Tales From The River Bank (Thames valley) 2014

Magazine of the Thames Valley HOG Chapter

I know some members have been affected by the floods and storms that have plagued us for, what seems like, months. Hopefully, we have seen the last of it now and can dry out and get back to normal.

There are two social meetings coming up, one at the Pack Saddle and one at the Asian Fusion. Maybe we can get the bikes out for these? I have to give kudos to Toni Charles, the only one to make it on her bike to the Winter Bash!

As I was putting Don’s piece into the magazine, and I read his thanks to the people who helped with the party, I realised that Don rarely gets thanked officially.

Having been on the committee for six months now I have got to see what goes on behind the scenes and just how much work Don puts in for our club.

Don and Barry did all the shopping for the party food, not an easy task. The hall was booked, music arranged and Don was there to set up and to put away.

Don has led this club through years of no dealership and where many clubs would have folded ours is still going strong. So I would like to say, from all of us,

THANK YOU, DON!

Last month, Sue Brown wrote about her role as LoH rep. I thought this was very interesting finding out about her role and what she actually does for the club.

I have asked the other committee members to write a small piece about how they see their roles and what they do for us. I’m not sure, though, that Don would be able to list all the things he does!

Sue

Inside this issue…

Front cover:

Mike Joiner sporting his new bag at the Saturday Social

Page 2

Start your Engines

Page 4, 5

Director’s Update

Page 6, 7

LoH - Sue’s Scribbles

Page 7

Rolling Hills Invitation

Page 8, 11

CJ’s Tattoos

Page 12, 13

Meet the Members

Page 14, 15

Calendar

Page 16, 17

Winter Bash

Page 18, 19

Chapter Challenge - Results

Page 20

Saturday Social

Page 21

Notices

Page 22

Whose bike?

Page 23

Fine Pig

Page 23

Guildford Fundraiser

Page 24

Mystery Man

Page 25

Picture Gallery

Page 26, 27

News and Events

Back cover:

Meet the committee

February/ March Birthdays

Diane Earley 4th Mar Michael Benson 5th Mar

Don Wibberley 20th Mar

Happy Birthday to you all!

Thanks go to all contributors to this month’s magazine: Don, Sue, CJ, Toni, Linda, Bernie, Pat, & Mystery Man.

Hi Everybody,

Welcome to The Director’s page for February.

January was a busy month for the team on the committee. On the 11 th we had a Road Crew meeting at Stafferton Lodge which included a full English breakfast and a chance to organise the rideout calendar for 2014, which is now available on the website. The 18th, for me, was a trip to Sutton Coldfield for the Directors’ meeting, hosted by Marjorie Rae from Hog UK. During the meeting it was announced that Harley Davidson has now become 2nd in Europe for bike sales with a total of 3,625 units sold during 2013. Harley Davidson is to launch two new bikes, a Custom 750 and the pro Street 800, both to be launched in the Uk for 2015.

Rally News I f any of our members are looking to travel out to St Tropez in May this year, you must register online to guarantee a rally pack.

Some changes have also been made for The European Rally in Biograd, Croatia. To enter the rally site, it is by paid entry only, and the parking of motorcycles on the rally site is by registration only. More information about the changes can be found on the Hog Europe website.

It has been confirmed that The Bridgewater Cider Rally will be going ahead at Sand Bay again, this year. The site was purchased by Pontins Holiday Camp Group early in January.

The results from the Chapter Challenge Mileage program can be found on pages 18 and19 in this magazine - a great effort by Thames Valley yet again.

This year’s challenge will run from March through to October and forms will be available at next club night.

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Hog Membership Over and over again we hear people saying, ‘What do we get for that £53 membership fee every year from Hog?’ Well...

