The Western Region Action Group
The WRAG Magazine

January 2007

3rd Driving Licence Directive

As the Festive Season approaches I bring bad news on the 3rd European Driving Licence Directive campaign.
On the 14th December, despite the campaign against the motorcycle part of the directive, the European Parliament voted in favour of the 3rd European Driving Licence Directive.
A final amendment submitted by UK MEP Philip Bradbourn (Conservative) calling for the rejection of the directive was defeated.
See full article at http://www.network.maguk.org/dld/dld16.html
A big thanks to all of you who lobbied their MEPs, the European Commissioner, signed the petition and took part in the poll during this issue.
We have left the information page on the Directive “live” as an archive and the licence graph, which tries to give an overview of the complexity of the licence regime. You can still sign the petition, which we can still use in the coming months.
What happens next?
We have already been in communication with the rest of the motorcycle community in the UK -Training Representatives Motorcycle Industry -BMF and the Government has stated that they will consult with motorcycle representatives, to deliver the motorcycle aspects of the directive in the UK.
At this stage, as defined in the directive, the new testing regime should be implemented by 2013. We now face a long haul to get the best deal for young and new riders! Trevor Baird

Western Region MAG AGM

The Annual Group Meeting Sunday 28th January 2007, at Hewish Village Hall, May’s Green Road, Hewish, North Somerset (just off the A370). Registration starts at 12.30 for 1.00pm prompt start. Please ensure you bring along your current membership card, without it you don’t get to vote If you have any Agenda items please email: Anne Gale subject heading: WRAGM or telephone 0117 957 2401 by 10th January at the latest.
As usual, all posts are up for election. Some officers are re-standing. Our Products officer has resigned; Bill is now W&NS Rep so we could do with a Committee Chairman and we wish to resurrect the post of Regional Events Co-ordination Officer so we are looking for volunteers particularly for these posts. A final agenda will be available on the day and we look forward to seeing you. This is your chance to participate in MAG’s democratic process & to take the Group forward both regionally and nationally.

Draft Agenda

Thank you for your support.
Ride free, Anne Gale, Regional Administrator on behalf of Western Region Committee.

Bristol MAG AGM

Bristol MAG will be holding their AGM at the Mayors Arms in Clarence Road, Bristol on the 25th January 2007 at 7:30pm for a prompt 8pm start, so bring your membership card and have your say in how Bristol MAG is run.

Mid-Wilts MAG AGM

Mid-Wilts MAG will be holding their AGM at The Kingfisher (Lounge Bar, Hungerdown Lane, Chippenham on the 1st February 2007 at 8pm for a prompt 8:30pm start, so bring your membership card and have your say in how Bristol MAG is run. Taff

Mid-Wilts MAG

Mid Wilts MAG picture

Mid Wilts MAG had its annual Christmas run about 30 bikes turned up. This year it went to the Bath Dogs and Cats home who made us very welcome with hot drinks and cake. The evening do was a great success as well with live music from Crazy Horses and Severance.
The Calne Bike Show is to be held on the 21st July and The Lysley Arms is putting on free camping Saturday with live music and a BBQ plus cooked breakfast Sunday morning. The only thing the Landlady asks is in return is that you by all your beer from the pub (during opening hours) as camping is free. If you are interested please let me know so I can let Sarah have a rough idea of how many people will be stopping over from MAG. I know the Virago owners club have already reserved places. Taff

2 TOUGH QUESTIONS

Question 1: If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids already, three who were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had syphilis, would you recommend that she have an abortion?
Read the next question before looking at the response for this one.
Question 2: It is time to elect a new world leader, and only your vote counts. Here are the facts about the three candidates. Candidate A: Associates with crooked politicians, and consults with an astrologist. He's had two mistresses. He also chain smokes and drinks 8 to 10 martinis a day. Candidate B: He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used opium in college and drinks a quart of whiskey every evening. Candidate C: He is a decorated war hero. He's a vegetarian, doesn't smoke, drinks an occasional beer and never cheated on his wife. Which of these candidates would be your choice? Candidate A: is Franklin D. Roosevelt. Candidate B: is Winston Churchill. Candidate C: is Adolph Hitler. And, by the way, on your answer to the abortion question: If you said YES, you just killed Beethoven.
Pretty interesting isn't it? Makes a person think before judging someone.
Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember: Amateurs built the ark, professionals built the Titanic.
Finally, can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 500 employees and has the following statistics:
29 have been accused of spousal abuse
7 have been arrested for fraud
19 have been accused of writing bad cheques
117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
3 have done time for assault
71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
8 have been arrested for shoplifting
21 are currently defendants in lawsuits
84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year...
Can you guess which organization this is? Give up yet?
It's the 535 members of the United States Congress. The same group that crank out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line. Andy Kerr

January Events

February Events

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.

The Demented Troll wishes all his readers a Happy and Prosperous New Year.