The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) has today welcomed the publication of a report by the influential Parliamentary Transport Select Committee (TSC) on the new European motorcycle test. The test, which was introduced early in 2009 as a result of European regulations, has been widely criticised by the industry, trainers and riders groups.
 
Implementation of the test involved cutting motorcycle test centre numbers from over 200 sites to under 50 (despite a commitment to provide 66 sites) and the introduction of so called 'Multi Purpose Test Centres'. The result has been a collapse in test numbers and concerns about the nature of the test and road safety for candidates who now sometimes need to travel long distances to attend a riding test.
 
The TSC report follows 'enquiry' hearings, held in Parliament during October 2009. The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI), along with its sister organisation, the Motor Cycle Industry Training Association (MCITA) and riders groups, took an active part in the TSC's enquiry and appeared before MPs to give evidence.
 
The TSC has been damning in its assessment of the Driving Standards Agency's (DSA) handling of the new test and has said that The Government's decision to introduce large Multi Purpose Test Centres (MPTCs) and close down many small, convenient motorcycle test sites was unjustified. The Committee concluded that the implementation of the new MPTCs was 'bungled'. The Committee also concluded that it is unacceptable that the Driving Standards Agency failed to get all 66 planned centres operational,  inconveniencing motorcyclists and trainers and driving up the cost of doing a test.
 
Launching the report, Transport Select Committee Chair, Louise Ellman MP said, "many candidates and trainers now have to travel too far for their motorcycle test. This adds to the cost , and in some cases, exposes candidates to fast and dangerous roads on the way to a test site - before they have even taken their test. The Driving Standards Agency needs to give much greater priority to customer service and convenience for test candidates and trainers."
 
In its report, MPs conclude that the Driving Standards Agency was slow and dogmatic in its approach to test centres, failing to listen adequately to the motorcycle industry. Smaller test sites could have been retained, saving millions of pounds. No other country in Europe has found it necessary to build 'super test sites'.
 
Steve Kenward, MCI's CEO said: "The industry strongly welcomes the TSC's report, which we feel has totally vindicated the industry's position on the new test, in particular the inept introduction of new test centres. Even now, the number of test centres is lamentably low and we call on Government to deal with the issue as a matter of urgency, or consider changing test requirements to allow a less restrictive definition of what a test site should offer.
 
"The test centre issue has been enormously damaging to the DSA whose actions have threatened training businesses and risked the credibility of the test itself. This, coupled with the industry and motorcycle community's strong concerns about the DSA's approach to further EC regulations on motorcycle testing and training, means that we renew our call for decisions on headline motorcycling training and testing policy to be returned to the direct control of Ministers and senior officials at the DfT in London."
 
Kenward added; "The Select Committee called for the DSA to work more closely with and take more seriously the views of the motorcycle industry and trainers. We strongly support this call and feel that many problems with the new test could have been avoided if this had previously been the case. We call on the Government to take greater notice of industry, trainer and rider group views as we approach the implementation of further EC regulations."

The VMCC is saddened to report the death of Club Founder Charles Edmund “Titch” Allen OBE, BEM on Thursday 18/03/10.

Where ‘Historic Motorcycles are discussed, the Vintage Motor Cycle Club and the name of Charles Edmund ‘Titch’ Allen are sure to be drawn into the conversation. This extraordinary man has been a strong influence on the growth and the development of the ‘old ‘bike’ movement – not only in this country –but also throughout the world.

Born in May 1915 in rural Nottinghamshire, Titch claimed to have been born with oily fingers and that his favourite plaything at the age of two was a hammer. Totally negative experiences with father’s milk float horse sparked off an interest in two-wheeled transport that soon transferred to his first motorcycle when he was twelve years old, a two-stroke ‘Clyno’ in the form of a box of bits.

Despite a grammar school education at Loughborough, he left school at 16 with no real qualifications other than a ‘gift for the written word’ an attribute that has never deserted him – along with his ‘gift for the spoken word’. His ambitious and forceful Mother secured a position for him as a trainee reporter on the local paper.

His experiences and the contacts made during those years included a succession of thoroughly dreadful cars and motorcycles and which lead indirectly to his meeting and marrying Jess in November 1937 and becoming deeply involved with the resurrection of the Loughborough Motor Cycle Club

As did many other motorcyclists, Titch responded to the appeals for dispatch riders in the motorcycling magazines the ‘Blue’un and the ‘Green ‘un and signed up to the “Motor Cyclist’s Army Register” and after many trials and tribulations actually served as a DR concluding the war as a sergeant and with the BEM.

His obsession with motorcycles never left him in these tempestuous times and he claimed that the acquisition of a 1930 Scott in 1942 was the catalyst for the formation of a ‘Vintage Motor Cycle Club’ –the great stimulus being the series of articles on the adventures of tracking down and acquiring ‘old bikes’ written by Captain Jim Hall in the magazine“The Motor Cycle” The idea was Jim’s but it was the work of Titch and Jess that got the club off the ground with the historic inaugural meeting on the Hog’s Back on April 28^th 1946. The ideals Titch envisaged were those of a sporting club where sporting, historic motorcycles would be used in competition – an ideal that came to be frustrated.

