July Club Night Eastham Ferry Hotel Ferry Road Eastham CH62 0AU
Issue No 197
July/August 2014
W I R R A L A D VA N C E D M OTOR C Y C L I S T S Group Council 2014 Web Site
IAM Group 5115 http://www.w-a-m.co.uk
Chairman
Tim Brown
chairman@w-a-m.co.uk
Vice Chairman
Ken Smith
vicechairman@w-a-m.co.uk
Honorary Treasurer
Lindsay Boston
treasurer@w-a-m.co.uk
Membership
Nina Jeffries
membership@w-a-m.co.uk
Associate Coordinator
Derek Jeffries 07957341692
associatecoordinator@w-a-m.co.uk
Honorary Secretary
Rob Cooper 0151 648 4503
secretary@w-a-m.co.uk
Events Organiser
Dave Spotswood events@w-a-m.co.uk
Newsletter Editor & Minute Secretary & WebMeister
Peter Lovatt
newsletter@w-a-m.co.uk
Group Shop
Martin Titley 0151 632 3570
groupshop@w-a-m.co.uk
Gift Aid Coordinator
Rob D’Cruze
giftaid@w-a-m.co.uk
Ride Out Coordinator
Rob Tutchings
rideout@w-a-m.co.uk
Other Council members Ian Roberts Nicole Rigby Carl Mason Cliff Evans
CONTACT WAM
MAGAZINE TEAM:
Rob Cooper Coopers Upholstery The Old Bank Everton Valley Liverpool L5 0RH
Distribution: Magazine Dispatchers and the Post Office!
Editor: Peter Lovatt Duplication: Martin Titley
2
WIRRAL ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS
Diary of Events www.w-a-m.co.uk *************************
July 8th Club Night - WAM barbecue 20th Official Ride out - either The Lakes or Yorkshire *************************
August 12th Club Night - Summer Social Meeting 17th Official Ride out - either The Lakes or Yorkshire *************************
This is the link for the WAM Official Forum, set up for Members of Wirral Advanced Motorcyclists ONLY. It is a forum for Associates, Observers, and members of WAM to discuss Official Group Rides out, riding techniques, FLC matters, and similar topics. To join you MUST give your name and Postcode when you Subscribe. Group name: WAMOfficialForum Group home page: http:// uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/WAMOfficialForum Subscribe: to subscribe to the group send a BLANK email to WAMOfficialForum-subscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk Unsubscribe: to UNsubscribe to the group send a BLANK email to WAMOfficialForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk Once your submission has been approved, you 3 can then post emails.
4
5
Revue - Official Club Run to The Brecon Beacons A big thanks has to go to Rob T for organizing and leading the Official ride, which was the best Official ride for some time. An excellent choice of roads and scenery. A big thumbs up for Steve Lord too, for an excellent day as tail end. Consistent throughout, as was mentioned by most at some point in the day, helping make the drop-off system work very well. Finally, a thanks from us for all your company and banter. Rob ( & Fi too!) Pix from Steve Lord This is the Military Road over Mynydd Eppynt
6
Interestingly, some of WAM were staying at Llandrindod Wells and had ridden over the Military Road earlier. That’s another road added to the ‘we’ll have to do that again’ list
7
May Club Night - Revue May club night was well attended as the members there heard Mick Extance talk about his off road bike experiences competing in the gruelling Dakar rally. Mick talked with passion about how he went about remortgaging his house to generate funds just to take part in the event and the pure dedication needed to compete. A simple crash could end up being a matter of life or death when in the deserts or remote areas.
The evening did not finish until about 11pm, the time just few listening to the talk. A big Thank You to Mick and his helpers for giving their time and effort for the evening. Some pix from the night are below, which also shows some of the Medals won
8
9
On May 11th, some of the WAM members made their way to the Blind Veterans Centre at Llandudno. As you know The Blind Veterans are WAM own nominated Charity, and we have had The Worlds fastest Blind Biker - Billy Baxter - give talks to the club at past club nights. We were there at the Centre to donate a cheque to the Blind Veterans. Naturally Billy was there to receive the cheque, aided by Vicci. Also we had a guided tour of the facilities in the centre, and very impressive they are too.
