Chairman’s Chatter

 

We’ve got it! The trailer that is! You’ll see from the photo that like Jimmy Duranty’s nose it’s big and it’s red. On the trip back from Watsonian it was so well behaved I forgot it was there so had to adjust my mirrors to provide a visual reminder. We have now started to buy some of the necessities needed before we could go camping seriously. As we already have a tent and an inflatable bed a nice octagonal gazebo with fly screen sides was the first purchase. We’re, (note how I cleverly include Sue to dilute any future recriminations), now making a detailed study of folding tables and chairs viz: style, weight, size and cost. 

 

You may remember that in the last news letter I wrote “If you want to do a Star Group trial and haven’t done so before then contact one of the committee and we’ll put you in touch with someone who’s a regular. For those of you who are new to the club we get points for everyone who rides under our banner and even more if they win something! Actually, its not so many years ago that RRND won the annual Star Group Club competition”? The offer still stands so please contact one of us if you want to ride trials more regularly. It’s the best way to get better.

 

I had a great time grounding the footrests on the Harley while keeping up with the whizzy bikes on Pete Jenkin’s road bike ride to the last club night. I recommend his excellent rides to anyone who would like to go for a genial and social rideout.

 

On the trials front my Beta has failed to finish the last two club trials due to a dodgy stator coil, (whatever that is), which ceases to work when it gets warm. John Lampkin’s have been waiting in vein for two months for a fresh supply to arrive from Italy. So I’ve given up and intend to send it to West Country Winding for repair. If all goes to plan I hope to set out and ride in the Faygate trial on 26th May.

 

Oh, that reminds me,  the committee would like to offer you the chance to lay out a trial if you would like to do so? If you haven’t done it before then we’ll be quite happy for you to accompany more experienced layer-outers for a couple of trials so they can give you some pointers. There is a list elsewhere of club trials showing the gaps where we would love someone to volunteer to assist. This is your opportunity to give back a bit to the club.

 

New people with new ideas help keeps sections fresh and entertaining. Laying out will also help you to understand why it is that you lose the odd point here or there on what looked like an easy section. The art and mastery of the cunning and devious old bug... blighters who lay out is to take those odd points while leaving the impression that it should have been easy to clean. So step up the fresh volunteers, no one need be worried that they’ll be turned away!

 

Finally, on behalf of the committee, I would like to ask for a volunteer to take on the role of Treasurer for the year, (or longer if you wish!). Pete Jenkins has been doing this for two years now but we’d like him to take on the role of Assistant Competition Secretary. We can also fit in a Social Secretary or a  member without portfolio if someone would like to give these a go.

 

 

 

Steve Whitmore