.
I notice that OBM, this month, reports that the club has disbanded due
to dwindling membership. However, it's always a shame when a club
closes. Several of us have given them talks over the years and we have
sent invites to our events.
28th
May
Please
don't forget the Wednesday evening rideout to the Victoria Inn, on the
30th. There was a very poor turnout last month at the Black Cock Inn.
Also,
final call for entries for the Seaside Run this coming Sunday - just
email details to me by Wednesday and you can pay on the day. Entries on
the day, however, have an entry fee of £10, so if you intend to come,
let me know quickly please.
23rd
May
As
from the 25th May the GDPR regulations, regarding privacy, come into
force and they have an impact on this website. Photgraphs are
considered to be 'personal data' and any photographed individual needs
to give their written consent for any photo that they are in, to be
posted
on this website. The best way to achieve this is via a photography
release form. This must be signed and include a clear indication of how
the photos are going to be used. That is difficult and a near enough
impossibility in some cases - for example, the need to
get the written permission from each individual in a group photo, even
more so when members of the public are milling around in the
background.
Consequently, site visitors need to be aware that under
article 17(the right to erasure) any photograph that they appear in, if
they wish it to be deleted , then all they have to do is email the
web-admin, as listed on the office
page, and the request for deletion will be dealt with as
quickly as possible.
18th
May
Entry form and details of the Isle of Wight Scurry are available to
download from the bottom of the events
calendar page in the Lounge.
16th
May
Latest Section Secretaries newsletter now on the button above.
14th
May
South West Coast Run report on the Reports
page in the Lounge.
11th
May - Cefn Carnau Lane to re-open?
Over the past 6 years, Ken Griffiths and myself have been dealing with
Caerphilly CBC over the continued closure of Cefn Carnau Lane. This is
the road that runs from the top of Caerphilly Mountain on the
A469(Thornhill road) down to Van Road on the east side of Caerphilly.
If you take the road towards Cardiff from the Mountain Cafe
then
after a right hand bend, Cefn Carnau Lane is on the left. Over the past
year we have received support from the Trail Riders
Fellowship to get the road
re-opened. Two days ago, I received a reply to my last letter which
ended with the statement that "the Highways Operation Team are
currently carrying out a range of maintenance works within the lane to
enable the road to be re-opened as soon as possible". At present the
lane is barred with gates at each end and I would be obliged if anyone
passing could look to see if the gates are still there - please let me
know, one way or the other.
These are the photos of each gate:
9th
May
Latest CMB magazine is now on the button above.
The Management Committee have put out a strategy document for members
to comment on - that's up to you. Read the document here.
6th
May
Many
thanks to Rob J for his report and photos, not forgetting the manning
of our Relay Rally checkpoint at Tintern. Report on the Reports page in the
Lounge.
1st
May
New bike for sale in the bar
24th
April
Last
nights curry and quiz evening was good fun for those that attended. The
number who indicated attendance at the previous meeting were around 30,
yet all we had last night was 15 people turn up. Disappointing, to say
the least, especially as the caterer had catered for something like 30.
22nd
April
Please note that we've had to change the date of the Roof of Wales run
from the 24th June to the 5th August.
Dennis Prydie passed away on the 21st March, only a week after his
wife. A double funeral was held on the 4th April. Although the grape
vine had told me about Dennis passing away, I didn't find out any
details until yesterday morning. For those that didn't know Dennis, he
had been a club member for many years and was the club's Ivy Marque
Specialist. The last time that I visited him he was restroing a 1919 OK
Junior.
18th
April
North
Cotswold Section – Cotswold Way Run - July 29th
2018.
All VMCC members are invited to the 6th Cotswold Way Run on the 29th of
July.
The run will follow a 90 mile figure of eight
through the Cotswolds, meandering along the route of the
Cotswold Way long distance walk on mainly B and C roads, with only
short
sections of A roads. Of course, there will be hills!
The
Start/ Finish Line & Camping will be at Hayles
Fruit Farm Winchcombe,
GL54 5PB.
Entry
Forms
and Supplementary
Regulations
are
now available to download and print using these links.
(Simply
click on the highlighted text above, allow the window to open then
print the pdf document
If
you have any difficulties accessing the forms, or any questions, then
please don’t hesitate to contact Glyn on his email below.
We
hope to see you on the 29th of July.
Best Regards - Glyn Buckler - email
Mobile:
07946 460126
VMCC
- North Cotswold Section
16th
April
Some notes and photos of the Cheddar trial weekend are now on the Reports page.
10th
April
Some parts for disposal on the Bar
page - along with a wanted advert. Also note the the Seaside
run entry form is now available to download at the bottom of the Events Calendar page.
9th
April
Latest CMB magazine now on the button above.
4th
April
John's latest acquisition - he had to go to north of Edinburgh to get
it. It's a Reliant Robin with a 'sports' body.