Start with being able to join a Hog Chapter like Thames Valley and enjoy what we have to offer as a family orientated Bike Club. As a member you are able to experience rallies in both Europe & around the world. A 90 page Hog Magazine every quarter which is crammed with information and stories from around the globe and on top of that we have a list of companies that offer discounts and deals to Hog members. MacDonald Hotels, Bisley Shooting Ground, Euro Camps, H D Insurance, Condor Ferries, Best Western Hotels, The BMF, Holiday Inn and Nutt Travel, All the above organisations have deals to offer Hog members, all you need to get the discounts is your Hog membership number.

Hog Merchandise In issue 4 of the last Hog Magazine, on page 42 & 43, the new Hog Logo was presented to us all and a piece about new designs for patches which included a picture of a Skull with Wings and a top and bottom rocker. After customer feedback this design has been withdrawn from sale until further notice in the UK and Ireland.

Winter Bash And to finish my piece this month, what a great pre-season party at Sportsable the other night!! Sixty friends & guests danced to Robbie’s music until late into the evening.

Can I thank those of you who came over on Saturday afternoon to set the hall up, great job as always - well done!

A special thank you to Sue Knight, Pat and Barry for their hard work organising the evening and cooking the food Saturday afternoon.

A real team effort by all concerned which made a great party.

News By next month’s magazine I will have news regarding talks with Sportsable about the prices of drinks over the bar and news of a way forward for the membership.

Ride safe, party hard and enjoy the lifestyle.

5

Don

Sue says...

Quack quack! ...

I think I have grown webbed feet! What a wet January and February we are having. Just hoping that it means there will be no rain to come over the summer months!

Great to hear via Facebook that a few lucky, plucky people are managing to get out on their bikes, but mine hasn’t been out this month as yet.

Unfortunately I have had to postpone the trip to Nelsons Diner on 22nd February. A few days after taking my booking they phoned and asked for £10 per person non-refundable deposit! Well, a) I didn’t think that was totally in order as they had previously accepted the booking and, b) I didn’t want to commit everyone to turning up and spending at least a tenner!

So for the time being they have lost our custom!

I have, however, reserved tables at The Pack Saddle at Mapledurham, RG4 7UD. This was the place I booked once before then found it had burned down!

Alongside their main menu, sandwiches and pies are also served. Think someone is trying to tell me something!

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So, if you are still free please come along to see how the place is shaping up after their refurbishment. Or if you had your heart set on the Diner, we will go there some time this season.

Moving on to March, and following the success of last year’s event, I have reserved tables at Asian Fusion along the Bath Road www.asianfusion.org for Saturday 15th March at 7.00 p.m.

All you can eat buffet, starters main and pud for £12.95.

Now, if you don’t like Indian they do Chinese; if you don’t like Chinese they do Thai… if you don’t like any of them, then sorry . Hope you can make it please let me know numbers at February club night.

Sue x Looking forward to seeing you all soon,

Letter from The Director,

ROLLING HILLS CHAPTER. Hi there, I’m not sure if you were aware that the Rolling Hills Chapter will be 25 years old this year. To mark the occasion, at our March Club Night on Wednesday 5th March 2014 from 7:00pm onwards, we would like to invite all of our friends of the Chapter to come and visit us for a chance to meet and greet as well as reflect on our 25 years.

We will also be presenting our 2013 charity fund cheque to the Midlands Air Ambulance.

Our Club Nights are held at the Gupshill Manor, Gloucester Road, Tewkesbury, GL20 5SG. We would really like you to be part of this evening.

Regards, Gareth Swanson Director - Rolling Hills Chapter 7

It was 1972, I was14 years old and living at Home with my Mum & Dad. I answered the door to a very young policeman who asked if my parents were in. Dad came to the door and was told his eldest son (a long distance van driver, 18 years of age) had been killed on the motorway on his way to Scotland.

This event has made me who I am today and influenced my outlook on life, forever!

The only memento I had of my big brother was photos and of course some great memories. I needed something that was more permanent, that would tell the world I was proud of my brother and that I loved him so much.

This was to be the start of my journey into tattoos, from a very young age. I was still in secondary school, aged 14, when I visited Jack Zeek, who was a very popular and award winning tattoo artist based in Hayes. I chose my tattoo a Cross behind a Scroll with the words: ‘In Memory of Dave’.