It was at this time that Titch began his life-long love affair with the Brough Superior marque and when he made a complete career change, moving into the world of motorcycling as a sales representative for Jim Ferriday, the irrepressible owner of the ‘Feridax’ motorcycle accessories company, which led to all kinds of adventures and experiences –and many opportunities to enlarge and enrichen his collection of motorcycles.

His involvement with the emerging and developing Vintage Motor Cycle Club was, at times, a tempestuous affair, with numerous confrontations with equally strong-minded individuals at various stages of the Club’s development. Titch admitted that his singular devotion to old motorcycles and motorcycling lead to the breakdown of his marriage and subsequent separation from Jess.

There was tragedy in the loss of Roger, his eldest son, in a freak road-racing incident in the Isle of Man in 1992 and then to lose Barbara, his eldest daughter, to cancer in 2005. Over the years Titch had lost many close friends and associates through motorcycle related accidents, but to many who were close to him, it seemed as if the death of Roger left a permanent scar from which he never really recovered.

Titch’s relationship with his wife was back on friendly terms for the latter period of her life before she succumbed to terminal cancer in 2002.

Recognition of his contribution to Motor Cycle Heritage came in the form of an OBE in 2004. The presentation ceremony took place, most appropriately, at Donington Park - a racing venue he had been associated with for 75 years

Reluctant to give up ‘competitive’ motorcycling, nevertheless, Titch retired, first from road racing and finally from sidecar racing on ‘the grass’. His interest and enthusiasm never dimmed, however and a ‘posing’ sidecar outfit was prepared for special occasions – of which the most celebrated must have been his appearance in the Past Masters’ Parade at the revival of the Festival of 1000 ‘bikes in 2006 at the age of 91.

Never afraid to voice his opinions on Vintage motorcycles and motorcycling anywhere and at any time, he was frequently controversial both within the Vintage Motor Cycle Club and elsewhere. Sometimes he was proved to be wrong, on other occasions to have been correct. But his dedication could never be questioned.

There can have been very few people who have been able to indulge a life-long obsession to the full whilst earning a living and raising a family and leaving behind a remarkable legacy to remember him by.

There will be a private family funeral for Titch with son Stephen Allen stating “the family appreciates that there will be many Vintage Motorcycle Club Members and friends that will want to pay their respects so a memorial service will be arranged, details of which will be announced by the VMCC as soon as possible”.

Obituary – C E Allen OBE, BEM : 06/05/1915 – 18/03/2010.

The recruitment of new talent has been one of the undoubted success stories in the Isle of Man TT's recent history with numerous recent newcomers going on to take wins and rostrums and this year will be no exception.

It doesn't end there with James Hillier, William Dunlop, Mark Buckley and Ian Mackman all having recorded top ten finishes with Les Shand, Mark Miller and Jimmy Moore also impressing. Last year saw Steve Mercer and Ben Wylie both impress and sure to improve further in 2010 whilst the same can also be said of impressive European stars Luis Carreira, Michal Dokoupil and Rico Penzkofer.

South African rider Hudson Kennaugh is, arguably, the leading name on this year's list having finished runner-up in the 2008 British Supersport Championship and fifth in that year's World Championship round at Brands Hatch whilst Stephen Thompson has long been a leading contender at both the Macau Grand Prix and North West 200.

The Northern Ireland rider has also been a long time fixture in the British Superstock Championship and that's where Daniel Hegarty, Kenny Gilbertson and James Hurrell have all starred in recent years. The trio, all under the age of 25, have regularly featured in the top ten with Gilbertson having a podium finish beside his name and all three are exciting youngsters whose progress at the TT will be eagerly watched. Meanwhile, David Jones will be one of the youngest riders on the grid, the 21-year having finished in solid fifth place in last year's British Supersport Cup.

An interesting entry was received from Gary May, one of Britain's leading 250cc riders at the end of the 90's and MRO Champion as recently as 2006, the Berkshire rider having also excelled on four-stroke machinery in the last decade, whilst Irish Superbike Champion Brian McCormack finally gets to make his debut after being forced to miss out twelve months ago.

There's further overseas representation with Australian ace David Johnson, the Adelaide rider having commenced his UK career back in 2002 against Cal Crutchlow, Tom Sykes, Craig Jones and a certain Guy Martin in the Juniorstock Championship whilst recent years have seen him frequently picking up points in the formidable British Superbike Championship.

Swiss rider Herve Ganther, a former star of the European Superstock Championship, will be bringing his Honda Switzerland machines with him whilst Clinton Pienaar is one of South Africa's most highly respected, and successful, riders so it's clear to see the lure of the TT is continuing to reach all corners of the globe.

