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Editor C

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20142014

PlymouthmccPlymouthmcc Parkway Social ClubParkway Social Club

Ernesettle LaneErnesettle Lane

PlymouthPlymouth

PL5 2EYPL5 2EY

01752 36308001752 363080

August News Letter

Bike nights are back after a month off, and what a brilliant

night it was (7th August) . A total of 450 bikes turned up for the

meet on the Hoe, there was no band but it never seemed to

bother any one, every one was milling around and catching

up on the news from the last month, who’s on holiday, any

one bought a new bike, what is it? and so on.

Considering the time of year and with the kid’s being off

school, parents also being on holiday 450 bikes was a first

class turn out, the weather helped a lot as well it being a

sunny evening with hardly any wind to cool things down.

Credit must be given to the bikers of Plymouth and the

surrounding areas they seem to turn up no matter “what”

for the Bike Nights, the world cup never put them off even

the Olympics two years ago in 2012 never stopped them

turning up. It looks a healthy future for the bike nights and

the charities it supports, long may it continue.

If you would like to help marshal the bike nights, volunteers are

always needed and welcomed. Training will be given and also a

meal ticket is supplied for each event.

If you can help out please contact Pete Batten on 07501339103

or at any club meeting or bike night.

The Government has confirmed that the demise of the tax disc

will coincide with a range of new rules. To clarify, from October 1st 2014 no vehicle will be required to display a disc in its windscreen. Even valid discs that expire (say) in January 2015 will be superfluous. Why the change? Because discs are simply

receipts that can be checked by the police to ensure vehicles are taxed. This is no longer necessary as compliance is enforced via a computer-based database. The Government has also revealed that motorists will be able to pay by direct debit annually, six-monthly or monthly. Those that pay by instalments will incur

a five percent surcharge and payments will continue until cancelled. However, there will be some people that cannot pay in this manner such as those with first registration vehicles, in fleet schemes and with HGVs (paying the Road User Levy). And there

will be more changes. Motorists that sell cars privately will no longer be entitled to offer the “unexpired tax” incentive that adds value. Why? Because the absence of discs could make it easier for sellers to misrepresent how much tax is remaining. So, sellers will have to claim refunds for remaining months from the DVLA.

Buyers will then re-tax online, at post offices, or via the phone before taking to the road.

Breakwater Swim

Dave Pearson one of the clubs longest standing members was supposed to do a

swim from the Breakwater to the Hoe on Sunday 10th of August, however thanks

to Hurricane Bertha (or the tail end of) the swim had to be cancelled.

The Chestnut Appeal in aid of Prostate Cancer based at Derriford Hospital the

charity that organised the swim thought it would be far to risky to let the swim go

ahead at the time because of the weather conditions, so the swim has been

rescheduled for 20th of September this is yet to be confirmed.

Dave would like to thank every body for their donations and can assure every one

he will still take part in the event and keep on training to be in peak condition to be

able to take part in the event.

It was raining, blowing a gale for a while with the wind sweeping the rain across the

Hoe, not ideal conditions for traders to set up in but every body soldiered on and got

the job done to be ready for the main event.

That’s enough of the negative side, did the weather stop the bikes? well of course

not, by the time the ride started the weather was starting to clear and when the bikes

arrived on the Hoe the weather was brightening up.

In excess of 1300 bikes arrived at Lee Mill for the 20th Anniversary ride, Mike

Grainger and Police riders from the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary followed up

by Sure Pass led the ride from Lee Mill up to Marley Head and back down the A38

through Plymouth City Centre to the Hoe. As usual hundreds of people lined the rout

to cheer the bikes on, another popular viewing spot being the entry ramp to the Hoe,

viewers here being three deep at times and getting in place long before the bikes ar-

rived to get the best spot and so the best view.

For health and safety reasons the barriers were left in place this year until the bikes

had all parked up, then the barriers were removed, a system that seemed to work very

well. The new system stops the public walking around the bikes while they are still

moving thus avoiding unnecessary contact, and is also easier on the Marshals.

This year saw the MegaRide with 10 more stalls on the Hoe than last year, it is great

to see more and more traders being added to the MegaRide regulars. There was also

the added attraction of Vintage bikes, only 7 bikes turned up this year but with more

planning and advanced notice we hope to improve upon this next year making it even

better for the public to view.

All in all it can be said that the 20th Anniversary MegaRide was a big success.

With the evenings pulling in and it getting colder at night now it was a

fantastic turn out of bikes for the penultimate bike night of 2014.

214 bikes from Plymouth and the surrounding areas turned up on the Hoe

to brave the chilly wind and to watch the Joe Santini band, and what a

band it was this man can certainly play a guitar, some bikers and public

alike were throwing some moves (modern speak for dancing) whilst others

were content to just stand and listen and appreciate the music.

A big thank you must be given to Sam Whitfield for arranging a big

surprise for every one to get the Red Arrows to fly over the Hoe for the

bike night, the Red Arrows were on their way back to base after doing a

show and agreed to fly over the Hoe for us. Every one loves the Red

Arrows so it was a great surprise them releasing the red white and blue

smoke as well.

Two separate groups of riders from Plymouth set off on a day trip to France, as it happened one

group were members of the Plymouthmcc the other group were not members but both groups

are all known to each other.

Both groups gathered at the ferry terminal in Millbay for the 22.00 over night crossing to

Roscoff, everyone boarded, got the bikes tied down and settled down for what turned out to be

an uneventful crossing, the sea was calm so no one was uncomfortable and a good nights rest

was had by all.

Arriving at Roscoff the following morning the club group (group A) set off for Sizun to enjoy a

cup of coffee and chill out, a couple of the group took the time to roll a cigarette and get their

nicotine fix, after a look around we set off for Le Faou.

At Le Faou we parked the bikes found a local patisserie settled down to another coffee and a

slice of the locally made apple tart, all agreed the apple tart tasted only as the French could

make it taste, it was gorgeous.

From Le Faou we made our way to Mael Carhaix, why did we go there? I hear you ask, well,

we went to see Tilla. Tilla, as the longer standing members of the club will know used to be a

member before moving over to the other side of the channel. Here we were given a warm

welcome and treated to tea coffee and a couple of plate’s full of bacon sarnies bacon sliced that

thick it was more like gammon, scrumptious.

From Tilla’s we took off for Playben a nice place you approach through winding twisting roads

great biking roads, after a look around we set out for St Paul De Leon, here we stopped for

quite a while. This being the last place we would be stopping before we went back to Roscoff

and the ferry we decided to have a meal, members of the group split up into two’s and three’s

and wondered about taking photos and having a good look around, there was plenty to look at

with loads of side streets and a big church, and of course each group finding their place for a

meal, the last one in France before going home. A great trip good weather 174mls in total.

Back at the ferry terminal in Roscoff we met up with the other group, (group B) couldn't find

out much about their trip from them save that a couple of them got lost and they spent the

whole morning looking for each other, then there not being too much time left they didn't

venture very far.

It would appear a couple of lessons can be learnt here, firstly if you would like a well planned

and orchestrated trip then get Mac to organise it and stick with group A.

If on the other hand you are the type that would rather have a trip that you are not sure what is

happening and take things as they come, a sort of “Mystery tour i suppose” then group B is the

one for you, or on the other hand you could always invest in a Garmin.

No matter what you choose you can be assured of a good biking trip in France, brilliant roads.