Biker News - Regularly updated

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  1. It is with sadness that we report the tragic death of Ken Chaplin, one of the Biking worlds dearest friends, who was found in his tent at the Dragon Rally, Wales on Sunday 10th February.

    A massive personality, who will be missed by many.

    The funeral procession of bikes and trikes will be leaving Ken's home address, 114 Dialstone Lane, Stockport, Cheshire, SK2 6AQ between 3:00pm - 3:30pm on Friday (22/02/13) lead by the hearse and Ken's trike. There will be outriders to help minimise any disruption of the procession.  

    The funeral service at Stockport Crematorium will start at 4:00pm and last about 45mins.  

    Ken's family have requested that there be no flowers, they would prefer donations to the NABD, collection pots will be placed in the entrance to the crematorium and at the pub later. After the funeral there will be a procession to the Town Hall Tavern in Stockport (be warned, it is a small pub and there is not much parking).

    Donations can be made in person at the funeral or by calling NABD on 0844 415 4849.

  2. Riders for Health, the official charity of MotoGP™, have added two new UK motorcycle shows to their events calendar for 2013: The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) Show,18th-19thMay, and BMF Tailend,14th-15th September, both to be held at the Peterborough Arena (formerly The East of England Show ground.

    Riders will have a stand in the new Adventure and Overland Touring area with their off-road fundraising ride to Zambia.Experience Africa is not your typical off-road motorcycle tour. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the inspiring work being done in Zambia by Riders for Health and see how motorcycles are saving lives in Africa.

    Riders for Health have also launched a new raffle for 2013 to win a free place on Experience Africa in either May or November 2014. For your chance to win this incredible prize worth £4,800, visit Riders for Health’s stand at either of the BMF Shows held at Peterborough and buy a ticket for just £1.

    Riders will also be selling raffle tickets at Carole Nash MCN Motorcycle Show,British Superbikes races, Day of Champions and the British MotoGP and World Superbike races at Silverstone. The raffle will be drawn at the BMF Tailend Show on 15th September.

    The BMF Show in May is Europe’s largest outdoor motorcycle show, with over 40,000 people expected to attend over the weekend. The Tailend Show is the end of season party for motorcyclists and traders across the country.

    Riders for Health will be joined at the BMF events by special guests and previous Experience Africa participants who will share their stories from the ride. Visit Riders’ stand in the Adventure and Overland Touring area to have a chat with the team and see a Yamaha AG200 on display. The motorcycles that are ridden on Experience Africa are the same bikes that health workers use to deliver vital health care in Zambia.

    At the BMF Show in May, there will even be the chance to sign up for an outdoor practise ride on an AG200. Ride leader Gary Taylor will talk you through the basics of riding off-road and explain why the AG200 is so perfectly suited to the harsh African terrain. Spaces will be limited for the rides so make sure you put your name down early at Riders’ stand.

    Riders have teamed up with the BMF in the hope of introducing many more people to the charities’ life-saving work. Riders for Health provide health workers in Africa with reliable motorcycles so that they can reach rural villages with vital health care on a regular basis. They teach health workers to ride safely in the difficult terrain and local men and women are trained to maintain the vehicles so that they never break down.

    www.thebmfshow.co.uk

  3. Forty years ago, the “Motor Cycles (Wearing of Helmets) Regulations 1973 (S.I., 1973, No. 180), dated 7th February 1973”, was enacted – the statutory instrument came into operation on 1st June of the same year.  

    On April 5th 1973, the order for this regulation was debated in the House of Commons, with members from either side taking opposite views. Many considered this as a gross infringement of personal liberty.  However, during World War II, Dr Hugh Cairns, a consulting neurosurgeon to the British Army, recommended mandatory helmet use for British Service dispatch riders, who carried instructions and battle reports between commanders and the front lines via motorcycles.  

    This recommendation was accepted the British Army and crash helmets became compulsory for all army motorcyclists on duty from November 1941.  

    Cairns first became concerned about helmet use after treating the war hero T. E. Lawrence  - otherwise known as Lawrence of Arabia, for a fatal head injury suffered during a 1935 motorcycle accident.  

    On 31st May 1956, a motion was introduced into the House of Commons “(Helmets to be worn by Drivers and Riders of Motorcycles). After a lengthy debate, this motion was withdrawn. 

    However, eleven years later in 1962, in the Road Traffic Bill of that year, there was proposed (on Report) a new clause to give the Minister power to make an order such as the one (wearing of helmets), that had been made and was before the House.  

    In the gallery at the House of Commons on that evening in April 1973, were motorcyclists listening carefully to the debate.  

    Enoch Powell was noted for his oratorical skills, and for being a maverick. He was a champion of this cause, his powerful intervention in the House of Commons in relation to his opposition to the compulsory wearing of helmets by motorcyclists argued in favour of individual freedom. Although he was not the only MP to oppose this regulation, he was certainly the most eloquent.  

