2018 Happenings
Latest first.........
Bob Goes Bananas!
Swirling through the portals of time we went: Back, back, back to 2008. Yes, for his Grand motoring Quiz Bob revived his original from 2008 to see how much we had remembered. Not much as it turned out….
Twenty-five hilariously worded questions tested our brain cells. Sadly none of us achieved the level expected of an officer of the law but we did have a very funny and enjoyable evening. Our next event is Bob’s Music Quiz on 10th January 2019. Much amusement guaranteed!
Twenty-five hilariously worded questions tested our brain cells. Sadly none of us achieved the level expected of an officer of the law but we did have a very funny and enjoyable evening. Our next event is Bob’s Music Quiz on 10th January 2019. Much amusement guaranteed!
Pre-Christmas Lunch 2018
Only the hardiest of HoE stalwarts rendezvoused on Sunday under darkening skies at the Super Sausage cafe for one of Barry’s ingeniously convoluted runs. We had five riders on the run, Jon, Nigel, Gary, Bob and Barry. The weather was perfect, miraculously the threatened rain never arrived. It was fairly cold, but with beautiful sunshine all day. The Super Sausage was packed with a queue outside the door, so we did not have time for a coffee.
Our lovely twenty-two-mile country roads run went well taking in Yardley Gobion, Castlethorpe, Hanslope, Haversham, Gayhurst, Stoke Goldington, Salcey Forest, Hartwell and Ashton, including the exquisite bends on the Hanslope to Haversham road that will be familiar to those who experienced them on the Jampot Rally. After some necessarily restrained riding along the rather wet and slippery lanes, we arrived unscathed for a pre-Christmas lunch at Stoke Bruerne!
Jon had organised a table for us all at the Navigation; the pub was absolutely packed. We were met by wives and a car-borne Peter, who sensibly had decided not to risk a 20+ mile ride home in the dark with six volt lighting.
A joyous event and great meals had by all. Our next event: Bob’s Quiz on the 13th!
Many thanks to Barry and Nigel for the report
Our lovely twenty-two-mile country roads run went well taking in Yardley Gobion, Castlethorpe, Hanslope, Haversham, Gayhurst, Stoke Goldington, Salcey Forest, Hartwell and Ashton, including the exquisite bends on the Hanslope to Haversham road that will be familiar to those who experienced them on the Jampot Rally. After some necessarily restrained riding along the rather wet and slippery lanes, we arrived unscathed for a pre-Christmas lunch at Stoke Bruerne!
Jon had organised a table for us all at the Navigation; the pub was absolutely packed. We were met by wives and a car-borne Peter, who sensibly had decided not to risk a 20+ mile ride home in the dark with six volt lighting.
A joyous event and great meals had by all. Our next event: Bob’s Quiz on the 13th!
Many thanks to Barry and Nigel for the report
Conway's TT Board Game strikes again!
I remember when ‘Pinky’ Smith Jr. jumped me in the playground one day and punched me unexpectedly in the solar plexus. It made me all dizzy and light-headed. The sensation came back to me at Conway’s TT Board Game when Charles won IN A CAR, the rotter!
Obviously, it was a plastic token one but one still has one’s limits. Gary stretched them with his BSA Gold Flash token; crikey, we are the AJS&MOC after all! Still, with his charm he can get away with anything. Nigel had a steamroller and we weren’t going to argue with that, especially as he was flushed with success after bravely leading us in the Inter-Section quiz.
What a closely fought game it was. Jon M and Peter arrived hallway through proceedings but still made a good showing. Bob, who led from the start, eventually trailed in last, even beaten by Conway in his ketch, who, recovering from a poor first lap left Bob in his wake. Geddit? Ketch - wake…. OK, I’ll get my coat.
John ‘Specsavers’ B couldn’t read the text of the cards, accusing Conway of making the text smaller every year. Luckily Lawrence was there to deliver them for him in his roguishly impish manner, though whether he actually read what was on John’s cards is a moot point. Mark collected so many Redemption cards that he could have made a good living flogging them.
As every year since 1927, it provided an evening of much fun and laughter. Thanks go to Conway for the joy.
