News Archive (2009)

32 members and their guests attended WHAM's Christmas Dinner, held at the Falcon on Friday 11th December. The conversation was lively from the start and positively effervescent after one or two glasses of wine!
Good company, good food, and the same old Christmas cracker jokes - what more could we want?!

Three test pass certificates were presented to Simon King, David Thursfield and Richard Booth.
This year WHAM has helped 33 bikers to achieve Advanced level - well done to all of them and thanks to the Observers who make it possible.

David Thursfield - IAM test pass
David was observed by Paul Whitcombe

Richard Booth - IAM test pass
Richard was observed by Richard Smith

Simon King - IAM test pass
Simon was observed by John Hodges

The Group AGM will be held at the Falcon Hotel, Bromyard, on Wednesday 27th January 2010,
the AGM will start at 8.00 p.m. Prompt.

The purpose of the AGM is to review the events and finances of the past year, and to elect the new committee for the forthcoming year. All full members and associates are invited to attend but only paid-up full members of the Institute and the Group may vote. (Those who have passed their Advanced Test)

Please read the AGM Notice for more information

NOTE: we need someone for the new role of Vice Chairman

It's October - but it's not all doom and gloom for the winter!
Again we have reserved the Ballroom at The Falcon for WHAMs Christmas social and meal on Friday 11th December.
Good company, good craic and you'll be the first to find out who in WHAM has achieved notoriety in 2009!

For this year's menu click here.
To book your places mail WHAM Group Secretary.

If you want to eat please include your choice from the menu!

At the September Club meeting Dave Jones, our guest speaker, presented certificates to recent IAM test passes and Group qualified Observers, as follows:

Guy Butcher - Group qualified Observer
Guy was trained by John Hodges

Mac Gasking - IAM test pass
Mac was observed by Eric Reynolds

Phil George - Group qualified Observer
Phil was trained by Eric Reynolds

Martyn Newman - IAM test pass
Martyn was observed by Steve Edwards

Last Monday, 14th September, I was invited to spend the day with Motorcycle Folly at the Castle Combe circuit in Wiltshire. Motorcycle Folly is a not-for-profit company which has been organising track days for some 20 years - the experience shows!

Never having been on a "proper" track day I didn't know quite what to expect but two of our members, Steve and Barb Dalloway, are regular participants at Folly events and, as they are not noted for their lunatic behaviour, helped to convince me to try it.

The day was well organised, safe and thoroughly enjoyable. The participants ranged from "virgins" like me on a road bike to some seriously fast track bikes arriving on trailers with enough wheels, tyres, etc.for a BSB or WSB round. Folly are very good in separating the slower and perhaps more nervous participants from those 'serious' guys (with the advantage I could be a spectator too!). Folly also have on hand instructors to provide advice on improving the technique or problem solving for specific corners of the circuit.

For a full article see the next Newsletter. Motorcycle Folly's website is available here, and on our Links page.

Derek

With the dire weather we have been having I watched the 'stair-rods' on Wednesday and called Steve Edwards to see what was happening in Ross. He confirmed it was every bit as miserable there. I'd spoken to a few others during the day and there wasn't much of an appetite for the ride to Ross so when decision time came I looked at the lowering sky and thought I'd be sensible. Little did I know it but a hardy few had had a beautiful evening in Ross - Steve Edwards report below:

A day's dire weather couldn't stop all of 25 members turning out for what turned out to be a glorious evening beside the river in sunny 'Ross Vegas'.

Martyn Newman, our new slow riding champion turned up to meet me at the Travellers Rest, Ross to accompany me to Ledbury to meet "the others". After declaring he had swum most of the way to meet me, his bike refused to start with his immobiliser shorting out and flashing its warning light frantically.

I had to leave him, hoping for the best, and set off to Ledbury leaving him pressing his buttons and hopefully to follow shortly.

Although the roads were very wet with huge standing puddles on some of the bends and some nasty torrents crossing the road in all the wrong places due to drains not coping, some careful decent progress was possible from Ross to Ledbury to await, and await, and await , and await the arrival of the Worcester contingent.

My heart was cheered by the sound of a well thrashed bike getting closer in the distance, then fell, then raised even more by the sight of a drowned ratbiker on what could only be described as an award winning rat bike - no not a WHAM member - who stopped to ask if I was alright. When I asked him where he was off to, he remarked he had left his tin of baccy in his mates van after a day on a building site in the pouring rain and was going to retrieve it and off he went in a blaze of revs and a cloud of spray.

Eventually, with no softy Worcester "others" turning up, I had to leave and return to Ross, and get back to see Martyn and to head for the Hope & Anchor to meet the "other others". Martyn had no luck with his bike, and had made an arrangement to trailer his bike back the few miles home. Off to the pub, and yes, there was a motorcycle waiting in the car park for me!! So well done Sarah, yes all you blokes - a lady biker, not a rufty tufty bloke, a lady, and not afraid of a bit of rain, all the way from Dursley, miles away.

