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Summer seems to be shaping up rather nicely this year, as I write this I’m on my third dose of sunburn and its only July 1st. I can’t think of any group of people who appreciate good weather as much as bikers do. The joy of a leisurely ride down leafy lanes on a sunny day has no equal in life (well, not amongst the things that are done vertically anyway).
Riding the trike back from the Farmyard Party the other week with the sun doing a lobster job on my arms reminded me of why I became a biker back in the mid seventies. (After being completely enthralled watching Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper cruising their chop’s in the sunshine in the film ‘Easy Rider’ at the cinema five times in five days I really didn’t have much choice).
A few hours after I got home from the Farmyard Party, freak weather conditions conspired to send a raging flood through the valley where only twelve hours earlier 10,000+ bikers had been snoring their way towards the traditional Farmyard Party, Sunday morning hangover. It really doesn’t bear thinking about the carnage that would have occurred if the storm had been on Saturday night. As it was several of the event marshals had to be airlifted to safety by helicopter.
As my ride in the sun had reminded me of the joy of being a biker, the scenes of devastation around Helmsley, on the news the following morning, served to remind me that life is just a lottery and you have to grab every bit of joy you can before your number is up.
In a way I suppose that sums up the purpose of the NABD. It’s about enabling people to experience the joy of life through the joy of biking. It’s sometimes all too easy to dwell on the negative aspects of life, and this only serves to make the world a slightly more miserable place. The trick is to concentrate on those moments of exhilaration and joy in whatever form they take. Next time you’re out on your bike, trike, scooter or combo, take a look at the miserable looking people in the cars and on the buses, take a deep breath and shout, at the top of your voice, Yes! I guarantee you will feel a moment of pure joy that will last all day if you let it (I find it works even better if you have one fist raised and the middle finger fully extended).
Sorry! I seem to have gone on one there! It’s amazing what my typing finger comes up with when I’m not paying attention. Anyway let’s get on with business, now where was I.......
You’ve Been Nabbed 14:
The NABD National Rally back in May was a resounding success with over 2,100 people turning up for an excellent weekend where even the weather was on our side. (See report and photos pages 14 - 18). Once again we managed to show that top quality entertainment and good facilities (not to mention cheap beer) can be put on without charging the earth for it. Last year the national rally made a tremendous profit of just over £11,000.00, this year with more entertainment (and without increasing prices) we have raised a staggering £25,000.00 profit (every penny of which has gone into NABD funds, nobody is paid for their work on the rally). I am already looking forward to next year with You’ve Been Nabbed 15 on 12th-14th of May 2006. Of course you don’t have to wait that long to enjoy a top quality NABD event....
Autumn Nabd’ness 5:
Once again Lord Rotherwick has kindly invited us to hold the Autumn Nabd’ness rally in the beautiful surroundings of his estate at Cornbury Park at Charlebury in Oxfordshire on September 9th - 11th.
This event has been getting better every year. It has a distinctly different flavour to the You’ve Been Nabbed events though there are quite a few similarities (like value for money, excellent entertainment, cheap beer etc). Last year we experimented with a small ‘Real Ale’ bar in addition to the customary can bar. This year the real ale bar will be much better stocked (I’ve even been promised a nice dark mild to stop me moaning). In addition we have some brilliant bands, loads of stuff for the kids, hovercraft rides and the Mirages Lap Dancing Club will be joining us following their success at You’ve been Nabbed 14. As always we are looking for stouthearted folk to come along and help marshal the event. What would be really nice is affiliated clubs putting together teams of marshals (as did the brilliant Black Knights MCC from Radcliffe at You’ve Been Nabbed 14). Volunteers are not expected to give up all of the rally, just a few hours per day can make all the difference. If you feel up to helping out, just see Juley at event control when you arrive. Personally I’ll be working the bar all weekend so I suspect I’ll see most of you at some point.
There should be a flyer for the event in this magazine so once you have the details take the flyer to your local bike shop or pub and ask them nicely if they will display it somewhere prominent. See you at Cornbury Park.....
New NABD Patron:
It has been quite some time since we invited anybody to become an official Patron of the NABD. This is not because there is any shortage of notable people willing to lend their patronage to charities. It is because we believe that NABD patrons should have a tangible link with the work of the NABD either through motorcycling or disability.
The latest recruit to this exclusive group is Lord Rotherwick, host of the autumn Nabd’ness rally (and a dead nice bloke). A keen biker himself, Lord Rotherwick has featured much in the motorcycle press over the last twelve months due to his prominent stand in the House of Lords on the issue of Diesel Spills and the danger they pose to the lives of bikers and other road users. Lord Rotherwick has followed the development of the NABD closely over the past five or six years and was very pleased to accept our invitation to become our newest NABD Patron.
Motability:
Over the past two years we have had many encouraging promises from Motability about the imminent inclusion of Bikes and Trikes on the Motability scheme. However they have now reneged on all that they said and have decided that it would not be ‘financially viable’ to include bikes and trikes on the scheme.
My own personal belief is that they are unwilling to do it because it would mean doing something new and Motability is unable to contemplate the idea that disabled people should have a choice in the form of transport they use. Whichever way you look at this it is blatant discrimination.
