Dates For Your Diary
Monthly meetings are normally held on the second Monday of every month at Liddington Village Hall, opposite the church.
First Aid course
Being planned for post COVID-19 - more to follow
Skillshare
To be advised depending on COVID-19
Remember that monthly Bike Ride-Outs usually take place on the 3rd Saturday of every month. Check the Forum for details.
Ride-outs are cancelled at the moment.
|
Do you have a topic you would like discussed, or know of an interesting speaker? Please contact Les Brown! |
Congratulations
Congratulations to the following members who have passed their Advanced Tests recently:
Tests are on hold
Welcome
Please welcome the following to the Group:
Toby Davidson - Bike |
Don’t forget that we have a range of clothing available to purchase. We also offer a range of books, such as Roadcraft, Motorcycle Roadcraft and the Highway Code, and these are available at discounted prices.
For more information visit the Merchandise page of our web site at www.wiltshireroadar.co.uk. |
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're now on
Facebook
AND
Twitter! |
| |
Welcome to a shortened April Newsletter. There has not been much going on and until we have the programme for the end of the lock down there is little point of planning for the short term and the longer term is uncertain as well. I think it is safe to assume our activities are not high on the Government’s essential list so we wait and see when we can return to normality (whatever this will be). I can see motorcycle tutoring starting before car tutoring due to social distancing protocols and we may have a rush due to more volunteers to be blood bikers. We will have to temper all we do with the individual needs of our members who have to manage their own health and safety.
The Committee is meeting Virtually (some new IT skills for some, well me!) and we will keep you informed as and when we come up with plans – if you have any ideas or concerns please do get in touch.
This is a difficult time for all of us and we are having to adapt our own way of life. Whilst many of us are not driving or riding as much as usual if you are at a loose end please do not forget to keep up your knowledge of Roadcraft and the Highway code. We will all need a little time to revise our skills when this is over so please be aware of this and do not expect skills to be at the same level as when the lock down started. We are looking to see what we can do to help those who need a refresher.
Lots of events have fallen by the wayside already and I have confirmation of the following cancellations and postponements (a sad list I might add):
Our Monthly and any other meetings on hold until further notice.
All tutoring on hold until further notice.
3 May Regional Meeting in Gloucester is postponed.
May trip to Cornwall postponed to 2021
Camping trip to Black Cock Inn – on hold until after lockdown.
Calne Bike meet in July (will be held in 2021).
Gary Franks Racing (helping us promote the Group) is on hold.
Wiltshire Police BikeSafe is on hold until further notice.
First aid course postponed.
In the meantime, please stay safe and healthy and I look forward to seeing you on the other side of all this shenanigans in whatever the new normal looks like.
Regards
Bob Fram
Chairman
|
HQ have issued a survey for Care on the Road - if you have received this survey please do respond. If you missed it here is the link to the survey; it closese on 30 Jun
|
Group Meetings and look ahead
This Year’s Speakers
Thanks to Les for organising our guest speakers.
Meeting are on hold unitl we have detail on the easing of the Lockdown - please bear with us
New Speakers
Les is working hard to fill the rest of the year’s speakers if you have any ideas please let him know at speakers@wiltshireroadar.co.uk
|
Promotional activities
Events on hold unitl further notice
BikeSafe
We will be supporting Wiltshire Police with BikeSafe this year both with tutors to make up the instructor numbers and to help promote the Group. We do this in conjunction with WABAM so it is a great way to reinforce advanced riding and to gather new members.
RoDAR RACING
Unfortunately, no racing or testing until the COVID-19 Motorsport suspension is lifted. So, its's looking like there will be no racing until the end of June!
Follow the car's progress on Facebook @Driven Ohm Racing.
Look forward to hearing and discussing your ideas.
Presentation material
A generic set of slides has been created for use if you are asked about Wiltshire RoADAR and have the opportunity to present. This could be at a local club, workplace etc. Please send a mail to committee@wiltshireroadar.co.uk and the slides will be sent over to you.
We also have flyers and business cards so ask for these via the same means
|
Have you been up to anything to do with Riding or Driving lately? If so, then please let us know as we would love to include it here; photos would be great too!
|
We had a camping trip organised, to the Black Cock Inn on Exmoor in April. The invite is for all members, car and bikers alike. We will organise a similar trip later in the year once COVID-19 has passed.
