The Western Region Action Group |
April 2004 |
Allegedly spring is now upon us, and its time to shake the moths out of those tents and sleeping bags ready for the Duk Dik Rally. If you haven‘t booked yet, you had better hurry up and do so, as numbers are limited. Sheila needs your MAG membership number, to make sure you get your free pint. Please make sure you include it with your ticket requests.
Cheques should be made payable to Glos MAG and sent with an SAE.
Don‘t forget to volunteer to marshal at the event, the more there are to help the less each has to do, and the few who do this every year deserve a chance to relax and have a few drinks too.
If you ride a twin cylinder bike of European or American origin you might like to know of a chap who runs a service for such machines in deepest darkest Wiltshire. Baz specialises in Harley and Buell, but will also work on British and European bikes, from minor services up to full custom builds.
Baz is a MAG member, and has been active in the Wiltshire area, so give him a try, for more Info contact Baz On: 01225 785 164 or e-mail: info@lightning-services.co.uk. You can also check out his web site at: www.lightning-services.co.uk
Hopefully this years BikeFest will be unaffected, but its future is in doubt after town planers have decided to consider plans to build yet more shops on the present site. The town square is a pleasant open area adjacent to the High Street, where people may relax and open-air events take place such as our Bike Show and the Farmers Market.
A Motorcyclist was seriously injured whilst negotiating Easton Way roundabout in Bristol.
He was fired upon with a nail gun (as used in the building industry), his injuries were to his stomach and thigh, but are thought not to be life threatening, due to his protective motorcycle gear.
As if we don‘t have enough to worry about with homicidal car drivers and diesel spills, now we have idiots taking pot shots at us.
Will the Government ban these dangerous tools I think not!
I do hope you have written to your MPs as I have done on this important topic.
My MP took this up with Mr Jamieson the Minister responsible, and you might be interested in some of his comments. "The problem with diesel spillage is it is extremely difficult for the enforcement agencies to apprehend a guilty party unless they are on hand to actually witness it when the incident takes place." Well if there weren‘t so many cameras we would have more police on the roads to catch things like this, amongst other things that cameras don‘t catch. "The correct fitment and operation of fuel tank filler caps is now checked during a vehicles annual test which will have a positive effect on preventing diesel spillage." What planet does Mr Jamieson live on if caps are checked once a year, where does the spillage come from then? He goes on to say "Officials in the DfT have, therefore been tasked with reviewing the problem of diesel spillage and possibly raising the profile of the existing regulations that are already in place and aimed at preventing it from happening."
Perhaps a camera sited at bends and roundabouts linked with sensors capable of detecting diesel would be the answer?
A course aimed at bikers to improve their skills is to be held at the Police Headquarters in Portishead, for anyone living in the Avon and Somerset force area. The courses run from Friday to Sunday and take place on April 2-4, April 23-26, and May 21-23.
Twelve speed cameras in North Somerset and Bristol may be replaced by electronic signs, which flash up a vehicles speed.
Avon & Somerset Camera Partnership has received permission from the DfT to replace the cameras in a number of locations within their area.
Bristol MAG will be holding their AGM at the Wagon and Horses, on the 6th May.
Weston and North Somerset MAG are holding their AGM at the Black Horse on the 19th May.
Go along and support your local group, and have your say in the running of MAG.
There are no details as yet, but a volunteer has come forward with a view to starting a new group in the Forest of Dean area, hopefully this will be well supported, and go from strength to strength.
Please note that Glos MAG meet at the ’Pig Inn The City‘ 121 Westgate Street Gloucester, and not as stated in the last issue of StreetBiker or on the Western Region Website (at the time of printing).
Nearly four months after legislation was introduced, one in ten motorists are still using hand held mobile phones while driving. Some are completely unaware of the law banning their use, while others ignore the risks and carry on.
A lorry driver in Germany caused chaos for 30 miles when his load leaked out onto the road.
Firemen had to hose down the road surface causing further congestion. His load? Raspberry Jam.
The EU are introducing laws to make it illegal for insurers to offer women cheaper insurance, under the new law insurance companies will be forced to apply ’gender neutrality‘ to policies.
You may have noticed that they have started advertising the fact that there are Elections coming up in June, so get active Now!
3rd April: MAG AGC, Gala Theatre, Millennium Place Durham 11am
4th April: 3rd Spring Surprise Bike Show, Three Crowns, Whaddon, Nr Salisbury. Salisbury MAG.
9-10th April: 17th Duk Dik Rally, Forest of Dean. Info 01452 506941 & 01452 549833 Western MAG
11th April: Shepherds Hill Bike Show, Reading Rugby Club Info 0118 9545888. Reading MAG
30-2nd May: Into The Valley Rally, Fridaythorpe East Yorkshire, Info 0870 225 8352
6th May Bristol MAG AGM
15th May CMA Bike Show, Masons Hall, Chipping Sodbury
19th May Weston & North Somerset MAG AGM
The Motorcycle Action Group accepts no responsibility for the content of this publication and the views expressed are not necessarily those of the Editor or MAG.
Copies of The Wrag are available in Tablets of Stone, and available from Megalith Press, under licence of Demented Troll Publishing