Berkhamsted newsletter

Photo: I have to say this was the most difficult members picture I have ever had to find for the front of the GHG, But I got there. All because I thought those of you who are not aware of who Rob Coleman is, should be able to recognise him. He is the lad that has set up our Facebook page. He read it in the GHG and decided to do it! Well done and thanks Rob.

Rider Advice Day – 14th May 2011

We held another RAD day on Saturday, ten riders, both youth and adult were booked in to receive the great advice given by our volunteers.

This time we were asked to arrange some training for four novices and five youth “A” level riders and expert riders Chris Koch, Matt Leferve and Alan Roe took these through their paces.

Other groups included a seven year old on a PW50 who rode very well and I am sure learnt a lot during the morning.

Adult and youth beginners also attended and took their first steps in learning to compete in a trial and riding in a safe and considerate manner.

The weather was perfect for the day with warm sunshine and a gentle breeze. The ground was dry with loads of grip.

Many thanks to all the volunteers, Chris, Matt, Alan, David, Chris, Bob, Arthur, Richard.

Our next RAD day is being held at Nash on 18th June and if you want to join in please email me at dunksfam@yahoo.co.uk

Charity trial Saturday 28th May 2011

After a slow start we had a great Charity trial, entries were low but we had a good crowd who enjoyed Sam and Alexz showing how the super experts do it.

Sam and Alexz practiced their skills on all of the big new sections opposite the “bus stop” and had a great time on our new rocks.

The local newspaper “The Hemel gazette” arrived for stills photographs and video. I can recommend a visit to their web site http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/ and that you buy a copy of the excellent newspaper as you may well appear in print. Their video of the event is on link http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/bikers_on_trial_trail_1_2741635

The sections were challenging but free flowing and allowed the more talented among you to show off their skills. Everybody enjoyed themselves and we had a great trial.

With riders representing nearly every class and with ages from about 10 years to over three score years and ten, they all found something in the sections that either challenged or entertained them.

Bucks University students carried the organisation of the event on everything except the trial and it all ran smoothly. Whilst all the numbers are not in yet we raised a good sum of money for the charity's that the club supports.

This year the club is supporting Riders for Health http://www.riders.org/default.aspx. “Riders for Health” manage and maintain vehicles used in the delivery of health care in Africa. When health workers have the reliable transport they need, they can deliver regular care to even the most isolated communities. A really great charitable aim that bikers from around the world can support.

Many thanks to everybody who took time out to arrange the event and to everybody how attended to make it a great day out. I hope to see you at our next charity trial.

Mike Dunks

COTC
The Bathtub Test

During a visit to the mental asylum, I asked the director how do You determine whether or not a patient should be institutionalized.. "Well," said the director, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub." "Oh, I understand," I said "A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup."
"No." said the director, "A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?"

Tel’s Travels
Mallory Park, June 5th,

One job I enjoy and get a couple of chances to play at is road race marshalling. This year I joined the NG R R club for a day at Mallory. 20 races plus practice is a pretty good day in my book, but 11 laps, as they mostly were, seems over fairly quick. ( larger tracks you probably only see them 6 or 8 times)

This meeting was well supported by marshals and I was on ‘Esses in’ with an Incident Officer, and three other lads, so two Pairs, and it worked well. Plenty of waving but only one incident on our patch when a passenger got out of the sidecar, but wasn’t supposed to. I thought he was going to cry the way he acted( they are all like that) but he only hurt his ankle so couldn’t really justify it. Great day though with plenty of close racing and sharp intakes of breath. Next one is with New Era at Castle Combe on 3rd September, solo’s and sidecars again, but it’s a 7;30 sign on so up with the lark.

Moto GP, GB round 12th June.

Paula and I were lucky enough to get an invitation to the GP at Silverstone on Sunday and had a marvellous day. Top race for us was the Moto GP, but it lost some flavour when Cal Crutchlow slid off during Saturday timed practice, and broke his collar bone, putting him out for at least 2 weeks. Never the less the rain soaked, wind swept race had only 15 riders start and a good few laps of racing began. Then the current Championship leader Lorenzo slid off, followed by bad boy Simoncelli braking on a pond and aquaplaning, leaving Stoner with a good lead, Dovisioso and Colin Edwards being in safe second and third spots. Despite Charlie Cox and Stavros getting excited about Nicky Hayden speeding up, he never looked like making a race out of the last seven lap procession. Stoner goes away to Assen in a fortnight with a lead of 18 points over Lorenzo, Valentio Rossi is sitting in fourth place after a very poor weekend, but he did manage an unimpressive 6th spot in the race.

The Moto 2 race was something different. Things looked good for the three Brits, Scott Redding qualified 2nd, Kev Coghlan 24th and Bradley Smith 28. Bradley’s practice went OK until Saturday qualifying when an electronic problem occurred, and had every Tech 3 engineer looking for the solution. Solved with 9 minutes of practice to go, so no wonder a 28th spot. The race was another rain lashed event, but by the end of lap 1 Smith had made up a dozen places, and Redding was really challenging for the lead. In the end he slipped back to finish 5th, but Smith kept coming and its was even a treat so sit in the stand getting absolutely blasted by the very cold wind to watch him rise up the leader board, to second spot. No-one looked like getting anywhere near Stephan Bradl all race, but if Smith had started in the front two rows…………………….
The 125cc race was still run in terrible wind and rain, the Brits, Danny Kent, Q 12, Danny Webb, Q15, Taylor Macenzie Q 26th and John McPhee Q 30th, all finished very respectably in 10th,11th, 12th and 15th Respectively.
Hats off to all the riders though on a very cold very windy and rain soaked day.