A light meal on the river bank, a great location and a lovely sunny evening with a spectacular sunset in the background followed, and then it was time for home.

Did I say 25 members? Oops! I meant 2.5, Martyn only sort of half turned up! This would be a great venue to have as a future destination, so better luck next time with the weather.

See you all on the road somewhere,
Steve Edwards

The Sunday Ride structure, from 2 August, will change so that the first Sunday of each month remains a ride open to all (full members, associates and prospective members). Full members will continue to form riding groups for a 'free-ride'.
Associates and prospective members will undertake a pre-arranged observed ride: in the case of associates, preferably accompanied by their own observer (or a substitute who has previously agreed to cover the ride).

Prospective new members: either come along on the first Sunday of the month or contact our Membership Secretary to arrange another date.

The remaining Sundays of each month (usually 3 but sometimes 4) are open to full members and only those associates who have pre-arranged an observed ride with their assigned observer (or nominated substitute). All riders engaged on an observed run will either choose a different route or maintain time separation from full members' riding groups.

NB: it is the associate's responsibility to arrange all Sunday morning observed rides with his/her assigned Observer. Associates or prospective members will not take part in a 'free-ride'.

All Observers are encouraged to continually monitor the riding standards of other riders, and if it comes to their attention that poor standards are being displayed the Observer should take it upon him/herself to have a discreet word with the rider concerned (or raise it with a Committee member).

Dennis Osborne triumphs again! Meticulously planned and prepared Dennis set out our traditional slow handling manoeuvres and braking performance courses together with some new, and more challenging, "pick and place" manouvres. Dennis obviously has good connections as even the weather smiled on the day - just a little less hot next time Dennis?

Special thanks to Ali who managed the WHAM Cafe single-handed all day
- as Tony keeps saying "what a woman"!

For the Slow Riding Day Caption Competition, click here

Click on a picture to view the gallery.

The long awaited trip got off to a dry start on the Sunday but the planned 'off-motorway' route combined with WHAM's 'laissez faire on-holiday' attitude meant a last minute sprint to the Ferry. Despite John Hodges worst fears we made it!

The Brittany Ferries ship Pont Aven is a great way to get to Spain without flogging down the French Autoroutes; careful loading the bikes, large enough to be comfortable (with enough space to get us away from the Bingo players!) and with French food what more could we want? Monday was a cross-country transfer to the Hotel, by late afternoon we were firmly ensconced in the hotel and the holiday proper could start with a few beers!

Was it good? As the Spanish would say "Estupendo"! See a full report in the Newsletter - in the interim if you think all those who went on the tour have a silly grin on their faces you'll know why!

For photos of the tour choose photographer below:
Ant Clerici
John Hodges
Derek McMullan
Tony Davis, Ian Barnard and Richard Smith (on Tony's website)

Congratulations to Tim Wynn, recently presented with his WHAM Observer qualification.

Tim was trained by Senior Observer Steve Edwards who was supported by John Hodges, Red Group leader.

Tim was presented with his certificate by Chief Observer Tim Hutt.

In the picture (left to right) are Steve Edwards, Tim Wynn, Tim Hutt and John Hodges.

You have to be keen to turn out when the forecast says heavy showers. You have to be slightly bonkers to continue when the showers had obviously combined into steady torrents causing interesting biking conditions with minor floods and debris on the road. If anything it was a supreme test for bikers - and particularly the wet weather gear.

However it was great! Dennis had organised a fabulous route and a simply magic breakfast stop at the Trout Inn in Beulah; we turned up and magically breakfast was served! By the time we got to the Halt cafe for tea there was lots of hilarious banter that only comes with beating a common challenge.

The rain stopped for the most picturesque section over the mountains where we had the roads to ourselves; no tourists, no 'fair weather bikers' just the odd few soggy sheep. With the nice grippy surface Tony was dreaming of the Nurburgring again!

Jo Clerici (the one hardy pillion, and last on a motorcycle for the Eifel summer tour) managed to swop bikes onto Richard's new RT. Ant is now under instruction to find a heated seat for the GS.

Dennis, on his swish K1300GT, was effectively waterproofed apart from 'the open neck for ventilation'. (Den - you can put the screen up, it's one of the myriad of buttons on the left handlebar). Dennis briefly considered a treasure hunt but discounted it. For many of us finding the military range road off the Brecons to Llanwytrd Wells proved treasure hunt enough!

One group even stopped to look at the spectacular views of the Llyn Brianne reservoir - clearly they hadn't seen enough water.

A brilliant day; thanks again Dennis!
For all photos click here