It measured approx.

3” by 2.5” and cost £3.

I went home feeling very proud & satisfied with myself until I showed my parents This photo shows my 1st who were mad at me! Tattoo (In Memory of Dave) a The madness shown Cross behind a scroll. I’ts the one that sits between the towards me was a mix swallows... of anger, sadness & pride. This mellowed quite quickly and even quicker, I think, when I showed them my tattoo of a Swallow & Rose with scrolls of Mum & Dad. I eventually had 18 tattoos on my two arms before I left school.

8

Back in the 70s I experienced quite a lot of prejudice from the general public and from teachers. The Deputy Headmistress, on one occasion, pulled me into the boys toilets and tried to scrub what she described as a silly mark off my arm. I think her reaction was because it was not common to see young people with tattoos unless they were in the Forces of some description. This prejudice has become less frequent as I’ve got older and, of course, today a large percentage of the population have tattoos, helping them to become more socially acceptable, which I think can only be a good thing.

During the years of bringing up my family, needless to say I had no more tattoos. I’m sure you all understand bringing up a family is an expensive pastime.

It wasn’t until 2002, some 30 years after having my first tattoo and our sons were now teenagers, that I decided to start again on my journey of tattoos, having never lost track of what the Industry & Artists were doing.

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I visited the tattoo studio in West Drayton and had my entire back tattooed, by Derek Campbell, with my favourite subject. No, not Skulls, but the American Native Indian which includes a Squaw, 2 Eagles, a Wolf and a Puma. This, for me, represents freedom on all levels.

These tattoos took seven sittings and cost £1,100. The idea was pulled together by me from library books and the tattoo artist’s flash from his studio walls.

In 2010 I sat down with my sons and designed the tattoos on my lower right leg which is a skull with a piston bursting through, and another showing a skull with a Fat Boy wheel going through water.

Skulls, for me, represent not fearing death and accepting it will come one day.

My current choice of tattoo artists are based in Twickenham (Tattoo UK). I have been going to them since 2012 and between young Ben, and Matt the manager, I sit down with my ideas and get them to redraw them until I’m satisfied, and then get them to tattoo me.

Ben & Matt have reworked my 40 year old tattoos on my arms, filled in all the bare skin (with skulls) to create what is known as SLEEVES. My influence for the sleeves came from my sons, who are both tattooed.

This picture shows me with cling film on my arm fresh from the Tattoo studio.

It’s when I got home after having my 1st sleeve completed. It keeps the blood from dripping on you :)

10

I am currently in the process of covering both my legs with Ink. The left leg is Tattooed with a Death Mask, a Candy Skull Owl and a Mexican Lady Bandit. More recently added is another Death Mask and a Crow on my thigh, all influenced by the Mexican Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos), which is celebrated in Oct / Nov every year and celebrates the lives of those loved ones who have passed away. This all links in with my fascination for skulls and not fearing death and, ultimately, the loss of my brother which made me realise how short life can be and how important it is too fill it with living life to the full.

With the exception of a few tattoos on my arms, every tattoo I have has meaning to me and has been researched and drawn up, or an original changed until I’m happy to have it placed on me for life. They are part of me and who I am, and are an extension of my personality.

I have met people in life and especially at Tattoo Conventions that have tattoos for many different reasons, as many reasons as people are different.

If you are not tattooed and are considering having one, be thorough in your choices with what you want tattooed on your skin and who you want to tattoo you. The Internet is a great place to research artists and get ideas. I would still recommend you visit the tattoo studio/s in question before making that life decision.

Tattoo your Soul - CJ

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Meet the Members

Spotlight on...

Toni Charles Are you married?

Nope, I’m ‘happily single’.

Do you have any children?

I had two kids, though they’re not really ‘children’ any more. They’re both grown up now, and working away from home. My eldest works as a researcher for TV programs such as ’24 Hours In A&E’, ‘The Audience’, and ‘The Hotel’.