Obviously, it was a plastic token one but one still has one’s limits. Gary stretched them with his BSA Gold Flash token; crikey, we are the AJS&MOC after all! Still, with his charm he can get away with anything. Nigel had a steamroller and we weren’t going to argue with that, especially as he was flushed with success after bravely leading us in the Inter-Section quiz.
What a closely fought game it was. Jon M and Peter arrived hallway through proceedings but still made a good showing. Bob, who led from the start, eventually trailed in last, even beaten by Conway in his ketch, who, recovering from a poor first lap left Bob in his wake. Geddit? Ketch - wake…. OK, I’ll get my coat.
John ‘Specsavers’ B couldn’t read the text of the cards, accusing Conway of making the text smaller every year. Luckily Lawrence was there to deliver them for him in his roguishly impish manner, though whether he actually read what was on John’s cards is a moot point. Mark collected so many Redemption cards that he could have made a good living flogging them.
As every year since 1927, it provided an evening of much fun and laughter. Thanks go to Conway for the joy.
Bikes and Breakfasts in Bedfordshire
The arrival of those crisp autumn days must mean that it’s Biker Breakfast month again at the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden. This year Dave Gwenin stepped up to lead a meandering ride of mainly AMC machines through the sunlit Bedfordshire lanes.
Along the route a pheasant and a Woburn Abbey deer narrowly avoided becoming the ingredients of a game pie and Dave enjoyed one roundabout near Flitwick so much that he went round it twice. We arrived without further incident at our destination to find that we were the only bikers, although a few more turned up later.
Full English breakfasts were enjoyed al fresco before we took a turn around the airfield. The museum was closed but there were other interesting aircraft to be admired before we got ready to leave. I pulled in the clutch to free it up before kicking the engine over and felt an ominous lack of resistance. Yes, the cable had broken at the lever end. Aha, I thought, this is why I bought an emergency cable repair kit……
Disappointment followed – the inner cable was now too frayed and short, and the emergency barrel nipple couldn’t take the strain. At this point the saintly Jon Martin said ‘I’ve got a spare cable’ and produced from his topbox the magic biscuit tin that can cure all ills. Result – joy – and an almost incident-free ride until, when close to home, I pulled in the clutch and again felt that alarming lack of resistance. Surely the new cable couldn’t have broken too? But no – all that had happened was that the vibration of the ride had loosened the locknut on the cable adjuster until there was no pull on the inner. Easily fixed and a happy end to one of the best rides of the year.
Many thanks Nigel for the report
Going High at Hinton
I don’t usually win anything in raffles, so it was particularly surprising and pleasing to win the star prize in the raffle at the annual Oxford Inter-Section quiz last November (which the Heart of England section also won).
The prize in this case was a light aircraft flight with our own fearless aviator and plane-maker; Barry. So late last Wednesday I opened an email from Barry which said ‘forecast for tomorrow looks good, how about collecting your prize?’
Fortunately I was free that afternoon and it was also an excellent opportunity to take the bike out for a twenty mile spin to Hinton airfield near Brackley.
Barry was already waiting by his bright yellow Piper Cub and instructed me in the contortions necessary to insinuate myself into the front seat. Once I was installed and connected to the intercom he ran through a few pre-flight checks. We waited for members of the skydiving club to finish raining down on the airfield and then we were off into a cloudless sky.
“How about flying to Milton Keynes to see if we can find your house” Barry suggested. That seemed like a good idea so we set an easterly course and after passing over Buckingham we soon approached Stony Stratford. It was very easy to pick out the Pigott residence from 1500 feet but unfortunately I was unable to alert my wife in time for her to come outside and give us a wave.
We then swung round and headed back west towards the Cotswolds, this time passing over numerous desirable country estates, with Barry pointing out many other interesting features invisible from the ground. Did you know, for instance, that Steane Park near Banbury has a Harrier jump jet in the grounds?
