NW Report August-September 2013

 

9th August Funeral of Tony Arrandale “Big T”

Due to a good friends funeral the weekend of NC I did not attend Board or NC meetings and could not find a replacement to go in my place. Tony was a long-time member of Blackpool MAG and was killed riding down to the Faro Rally. His wife Wendy is doing well but soon to lose her damaged left arm.

27th August – 1st September Stormin the Castle

Took a week off work to help out with build up and marshalling of this event Also took the Raffle Prize AJP across which helped sell £300 of tickets over the weekend of the event

13th-15th September:- Jesters MCC Rally, Whitingham

Helped out running this MAG affiliated club’s rally and in-between marshalling duties, ran the MAG stall. Highlight of the weekend was signing up Graham Hill, nephew of Fred Hill.

25th September:- North West Alliance Meeting, Hindley Green, Wigan.

Another very well attended meeting at the Black Diamonds MCC, Wigan. Local council elections have provided an opportunity for the Motorcycle Alliance Party to put forward a number of candidates across the region. MAP has exclusive rights to use a motorcycle as their logo so if nothing else, it will raise awareness of the motorcycling community.

 2nd October: - Blackpool MAG AGM, Victoria Hotel, Cleevleys.

Attended the AGM as a member and as RR. All group reps retained their positions with the addition of a few more posts. Minutes will be available on NW MAG web-site

6th October :- Hercules pre-run  Preesall to Ravenglass

NW MAG has once again been asked to marshal this run which is 100 miles around some very scenic roads in the Lake District. We did a pre-run last Sunday in order to view the roads we will be taking the 200 bikes through on the Sunday after NC. All profits this year are going to Blood Bikes Lancs & Lakes but MAG gets very good publicity out of this run and I have picked up quite a few new members in the past on the back of it.

Other news from around the region

All groups across the region still functioning well although Wirral and Chester’s group rep Gordon Wheatcroft, has had to stand down and although no one is prepared to step up as rep, Stu Dunn has volunteered to be the contact for the group.            We will soon have a new group in the region, Salford Area MAG are due to launch on the west side of Manchester on Thursday 31st October. Steve “Blayz” Blay is standing as local rep and I hope to get a mail shot out in the next week to publicise the first meeting. Blayz is also the vice chair of the NW Alliance. We are ramping up the campaigning for bikes in bus lanes in Greater Manchester and with now having two active groups in the county is fantastic.
            Anniversary T-shirt sales are coming to an end as sold out of most sizes and not ordering anymore. I have ordered a final batch of patches having sold over 800 so far.
            At the last NW reps meeting we have discussed putting in a plan for next year’s MAG AGC to be held in the North West Region. I will send out details before the October NC meeting.
            The NW MAG AGM will be held at Coastriders Café, Cropper Road, Blackpool @ 1pm on 24th November and we will be requiring an NC observer if anyone wishes to volunteer. Will put the request out in a separate e-mail as I doubt many actually read this far down

Best Regards,

Tony Cox
NW Regional Rep.