Following a couple of enjoyable camping weekend trips last year, we plan to repeat the exercise using the tried and trusted formula.
-
Identify a camp site near a pub - it's the law ok!
We have identified a pub with a camp site. Or is that a camp site with a pub? Right on Exmoor’s Doorstep, The Black Cock Inn Offers Scenic camping.
Travel down on Friday. Gentlemen or ladies, of leisure can choose to take an extended route on Friday afternoon. It is close enough for the gainfully employed to travel after work.
We'll ride a full day Saturday route/ locations TBD.
Sunday we'll pack up and take a scenic route home.
Feel free to join for all or just part of the weekend. You can eat and drink in the pub or at your tent.
|
First Aid Training - Planning ongoing, COVID-19 dependant
It is intended to provide a first aid training day (subsidised by the Group). This is highly recommended for all tutors as part of our responsibilities for the safety of our associates but also an excellent skill for all of us; you never know when you will need it. It is compulsory training for me at work and one of my colleagues saved her husband’s life as she had first aid training.
This will probably be on a Saturday as soon as we can after the lockdown; we have 15 already interested s. Watch this space for more (we will communicate with those who have registered an interest directly). It is not too late to register interest (this does not commit you) so email the Chairman if you wish to be included
Media coordinator - Help us to broaden our reach
To help promote the group we have a variety of online media platforms, FaceBook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter. To help make the most out of the opportunities that these outlets provide, we could use some help from someone who has experience of using such tools. Drop me a line at secretary@wiltshireroadar.co.uk if you would be interested in helping promote our group.
Any Spare Motorcycle clothing?
The Blue Knights England 18 Young rider safety initiative started as the result of comments made about seeing young riders on the roads dressed inappropriately. We've all seen the young L plated riders - shorts, T shirt, trainers and we've all commented on it; but the question remained-Why are they dressed like this?
So, with this in mind contact was made with a Devon based training college called PETROC that has campus sites at Barnstaple and Tiverton. Conversation with the young riders there revealed mopeds and 125's were transport to and from college for these riders as there were no other options available. In most cases, extended family members e.g. grandparents, had purchased the bikes and a helmet, insurance and MOT quite often funded by parents or aunts and uncles. Disposable money being limited meant jackets, gloves, leggings etc just could not be afforded. We found that it wasn't unusual for these young riders to be covering 20 to 45 mile round trips daily to attend college in all weathers, totally ill protected against the elements.
A collection of unwanted but still serviceable motorcycling clothing was made in my chapter and in September 2018 we attended the freshers’ week at the Barnstaple campus, this resulted in us kitting out 26 young riders.
Since then we have received further donations from local MC clubs. The only thing that we do not take is previously used helmets as we cannot prove their provenance.
We continue to engage with these young riders who have shown us they know they should be wearing kit, they understand the importance of doing so and they genuinely are appreciative of receiving donated items. We receive positive feedback from the riders, the parents, other motorcycle riders and other clubs.
We would not be able to offer this service if it were not for the generosity of fellow bikers for which we are extremely grateful. Please could members contact Andrew Peaple if they have any kit spare, they are willing to donate.
Thank you
|
Skillshare - First Saturday of Every Month, depending on Lockdown restrictions and running up to and including October 2020
No Skillshare in May.
We will continue with our two location SkillShare this year utlising the first Saturday of every month from April to October. Please do spread the word and direct people to the website to register.
|
Committee minutes
|
These are available from the Group Secretary if any member wishes to see them. If you are interested in reading the minutes, then please send a mail to the Group Secretary whom will promptly forward them onto you.
Forum
Please could all Members use the Forum on the Website which can be used for any purpose but particularly coordinating events, hints, tips and general conversation. It is easy to register on the website so please do log on and chat away.
Test results
Reminder to let the Membership Secretary and your tutor know when you have taken your Advanced Driving/Riding Test and result. This is so our database is kept up to date; there is no need or pressure at all to have the result published on the website or in this newsletter if you wish to keep your result confidential.
|
|
RoADAR Head Office Facebook Page |
| |