We reached Stow on the Wold and the site of last year’s Jampot Rally, at which point Barry said that he thought it was time I took the controls and rather apprehensively I did. I managed to turn the plane through 180 degrees to head us back towards base and then we hit a thermal and I found, somewhat alarmingly, that we were a thousand feet higher than we had been a minute earlier. There was no need to panic however, and we were soon flying straight and level again, although how much intervention from Barry on the dual controls was needed I will never know.
In no time at all we were approaching Hinton and after checking for encroaching skydivers again, Barry brought the Cub in for a flawless landing.
We then spent some time looking at Barry’s other self-built (and this time self-designed) aircraft – a very tidy-looking biplane, and chatting to some other members of the flying club before I climbed onto the Ajay and made my way home in the evening sunshine via a leisurely country route.
Many thanks to Barry for his generosity in donating such a great raffle prize and for being such an instructive and entertaining host. As I said to him afterwards, I can now understand why for some people motorcycling just isn’t exciting enough.
Many thanks Nigel for the report
The prize in this case was a light aircraft flight with our own fearless aviator and plane-maker; Barry. So late last Wednesday I opened an email from Barry which said ‘forecast for tomorrow looks good, how about collecting your prize?’
Fortunately I was free that afternoon and it was also an excellent opportunity to take the bike out for a twenty mile spin to Hinton airfield near Brackley.
Barry was already waiting by his bright yellow Piper Cub and instructed me in the contortions necessary to insinuate myself into the front seat. Once I was installed and connected to the intercom he ran through a few pre-flight checks. We waited for members of the skydiving club to finish raining down on the airfield and then we were off into a cloudless sky.
“How about flying to Milton Keynes to see if we can find your house” Barry suggested. That seemed like a good idea so we set an easterly course and after passing over Buckingham we soon approached Stony Stratford. It was very easy to pick out the Pigott residence from 1500 feet but unfortunately I was unable to alert my wife in time for her to come outside and give us a wave.
We then swung round and headed back west towards the Cotswolds, this time passing over numerous desirable country estates, with Barry pointing out many other interesting features invisible from the ground. Did you know, for instance, that Steane Park near Banbury has a Harrier jump jet in the grounds?
We reached Stow on the Wold and the site of last year’s Jampot Rally, at which point Barry said that he thought it was time I took the controls and rather apprehensively I did. I managed to turn the plane through 180 degrees to head us back towards base and then we hit a thermal and I found, somewhat alarmingly, that we were a thousand feet higher than we had been a minute earlier. There was no need to panic however, and we were soon flying straight and level again, although how much intervention from Barry on the dual controls was needed I will never know.
In no time at all we were approaching Hinton and after checking for encroaching skydivers again, Barry brought the Cub in for a flawless landing.
We then spent some time looking at Barry’s other self-built (and this time self-designed) aircraft – a very tidy-looking biplane, and chatting to some other members of the flying club before I climbed onto the Ajay and made my way home in the evening sunshine via a leisurely country route.
Many thanks to Barry for his generosity in donating such a great raffle prize and for being such an instructive and entertaining host. As I said to him afterwards, I can now understand why for some people motorcycling just isn’t exciting enough.
Many thanks Nigel for the report
Rain, Rain, Ho Away !! 23rd to 25th March
The 2018 Westward Ho! run took place over the weekend of 23rd to 25th March. This is a week earlier than usual in order to avoid the earlier than usual Easter weekend.
One further change was the start point. Previous runs have started from the Weyhill Fair pub on the outskirts of Andover, but for the first time this year’s run set off from the Bowlers Arms, just south of Newbury. This is the normal section meeting place for the Newbury Section, and we were made most welcome.
The weekend weather forecast was rather pessimistic, but at least early afternoon and evening on Friday were dry, enabling all of the riders to get to the start in the dry. (It wouldn’t last!).
Steve and Carol Rogers had set the route for the run, comprising three sections each of 50 to 60 miles. Two rest stops at 24 hour service areas were nominated. The route instructions, issued about ten days in advance of the run comprised a series of “Tulip Diagrams”, one for each junction or change of direction. Everyone on the run can print these out and using some form of display can follow them along the route. I use my home made light box with a roller chart for this purpose and it works quite well.
