January 2010

 

Newsletter
 

 

 

Happy New Year (and decade) to you all

 

AGM Next month ( February)

As required by our rules (and new posh constitution) notice that the Tay Valley NOC AGM will be on club night next month (February) Please let me know if you have anything you want to bring up before hand and I’ll put it in the Agenda.

 

Weather

Well we have had a bit of weather lately snow, snow and more snow and with temperatures in parts of Scotland getting down to below minus 20 Deg Celsius, it has kind of curtailed motorcycling activities for now. The usual frostbite run organised by the Lothians and Borders Classic club was a casualty as was the Snow far Rally last weekend. The postponement of the Rally was a big disappointment to me as I was really looking forward to it and as it happened last Sunday almost all the snow and ice on the roads disappeared and I managed my first run of the year. I can’t remember the last time it took until the 17th of January to be able to get out there on the bike but if these winters are going to be what we have to expect for the next while then I’ll have to see about building a “winter” Norton with scrambles tyres I think. Here’s hoping the worst is behind us although I suspect not.

 

Spain

As we have had such a cold start to the year hopefully like me you will all have made a resolution to ride your bikes even more in 2010, the International Rally in Spain is coming along nicely and details are now released, those of you who get this by E mail will already have been sent the booking form and details. Some further clarification, for the UK guys wanting to use the Portsmouth – Santander ferry and get the 10% discount, it will only be available for the return trip on the stated dates (Depart :  11.00 Wednesday 7th July 2010 (arrives 12.00 Thursday 8th July)

Return

Departs : 16.30 Monday 12th July 2010 (arrives 17.00 Tuesday 12th July) )

Contact for the Club block booking is Ken Rawlinson and from communication I received from him the club have booked a block of 30 riders and 10 passengers, after that allocation is taken up then direct booking with Brittany ferries ( www.Brittany-Ferries.co.uk  ) is still possible via their rep Sharon Alexander – Tel : 01752 635320

BUT be warned the longer you leave it the more expensive it gets.

The rally looks like its been well organised and although the fees seem a bit high when you look at what you get for your money it isn’t too bad. The contact for booking (using the form I sent last week or the one from Roadholder ) is ken_rawlinsonATlineone.net (replace the AT with @ ,this is to stop spammers picking up on the address when its published on the net)

I’m taking the long way down via Belgium & France and I think a few of the other Scots are thinking of doing the same, my offer to coordinate the travel arrangements still stand so get in touch if you’re thinking of going and we can get together, soon is the keyword here guys! July will be upon us before you know it!

I can feel the sun on my back already!

 

 

 

Club Website

The main club website has been updated (at long last) and is worth a look www.nortonownersclub.org

 

 

Events

 

The Tay Valley NOC Summer camping weekend

We have been asked to re run our Applecross weekend but I feel that last year was so good trying to recreate it so soon would be a disappointment. We are though looking at running a weekend possibly in the Braemar area (If its good enough for the Royal family for their holidays it may be good enough for us!) I’ll keep you all posted on that one, potential dates are, May 21st 22nd 23rd, July 30th 31st 1st Aug, September 10th 11th 12th.

 

Sidecar & Classic rally 28th – 30th of May 2010

Once again Norrie Milton has invited us to this meeting at Glen Clova at the end of May. An excellent opportunity for you camping virgins to enjoy a good weekend not too far from home and can I just say if your Norton can’t make it that far then you must be a failure as a mechanic! Be there or be talked about!

 

Norton revival

Once again many pages of praise for the rebirth of Norton in Roadholder and I got an E mail from them telling me they will be exhibiting at the MCN London Excel Show, from the 4th February through to the 7th February 2010.

Also in the E mail was “You will have the opportunity to meet the Norton team as well as the newly appointed UK sales manager, Chris 'The Stalker' Walker, who can
talk you through the bikes spec, prices, options, delivery etc. Orders
can also be placed at the show, ready for delivery in time for the Summer 2010 (???).

I thought Stalking was illegal but Norton obviously think it’s a good selling point. Brian Crichton has left the company and Mr Garner is saying he hopes to have a rotary road bike out sometime despite the main development engineer for the rotary leaving, I will quite gladly eat this newsletter if this ever happens, complete bollocks I think.

Desperate now to get reports from anybody who has bought a new Commando , taken delivery and has actually used it. (I’ll define used as having put at least a thousand miles on it! Not a run down the shops to pose)

Peter Williams is now on board so we’ll see if the man makes a difference. I do hope it all comes good. Hopefully someone will have one at the International in Spain.

 

Canada 2010

I spoke with Nigel Whitaker a couple of weeks ago who now lives in Lumby near (ish) to Vancouver and the same town that the INOA Rally will be held this year, I’m sure its going to be a good event with excellent roads to try out. Its on the week after the International, its an ideal opportunity to visit Canada and talk Nortons. I checked the air fare and it would appear that £700 would buy a return to Vancouver at that time of year. If you need further details E mail Nigel at nigel.whittakerAThotmail.com replace the AT with @

………………..

And Just Remember

You are lucky enough to be involved in one of the best leisure pursuits ever, with a chance to meet new and interesting people (and get them drunk) travel the world on one of the most satisfying modes of transport ever, see different cultures whilst keeping your brain and senses alive so no complaints.

This is not a practice, once 2010 has gone that’s it, another year in the dustbin so ask your self do you want to remember the great rides you had in 2010, the great people you met, the places you saw or will it be another year of unfulfilled dreams and unfinished projects where the best memory is that sometime in July the Supermarket was quiet on a Saturday!

Do it now, get out there and live your life………….on a Norton of course

     

The Small Print

The views and opinions contained within this publication are not necessarily those of the NOC or of the branch but are probably mine as I wrote it.

No one accepts any responsibility for anything, if you have a good time don't say I didn't warn you.

Gino Rondelli