So below are some pictures of the centre and of the presentation
Billy Welcomes WAM [above] and then gives a guided tour to the group [below]
10
Billy’s Desk Photo of group outside the main entrance
11
July 20th - WAM official Ride out - Tour of The Lake District. Sunday 20th July 2014, 9.45am. There will be an Official IAM Wirral Group (5115) Organised Club Ride Out in accordance with IAM Policy, (Medium Pace) starting at Charnock Richard (Northbound) Services, located just north of Junction 27 of the M6. The Briefing will be at 9.45am. Please be pr ompt with a full tank of fuel. Ride leader will be Rob D'Cruze using the drop off system, and will be medium paced. NOTE: The intention of this ride is to take in the Buttermere scenic route & the high views of Hardknott Pass, so it has a short mileage, slow speed middle section, with stops, to facilitate those aims. The out and return legs are each circa two hours maximum. If, on the day, the weather in The Lakes is poor, then the intention of the ride will be lost, so this ride out will be switched with the Yorkshire Dales (August) ride out if the weather further inland is better; in the hope that the weather in The Lakes in August is better. Both rides are in the same direction (north-ish), with similar total mileages Charnock Richard - Skelwith Bridge Exit Services to M6 to Jct 32 - bear left onto M55 and immediately exit at Jct 1 - TR A6 Garstang - TR at Shell garage onto unclassified roads (u/c), via Oakenclough, Quernmore to Caton. TL A683 - TR Crook O'Lune - TR Green Lane - TR Kirkby Lonsdale Rd - TL u/c to Over Kellet - TR A601(M) - TR A6 - TL A590 - TR u/c through the centre of Grizedale Forest Park to Hawkshead - TL B5285, (or TL B5285 & TR u/c if traffic dictates, to Skelwith Bridge) becomes B5286 - TL A593 to Skelwith Bridge (Lunch/88 miles). Skelwith Bride - Buttermere Skelwith Bridge - A593 to Ambleside (Fuel 90 miles) - A591 to Keswick - TL Ambleside Rd - TL Derwent St (following B5289 Borrowdale) - TL B5289 to Buttermere (Ice Cream/Food/Toilets/32 miles). Buttermere - Charnock Richard Continue B5289 - TL Loweswater - TL A5086 - TL u/c Ennerdale/Kirkland/Low Cock How - TL A595 - TL u/c Gosforth/Eskdale (Regroup if needed King George IV Inn) - TL Hardknott Pass/Little Langdale - TR A593 - TL A5084 -TL A5092 - TL A590 - Fuel/ Toilets/Snacks (70 miles since last fuel) - continue A590 to its end - Straight Ahead u/c across bridge and TR to Hincaster - Straight at junction - TL - TL B6385 - TR A65 Straight at island onto A6070 (or M6 south option) TL u/c (at white pub) to Borwick - TR Over Kellet - TL (Tarmac sign & follow signs for Caton) - TL (Caton) - TR Green Lane (Caton) - TL (Caton) - TR A683 - TL M6 southbound to Charnock Richard Services (128 miles). 12
August 17th - WAM official Ride out - Tour of The Yorkshire Dales area. Sunday 17th August 2014, 9.45am. There will be an Official IAM Wirral Group (5115) Organised Club Ride Out in accordance with IAM Policy, (Medium Pace) starting at Charnock Richard (Northbound) Services, located just north of Junction 27 of the M6. The Briefing will be at 9.45am. Please be pr ompt with a full tank of fuel. Ride leader will be Rob D'Cruze using the drop off system, and will be medium paced. Route Charnock Richard - Hawes Exit Services to M6 to Jct 31 - TR A59 - TL B6245 - in Ribchester TR u/c (signed Chipping) - straight at crossroads and over Jeffrey Hill (quick photo stop?) - TR TR Clitheroe - TL & immediately TR Waddington - TL B6478 via Newton/ Slaidburn - TL u/c Gisburn Forest/Clapham - TR Settle - under railway bridge & TL Austwick - TL A65 and immediately TR Austwick - TR - TL (at monument) Horton - TL B6479 - Toilet stop Horton-in-Ribblesdale - TR B6255 - TR A684 Hawes and immediately TR Gayle Lane to Wensleydale Creamery for Lunch (73 miles). Hawes - Hartside CafĂŠ TR exit lunch stop - TL A684 - TR B6259 - TR A685 Kirky Stephen and Fuel 90 miles - continue A685 to Brough - TR B6276 Middleton-in-Teesdale - TL B6277 to Alston - TL A686 to Hartside Cafe (63 miles). Hartside cafe - Charnock Richard TL exit cafe onto A686 to Langwathby - TL B6412 Culgaith/Appleby - TL u/c Temple Sowerby - TR Morland - TL Morland - TR Morland - TR at last house in Kings Meaburn to Littlebeck/Maulds Meaburn - TL at bridge to Maulds Meaburn - via Crosby Ravensworth - TR B6260 - Straight at island onto A685 - TL B6257* - TR Old Scotch Road - TL across A684 and soon TR Old Scotch Road - TR - TL B6254 - TL A65 Devils Bridge toilets/optional fuel (95 miles since last fuel). *Option, if time dictates, to continue on B6257 - TR A684 - TL B6256 - TR A683 to Devils Bridge. Devils Bridge A65 - TL B6254 - TL Kirkby Lonsdale Road (signed Lancaster 7) TL (Caton) - TL (Caton) - TR A683 - TL M6 southbound to Charnock Richard Services (96 miles). 13