Unfortunately when Steve and Carol rode the route early on Friday to check for problems, they were dismayed to find road closures for repairs. This required a fairly large diversion which they sketched out as a few extra “Tulips “and e-mailed to me at about lunch time. This led to some frantic re-drafting of the route, splicing the new diagrams into the roller chart, and copying the changes for the other riders, prior to setting off to the start.
Having briefed all of the riders of the route changes, and being fed and watered I was ready for the start --- Phew!
Several of the local lads came to see us off on the run, and one kindly acted as our starter, flagging us of a two minute intervals, starting at 23:10 hrs. I was second away at 23:12 hrs (such precision!). However when I arrived at the first junction, the pair who were first away were approaching the junction from the opposite direction ! Now that must be some sort of record having gone off piste in the first 100 yards. This meant that having turned at the junction in front of them, I was now first on the run.
By the time we got away on the run it was persisting it down, so the inevitable problems of keeping on track (and on the road), with visor and glasses steamed up and covered in raindrops became steadily worse. On the first 60 mile section I had to stop repeatedly to dry my glasses with some tissue, which promptly turned to soggy mush in the rain.
The route diversion on the first section all worked out and everyone arrived at the first stop (with one exception, of which more anon), followed by our breakdown van. The first section via Corsham, Bradford-on-Avon and Trowbridge etc. took me 1 hour 53 minutes (quite a long ride) so a hot chocolate and a rest was very welcome.
Off again after 30 minute rest, onto the second section, passing Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury etc., which included a short section where the route instructions said it was possibly muddy. Steve & Carol rode this way earlier in the day and they reported that it was passable with care. However the intervening 3 hours of rain turned this section into a mud bath. Everything went all wobbly at the back end, but fortunately my trusty G3 stayed more or less upright until we were through this section. Other riders reported some hairy slippery moments as well.
Section 2 ended at Taunton Dene service area where an hours rest was scheduled. A good chance to warm up and refresh with hot drinks etc., having ridden 60 miles in 2 hours 30 min.
The third section was fabulous routing via Milverton, Wivelscome, Dunster, Weddon Cross and Simonsbath to our finish at Lynton. The latter part of the run included a 17 mile stretch over the top of Exmoor, just after dawn. However, although it was light enough to see by this point the altitude put us in the clouds, so there was not much you could see. At this point we were driving between large snow drifts on the sides of the road left over from two passages of the “Beast from the East”, with rivers of melt water running down the road. What with ice, rain water and fog, we had all three forms of H2O at once.
I arrived in Lynmouth at 7 o’clock, having taken 1 hour 45 min on this final section.
Amazingly although my outer garments were totally soaked, (hardly surprising after 6 hours of rain) I was generally dry for once, and although shivering with cold the inner warmth from the satisfaction of a challenge met and conquered, and a welcome from Pam and Friends at the end of the run, somehow makes it all worthwhile.
But what of our missing rider ? Unfortunately he went off piste shortly after the start, and in the end the only way he could sort things out was to go back to the start and begin again. Unfortunately by this time the breakdown van had gone, so he finished up behind it, and never caught it up. When he got to the first rest stop the garage had suffered a power cut, so he spent a while looking for fuel elsewhere before continuing on the run. He finally arrived in Lynmouth about half an hour after the breakdown van, safe and sound.
One other rider, who was a real hero in my book, had a few trials and tribulations. He was riding a bike of the marque of 1930s vintage, 6 volt lights and all. He has never ridden the WWHo, and never really ridden at night. However he made it (minus a few bits that fell off on the way), and thoroughly enjoyed the event and camaraderie. Let’s hope he got home again without too many more bits falling off.
Following a great breakfast and a warm bed for a few hours we explored the town, and then watched Cambridge thrash Oxford in the boat races on telly. An evening dinner with all of the riders together was great fun, and the charity donations added up to over £280. This will go to the “Blood Bikes” charity, Well done.
Sundays ride home was warm and dry all of the way, delightful.
So a huge thank you to Steve and Carol Rogers for organising the event and setting a demanding and challenging route.
