THE BIKER GUIDE will be @ The Manchester Bike Show, 23rd - 24th March on stands 243 - 244...

Come and pass by to say Hi, enter into free to enter competitions for a a weekend for two @ The Glen Guest House in Kendal, an On Any Sunday dvd and tickets to Stormin the Castle, admire our new sexy signage, grab a free lolly and a good bit of banter is ensured!

Until then...THE BIKER GUIDE®

Last summer over one hundred Surrey bikers took to the country lanes for the Wheels For Troops event, raising well over £1,000 for charities benefitting troops.

This year, organiser Mandy Jenkins is planning a bigger and better event. Over the weekend of 13-14 July 2013, bikers, cyclists and any other ‘wheel riders’ from around the county are invited join forces for a weekend of activities at the Fox Revived pub in Horley to raise funds.

On Saturday the main focus will once again be upon the many motorbike riders, with a 25mile ride out through Surrey show respect for the fallen at points along the route. Starting at 10am on the Saturday, participants will meet at The Fox Revived and enjoy a warm welcome with bacon butties available before the ride-out, before returning to the pub for a day of live music, great food, drink, craft stalls, fun and games which will continue on the Sunday, along with other types of Wheeled Transport, whilst events and activities in the large pub garden continue. Royal British Legion Riders will marshal Saturday’s ride-out. Participants are asked to make a £10 donation to take part in the ride and in return will receive a commemorative t-shirt.

Riders are asked to pre-register via email on [email protected].

Mandy Jenkins, organiser commented: “The charities are close to my family’s hearts, as my eldest son is currently serving in The Princes of Wales Royal Regiment, so I am particularly dedicated to this event, especially after the success of last year. I’m delighted that Jon and Paula from The Fox Revived have agreed to help us once again with the event – I’m sure it’s going to be a really special weekend and one that will raise much needed funds.” Jon Briscoe, who along with his wife, Paula, owns the Fox Revived pub, said: “Wheels For Troops was an amazing event last year; I was even persuaded to dust the leathers off and join in! When Mandy approached us about the event again for this year we were delighted to help. We’ve built a business here that’s about the community and the level of support we’ve seen for this event shows that the community cares – it will be an honour to help facilitate this and we’re really looking forward to it being bigger and better!”

www.wheelsfortroops.co.uk

www.facebook.com/wheelsfrotroops

The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI) has today announced its intention its launch the eMCI, a 'partner' Association of the MCI, which will proactively promote and develop a positive market and political environment for the UK's embryonic but highly significant alternative powered two wheeler (e-PTW) sector. The official launch will take place during May 2011.

The new grouping, called the e-MCIA (to be known as eMCI), is born from developing contacts with new players in the ePTW sector, coupled with increasing interest in alternative powered technologies from existing major manufacturers. A recently published MCI report on the potential of electric motorcycles as part of a UK low carbon transport strategy, revealed a need for industry to act in a positive way.

The report, titled 'Report on the Sector and Opportunities for Realising Government Objectives' was written in response to the omission of e-PTW's from the recent electric transport initiative called the 'Plug in Grant'. A key objective of the report is to brief Government on the potential for ePTW and to illustrate why is makes sense to include ePTW's in the 'Plugged in Car Grant' framework.

The report highlighted significant opportunities for the sector, such as the creation of 'ePTW city plans' and the MCI's aim of helping ensure that these opportunities are fully embraced and exploited as the industry continues to evolve as new alternative power technologies develop.

A recent Parliamentary Question (Zak Goldsmith 28th Feb) revealed that the ePTW sector currently comprises 43% of the entire fledgling electric vehicle sector. This dwarfs the e-cars sector which despite publicity and Government support comprises only 21% of the electric vehicle sector. These market figures reveal a clear potential for ePTW.
Steve Kenward, MCI CEO, said; "Despite the current low numbers of ePTWs being sold, the indications are that this sector will experience significant growth over the next few years. Socio/political pressure and environmental concerns are painting a clear road map to the future of transport and transport policy, so it is vital that the ePTW sector benefits from specific support from the established UK industry Association, in order to ensure that both new and existing ePTW players can maximise market and public policy opportunities as the motorcycle product offering evolves. This is why we are launching eMCI as a specific platform for the alternative powered sector."