A Guide to claiming pothole compensation 1 - if it is safe, gather evidence of the pothole soon as you can, including photographs, measurements and position on the road (for example, it is on a blind corner?). 2 - report the pothole to the relevant Council or to the Highways Agency. Councils are responsible for A and B roads and inner-city roads. Motorways are the responsibility of the Highways Agency. 3 - obtain a full breakdown of costs for all damage caused by the pothole. If you incur additional costs, keep a record of these but remember that you might not get any or all of your expenditure back and that any unrealistic or extravagant claims are likely to be turned down. 4 - submit a 'freedom of information' Act request to the relevant Council or to the Highways Agency to establish how often the road is inspected or maintained. To find out how to do this, type the name of the authority you are claiming against, along with the words 'freedom of information', into an Internet search engine, and you will find the relevant web page. 5 - download the national code of good practice for highway maintenance and familiarise yourself with the guidance on highways management ukroadsliaisongroup.org/roads/code_of_practice.htm 6 - write a detailed letter to the local authority explaining exactly what happened. Include a map of the area, marking the location of the pothole. Highlight your costs and explain that you wish to claim for compensation. Your letter might eventually be read out in court, so keep it factual and concise. 7 - your claim may be initially rejected under Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980. This allows a council or the Highways Agency to defend claims on the basis that they had taken reasonable measures to ensure potholes were found and dealt with swiftly. Provided they have followed their system of regular repairs and inspections, they may be successful in rejecting your claim.
14
8 - use your Freedom of Information and the checklist at potholes.co.uk/ claims/assessing_defence to evaluate the local authorities defence against your claim. If you think you still have case, write back to the authority pointing out the discrepancies and include evidence in the form of paperwork and photographs. Inform them that you don't consider they have satisfied Section 58. Remember, finding discrepancies doesn't automatically lead to a successful claim. There could be a reasonable explanation, or you may have misinterpreted the information. They might also be prepared to defend the discrepancy in court. 9 - if the local authority still refuses your claim, think carefully how you want to proceed. You might even want to take some legal advice at this stage as you may end up spending more money in court fees than you receive in compensation. Small claims are effective for taking action for small amounts and can now be completed online at moneyclaim.gov.uk 10 - if an offer is made, be willing to negotiate. You might not be entitled to claim for all of your costs! Regards, Mark Palmer a.k.a Reefy (legal eagle) This was emailed to me from Mark, who is a member of the Wirral Roadrunners bike club - Also he has recently passed his IAM test with us Pete
Club night Venue Eastham Ferry Hotel Ferry Road Eastham CH62 0AU 15
DISCLAIMER:-
The articles published herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Institute of Advanced Motorists Ltd, or the Wirral Group of Advanced Motorcyclists. They are the opinions of individual contributors and are published with the view that free expression promotes discussion and interests. So you have been warned. Interested in doing the Advanced Car Test? Wirral Advanced Motorists are the people to see. Go to www.wirraliam.co.uk