Thanks to Barry for the report
One further change was the start point. Previous runs have started from the Weyhill Fair pub on the outskirts of Andover, but for the first time this year’s run set off from the Bowlers Arms, just south of Newbury. This is the normal section meeting place for the Newbury Section, and we were made most welcome.
The weekend weather forecast was rather pessimistic, but at least early afternoon and evening on Friday were dry, enabling all of the riders to get to the start in the dry. (It wouldn’t last!).
Steve and Carol Rogers had set the route for the run, comprising three sections each of 50 to 60 miles. Two rest stops at 24 hour service areas were nominated. The route instructions, issued about ten days in advance of the run comprised a series of “Tulip Diagrams”, one for each junction or change of direction. Everyone on the run can print these out and using some form of display can follow them along the route. I use my home made light box with a roller chart for this purpose and it works quite well.
Unfortunately when Steve and Carol rode the route early on Friday to check for problems, they were dismayed to find road closures for repairs. This required a fairly large diversion which they sketched out as a few extra “Tulips “and e-mailed to me at about lunch time. This led to some frantic re-drafting of the route, splicing the new diagrams into the roller chart, and copying the changes for the other riders, prior to setting off to the start.
Having briefed all of the riders of the route changes, and being fed and watered I was ready for the start --- Phew!
Several of the local lads came to see us off on the run, and one kindly acted as our starter, flagging us of a two minute intervals, starting at 23:10 hrs. I was second away at 23:12 hrs (such precision!). However when I arrived at the first junction, the pair who were first away were approaching the junction from the opposite direction ! Now that must be some sort of record having gone off piste in the first 100 yards. This meant that having turned at the junction in front of them, I was now first on the run.
By the time we got away on the run it was persisting it down, so the inevitable problems of keeping on track (and on the road), with visor and glasses steamed up and covered in raindrops became steadily worse. On the first 60 mile section I had to stop repeatedly to dry my glasses with some tissue, which promptly turned to soggy mush in the rain.
The route diversion on the first section all worked out and everyone arrived at the first stop (with one exception, of which more anon), followed by our breakdown van. The first section via Corsham, Bradford-on-Avon and Trowbridge etc. took me 1 hour 53 minutes (quite a long ride) so a hot chocolate and a rest was very welcome.
Off again after 30 minute rest, onto the second section, passing Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury etc., which included a short section where the route instructions said it was possibly muddy. Steve & Carol rode this way earlier in the day and they reported that it was passable with care. However the intervening 3 hours of rain turned this section into a mud bath. Everything went all wobbly at the back end, but fortunately my trusty G3 stayed more or less upright until we were through this section. Other riders reported some hairy slippery moments as well.
Section 2 ended at Taunton Dene service area where an hours rest was scheduled. A good chance to warm up and refresh with hot drinks etc., having ridden 60 miles in 2 hours 30 min.
The third section was fabulous routing via Milverton, Wivelscome, Dunster, Weddon Cross and Simonsbath to our finish at Lynton. The latter part of the run included a 17 mile stretch over the top of Exmoor, just after dawn. However, although it was light enough to see by this point the altitude put us in the clouds, so there was not much you could see. At this point we were driving between large snow drifts on the sides of the road left over from two passages of the “Beast from the East”, with rivers of melt water running down the road. What with ice, rain water and fog, we had all three forms of H2O at once.
I arrived in Lynmouth at 7 o’clock, having taken 1 hour 45 min on this final section.
Amazingly although my outer garments were totally soaked, (hardly surprising after 6 hours of rain) I was generally dry for once, and although shivering with cold the inner warmth from the satisfaction of a challenge met and conquered, and a welcome from Pam and Friends at the end of the run, somehow makes it all worthwhile.
But what of our missing rider ? Unfortunately he went off piste shortly after the start, and in the end the only way he could sort things out was to go back to the start and begin again. Unfortunately by this time the breakdown van had gone, so he finished up behind it, and never caught it up. When he got to the first rest stop the garage had suffered a power cut, so he spent a while looking for fuel elsewhere before continuing on the run. He finally arrived in Lynmouth about half an hour after the breakdown van, safe and sound.
