Monday 9th February
7:15pm for 7:45
Meeting: Sergeant Rob Heard from Hampshire Constabulary's Road Safety Department will be speaking about the Older Drivers Forum, see opposite.

Monthly Ride-Outs
Remember that monthly Bike Ride-Outs take place on the 3rd Saturday of every month. 

Monthly meetings are all held at Liddington Village Hall opposite the church.

We are always looking for more articles, ideas and news for the newsletter. Have you been somewhere interesting recently that would make a good story? If you attend any group events then take a camera and send us your pictures!

Please forward all contributions to newsletter@wiltshireroadar.co.uk

 

We still have seven spaces available for the LGV/HGV Driving Experience on Saturday 20th June. This will take place at Allied Driving School at Netherhampton, near Salisbury, where you will get the opportunity to experience life behind the wheel of large vehicles. Instruction will be given in an articulated lorry, two 18 tonne box lorries and two cars with trailers. The cost of this morning will be £26 including lunch. Expect our visit to last for approximately four hours. We can only run this event if we can fill the available spaces. Please contact Monica to reserve your place.

On the 9th February, Rob Heard, a Road Safety Sergeant from Hampshire Constabulary, will be attending our meeting at Liddington Village Hall to speak about the Older Driver's Forum. This has been set up to raise awareness of problems that effect older drivers and to give support and advice to those when it is time to stop driving. We may all, at some time or another, have to face the dilemma of encouraging elderly friends and family to stop driving so please come and support this evening.

Wiltshire RoADAR Survey

A BIG thank you to all those who took the time to fill in the recent survey! We're in the process of analysing everyone's answers, and considering what actions should be taken. We will publish the results as soon as this is complete.

National RoADAR Membership

Some members still seem to be a little confused about the difference between membership of Wiltshire RoADAR and membership of the national RoADAR organisation.

When you join our group you pay our joining fee (which is currently £30 if you are over 25) and this pays for one year's membership of Wiltshire RoADAR only. This includes the cost of all your training drives/rides for that year. At the end of the year you must pay your annual Wiltshire RoADAR renewal subscription (currently £17 per year) in order to remain a member of our group. Note that we try to bring everyone's renewal into line with the October AGM during your second year of membership so we may ask you to pay a reduced fee to cover a partial year's membership in the second year only.

When you are ready to apply for your RoSPA Advanced Driving/Riding Test, you must send the application form off together with your test fee. We ask that our members submit their forms via our group as the group receives a small payment for each test form we forward on to national RoADAR. They receive and process the application form and test fee, and you should then hear from the Examiner within a few weeks to arrange your test date. The fee that is sent with the test application form pays for the cost of your test as well as for your first year's membership of the national RoADAR organisation.

On completion of your test you will be issued with a green 'Test Record Card' by the examiner which will show your grading. A few weeks after your test you should also receive your test report in the post. Please let Monica know if you do not receive this and she will chase this up with national RoADAR for you.

One year after your initial test, your national membership renewal becomes due and you must pay the national yearly subscription fee in order to remain a member of the national RoADAR organisation. You will normally be sent a letter informing you when this is due, and this will include a direct debit form if you wish to pay in this way. Remember that this is entirely separate from the Wiltshire RoADAR renewal subscription.

Three years after your test, when your first re-test is due, you will be sent a form which you must complete and return in order to book your re-test. No further payment needs to be sent with this form as the cost of re-tests is included within your national RoADAR subscription fee. The Examiner will contact you again in order to arrange your re-test date.

To summarise, we would expect all our members to pay two renewal fees each year - one to us (Wiltshire RoADAR) and one to the national RoADAR organisation.

National RoADAR fees

The cost of national RoADAR subscriptions, together with the test fees have now increased. The new prices are as follows:

RoADAR Yearly subscription:
Car £25.00
Bike £25.00
Dual car/bike membership £25.00

Initial Test Fees:
Car, aged 26 years and over £55.00
Car, aged 25 years and under £45.00
Bike, aged 26 years and over £61.00
Bike, aged 25 years and under £51.00

Members who pay their subscription by direct debit will have the amount automatically updated to reflect the new prices. If anyone pays their subscription fees by standing order then they will need to adjust the amount paid themselves.

Trixi Mirrors

Trixi Mirrors are large mirrors attached to traffic lights that are an aid to allow drivers of large vehicles to see cyclists and vulnerable road users to the nearside. They have proved popular in London and are now spreading throughout the country. Not sure if there are any in Wiltshire yet, but expect to see them soon!

Chris Gleed

Motogymkhana

What is Motogymkhana?

I want to tell you about a new way to enjoy your motorcycle in the UK. Motogymkhana is a motorcycle sport that is affordable and exciting. It requires riders to turn tightly, use rapid acceleration and firm braking around a challenging course. It is a very low risk motor sport because only one rider at a time is allowed on the course and the average speed is very low. It’s also a very low budget sport as only road bikes are allowed using road tyres. Almost any bike is capable. I have used a ZRX1100, Bandit 1200, GSX400 and Wolf 250, they were all suitable. It doesn’t seem to matter if you have a 125cc or a 1200. However, a Captain American chopper might be a bit too long!!!

Motogymkhana started in Japan thirty years ago and is designed to improve a rider's skill and ability. New riders will feel the benefits on the road and usually report back an immediate confidence boost in the ‘front end grip’ of their motorcycle. It also brings people together to explore what their bikes can do in a safe and organised environment.

I have been competing in the UK Championship for two years and it has been immense fun. Motogymkhana is very challenging and rewarding. I particularly enjoy the sense of speed and the friendly but competitive atmosphere. At the moment I am restoring an old Honda NSR250 for the 2015 series which begins in March. I would like to run a taster session for RoSPA riders in Spring.

Please feel free to ask questions and voice your interest: robfox@wheelsworkshop.org

www.motogymkhana.org

Rob Fox