Initial research has revealed that support for a new Association is significant and the eMCI project team will be contacting further key players in the ePTW sector over the coming weeks, inviting them to the first meeting of the group.  It is anticipated that membership of the group will expand quickly as business engages the ePTW sector. Government departments and a number of MPs have also expressed interest in the new initiative.
The role of the group will be to help create a single voice for the ePTW sector in the UK, both in addressing the many technical challenges faced in developing a viable low carbon transport infrastructure, and also the perception and image of ePTW's as a genuine low impact urban transport option. It is envisaged that the eMCI will also draw membership and advice from key technology and infrastructure providers in addition to manufacturers, importers and related businesses.

The MCI believes that the creation of the eMCI will give the ePTW sector appropriate support, to enable it to evolve into a strong and influential player in the development of a UK wide low carbon transport strategy, with its own voice and identity within the wider industry. 

The Heritage Motor Centre has just taken delivery of a new famous exhibit – a recreation of the DeLorean car that starred in the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Back to the Future’.

The car, which arrived on Monday 18 March, is on loan from its owner indefinitely and looks set to be a star attraction whilst on display. Although a replica from the film, the car has all the kit including the flux capacitor and the dash board is signed by Christopher Lloyd who played the original Dr Emmett “Doc” Brown in the film. The owner uses the car to raise money for charity and will be attending some of the major events at the HMC dressed up as the “Doc”, whom he incidentally closely resembles!

Amid a glare of media interest, the first DeLorean cars left the Northern Ireland factory in January 1981 built for the American market. Sales in America were disappointingly low and the company subsequently collapsed. Made famous by the Back to the Future films and infamous by the exploits of its creator, the car is like no other. Just over 9,000 were built and most are in North America. Only a handful of right-hand drive models exist, primarily in England, Ireland and Australia. The car has gullwing doors meaning the doors go up rather than out in a space no larger than 13".

Stephen Laing, Curator at the Heritage Motor Centre stated” We are delighted to have the infamous DeLorean car on loan to us from its owner. The car already caused a great stir when it arrived and I’m sure it will prove to be a very popular exhibit!”

Entry fees to the HMC Museum are: Adults £12, Child £8 (5-16 years) under 5 free, Concessions £10 & Family £34 (2 adults & up to 3 children). 

www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

As reported by some European rider organisations, the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations (FEMA) argues that, “Road users and motorcyclists in particular, have serious doubts about the objectiveness of the EU decision-making process and the actual motives and democratic values of our representatives.”  

FEMA adds, “It would not be the first time the EU has been accused of not having its actual people’s interests as a priority.” and wonders, “how long it (we assume the European decision making process) can really afford to carry on operating like this.”  

These accusations and further mutterings from FEMA concern the European Commission’s proposal to introduce mandatory Road Worthiness Testing (RWT) for motorcycles in all European member states. At this point in time there are 9 countries that do not have RWT aka MoT for motorcycles and scooters.  

Just to be clear, our position at Right to Ride is and has always been that this is a national issue and should be left to Member States to decide, which is why we support the EU Council’s position (which is similar to the Northern Ireland Assembly’s position) to change the proposal into a Directive.  

However we have also made it clear that we believe that roadworthiness testing is a valid means of ensuring that vehicles circulating on our roads are compliant from a technical and emissions perspective.  

What is the actual problem between those individuals and bodies in the European decision making process?  In response to our queries, FEMA’s President Frederic Jeorge replied that they do meet the MEPs, interact and discuss, and have plenty of them (MEPs) on their side. However, evidently the FEMA representatives in Brussels are unable to have any impact within the TRAN committee or in this case with the rapporteur Werner Kuhn and Chairman Brian Simpson. Perhaps it is the case that FEMA left it too late and should have perhaps been in contact with these people months ago when the proposal was first introduced?  

As per our previous article – RWT – Is it Toast?

We considered what we believe to be the most likely outcome, which is that due to the vast difference of positions between the EP (i.e. Rapporteur Kuhn of the TRAN Committee) and the EU Council, we find it unlikely that this proposal will see the light of day in its present form, because the majority of the Member States don’t want it (RWT) as proposed by the Commission, nor do a significant proportion of MEPs.  

Let’s hope somebody can enlighten us or get this alleged problem sorted before riders representative credibility swirls down the plug hole!  

Read the full article on Right To Ride EU