NW Report February/March 2010

 

12th February -Mag Board Meeting

I attended the MAG UK board meeting, minutes available on MAG UK web-site. http://www.mag-uk.org

 

13th February -Mag NC Meeting

I attended the MAG UK board meeting, minutes available on MAG UK web-site. http://www.mag-uk.org

 

14th February - 6th NW Fred Hill Run

            This year’s event was advertised on Facebook and was one of the most successful yet. After a poignant ceremony at Blackburn Cathedral, led by Bill Green (NW Political Officer & Red Rose MAG Rep) and Bishop Michael of Leyland Eagles MCC, we went for a tour of the beautiful Lancashire countryside before returning to the Charles Napier for hot soup and food.

 

10th March-RSBS meeting Police HQ, Hutton

            We were informed at this regular forum meeting that one of the most respected training schools in the region, Passtime Motorcycle Training was ceasing to trade as of the 1st April 2010 due to the fall in demand since the introduction of the new bike test. Passtime were based in Blackburn, in close vicinity to the one and only test centre we have in Lancashire and it was generally agreed that if this well established training school could not survive in the present climate following the introduction of the new test, then there was little hope for other independent training schools around the region. 

            Other items of discussion focused around the “Think Bike, Think Biker” campaign which the forum were asked to contribute to during the initial concept stages, and the planned RideSafe BackSafe event to be held in Blackpool on Sunday 25th April, details at www.ridesafebacksafe.co.uk

 

14TH March -Afghan Heroes Ride Wootton Bassett

            I was proud to be involved in this event and led a substantial group of MAG members down from the NW to take part. A small group of us camped over at Ogri MCC, and were made to feel very welcome, many thanks to all involved. The ride through Wootton Bassett on the Sunday was an experience that will stay with me for years to come. It was a fantastic show of solidarity by the biking community to our armed forces abroad and I, like many others, was proud to be a part of it.

 

April 2nd-4th Manchester National Bike Show

            Once again I have many people to thank for this as all volunteers involved worked their hearts out. The show was a bit quieter than normal as it was held over Easter weekend for the first time, but the MAG stand was as popular as ever and the twin “Laura Crofts” did a fantastic job drawing the crowds in, pictures on the Blackpool MAG Facebook site. It was a shame the planned Question Time did not work out but in general it was a very successful weekend plenty or new and renewed memberships taken and hundreds (14 boxes) of Road magazines and memberships leaflets distributed, all for very little cost.

 

Other Bossiness around the region

            Things have gone a bit quite in areas where I was hoping to get new groups started, Wirral and Lancaster/Morecambe Area. I had a good chat with a new member who I signed up at the Manchester Bike Show who lives in Liverpool and seemed to be interested in getting a local group set-up.

            Busy organizing the “Sixth Sinful Fun n Frolics Rally on the Fylde” June 25th-27th and also trying to keep the peace between local clubs/groups/mafias etc…enough said !

 

Tony Cox
North West Representative,
Motorcycle Action Group.
Tel:    0870-7743544
Mobile 07836-519391
north-west-region@mag-uk.org

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