Dates For Your Diary
Group Meeting
17 April 2023 - Steven Hyde tells us about his recent road trip across America by motorcycle
10 July 2023 - Speaker tbc
9 Otober 2023 - AGM plus Paul Prictor will tell us about his motorcycle tour of Mongolia
SkillShare
1 April 2023 meeting at the Dandy Highwayman Cafe Cherhill.
Bike Ride-Outs on the 3rd Saturday of every even numbered month and the 3rd Sunday of every odd numbered Month. Email will be sent out to Bikers and added to the Forum.
Next ride out Sunday 19 March. Details will be forthcoming via email to all bike members. It looks like a good day out too!
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Do you have a topic you would like discussed, or know of an interesting speaker? Please contact speaker at speakers@wiltshireroadar.co.uk |
Congratulations
Congratulations to the following members who have passed their Advanced Tests recently:
Welcome
Please welcome the following to the Group:
Steve Hookham Bike
Mark Iredale Bike
Rejoining
Stuart Gore Bike
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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 |
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 |
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Almost March and the nights are getting shorter! Temperatures are slightly warmer but a way to go yet to be out and about in shorts and a t-shirt!
Plans are afoot for our May Trippers holiday to Ireland where we have rented a house up near Coleraine for a week. Mostly bike members are attending but this is open to all members to come and join us; though fully booked this year, why not think about coming along next year? No location planned yet, but if you have any ideas, then let us know. It would be great to get a mix of bike and car members together.
We have our SkillShare dates and location set; returning back to what was the Divine cafe down by Calne, now called the Dandy Highwaymen. The history behind this is rather interesting where a bunch of highwaymen would rob passing carriages in the nude! Not sure if they were armed or not, but wondering if this was a shock or exciting times to be driving a carriage?
Coming up in April is Steven Hyde's talk on his road USA road trip. Having seen the online photos, I'm really looking forward to hearing about the trip. So come along to our group night, which you may have noticed are every three months so hoping we get many more of you along.
See you all very soon!
Peter (on behalf of Bob)
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Committee Members
Hon Secretary
Your group needs a new Hon Secretary; the time required for this is quite minimal and the role fulfils our constitution. If you feel you would like to join the Committee, please drop a line to the address at the bottom of the page.
Likewise, if you are interested in the running and organisation of your group, please do get in touch and come along to the next committee meeting.
The request has been asked before, many times, as the current committee members have been in post for several years now, we really do need a change.
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News from HQ
Jacqui Adams Retirement
We have received a note from Jaqui Adams from HQ regarding her retirement which is reproduced below. We are often critical of RoADAR HQ due to the lack of support to the Groups. Jaqui has been working with us for a long time and has done her best to keep us on the right track and to address our issues and concerns. We must remember the RoADAR team is very small (about 2.5 people full time equivalence) and Jaqui really has done her best to keep this all going; concerns are with RoSPA and not the individuals who run RoADAR and we will miss her. The Chairman thanked her for her efforts and wished her well in her retirement from all of us in Wiltshire RoADAR; she was very grateful for this message.
Dear Chairman and Secretary,
I am writing to bid you farewell, as I will be retiring from RoADAR on Thursday 23rd February. I am very much looking forward to my retirement and have lots of exciting projects and activities lined up as well as devoting some time to the underrated art of loafing about doing nothing.
I will be leaving you in the capable hands of Rebecca Evans, who has just been promoted to RoADAR Administration Manager, and Elaine Ellis who has recently returned to RoADAR’s Admin team and has now increased her hours. Together with Andy Nixon, RoADAR Manager, they will continue to look after your needs and answer your enquiries, and I thank you in advance for your patience as it is still a very small team with a very big workload.
I will be passing over any ongoing work items to Rebecca before I go and it would be much appreciated if you could address future enquiries to furtherinfo@roadar.org so that emails can be redirected to the relevant team member.
Thank you for all your hard work in keeping our roads safer and please pass on my thanks and good wishes to your members. I have enjoyed meeting you all over the last six and a half years, over the phone and in cyberspace, and wish you and your group all the very best for the future.
Kind regards,
Jacqui Adams
Tiered membership
Dear all,
5 years ago, we added a benefits platform for our RoADAR members which provided all subscribing members with a wide range of benefits from high street discount vouchers to wellbeing incentives and insurance benefits.
