BMW Club Oxford Section Report for March 2019
Change of Venue
With immediate effect the pub social based at the Red Lion, Evenley, Nr Brackley, NN13 5SH has moved to: –
Rose and Crown, Main St, Charlton, Banbury OX17 3DP
March 7th SNR to The Bear at Hungerford – Steve Moxey
A good turnout on the Glorious Revolution SNR and lunch at the Bear Inn. Weather was sun and showers with quite strong winds. We followed an interesting route visiting Littlecote House Park, Savernake and back roads to the Costa at Solstice Services, which was VERY busy. Returning via Bulford Camp we followed a training APV and then passed along the Fair Mile to return to the Bear Inn at Hungerford for a good lunch
March 10th – Uffington Village Hall – Gemma from RoSPA Advanced Motorcyclists
We had good weather today for the Uffington Village Hall meeting albeit a little windy. A dedicated of enthusiasts turned up on bikes and in cars and the new projector and screen where wheeled out, a very impressive and powerful projector!! Gemma from RoSPA had travelled from Winchester to give the presentation which focused on the Police Roadcraft methodology ISPGA.
Gemma gave a very interactive presentation, inviting comments from the audience and about the threats and incident avoidance, everyone joined in very enthusiastically, obviously a lot of members have been trained or are aware of advanced riding which is very reassuring.
Gemma’s observations were reinforced with videos showing motorcycle accidents and near misses, together with “observations” (read micky taking) of some of the riding techniques previously employed by our social secretary Dave Tomlinson, who has recently undertaken the RoSPA training.
Many thanks again to Gemma from the Thames Valley section of RoSPA for taking the time and trouble to come along and talk to us, she has also generously waived her travel expenses for the benefit of the Air Ambulance charity……
March 12th– Diamond Light Source – Tim Bolderston
We all had a great visit to the Diamond Light Source at Harwell on Tuesday. There was a presentation explaining what the DLS is, how it works and the results of the experiments. Then we went for a tour around the synchrotron building and because it was switched off we could go inside and see the magnets and vacuum pumps. We also saw one of the experimental control rooms.To answer one obvious question: it is called the Diamond Light Source because it generates a lot of bright hard X-rays (amongst other electromagnetic radiation) rather than because it produces visible light.
Many thanks to Catherine Moxey for organising the visit.
March 15 – 17thBournemouth Spring Break – Dave Shanks
After a break of a few years it was decided to go for a weekend break again at the Collingwood Hotel in Bournemouth 15th– 16thMarch.
The week leading up to the 15th finally settled down to a forecast of high winds and gales Saturday being the worst day so two wheels were left tucked up in ones garage.
The hotel is now in the Best Western group and had a revamp since the sections last visit. Having settled in washed dressed it was time to retire to the bar for a sample of the local ale called “Piddle” prior to having the evening meal. After our excellent three course meal we then retired to the bar to sample the evenings entertainment (no more Piddle)that made a pleasant end to the day.
Saturday was Geoff Clough’s birthday so he was regaled by club members and hotel staff with the usual refrain on entering the breakfast room wearing a large badge proclaiming his Birthday. After breakfast we all did our own thing one of which was a visit to Ringwood Brewery that is well worth a visit.
Saturday evenings meal had to taken early to have us fed and watered by 1945hrs as a Birthday party of 150 persons was due to start at 2000hrs. This put the spanner in the works re rugby match for the second half viewing as TV in bar area that we could not use re party. But that did not stop our Geoff Clough being presented with a lovely Chocolate Birthday Cake with a number 6 and 9 blazing away to mark his day thanks to Claire, Derek’s daughter for her kind thoughts.
The hotel looked after us with a consolation drink and waiter service re not being able to use the bar when we retired to the lounge. After re arranging the furniture we then had a good old chin wag, coffee or tea and a chunk of cake then to bed to refresh for the journey home on Sunday morning.
March 24th– Lunch The Jolly Boatman – Steve Moxey
Good lunch at the Jolly Boatman today many thanks to Dave and Rosemary Hicks for organising. A reasonable number of motorcycles today in the nice weather
Sat Nav Event – Steve Moxey
BMW Navigator V,VI Top Tips guides available so that members can get a copy for a £5 donation to Thames Valley Air Ambulance and £1.50 postage, a very good cause to support
Future Events: January 2019 / April 2019
May 12thRide out: Whitchurch Silk Mill guided tour and cream tea. Rosemary
Hicksrosemaryhicks@hotmail.com
May 17th– 19thWeekend Break: Hotel in Ludlow, ride out to Central and West Wales. Carl Flint cerfsky@sky.com
May 26thRide out: Bike Shed 2019. Meet 8am Peartree services OX12 8JZ, travel to breakfast at the Ace Café Tobacco Quay, Wapping Ln, London E1W 2SF. Chris Bondchris.bond@bmwoxford.comCANCELLED
May 31st– 2 June Lechlade Camping Weekend: Bridge House Camp Site Lechlade GL73AG. www.bridgehousecampsite.co.uk Dave Hawkins01993 850862 or maddave02@hotmail.co.uk
June 9thRIDE OUT: To Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes Steve Moxey steve.moxey@bmwoxford.com
June 15th– 22ndOxford Section Austrian Trip– Hotel Weisseespitze contact: Martin Skennerton martinsken@hotmail.com
June 24thCassington Bike Night:John Broad john.broad85@talktalk.net
July 1stLudgershall Bike Night: Section stand Dave & Rosemary Hicks rosemaryhicks@hotmail.com
July 6th– 7thACU / BMF Rally, Carterton Checkpoint. Ian Dobie ian.dobiesnr@btinternet.com
July 7thRIDE OUT:Mystery Tour Andy Byatt andrew.byatt@icloud.com
July 9thUpton (previously W. Hagbourne) Bike Night: Section stand – Graham Chapple gjchapple@googlemail.com
July 14thRIDE OUT:Mystery Tour, Mike Barnard mike@glebe-farm.co.uk
July 27thCalne Bike Event:Section stand – John Russ john.russ1942@gmail.com
Don’t forget to make a note of the dates from the trifold calendar that you wish to attend into your diaries, we will also be updating the website regularly and posting on Facebook.
Here’s to safe riding and some good weather.
Dave Tomlinson
dave.tomlinson@bmwoxford.com
or check the website at bmwcluboxford.com
& https://www.facebook.com/groups/bmwoxford/.