    Moving onto the Religious Exemption of Sikhs to wear motorcycle helmets, during the debate in the House of Commons in January 1975, the MP responsible for this bill was Sydney Bidwell MP for Ealing-Southall.

    The consequence of this exemption was that one man, Fred Hill was to provide impetus to the recently formed Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) to call for the helmet law to be rescinded.  

    Fred Hill was born in Yorkshire and spent the war as a dispatch rider before becoming a Mathematics teacher after the war.  

    Ian Mutch now President for life of MAG UK wrote about Fred Hill and explained his reasons for refusing to wear a helmet and the price this 'freedom fighter' paid.  

    Forty years on, all riders (except Sikhs) are required to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle in the UK and in fact in most countries throughout the world. Generally it is accepted that in a crash scenario helmets help to prevent injuries. Few people of principle remain from those days in 1973 when the imposition of mandatory helmet use was felt to be unnecessary because the vast majority (88%) of motorcyclists wore helmets anyway and it was felt that this was an abuse of legislative power and removed the freedom of liberties.  

    The introduction of the helmet law in the UK was a defining moment for motorcycling because it established precedence for 'safety' legislation for this form of transport.  The latest of which has recently (2012) been enacted into law via the European parliament through the requirement for ABS brakes and mandatory headlights for these vehicles.  

    Trevor Baird was the General Secretary of MAG UK. He resigned in 2008 and in his farewell speech to the Annual General Conference that year, said...

    Read the full in-depth article on Right To Ride

  4. The Heritage Motor Centre is delighted to have reunited a wedding ring with its owner ten days after it went missing and amazingly still intact after its ordeal.

    Owen Burdekin, from Leighton Buzzard was visiting the HMC for his works conference on the 16 & 17 January during the heavy snow. On returning to his car he had to clear the windscreen with his hand as it was covered in snow. Only when he returned home did he realise his platinum wedding ring was missing. Realising that it must have fallen off by his car, he telephoned the HMC and explained its possible location.

    Staff from the HMC searched for the ring but there was no sign of it. Meanwhile tractors had been out in the same area clearing the snow. Dudley Carter, one of the Security Officers, kept looking out for the ring and nine days later decided to have one final look. Amazingly he discovered it lying in the car-park still intact!

    Dudley, who has worked at the HMC for 20 years, stated “I couldn’t believe it when I found the ring on the tarmac. I’m amazed that it wasn’t crushed by one of the tractors! We were delighted to phone up the owner and arrange for the ring to be reunited with him.”

    Owen Burdekin stated “This is the second time I have lost my wedding ring; the first was on a pebbled beach and I’m amazed that on both occasions it turned up against the odds! The staff at the HMC were incredibly helpful and I’m so grateful that they found it. The ring barely has a mark on it and is now being professionally polished as a special reward!”

    www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

  5. Austrian rider Horst Saiger will make his Mountain Circuit debut in June when he competes in the 2013 Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy. The vastly experienced Saiger, Swiss National Champion for the past two seasons, will contest the Superbike, Royal London 360º Superstock and Senior TT races on a 1000cc ZX-10R Kawasaki.

    Saiger, whowill run his own team with support from Kawasaki Switzerland, already has considerable road racing experience having been a regular at the Macau Grand Prix over the last few seasons, including a superb fifth place at last year's event, a career best result.

    In addition, he made a sensational debut at the 2012 North West 200 road races where he competed in the two Superstock races. Having taken a solid 16th place in the first, damp race, he really proved his road racing credentials in the second race on Saturday with a stunning 10th place and 117mph+ lap, finishing ahead of star names like Gary Johnson, Adrian Archibald, Ian Lougher and Stefano Bonetti.

    Hailing from the town of Knittelfeld, Saiger also has vast experience in the Endurance World Championship, having competed in the series for over a decade for high profile teams including YART and former TT competitors Bolliger Kawasaki. An almost ever-present in the top 8 of the Championship, Saiger's results include second overall in 2010, third in 2009 and fourth in 2004 and 2006 with podiums and numerous top five finishes at the Le Mans 24- Hour, Bol d'Or, 8 Hours of Oschersleben, 8 Hours of Qatar and 8 Hours of Albacete.

    An International rider of great pedigree, Saiger has also competed in the World Superbike Championship and at the Daytona 200 and his appearance adds further spice to the entry list and reaffirms the status, and appeal, the races again hold.

    Commenting on his TT races debut, Horst Saiger said:

    "The TT has a very large profile in Austria and Germany and I have already had lots of interest from media and fans in my debut. The Mountain Course is one of the world's most famous race circuits and I am looking forward to testing myself on the track."

    Paul Phillips, TT and Motorsport Manager, commented:

    "I'm delighted that we have secured the signature of Horst Saiger for the 2013 TT Races. He is a proven international competitor with widespread experience and a great track record. He's already shown his road racing credentials and will be an exciting addition to the 2013 line up who will, I'm sure attract a lot of interest not only in his homeland but also from TT fans around the world."