There are also a number of newcomers in the Formula 2 Sidecar class led by highly experienced British driver Gary Knight who finished 4 ^th in last year's World Championship with son Dan in the chair. Austrian driver Michael Grambuller brings further World Championship experience to the grid with young Yorkshire driver Carl Fenwick also expected to shine. Meanwhile, Dean Lindley, Nigel Mayers, Matthew Dix, Nicholas Dukes and Richard Lumley all have experience at British Championship level and/or at the Southern 100 and Scarborough.

Dear Bikers

We were absolutely amazed with the response from the Biking community and us mums have never been kissed by so many bikers we and Afghan Heroes are very proud to be associated with you Bikers, we do hope we can together put on more events, we are already looking at a Rally in June of this year.

Our boys and girls would be rocking up there with the biggest smiles on their faces. You were absolutely fantastic and did them proud and we thank you for that.

We are having Afghan Heroes flags made and what would be nice is if everybody could fly one from their homes and their bikes. We showed our troops that we were behind them now let's fly are flags as a nation and show the government solidarity.

The current total for money raised on the day is £90,177.80, however with your help and gift aid this will pass the £100,000.

http://www.afghanheroes.org.uk/bikersevent.asp

Some of you heard the song Fields of Green which was written and sung by Classical Tenor Tim Pitman on Sunday at the ride. We are hoping to get this to number one to raise more funds for our Troops please help us achieve this by texting "Track heroes" to 83262 (Texts cost £1, which includes operator revenue share. plus standard network rate. UK only).

We are also having a DVD of the event which should be available in the next week or so, please keep your eyes on the web site.

People are also asking about the T Shirts and the official patch to commemorate the day.

The T Shirts are being done by [email protected]
Contact: Dave Norton

The official patch is being done by - [email protected]
Contact: Paul Ferguson

Once again we thank you all for all your help and support and we will see you all again soon.

Denise Harris

Afghan Heroes

Dear Bikers

We were absolutely amazed with the response from the Biking community and us mums have never been kissed by so many bikers we and Afghan Heroes are very proud to be associated with you Bikers, we do hope we can together put on more events, we are already looking at a Rally in June of this year.

Our boys and girls would be rocking up there with the biggest smiles on their faces. You were absolutely fantastic and did them proud and we thank you for that.

We are having Afghan Heroes flags made and what would be nice is if everybody could fly one from their homes and their bikes. We showed our troops that we were behind them now let's fly are flags as a nation and show the government solidarity.

The current total for money raised on the day is £90,177.80, however with your help and gift aid this will pass the £100,000.

http://www.afghanheroes.org.uk/bikersevent.asp

Some of you heard the song Fields of Green which was written and sung by Classical Tenor Tim Pitman on Sunday at the ride. We are hoping to get this to number one to raise more funds for our Troops please help us achieve this by texting "Track heroes" to 83262 (Texts cost £1, which includes operator revenue share. plus standard network rate. UK only).

We are also having a DVD of the event which should be available in the next week or so, please keep your eyes on the web site.

People are also asking about the T Shirts and the official patch to commemorate the day.

The T Shirts are being done by [email protected]
Contact: Dave Norton

The official patch is being done by - [email protected]
Contact: Paul Ferguson

Once again we thank you all for all your help and support and we will see you all again soon.

Denise Harris

Afghan Heroes

 

Dear Bikers

We were absolutely amazed with the response from the Biking community and us mums have never been kissed by so many bikers we and Afghan Heroes are very proud to be associated with you Bikers, we do hope we can together put on more events, we are already looking at a Rally in June of this year.

Our boys and girls would be rocking up there with the biggest smiles on their faces. You were absolutely fantastic and did them proud and we thank you for that.

We are having Afghan Heroes flags made and what would be nice is if everybody could fly one from their homes and their bikes. We showed our troops that we were behind them now let's fly are flags as a nation and show the government solidarity.

The current total for money raised on the day is £90,177.80, however with your help and gift aid this will pass the £100,000.

http://www.afghanheroes.org.uk/bikersevent.asp

Some of you heard the song Fields of Green which was written and sung by Classical Tenor Tim Pitman on Sunday at the ride. We are hoping to get this to number one to raise more funds for our Troops please help us achieve this by texting "Track heroes" to 83262 (Texts cost £1, which includes operator revenue share. plus standard network rate. UK only).

We are also having a DVD of the event which should be available in the next week or so, please keep your eyes on the web site.

People are also asking about the T Shirts and the official patch to commemorate the day.

The T Shirts are being done by [email protected]
Contact: Dave Norton

The official patch is being done by - [email protected]
Contact: Paul Ferguson

Once again we thank you all for all your help and support and we will see you all again soon.

Denise Harris

Afghan Heroes

The popular Biker cafe and meeting place H cafe, originally known as Fox's Diner has closed.

Landlord Sean Harris who also ran the The Seven Stars in nearby Marsh Baldon has closed both and has gone into liquidation.

With a long history with the Morocycle community and home to Biker group, H Riders it is hopeful a new landlord can be found.