Yes almost that time of year again, can I ask that members try their best to attend so that we can have proper debate about the club and a meaningful election of Office bearers.

AGM will start at 8.15

Minutes from last years AGM

Branch Officials Reports

Election of Office Bearers

AOCB.

I still have some NOC Calendars left, get them now before they are out of Date.

I finally bought a winter hack in the week after New Year. So far I’ve had two excellent Sunday runs on it. It’s amazing being out on the roads just now, on the run up to Lochearnhead last week there was hardly any traffic on the road although I’m pleased to say I saw at least another dozen bikes out there enjoying the excellent start to January we’ve had. This is a complete contrast to the same road in the Summer where you take your life in your hands every time you venture up to the Lochside, there is a lot to be said for riding in the winter. As long as you are not riding anything with Norton on the tank (we don’t want them ravaged with salt, leave that to the lesser makes) it hones your riding skills as you avoid the ice patches, the grease on the roads and the salt traps left in piles by the local authority. And you end up feeling a greater sense of achievement after your journey as you convince yourself that you are a real motorcyclist and not one of those fair weather chappies we all talk about.

Thistle rally February 23^rd –24^th

In the Scottish Borders, guaranteed snow (normally) and some serious sub zero temperatures at night. How can you miss the first real test of the year and live with yourself. Experience SAS type Arctic training for yourself. If you are attending could I suggest a good sleeping bag and a scarf (and perhaps a hat)

The first big social event of the year, and you may even find something you can’t do without.

I received a phone call the other day from a friend of mine who I hadn’t heard from for some time, transpires he dropped his bike last November. To be absolutely accurate a Volvo driver straggling the wrong side of the road sideswiped him at the left hander before the Old Scone crossroads.

He was a bit dazed and had several minor injuries which were bad enough to keep him in Hospital for 3 days. As he lay in hospital he asked his wife to call the insurers to tell them what had happened, his bike had been uplifted by Mutch’s breakdown.

On his return home he phoned Mutch and was told his bike had been taken to a specialist repairer in Kilsyth (a bit strange as the bike was a Laverda Jota and I don’t know of any "specialists" in Scotland). On the Saturday he phoned the specialist repairer and was told there was an estimated £6200 of damage. When he asked if he could go through and view the bike he was told the bike was no longer there but had been taken to a breakers called HBC in Cleveland on the instructions of the Insurance company. All this took place in 4 days which is very peculiar considering the pace at which insurance company’s normally move. The breakers asked him to forward the logbook to them, he refused on the grounds it was still his bike technically.

Why did the company need the logbook in a hurry when the bike was supposedly a total write off?.

This is now mid January and he has had a verbal offer of £1700 for the Bike, another blow was that when he paid the premium he thought he had agreed value cover of £4000 …ouch!

The worrying thing is that like me and probably most of you he is insured through Carol Nash with Equity Red Star. My insurance renewal is due next month and I for one will be asking several questions about the level of cover these people provide, I suggest you all do the same. I’m afraid it all smells of bad practice to me and make sure if you are unlucky enough to be involved in a shunt make sure the bike gets taken to someone you trust!

I have spoken to one of the owners of Flemings White Bridge Caravan and Camping park near Killarney. County Kerry. They are quite keen to have our Rally on their site and have all the facilities we need including luxury caravans for hire. They also have had some experience having hosted the FIM Rally a couple of years ago with 1000 visitors!

I’ve said that we (the royal we) would probably give her a visit around March (check your calendars and we will try to book some cheap flights) Preferable times for the site are May or September. Mrs Fleming has all the contacts regarding Marquee hire (which we can put up on site) caterers, and beer suppliers. With a bit of luck we can organise most of the major bits while we are there for the weekend and meet up with the guys over there who are keen to help.

The Small Print

The views and opinions contained within this publication are not neccesarily those of the NOC or of the branch but are probably mine as I wrote it.

No one accepts any responsibility for anything, if you have a good time don't say I didn't warn you.

Gino Rondelli