We are currently reviewing the options provided on the platform and are exploring a tiered membership structure whereby different members receive different levels of benefits depending on what level they pay for. For example:
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Proposed name of level
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Proposed Cost
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Benefits received
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Affiliate
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£30.00
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COTR, access to level 1 benefits platform
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Member
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£45.00
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COTR, 3 yearly test, access to level 2 benefits
platform
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Premium
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£55.00
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COTR, 3 yearly test, access to level 3 benefits
platform
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Benefits at the Premium level could also include free GEM (Guild of Experienced Motorists) membership for the year which would provide members with further offers and discounts, quarterly magazine and access to a 24/7 technical helpline.
This is just an example of what could be on offer and we would be interested in your views on introducing a tiered membership across the RoADAR community.
Please send any feedback to furtherinfo@roadar.org by 13 March 2023, where we will collate any responses. Please note that we will be unable to reply to all answers individually, however please rest assured that every response will be read and taken into account. We will reply to every Group as a whole once we have gone through all of the replies.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes,
Andy
Andy Nixon
RoADAR Manager
M: +44 (0)7880 785 056
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Membership and GDPR
Due to GDPR we are required to remove an individual's details from our Group database when they are no longer required by us. We remove a lapsed member's details if they have not paid a subscription by the 31 Dec following the AGM (3 months after the subscriptions are due). If a member has forgotten to pay their subs and pays after 31 Dec we will require a joining form to be completed so we can replace them on the database.
It all seems a bit strange, but we do not want to get on the wrong side of the Government's Information Commissioner. We understand if members forget or are late with their subscriptions, but please help us to keep our database accurate and compliant.
This is, of course, separate to those of you who maintain a membership with RoADAR HQ.
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Top Tips for Keeping calm whilst you're driving
Just in case you ever get angry at other road users and their silliness, take a look at this link to see how you can remain calm!
I guess you car drivers get annoyed at us bikers who can simply filter past a long queue of traffic! We do chortle as we go past and sometimes come back around to do it again, just because we can. |
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!
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Driven Ohm Racing
The race team have been very busy in the off season.
Firstly, a move of race HQ from TM Racing who have been looking after the cars for the last 3 seasons to 119 Edition who will be our track and logistics partner going forward.
Darren (who runs the 119 Edition outfit) won the Hot Hatch series last year and secured his second consecutive class title in the R53 Mini class. He knows the Minis very well, and we think we are now in very good hands for the coming season.
As well as moving the cars and spares down to Darren's premises in Somerset we have had a lot of refurb work done on the cars. Car 905 has had a new set of more powerful brakes, as well as a new windscreen and gear linkage. Car 887 has had new suspension fitted and car 265 has been repainted black to match the other two cars.
We have had bookings for half the season in car 887 from arrive and drive racing drivers already, and enough enquiries to expect it to be busy the whole year. There might be opportunities for 265 to race as well.
We also hope to host a few more experience days for non-race drivers at Castle Combe in 2023.
Our first track outing is on March 18th at Combe, where we will shake down all three cars ahead of the race season.
Combe Race Dates:
- 18 March (Media Day)
- 10 April (Howards Day)
- 01 May (May Day Madness)
- 11 June (Summer Spectacular)
- 15 Jul (Combe Carnival)
- 28 Aug (Combe Countdown)
- 07 Oct (Grand Finals)
We might also run at Thruxton, Donington and Silverstone if there is demand from our drivers.
We would welcome any group members who have the time to pop by and say hello.
Gary Franks
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Bike Ride out to Swanage
Nine members of the riding section ventured out to Swanage for chips (and fish of course).
With a damp start to the day we duly met at the southern meeting point, BP Garage on the Savernake Road at Marlborough business park, eight of us departed on the dot at 9.30am. With full tanks and empty bladders, we took the A345 to Pewsey, down to the A303. Turning right, going past Stonehenge, turning left towards Wilton on the A360, to Stratford Tony and Combe Bisset where we caught up with Steven Hyde waiting for us at the Fox and Goose on the dot of 10.30.
Successfully using the drop-off system, the nine of us followed the A354 to Blandford, Wareham, Corfe and finally Swanage. Our first minor ‘u’ turn took place here as the plan was to park along the front (which I did a few years ago) but this time the road was shut. Luckily, David knew of a decent spot to park.