She’s into Roller Derby in a big way. She plays for London Roller Girls, and recently got accepted on probation into the competition league. My youngest recently graduated from university, and now works in IT for RBS in Coventry.

Any pets?

No, unfortunately my job gets in the way.

How long have you been riding motorbikes?

I’ve been riding for over 30 years now! I passed my test just after they introduced the two part test. Back then, all you had to do was ride around the block a few times, then ride around the block a few times in the other direction.

The examiner was on foot. The best way to get a pass was to watch your mirrors to see where he was headed next, then ride as fast as you could as soon as you were out of sight, so you could get back to him before he moved too far – that way you could ensure you knew where he was and you could make sure you were riding carefully and responsibly where he could see you.

12

What was your first bike?

My first bike was a Honda CB 125, which I bought when I was 18. I called it ‘Jefferson’. (All my bikes have been named after US Presidents).

When did you get your first Harley?

If you count rentals, my first Harley was a DYNA Switchback called Monroe. I rented it as a birthday pressie to myself in August 2012 from Yankee H-D, Connecticut. I rode it all around New England. The Harley bug bit me hard - I loved that bike, and promised myself I’d buy my own.

What do you ride now?

I ride a Heritage, called Quincy. I also have a Yamaha, Fazer FZ1, called Jackson.

How long have you been a Thames Valley member?

Since April 2013, which was when I bought my first Harley.

Any hobbies apart from motorbikes?

I used to be an avid Xbox gamer. Motorbikes take up every spare minute of my life, now!

Any special Harley experiences?

Riding Harleys in the States always feels special, somehow. I’m heading out to the US again very soon now.

I’m renting a Harley in Atlanta and riding down to Florida for a couple of weeks.

It’s been nice getting to know you, Toni, thanks for the chat.

13

February

April

Saturday Social Saturday 22nd, 12:00 The Pack Saddle.

Mapledurham RG4 7UD

Committee Night Tuesday 1st, 8:00pm Dust off the Cobwebs Ride Jack’s Hill Café, Towcester Sunday 6th 9:00 Sportsable

Ace Café Harley Night Thursday 26th, 6:00

Poker Run - first one Weds, 9th, 6:30 Venue TBA

March

Pioneer Run Sunday, 13th, 9:00-6:00 Sportsable

Committee Night (Shrove Tuesday) Tuesday 4th, 8:00pm

Club Night Thursday 17th, 7:30

Saturday Social Asian Fusion Littlewick Green Maidemhead SL6 3QR (Let Sue Brown know if you’re coming, she needs to book seats) All welcome, 7:00pm

Ace Café Southend Shakedown Monday, 21st 8:45 Sportsable, 10:30 leave Ace Café Ace Café Harley Night Thursday 24th 6:00pm

Club Night Thursday 20th, 7:30

John Radcliff Toy Run Sunday, 27th, 9:00 Sportsable

Ace Café Harley Night Thursday 27th 6:00pm

14

Dates, events, rideouts and activities Details correct at time of going to print.

Check the website for updates and amendments www.thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Entries for your Diary

Club Nights

Oxford Toy Run 27th April 23rd Cider Rally 2nd - 5th May Big Brum Bash 23rd - 26th May Ireland Bike Fest 30th May - 1st June European Rally Biograd Croatia, 2nd - 16th June

World Ride 2014 (Million Mile) 23rd-24th June Wake the Lakes 3rd - 6th July Fenlanders Rally 24th - 27th July Hog n Bog Provincewide 1st - 3rd August Sherwood Rally 15th-17th August Thunder in the Glens 22nd - 25th August Deva Legion Circus Maximus 12th - 14th September

March

20th

April

17th

May

15th

June

19th

July

17th

Mag contribution Deadlines

Check website for Changes / further details on all events 15

March

13th

April

10th

May

8th

June

12th

July

10th

Our Winter Bash was held on Saturday, 8th February.

For only ÂŁ10 we had an amazing buffet with hot and cold food, and great choice of desserts.