4th
April
We've
just received a statement from Pat Rowbotham, who has been co-opted
back onto the Management committee. Justin Harvey-James was elected as
the club Chairman after the AGM and he has agreed to take the Vice
Chair job so that Pat can take the chair. Have a read of what Pat says here.
31st
March
I'm
told that Dennis Prydie has passed away, but can find no
further
information. If anyone can confirm, please get in touch with me.
29th
March
Report and photos of the St David's day run now on the Reports page in the
Lounge.
28th
March
The
Spring run, scheduled for this coming Sunday has been cancelled for a
variety of reasons. If the demand is there then it can be re-instated
later in the year - so watch this space.
Meanwhile, we need a
couple of volunteers to help 'man' our Relay Rally checkpoint at
Tintern. Howard and Carol intended to do this but Carol now has a date
for her knee operation the week before the event, so they will not be
available.
28th
March
Regs
and entry forms etc for the Black Mountain road event and the
Saundersfoot weekend are now available for downloading at the bottom of
the Calendar page.
21st
March
We've just heard that our speaker for the 26th is not able to make it,
so the night will revert to a Noggin & Natter.
15th
March
Latest HQ newsletter is on the button above.
14th
March - two changes
The
St Davids Day run that was cancelled due to the snow has been
re-scheduled for the 25th March - usual start, 10.30, from
the
Caerphilly mountain snack bar.
Please note that at the next Monday
meeting we have Dave Harrison as the guest speaker, with the Curry and
Quiz night being swapped to the 23rd April.
12th
March
Latest CMB newsletter is now on the above button.
7th
March - a warning
www.gov.uk/government/news/end-of-the-ro…sic-motorbike-dealer
Please
ensure that if you do sell a bike, do not allow someone to take it away
to sell for you - on a promise. You should get payment before handing
over the bike.
1st
March
The St Davids Day run
scheduled for this coming Sunday has been postponed due to the weather.
See note above.
27th
February
What
a super night last nights meeting was. Geoff Harris talked about
Malcolm Uphill - and I'm sure that we all learned something new about
the man. We had 75 people in attendance and the 30 Faggots
&
Peas that we ordered were soon all taken up, Luckily, the caterers were
ready with a few more and even ended up serving a couple of Sausages
& Peas in the end. All in all 45 were fed.
22nd
February
Entry form and details for the Cornwall week can now be found at the
bottom of the Calendar
page.
14th
February
Recently we had the opportunity to complete a membership survey and the
results can be seen here.
9th
February
Entry form and details for the South West Coast Run can be found at the
bottom of the Calendar
page
7th
February
The
Welsh Road Races planned for the 5th/6th August on Mynydd Eppynt have
had to be cancelled. All down to the slow movement of repealing the
part of the Road Traffic Acts that prevent racing on public roads - and
that only came into force on the 2nd February in Wales - would you
believe. After a meeting with the ACU it was agreed that
there is
now not enough time to obtain all the various permissions. Anyway,
planning is now under way to launch the event in 2019. Anyone who has
bought tickets can apply for a refund.
3rd
February - MOT exemption
I've
just started reading the current journal and Pete Henshaw has an
article headed "Does life begin at 40". Please don't be alarmed, as
there are a number of inaccuracies in it. Basically, we have had 40
year exemption from vehicle taxation for some time now and that
concerns vehicles in the "Historic Vehicle"(HV) class. Not to be
confused with the proposed " Vehicle of Historic interest"(VHI), where
a 40 year old vehicle(cars and motorcycles) can be considered not to
require an MOT in future. Legislation does not seem to link a HV with a
VHI vehicle at the moment, apart from that magic 40 year qualifying
period. The problems with Peter's analysis concerns a vehicle that has
had "substantial changes", which the initial guidance considered not to
provide the MOT exemption. Note that the guidance has been amended
since. and may well be again before the May date. Peter says to ask
your MOT tester, but it is not the position of an MOT tester to define
a "substantial change", either the DVSA do that in detail, which they
haven't yet, or it will have to be defined by a court of law. Up to now
the DVLA have always considered the frame or chassis to be the
identity, engines and other factors have never come into the equation
so a BSA B31 is just that, irrespective of whether it is fitted with a
single cylinder motor or a twin cylinder motor. As to kit cars, such as
we are concerned with, like a Lomax, the FBHVC have successfully argued
against them being excluded as a vehicle of VHI. Many were built over
40 years ago and have been MOT'd for the past 30 odd years, to exclude
them from being declared a VHI is wrong as they have been considered
safe over a long period. Consequently the DVSA has decided that
anything that has not had "substantial change" for 30 years can be
classed as a VHI - many Lomaxes fall into this category, likewise B31s
fitted with a Triumph twin engine - more than 30 years ago, of course,
but who can disprove that. Please come and chat to me about all of this
at a club night, especially if you have any queries.
NOTE: the DVSA(Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency), as mentioned
above, is not the DVLA.
