The 6th International Phoenix Rally, at Hovezi, Czech Republic.  5th to 9th July. About 800 miles from Zeebrugge. Camping.

The ferry from Rosyth seems to be £700 for 2, half that for Hull – both with cabin. Newcastle may be a better deal.

It’s your last chance to join the Polar Bear run to the North Cape in Norway!!!!
So far we have 2 "definites" and 2 "maybes".
Leaving Newcastle on 17 June and returning on 3 July (this may vary by a week)
The plan; so far; is to travel up thro Norway, through Finland into Sweden and back down to Norway again. Approximately 3500 miles.

We are planning to use Hostels (pre- booked)
The ferry will cost about £190 each.
Accommodation will be £15/night (approximate)
Drink about £6/pint!!
Anyone interested should contact David Wotherspoon immediately (01290 423983). Once it's booked others will be welcome to join us but they will have to make their own arrangements.

Orkney Bike Club runs the Ravin Mad Rally.
The 2005 event will be held on the 8-10 April on the Mainland (of Orkney) near a village called Twatt!!!
This is a camping event.
There will be the usual rally activities plus the opportunity to see Orkney.
There are currently 3 club members attending.
Costs £10 if pre-booked or £15 at the event.
Cheques should be made payable to O.B.C.
and sent with a SAE to:
 Sam and Helen
37 Hamnavoe
Stromness
Orkney KW16 3JQ

 

New Motorcycle Shop

 

MORGANS MOTORCYCLES

 

All brands of tyres at rock bottom prices.

 

Kids 4 stroke bikes and a selection of road bikes in stock.

 

All major brands of clothing and accessories for every bikers needs.

 

Plus, all service parts for on road and off road machines.

 

Tyre fitting and servicing also available.

 

Open 7 days

 

Unit 4,

Furnace Road

Muirkirk

01290 66155

 

North West 200


It looks like the North West 200 (which is becoming a week event) and the British Superbike championship meeting at Mondello Park could switch weekends next year. With the North West 200 being held on Saturday 21st May with the Tuesday night practice session being held two days after the Mondello Park meeting 15th.

 

For sale

 

Honda Blackbird, 2002 Model, Blue, Mileage 6,700mls, Including: Rear hugger/Scot oiler/Baglux tank bag & tank cover, excellent condition. £5300 o/n/o, Telephone 01563 536794 or 01563 550342.  An émigré to New Zealand

 

Law enforcement  

 

As travelling at a speed in excess of the posted limit accounts for about 4% of the fatalities on UK roads and the use of mobile and fixed cameras only targets vehicles travelling above these limits the BMF calls for more traffic police to be put on the roads. After all 17% of the fatalities are due to inattention which cannot be detected by a camera. More visible policing would also reduce the level of dangerous driving, unroadworthy vehicles etc.

 

BMF Training weekend for clubs

 

As agreed at the Clubs Forum we are preparing to have a training weekend for all of the BMF affiliated clubs represented in Scotland. We are proposing to hold the event at the end of November (probably the weekend of the 20th) in the Royal Dunkeld Hotel in Dunkeld after the NEC show etc. to ensure that the best people from the BMF are available to carry out the training.

Initially it is proposed that the training would be held on the Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning with topics covering -dealing with the media, dealing with politicians, information sources and assistance available etc.

 

New TRL607 study summary

 

The objective of the study was to find out what causes motorcyclist accidents and casualties.

 

A questionnaire was sent to 30,000 motorcyclists.

 

My version of the findings is:

 

 

This presents a challenging problem for road safety.

 

Recommendations

 

1 Young, inexperienced riders should continue to be a target group, they are at particularly high risk and they can be reached by the training/testing/licensing system.

 

2 It might be worthwhile for the advanced motorcycling organisations to promote a careful, safe, responsible riding style, possibly emphasise competence, wisdom and safety rather than excitement, 'progress' and speed.

 

3 Rider and driver training should focus on control skill, but also improve insight into risk and self-limitations.

 

4 Riders should be made aware of the risks. They might modify their riding behaviour or take-up further training.

 

Helicopter plan to thwart bikers

 Police are to use a helicopter to track speeding motorcyclists in and around Argyll following an increase in deaths among bikers in the area.
Strathclyde Police confirmed its air support unit would cover accident black spot roads on the A82 and the A85.
A spokesman said the helicopter would be used where it was difficult and dangerous for road patrols to take part in high-speed chases.
Since April, four of the five people killed on Argyll roads were bikers.
Inspector David Sutherland, of Strathclyde's road policing department, said the helicopter was only one of a number of tools Strathclyde and neighbouring forces in central and northern Scotland were using on busy summer roads.
He said officers stopped a motorcyclist travelling at speeds up to 100mph in a 60mph zone on Monday.
The roads of Argyll have featured extensively in national motorcycle magazines.
Inspector Sutherland, a biker himself, said the majority or riders were safe and sensible.
However, he added that some road users seemed to think they were "beyond the law".