We had music by Robbie to dance n away and we had a bumper raffle Great company, and a good time w had by all - what a way to chase away those winter blues!

16

Our Winter Bash was held on Saturday, 8th February. or only ÂŁ10 we had an amazing fet with hot and cold food, and a great choice of desserts. ad music by Robbie to dance night ay and we had a bumper raffle! at company, and a good time was had by all - what a way to chase away those winter blues!

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CHAPTER

PARTICIPANTS

1066

189

596,529

BOB

HOGSBACK

64

392,750

ADAM A

ROLLING HILLS

86

282,371

GARETH

INVICTA

77

250,624

ALLAN

THAMES VALLEY

47

177,632

PAUL

DUNEDIN

26

127,059

GEORGE

GREAT WESTERN

25

114,083

STEV

SHERWOOD

25

106,395

ROY R

FENLANDERS

30

100,345

NEIL

OXFORD

21

81,745

ADRIAN

HATTERS

15

76,707

ALYCIA C

PEAK RIDERS

9

66,018

DAVID

BIRMINGHAM

18

59,368

MARTIN

BELFAST

6

33,460

LEN

PLYMOUTH

1

12,079

CHRI

18

MILEAGE

HIGHEST I MILE

MILEAGE

HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL MILEAGE

MILES

AVERAGE MILES

596,529

BOB EAGLE

11,997

3156

392,750

ADAM ANDERSON

24,887

6137

282,371

GARETH SWANSON

14,956

3283

250,624

ALLAN WRIGHT

10,950

3255

177,632

PAUL MAJOR

12,047

3779

127,059

GEORGE SHEPHERD

10,899

4807

114,083

STEVE LINK

14,471

4563

106,395

ROY RADFORD

17,994

4256

100,345

NEIL BUTLER

9,277

3345

81,745

ADRIAN BURROWS

14,157

3893

76,707

ALYCIA CATTERALL

10,293

5114

66,018

DAVID HUGHES

19,215

7335

59,368

MARTIN MAHONEY

8,746

3298

33,460

LEN FLECK

9,018

5577

12,079

CHRIS MONK

12,079

12079

19

The first Saturday Social of the year took place at The Crooked Billet, in Iver, on Saturday, 25th January.

We were pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food, the many specials offered and the very reasonable prices.

Nineteen club members turned up, five of whom took advantage of the sunny weather and turned up on their bikes. Hopefully, they got home before the rain set in!

The food was enjoyed by all, as was Bernie’s birthday cake, kindly made by Pat. By Linda Friend

20

All New HOG Group Riding Training Course We will be helping HOG to evaluate an all-new Group Riding Training Course in April this year.

The course is being tested and evaluated with a view to making it more widely available for new members who have never ridden in a large group of riders before.

The aim of the training will be to instruct in the skills of group riding, 2nd Man Drop Off & The Buddy System.

Our Safety Officer will be contacting some of our less experienced and new “group riders” over the coming weeks to see if he can get someone to join him on the course in Oxford.

This will help HOG get some mixed feedback from both ends of the “group riding” spectrum.

After the evaluation, it is hoped that we will be able to offer this as a regular option for new riders joining the group.

Watch this space !

Discounts for Hog Members Discounts are available on a wide range of holidays, hotel accommodation and services from the companies listed below: Euro Camps, Best Western Hotels, Condor Ferries Holiday Inns

Mc Donald Hotel Group H D Insurance Services The BMF Nutt Travel

Use your Hog membership number to Receive discounts from these companies.

21

Whose Bike?

Our ‘Jammy’ photographer, Linda, has been taking candid shots of our bikes when we weren’t looking!

Do you recognise your bike, or that of another club member?

If you correctly identify the bike and owner, you will win a bottle of wine, to be presented at club night.

If there’s more than one correct answer, names will be put in a hat and one drawn out - at club night.

Good luck!

If you can identify this bike, send your answer to Linda, c/o: editor@thamesvalleyhog.org.uk December’s winner: Mick Friend

22

Bike: Nij

Just to let you know we are introducing a ‘double’ fine category for gross misdemeanours - so you have been warned!

