Sept2015

Club Night - 8th September Eastham Ferry Hotel Ferry Road Eastham CH62 0AU

Issue No 208

September 2015

W I R R A L A D VA N C E D M O TO R C Y C L I S T S Group Council 2015-2016 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

Rob D’Cruze

associatecoordinator@w-a-m.co.uk

Chief Observer

Mike Boston

chiefobserver@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 & WebMeister

Peter Lovatt

Minute Secretary

position vacant

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

rideouts@w-a-m.co.uk

newsletter@w-a-m.co.uk

Other Council members Nicole Rigby Carl Mason Cliff Evans Derek Jeffries Graeme Thow Steve Lord

MAGAZINE TEAM:

CONTACT WAM

Editor: Peter Lovatt

Rob Cooper Coopers Upholstery The Old Bank Everton Valley Liverpool L5 0RH

Duplication: C3 Imaging, Liverpool Distribution: The Post Office!

2

Hi Everyone!

Looks like Summer is over as this is the September issue of the Hallowed WAM Magazine. Been very busy Summer though, as we have had the FLC, and there have been a few things going on‌..

Between the 31st July and 4th August, WAM had a trip to Scotland, organised by Derek and Nina. It proved to be an eventful few days, but we did get out and had a good couple of days riding. The

weather was very wet on the Saturday, but it is Scotland.

What do you expect? Sunday turned out to be a lot better though - as this picture proves!!

Lots of pix in this issue Congratulations to all the test passes of late - the roll call of people are inside.

Well done to all of you!!!

And finally, September club night is Presentation Evening, with guest, Chris Givvons, and as in the past, it is always a very entertaining club night!!! Don’t forget now!

Pete

Future Events 27th September, Hawes Yorkshire 25th October, tbc If there is enough interest in the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and Whitby then a route can be arranged !!

Bikesafe: at Emergency Training Centre, East Street, Seacombe, CH41 1BY, as are all Bikesafe dates.

19th/20th September.

17th/18th October.

3

WIRRAL ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS

Diary of Events www.w-a-m.co.uk *************************

September 8th Club Night - Presentation evening - with guest Chris Givvons 27th Official club ride out - see opposite page *************************

October 13th Club Night 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 can then post emails.

4

27th September: Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales IAM Wirral Group (5115) are organising an official Club Ride Out in accordance with IAM Policy, (Medium Pace) starting at Charnock Richard Services (Northbound) located just north of Junction 27 on the M6.

The Briefing will be at 9.45am, with an expected departure 15 minutes later.

Please be prompt with a full tank of fuel.

Ride leader will be Rob D'Cruze, using the drop-off system.

This is a short route of 170 miles split into three legs, predominantly on A & B roads with an emphasis on corners & bends and good scenery.

The route may be shortened on the day by approx 30 miles/45 minutes, should the weather dictate. Route: Leg 1 - Exit Services M6 northbound to Jct 31, exiting onto the A59 towards Clitheroe. TL B6245, TR Gallows Lane, TR B6243, Straight ahead onto unclassified (u/c) roads via Withgill, Bashall Town & Waddington onto TL B6478 via Slaidburn, TL in Wigglesworth, TL A65 and follow to Ingleton and TR B6255 to Hawes, TR Gayle Lane to Wensleydale Creamery Lunch stop. Approx 73 miles.

Leg 2 – Exit lunch stop TR and TR A684, TL Brunt Acres Rd to Bellow Hill and TR onto Quarry and over Buttertubs Pass, TL B6270, TR B6259, TL in Nateby (option to re-fuel in Kirkby Stephen at 95 total miles).

Head south on A685, TL A683 and follow to Kirkby Lonsdale (fuel stop at 122 total miles).

TR A65, TL B6254, TR at Over-Kellet Cross, TL Kellet Lane to cafe.

Leg 3 – Exit cafe TL and TR at crossroads, TR Capernwray Rd, TR B6254, TL u/c signed Lancaster 7, TL Green Lane, TL Low Rd, TL A683, TR Quernmore Rd, TL Postern Gate Rd, TL Chipping Rd, TR Strickens Lane and follow until bearing left at cottage onto Sandholme Lane, bear left at grass triangle onto Lodge Rd and re-group.

TR New Lane, TL A6 (optional fuel stop at 165 total miles) and follow to TL onto M55 & M6 southbound to Charnock Richard Services; and head-count.

Please note: For I.A.M. Insurance reasons this Ride Out is for full members and Associates.

However, non-members are permitted one Official Group Organised ride out per year following an initial assessment, provided they are considering joining the IAM group to complete the Skills For Life Course!

The 'group ride' pace also provides a good opportunity for associates to be Observed on sections along the route. If participating on the group ride as an associate you will be encouraged to 'pair up' with a WAM observer so as to gain the most from the ride.

