March’s Musings from Steve and Tone 

Firstly, a very big thank you to Nikki and family for the raffle organising and the tasty nosh enjoyed at the last meeting and the enjoyable and interesting talk given by Peter Dawson and Tony Cowley about the VMCC trip to Poland. A good night. 

I sit writing this with my head spinning.  So much is going on.  Firstly, last Sunday, 23rd. was b----y freezing after a promising start at the Cottingham Classic Car and Bike Display.  I started the day in T shirt and finished in woollies and jacket!  Poor Steve rang me from his sick-bed to say he couldn’t make it but Alan Barker promised to bring a couple of bikes and turned up with his immaculate Ariel and Sunbeam bikes.  I erected the gazebo and Alans bikes went under there along with Keith’s prize winning Calthorpe.  A day of no rain and a good natter with all sorts of interesting people. It was generally thought to be a good marketing day for the VMCC.  Many thanks to all members who rallied round and supported the event.  The following are a couple of piccies of the day posted on Facebook by Paul Laiken.  

Tuesday saw the coffee meet up at Bainton and despite Brian and Steve not being able to make it, there was a good turn out and all had a good natter and laugh, not least as one member, who shall remain nameless, confessed on only riding his bike from the lay-by 200 yards away!!  As our contingent was split up by available tables, Alan Barker has arranged for us to have the room upstairs in future for our meet-ups. A good move.

A few of you may know about my plans to do the NC500 starting Easter Sunday, after chocolate egg demolition.  I was to do it on my 1980 Gold Wing, not least because it affords good storage for all my camera stuff and clothes for the 10 days we plan to spend.  However, a month ago, after the Bainton coffee morning, she boiled up and although a new thermostat cured that, it would seem more lasting and serious damage has been caused which will mean a major strip down.  Paul, my mate riding from the Algarve on his bike has his ferry booked.  All the accommodation is booked.  Our co-chair, Steve, kindly offered to loan me a Harley with bags of luggage but being me, I suppose, and a little bit independent, I scanned the “bikes for sale” and came up with a 1200 Wing only in Malton with a discount from the asking price of £300 and an offer of delivery of £40 the next day. I foolishly bought it after viewing a short vid of it running.  It duly arrived and the vendor drove away laughing, or so it seemed.  The starter wouldn’t work, the headlight ditto, the indicators the same and the radio missing. Bah!  A pig in a poke.  Guess none of you guys have ever done that??? However, I started her by shorting the solenoid and she seems to run OK.  Not a bike to trust though!  So – back to the computer and an 1800cc Wing, in London by a reputable dealer, with 3 months warranty jumped out of the screen at me.  She’s so pretty I just had to buy her.  I pick her up next Wednesday and I hope to ride her to our next meet at the Bay Horse.  That’s 3 Wings I have now, even more than the fish and chip pinching seagulls at Brid!  Yesterday I found that the starter problem and headlight with the 1200 was a loose multi-plug deep in the bowels of the bike and I’m working on the indicators.  It may turn out to be a good buy in the finish!!

Enough from me and I’ll hand over to Steve who has now recovered…….

Be safe,

Tony

As my dad use to say, 'more money than sense'. The NC500 has got to be done if you get the chance and 10days is about right for a proper look around.

I've been knocked out with some kind of virus, but I’m on the mend now and planning my NW250.  This area is around the Cairngorm mountains. I may ask Tony if I can borrow one of his Gold Wings! 

All the best from me. 

Steve

Words from our Co Chairman…

I hope you have your trickle chargers on and If fettling is required, get on with it. I'm in the process of stripping and fettling myself (or should I say my old machine).

April and our first official run is not far away now, I am looking forward, weather permitting, to seeing a good turn out of bikes. 

For me it's good to see our monthly journal is now named Vintage & Classic Motorcycle and our Calendar shows a good mixture of both. So all those with classic or modern bikes and you are past the crotch rocket stage in your life, and survived, please join us at our monthly meetings or runs all detailed on our website.

We had a great turn out at the March meeting with Peter Dawson and Tony Cowley having a slide show and talk on VMCC continental motorcycling.

A big thanks to Tony for his organising and Nikki and family for a great buffet and Brian for keeping us informed.

Good health and weather to you all, Steve.

Tonys write up….

Pete Dawson Slide night made £88 in raffle tickets and book sales. Thanks to Harry for the donated books. A great effort. So I can confirm £44 each to the club funds & Air Ambulance.

Regards Nikki