Nick West - Double Fine for what he said at the Road Captains’ Meeting – he knows. He was lucky to come out alive!

CJ - Double Fine for the Liars of Harley – will he never learn?

Don - for advertising the TV Party on the wrong date at club night.

Gopher - for paying fines when he hasn’t even been fined!

Clive - Double Fine for telling the ladies it was nice to see them working in the kitchen...

Pat Adams ...and I’m sorry, Fine Mistress, but YOU are Fined for sending the above fines to Sue Brown and not Sue Knight!

Guildford Harley Davidson Guildford HD, had a cake and coffee morning in support of Bowel Cancer, on Saturday 15th Feb. The guys playing the music were called Dave and Crippo; the two ladies serving the free cakes were Margaret and Ruth.

Mick took a while to decide what cake he wanted!

The raffle sold at least 400 tickets.

All donations were gratefully received.

Linda Friend

23

Did you guess the identity of last month’s mystery man?

Of course, it was our very own Paul Major!

So, who is this handsome hunk?

No, it’s not a film star but one of our very regular members.

Admittedly, it was taken more years ago than we care to remember, but how well do you know our Thames Valley boys?

Our regular feature will return next month.

In the meantime, keep safe!

24

oys wn b l ad! o y r na ve Our ternatio CJ d n i n s a i in th ul, Clive Pa

26

Donington Park Race Circuit Becomes Thundersprint Title Sponsor

will be at the Thundersprint with their full road show.

. .

ÂŁ5.00 For a Weekend Spectator Pass ÂŁ15.00 For a Weekend Camping Pass Well-Behaved Pets and Children Free

The Thundersprint is held at the Darley Moor Circuit, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire, over the weekend of May 10/11 - www.thundersprint.com.

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Don Don Wibberley Wibberley Chapter Chapter Director Director Email: director Email: director@ director @thamesvallyhog.org.uk thamesvalleyhog.org.uk @thamesvallyhog.org. uk

Pat Adams Pat Adams Assistant Director Assistant Director Email: assistantdirector@ Email: assistantdirector@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Colin Wilkins Colin Wilkins Treasurer Treasurer Email: treasurer@ Email: treasurer@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Sue Moyler Sue Moyler Secretary Secretary Email: secretary@ Email: secretary@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Fred Cotsford Fred Fred Cotsford Cotsford Membership Officer Membership Officer Membership Officer Email: membership@ Email: Email: membership@ membership@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Nij Jones Nij Jones Head Road Captain Head Road Captain Email: headroadcaptain@ Email: headroadcaptain@ Thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Nick West Nick West Safety Officer & Safety Officer & historian Historian Email: Historian @thamesvalleyhog.org.uk Email: historian@

Barry Adams Barry Adams Activities Officer Activities Officer Email: activities@ Email: activities@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Lee White Lee White Webmaster Webmaster Email: webmaster@ Email: webmaster@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Sue Knight Sue Knight Editor Editor Email: editor@ Email: editor@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Bernie Meason Bernie Meason Photographer Photographer Email: photographer@ Email: photographer@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Sue Brown Sue Brown Ladies of Harley Ladies Harley Email: of ladiesofharley@ Email: ladiesofharley@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

facebook.com/groups/facebook.com/groups thamesvalleyhog thamesvalleyhog

youtube.com/user/ tvwebmaster1 Linda Friend Friend Linda Photographer Photographer Email: photographer@ photographer@ Email: thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

Shirley Shirley Churchill Churchill Merchandise Merchandise Email: Email: merchandise@ merchandise@ thamesvalleyhog.org.uk

youtube.com/user/ tvwebmaster1

Toni Charles Club Venue: Club Venue: Activities Officer SportsAble, SportsAble, Braywick Sports Ground, Email: activities@SL6 1BN Braywick Sports Ground, Maidenhead, thamesvalleyhog.org.uk Maidenhead, SL6 1BN