Other entertainment included 4 demo sessions by Dougie Lampkin, none of which I saw.
Next Moto GP is Assen on Saturday 25th June. Oh would I love to go!
Terry

Now I’m retired I have time to read the stickers in the back of car windows,

Here are a few I appreciate

I believe in having sex on the first Date.

At my age there may not be a second

Young at heart- slightly older in other places

I don’t think about dying – it’s the last thing I want to do

I’m speeding because I have to get there before I forget where I’m going

At my age “getting any2 means sleep

I’m retired, I was tired yesterday. I’m tired again today

At my age “Happy Hour” is a nap.

Goodbye tension – hello pension

Live each day like it’s your last – one day you’ll be right.
At my age the only thing that gets hard is my arteries
The only trouble with retirement – you don’t get a day off.

~~~~~~~
During last night’s high winds an African family were killed by a falling tree.

A spokesman for Birmingham City council said ‘ We didn’t even know they were living up there!’

One year I decided to buy my Mother-in-law a cemetery plot as a Christmas Gift…

The next year I didn’t buy her a gift. When she asked me why, I replied,

”Well uyou still have’nt used the gift I bought you last year…

And that’s how the fight started

My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary.

She said “I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 100 in about 3 seconds.

I bought her a bathroom scale……

And that’s how the fight started

BERKHAMSTED MCC Ltd
Minutes of the Committee meeting held at 8;00 pm on the
16th May 2011 at North Hall, Nash Mills.

Present; Lionel Cox (Chair), Ted North, Mike Vangucci, Richard Tattersall, Martin Greeves, Mike Dunks, , Ian Sankey, Arthur Tomkinson, Dave Porter, Martin Howlett, Terry Golds, Ron Humphries, Steve Southwood, 5 Students from Bucks New Uni.

Apologies;, Steph Tombling, Billy Bishop, Karen Gibbons, Ian Reynolds.

Minutes of the last Meeting; were taken as read, approved and signed.

As the Students were in attendance, the Charity trial was discussed first. M Dunks was introduced as CoC and L Cox would be Secretary. The leaflet the students had designed was passed around and would be displayed in local shops and businesses. They had arranged for a press release to go to TMX, local Papers, across the University Campus, Facebook and Radio Mix 96. They had managed sponsorship of £350, and had a number of raffle prizes, including a Louis Hamilton framed print, and had arranged 6 trophies for the winners. The Riders for Health coach would attend and they would have a small display. On the day 9 students would be helping, and be on site from around 7am. Parking for the public had been arranged in the Car boot area, which would be well signposted and supervised by the students, who would be using radios. The students were thanked for their efforts.

Matters Arising; The estimate for resurfacing the trials ground would be given after the Charity Trial. The ST Albans Station project would only need the one tyre. Logs from Sarratt were still to be paid for. The First Aid requirement at trials was held over by the T&E committee at Rugby. The website had not yet been updated, it was noted that Billy was currently busy. The bike wash investigation for Nash had too many restrictions to be viable and was dropped. Trophy’s for many were not required and the cost of medals would be sought.

Correspondence. Letter and Management Minutes from Centre Secretary. Raffle tickets from Michael Sobel House, £10 worth would be purchased for the club.

Reports. Trials 8.5.11 Trophy trial and Youth Round at Dews Farm had a disappointing turnout of 54 riders, but was a good event, and the results show it to be set out about right. 14.5.11 RAD day had proved to be a good mornings training. Everyone felt they had improved. 24.5.11 The Beginners and wobblers trial would be set out to include very easy White, normal Blue and easy red for those wishing to upgrade.

Motocross. No report G rass Track. No Report

Treasurers. The cash situation was good and the £1000 for rocks had been paid.

Membership. Stood at 337 of which Youth 109 12 life and 4 courtesy.

Social Julian Wigg would be happy to do a technical evening from October. We would not be running Wednesday evening fun trials this year. The Students from Bucks New Uni would probably run some Physical Training days

Club HQ. Bookings had picked up this month.

Any other business. There was a possibility of land at Pitstone and M Howlett would survey. A request for different members to set out trials would be made. More rocks and topsoil were available, and a planning meeting would be held on 23rd May. L Cox would ask C Koch to attend, and a working party to be arranged for 2nd July. Member suspected of leaving the gate open on Sundays would be spoken to. The donations collected for the Air Ambulance would be sent off. Facebook was very popular and we would look at setting up a page. Entry Payments via internet would be looked at when we are closer to cheque cut off, more options would be tested by then. Details of the bike trials would be on the next agenda.

Wayne Sidwells is shortly to have a heart by-pass.

Date of next meeting; 20th June 2011, 8;00pm at Club HQ, North Hall, Nash Mills

The meeting closed at 9;50pm