One other rider, who was a real hero in my book, had a few trials and tribulations. He was riding a bike of the marque of 1930s vintage, 6 volt lights and all. He has never ridden the WWHo, and never really ridden at night. However he made it (minus a few bits that fell off on the way), and thoroughly enjoyed the event and camaraderie. Let’s hope he got home again without too many more bits falling off.
Following a great breakfast and a warm bed for a few hours we explored the town, and then watched Cambridge thrash Oxford in the boat races on telly. An evening dinner with all of the riders together was great fun, and the charity donations added up to over £280. This will go to the “Blood Bikes” charity, Well done.
Sundays ride home was warm and dry all of the way, delightful.
So a huge thank you to Steve and Carol Rogers for organising the event and setting a demanding and challenging route.
Thanks to Barry for the report
Annual Dinner February 24th
Jon and Angie organised a splendid Annual Dinner for us all at The Navigation in Stoke Bruerne. Much fun and laughter had as we all got together. Twenty-one diners attended and had an excellent meal, the Navigation excelled themselves. Barry gave a summary of the past year in Heart of England. The lass who was to give the Ladies’ retort declined at the last minute, so Pam bravely stepped up without notice and gave a splendid resumé of her time with us over the years. Very entertaining!
Everyone was eager to discover who was to receive the infamous 'Piston Broke' award: Awarded annually for high esteem and/or high muppetry. This year it went to one of our most popular members; Nigel. ‘For his tribute to 617 Dambuster Squadron’ when his top-box fell off while he was at the front of a run. This caused general consternation amongst the following ranks. Who knew so many of us were skilled at slalom? We should start a dodgeball team…..
We had the now traditional ‘Secret Santa’ so everyone went away with a surprise and a smile on their face.
Thanks go to Jon, Angie, Barry and Pam for amusing us so well.
Everyone was eager to discover who was to receive the infamous 'Piston Broke' award: Awarded annually for high esteem and/or high muppetry. This year it went to one of our most popular members; Nigel. ‘For his tribute to 617 Dambuster Squadron’ when his top-box fell off while he was at the front of a run. This caused general consternation amongst the following ranks. Who knew so many of us were skilled at slalom? We should start a dodgeball team…..
We had the now traditional ‘Secret Santa’ so everyone went away with a surprise and a smile on their face.
Thanks go to Jon, Angie, Barry and Pam for amusing us so well.
Nigel Faces the Freeze! February 22nd
On the coldest night of the winter so far, Nigel drew a goodly crowd to The Lamb for his annual quiz. It's easy to see why his event is popular too. We were challenged with questions on the British Isles - who knew Cornwall's cape isn't The Cape of Good Hope? The second section was estimating the final selling price of Matchlesses on eBay. This prompted howls of disbelief when the answers were revealed.
An excellent quiz; just challenging enough to tax our brains but not overly difficult. This time the pub staff didn't beat us: Jon emerged victorious. That sets him up well for our Annual Dinner which he has organised for Saturday. Well done Jon!
An excellent quiz; just challenging enough to tax our brains but not overly difficult. This time the pub staff didn't beat us: Jon emerged victorious. That sets him up well for our Annual Dinner which he has organised for Saturday. Well done Jon!
John's Quiz January 28th...
It was a quiz of many topics that greeted us tonight. Much amusement and headscratching with Tony emerging victorious at the end. With much ceremony he was awarded an empty Diet Coke bottle as First Prize. Other Cokes are available (but ale is considerably better...)
Winter Walk 2018 January 28th
Wolverton was our start point for this year's winter walk organised by Nigel. He took us on a tour of the wetland floodplain wildlife reserve.We were joined by members of Oxford and Newbury Sections which was a treat. Eighteen gathered and eighteen finished, enjoying some splendid scenery and birdlife along the way. A slap-up lunch followed before we wended our different ways home.
Oxford Section has promised to return the invite in June so we'll look forward to that. Many thanks to Nigel and Gorgeous Gillian his able assistant for a splendid event.
Oxford Section has promised to return the invite in June so we'll look forward to that. Many thanks to Nigel and Gorgeous Gillian his able assistant for a splendid event.