Our next plan is to set up a scheme with an established finance house where disabled riders can get higher purchase agreements for bikes and trikes using DLA. Once this is done I intend to throw it back in the faces of the Motability Trustees with the question ‘If we can do it why can’t you?’ The campaign to get bikes and trikes included on Motability is by no means over! Now we take the gloves off!
NABD Merchandise:
Over the past twelve months we have expanded the merchandise range offered by the NABD to include two new styles of T-shirts and a camisole top, each sporting new style NABD logos. (The latest is a sleaveless T-shirt with the celtic style logo, but we don’t have any photos yet) In addition to this we have two new designs of stickers. We experimented briefly with NABD pennants but these have proven uneconomical at present. The usual caps, T-shirts, sweatshirts, bandannas, and jackets are still selling steadily and sales of the new merchandise are being monitored closely to see how the new lines sell. (See page 29 for mail order details).
Poorly Folk:
A couple of months ago John Lance (North Wiltshire Rep) had a leg amputated following a long series of unsuccessful attempts at fixing it. Last week I had a call informing me that he had suffered a heart attack at home while recovering from the amputation. The good news is that he is ‘on the mend’. John has been a stalwart campaigner for the NABD over recent years and he will continue to do what he can but he feels unable to continue holding the post of an official NABD representative.
Similarly Tony Conquest (Suffolk Rep) has suffered a downturn in health and has reluctantly decided that he is unable to do justice to the post of official NABD representative.
I offer our thanks to both of these good men for having had the commitment to get involved and for the work they have one as rep’s. I know both will continue to support the NABD in whatever way their health will allow.
John Lysons (National Publicity Co-ordinator) suffered a broken leg and a number of lesser injuries yesterday when a bus smashed him off his bike on a roundabout (all too damned common if you ask me). John will undoubtedly be laid up for a couple of months but he will continue with his excellent publicity work from home as best he can.
Cards and messages for any of these poorly folk can be sent via the NABD office.
Terry Poole RIP:
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Terry (Weeble) Poole on the morning of Sunday 19th of June. Terry (who had been an NABD Rep for several years) passed away peacefully in his tent at the Pissheads MCC’s Pickled Liver Rally. It was Terry’s favourite rally and he had been partying with his closest friends before retiring merrily drunk for the night. I’m sure Terry would have said there are worse ways to go. Our thoughts and condolences go to his family and friends.
NABD Prize Draw:
Tickets for the 1100cc Spectre Trike are selling well. You should have received two books of tickets with the last issue of Open House, if you haven’t returned the ticket stubs (including name, address & phone number) I would urge you to do it now before you forget. ‘You have to be in it to win it’ as they say and this in a really nice looking trike which runs like a dream. If you would like more tickets to sell to your friends or work colleagues give Shirley a ring at the office and she’ll send you some.
NABD Honours 2005:
Each year at the national rally, three special awards are made by the NABD to recognise the outstanding support and/or dedication people have shown to the association.
The Sara Russell Award is presented to an individual who has shown consistent dedication to supporting the aims of the NABD. (This is open to anybody except Rep’s and committee members). This year the award went to Paul Blacklock (known to many as Trike Paul from Stockport, and to others as ‘that barmy bugger with the trike from the 1st World War’) for the immense amount of engineering work he has done for the NABD not to mention his efforts on NABD stalls and voluntary work at events. He received an engraved trophy and a card, which entitles him and a guest to free entry to all future NABD events.
The George Hampson Trophy is awarded to the club or group who have shown the most consistent support over the past twelve months. This year it went to The Virago Star Owners Club, for their numerous fundraising efforts on behalf of the NABD. They receive an engraved trophy and their name is added to the winners on the main trophy, which is kept by the NABD.
The Chairman’s Award is the only one of these awards which isn’t awarded by the national committee as this award is to recognise the outstanding achievement of an individual NABD official (which includes committee members and rep’s). Although the recipient is chosen by the chairman alone I think it fair to say that the committee have always agreed with the choice of recipient. The Chairman’s Award for 2005 went to Rose Fitton for her tireless work in organising NABD stalls for events, running the national NABD stall, delivering and collecting the ‘learner loaner’ bikes, collecting donated vehicles, running NABD Helmet Parks at numerous shows, helping to organise the NABD merchandise, and putting up with the chairmans waffling when he gets drunk at rallies. Rosie received an engraved trophy and the admiration of all who have seen her in action. A well-deserved accolade I’m sure you’ll agree.
Well that’s about my lot boys and girls. I’ve just got to finish this issue and send it off to those good folk at News International then I can start getting my stuff together for the Back Street Heroes ‘Run in the Sun’ to Faro.
Two weeks in Spain and Portugal in the company of some excellent bikers .......the sun.....the beer......the gorgeous women.....the beer.......the mountains......the beer.....the plains.....the beer.......the Piella....the beer....the Faro Rally......and ohhh the beer!
I think I see a pattern forming here?
Here’s wishing you all a great summer for biking!
Adios Amigos.
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