A short walk for lunch meant heading to The Square where we cheerily ate some really good fish and chips!
After a post lunch stroll of not more than 500 yards, we chatted and admired a dramatic part of the Jurassic coast. As busy as it was with some brave souls playing on the beach, we decided that its always better in the sunshine and at that walked back to our bikes for the journey home.
The journey down was great. Long stretches of road with little in the way to stop our flow and steady progress. The ride back was rather different. Heading back via Poole, Ferndown and Ringwood, we were constantly negotiating mini roundabouts; the traffic had also picked up since the morning too!
Up the A338 all the way to Salisbury, saying cheerio to Steven Hyde, the remaining 8 followed the road up the Wallops. The second ‘U’ turn of the day, a rather large one as it turned out, meant going back through the Wallops to find “Thyme and Tide” for a decent coffee – which was well worth it. “Thyme and Tide” was “The Haven” at one time and our southern SkillShare location.
Somehow, I had taken the wrong turn after leaving Salisbury which resulted in a few extra miles added to the journey. No matter, I always prefer going through the Wallops north to south anyway.
After our coffee/tea, we headed back up to our starting point in Marlborough, where before saying our goodbyes, the ride leader (me) was given the obligatory ‘banter’ for making our traditional group ‘U’ turns!
What a great day! Great ride with a great bunch. Thanks to everyone who turned up for a rideout in February!
Peter Genet
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Call for Bikers from Severn Freewheelers
Many of you will be aware of Severn Freewheelers, the blood bike charity
that provides its free service to the NHS and specifically the Great
Western Trust (GWH) at Swindon. Partly as a result of the Trust’s
response to COVID and the service being better understood by the Trust,
the workload now means we have two bikes serving the area. Last year we
undertook over 2000 jobs for the Swindon Trust. Overall Severn
Freewheelers did over 7000 tasks.
This is a request primarily seeking riders to help support our
operation going forward. Naturally over time people fall away as their
circumstances change, they move away or indeed decide this is no longer
for them.
The service runs 1900hrs to 0700hrs weekdays and 24 hrs at weekends
and public holidays. A typical duty is Wednesday evening till Saturday
evening or Saturday until the Wednesday. You would keep the bike at home
until you handover to the next rider. The bikes are the latest BMW RTs.
A new rider needs to have undertaken his or her advanced test in
the last three years and is required to be retested every three years.
In addition, there would be a check ride undertaken on joining and
further periodic check rides with a nominated assessor. Managing the
risks within the operation is a core value of the charity. There are of
course other roles as coordinators and fund raisers and riders are
expected to contribute beyond simply riding which is vital to maintain
the service. From a response basis, riders need to live within 25 miles
of the Great Western Hospital. Training is provided for all
new members.
If this is of interest, please feel free to get in touch.
Geoff
Geoff Brown
Severn Freewheelers
Mob 07399 457703
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Promotional activities
1 April
6 May
3 June
1 July
5 August
2 September
7 October
23 April
18 June
9 July
17 September
8 October
BikeSafe Press Release
[Bromsgrove, UK. 22 February 2023]—Charged with targeting motorcycle fatalities and in support of 37 police forces - motorcycle safety initiative BikeSafe has moved into a dedicated national headquarters in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
This marks twenty years of successful BikeSafe delivery, plus commemorates PC Mac Walker, Police Motorcyclist, West Midlands Police - who lost his life in the line of duty on the 4th of October 2001.
Chief Constable Nick Adderley said: “This is not just a building, it's about what it represents.
“It marks 20 years since BikeSafe came into existence. And through the work of the brilliant police motorcyclists and volunteers, we have helped to save many, many lives and improve the skills of those motorcyclists.
Calne Bike Meet - 29 July. We have booked a stand or this huge event which provides an opportunity to recruit both drivers and riders. Please put it in your diary and come and help us populate the stand to improve recruiting for the Group
If you have any ideas for events, then please get in touch with the committee using the committee email address :
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.
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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.
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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.
Gloucester RoADAR Newsletter
If you are interested in the Gloucester Group newsletter here it is.
If you have read this far, thanks! If you have any feedback or suggestions about content for your newsletter, then drop us a line at newsletter@wiltshireroadar.co.uk If you can't leave constructive feedback though, then we don't want to hear from you!
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