If numbers are large we may have to have more than one group in which case there will be one further group with a leader and sweeper.

The tail rider, nominated on the day by means of a short straw will be riding at the back looking after the rear of the group!

If any other group members are interested in leading an Organised Ride Out or have good ideas for future ride out locations please let me know: WAM Ride-out co-ordinator: Rob Tutchings 07950 626622. Lead Rider.

5 ©RT 7/15.

A rainy morning in Tarleton I had a 10am meeting with Dennis Nicholson this morning, and as the title suggests, the weather gods had not been kind. Riding with an element of caution was the order of the day, as were the waterproofs.

Although I have been riding for some 17 years, I have mainly been a commuter for most of those years, clocking upto 10,000 miles per year.

After spending the last 7 Saturdays with the observers on the SFL course, plus a couple of ride-outs, you have managed, against the odds, to turn me into a better rider. The result of all that time, counsel and support has resulted in me achieving a pass today, and for that I thank you.

I didn't think that would be possible, and even during the ride felt I had blown it how wrong I was.

BIG thanks to the observers - Cliff, Tim & Ken, Rob D, Pat, Ian, Ken and George plus thanks also to Derek & Nina for the associate ride out and finally to Rob T for the group ride last week.

I look forward to becoming an active member of WAM See you soon.

Paul Robinson

Test Passes!

Yes, WAM have had a few passes in the last few month or so, so…………..

Congratulations to these members in passing their IAM Tests:-

Steven Kirk Colin Simms Ian Seymour David Dixon Nigel Crump Donald McKinsley Paul Robinson 6

WAM were invited to attend the Open Air Riders event at The Old Parkonians Rugby Club at Birkenhead. On the 9th August 4 people were there in the morning – Derek, Nina, Alan Jones and me (not forgetting a certain White Tiger, which sneaked into one of the pix!)

7

WAM Scotland trip 31st July—3rd August Some WAM members (and two members of South Cheshire Advanced Motorcyclists) spent a long weekend in Scotland, based at Fort William. It was a good get together, and on the Saturday the target was Skye, and on Sunday, it was Cromarty, on the East coast. So here is a review of the trip in pictures‌..

Thursday 30th/Friday 30th Some members took two days to ride up with an intermediate overnight stop, whilst some rode up on the Friday

Paul, Tim and Ian took the ferry across the Clyde on their two day trip up A leisurely way to travel

As for Pete, it was ride up on the Friday, calling at Nether Howcleugh, below, and the Connel bridges (right) on the way

Note the wet road! A sign of things to come!!

8

Saturday 1st August Wet. No very Wet. No - bloody Wet! Absolute lashed down in the morning, but the Isle of Skye was still the destination. Weather improved in the afternoon

A lesson in fast open road riding in heavy rain On the road to Eilean Donan Castle WAM and Eilean Donan

And this is a view of the castle, without the bikes‌..

On Skye, we got to Uig, for fuel and cafĂŠ stop, then ride through the Cuillin Hills on Skye in changeable weather

9

Sunday 2nd August After a Saturday night discussion and Garmin Zumo route programming, it was decided to head to Cromarty on the East Coast, as the weather forecast was more favourable to the north. So that is what we did. Here we circumnavigate a roundabout in Fort William to get on the road to Cromarty via Loch Ness!

Here we stopped for a group photo

The bikes take a rest on a layby on the A82

Below - the WAM entourage enjoy the sunny weather alongside Loch Ness.

Didn’t see any monsters though…….

10

After Loch Ness, we carried on along some nice twisty, and very empty roads as we made our way east‌..

Here we are on the A831 with Derek up front (yes - look at a map for the road in question!!)

Left turn!!

Cromarty - here we come!

Tim, Dave and Graeme stop for a photo and to enjoy the scenery Note the oil rigs in the background

11

On the Black Isle towards Cromarty Blue sky, white cumulus clouds, great scenery.

And a nice view from the road as we travelled along the coast.

Not a place you would think of for a place to visit, but it turned out to be a great place for a lunch stop.

This is the Cromarty Firth, and it had a lot of oil rigs within it.

John takes a group picture at the lunch stop - The Royal Hotel

12

The road above is the road to the south of Loch Ness It is the B862 and is part of General Wades Military Road.

A network of military roads was constructed in the Scottish Highlands during the middle part of the 18th century as part of an attempt by the British Government to bring order to a part of the country which had risen up in the Jacobite rebellion of 1715. one of these roads goes to the south of Loch Ness Left - don’t look behind! Tim shadows a certain Tiger rider!!!

13

More of the B862 as WAM ride in formation.

And just to finish off, here are some pix taken in the hotel itself.

Relaxing in the lounge, an evening meal in the Dining Room, and who could forget Dave's Mountainous Breakfasts?

And Thanks to Derek and Nina for organising the trip 14

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