BMW Club Oxford Section Report for October 2016
The section seem to have tried to be everywhere over the last month with some riding across Europe and others attending events and rides closer to home, even as far as Norfolk!
The Section was honoured on the 11th September to be led out into the wilds of the Wiltshire Downs by our esteemed President, Mike Warrilow accompanied by his good lady, Peta. As Geoff Clough said “We wound our way over the hills via the Hackpen White Horse to Marlborough, then Fyfield and over the top following the most amazing road into the Vale of Pewsey. The views were magnificent as we descended. We passed more white horses carved into the chalk hillside before pausing for refreshment at Devizes Wharf (with highly recommended coffee and cakes!). The return took us along the Vale of Pewsey to Burbage followed by a route along the back of Savernake Forest. We finished just outside Hungerford having thoroughly enjoyed some spectacular roads not previously travelled”. As Geoff and the riders said “many thanks to Mike and Peta for organising such an interesting ride”, which we all endorse.
Some members ventured much further on a trip to Lake Como between the 13th & the 20th September. As Gill Mossman said “Had a great time, relaxing, boat trips, ride outs to San Bernadino Pass and the Balcony of Ital, good food and great company with sunshine to start and finish. Thanks to all who made it such a good holiday, especially Rob Allin for organising and Brian & Lillian Garforth for leading the rides”. A fine base hotel on the shores allowed ride outs each day to the many sights in the area before having to return to Blighty.
A different kind of event, but one which I can fully endorse is the Kop Hill Climb that took place near Princess Risborough over the weekend of the 17th & 18th September.
Geoff Clough provided the following “A ride led By Frank Butler from the ‘H’ Café had a wondrous journey to the Kop Hill Climb event at Princess Risborough taking in hills, valleys, towns and villages. Not exactly the quickest way there but then that isn’t really the object of the runs”. Having parked amongst the huge throng of bikes there was the choice of watching the vehicles roaring up the hill from the vantage points of the stand, the free farm wagons or just peering over the hedge if you are tall enough, or wandering round the paddock area. Both are fascinating with bikes and cars of all ages on show and some doing demonstration runs.
On the same weekend some hardy members rode down to the Sorebutts Rally near Ilfracombe, Devon and seemed to have fun in the sun. As Phil Carter said “Great ride out, glorious sunshine, scenic coastal route, back lanes, hairpins and more”. The run was organised by John Ottaway who commented that “It was a small group of ‘effervescent souls’ who rallied for this one (mostly GSers). A trip down in good weather with sunshine all week end. We drank in the local pubs and the Western Section were fantastic company supplying fish and chips for Friday and a BBQ on the Saturday. The event included ride outs, bingo, quiz, boules, raffle, music, teas and conversation. Wow what a performance! Paul, Jen and the team pulled out all the stops to produce a fantastic event”. They said they all enjoyed it so much that they agreed to go next year, ‘so it must have been good.
The end of the month had two trips for people to go on with one to the British Super Bike racing at Assen where members saw some very close racing. Leon Haslam just beat ‘Shaky’ Byrne to the line. The other was the weekend in the County of Norfolk arranged by Rosemary Hicks who said “8 bikes and 9 people left Barnard’s Green with a stop for coffee on the way and lunch in Blessings Garden Centre where we were joined by Ian Dobie and Ray Cawte”. The hotel proved to be very good catering for 30 members in total and Rosemary continued “Saturday the weather was good and some went on the North Norfolk railway with David Shanks and then on to Cromer for lunch. They met up with Frank Butler and Bob Mack who took over to lead them to a motorcycle museum via the railway we had just come from!”. I understand that Bob programmed his GPS to the museum without putting his glasses on and so they ended up back at the railway! On the Sunday 17 members went to the Broads; this should have been 18 but Nick Digwall had a puncture as they left, which is a story in itself. They hired three motor boats out on the Broads and just had to try to race each other of course but the engines were governed to the speed limit! It was agreed to use the riding “Drop off System” but, even at the slow speed they were sailing at, they still lost one of the boats. The members returned home on the Monday individually and Dave Shanks, Geoff Clough, Ian Hartley and Martin Skennerton took the opportunity to stop off at the excellent museum at Duxford. This being the second time the section members had been to Duxford as one of the Short Notice Rides (SNR) went there on the 6th September. The American Museum has been completely refurbished and is definitely worth seeing alone. These SNRs are proving very popular with quite a few during the last few weeks. One trip to The Honey Café at Bronllys, Brecon followed the usual excellent ride in search of good food, which those attending did indeed find. Another SNR on the 2nd October took in that superb museum at Sammy Millers in the New Forest where anyone who has been will know that it is difficult to take everything in on one visit.
One other fairly spontaneous trip organised by John Ottaway had a band of members exploring the Lake District back on the 3rd September. They even took in a visit to the now famous, thanks to Wallace & Gromit, Wensleydale cheese factory. This gives me the obvious line to complete this report of “A Grand Day Out”!
More cheese Gromit?
John L Broad
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