Just before this last Christmas, with the arthritis in my kick start knee getting progressively worse I decided it was about time I joined the young bloods by getting myself a modern bike with an electric starter. Another one of the main criteria was also to get a machine that I could get onto. After trying mounting several club members bikes, it was decided that a bike of the Thunderbird family would be the best bet. Now where can I get one from? Tim came up with the answer after e-mailing several possibilities that he had found on e-bay, soon I found a Thunderbird sports that I liked the look of and with Tim’s help made a bid, which proved to be successful. Tim said to me “there you are you’ve got yourself a new bike” to which my reply was “I’ll believe it when it’s in my garage”. This statement proved to be prophetic, because on contacting the vendor we found the bike had been “stolen” three days before the auction ended. Once bitten twice shy, I was still very dubious about such transactions when in the New Year Tim began sending me more e-mails of bikes. To cut a long story short, I picked out a Thunderbird that I liked, set myself up an account on e-bay, made a bid and made arrangements to go and see the bike. This was only up the road near Leeds, so me and my “dog’s body” Tim went to survey said beast. What we saw pleased us both (specially me – all nice and shiny with bags of chrome) and returned home in anticipation of the final two days of the auction which was to finish late Saturday night. Tim, who is an experienced e-bayer, came to my home to help me through the final couple of nerve-wracking hours until the end of the auction, this time I was lucky and “won” myself a Thunderbird. This time everything went smoothly and “old faithful” Tim helped me trailer it from Leeds, (I didn’t fancy riding a big, strange, wrong sided gear change bike through Leeds at rush-hour). Now the bike is actually in my garage I feel a lot happier! I can’t give enough thanks to Tim for all the help and support he has given me, Thanks very much indeed Tim!

After a couple of short runs locally, five days later, Tim on his newly acquired Legend and myself took ourselves on a longer trip over to Bridlington, a run that was long enough for me to get my head round the gear change and foot brake differences. No disasters on this front, just a couple of dabs on the brake instead of the gear change, ending in a very pleasurable 160 mile round trip (and this in the middle of January) – why didn’t I get one of these early on in life instead of waiting until I was drawing my pension. Now then what’s going to happen to the Bonny and the Daytona? Hmmmmmm!!

Now we come to our branch A.G.M. – not too bad a turn out and it was nice to see so many ladies present. This year again the old committee was voted back in unanimously but I decided that after 3 years I would like a rest from doing the scribes job, so volunteers were asked for, there was only one reluctant taker (Mick Goddard) who said he would rather me do it but as long as I wrote this one, he would have a go at it.

The new/old committee consists of- Chairman -Pete Lomas; Secretary – John Wragg;( John Mannion to take over the Sec’s job whilst John Wragg deals with work commitments) Treasurer – Dennis Dawson; Events Secretary – Tim Grindle;

Winners of the trophies this year were – Breakdown of the Year – Mick Goddard – for his third holed piston on his 750 A.V. Bonneville; Clubman of the Year – Tim Grindle; Club lady of the year – Pat Lomas (She who must be obeyed – Mrs Chairman!!) The runs section would be covered by various members leading the way on their favourite runs, this way a permanent post would not be necessary.

Any other business covered – since no RNLI show this year – taking on the National Association of Bikers with Disabilities as this years charity; Looking in to the cost of a new banner and sending our old one to our “sister” club in New Zealand for them to display on their stand at the New Zealand motor show; This year resurrect our version of the Land Mark challenge, this to be set by Steph Mannion and consists of 16 landmarks, set as 4 blocks of four in the 4 sections of Yorkshire to give every member throughout Yorkshire a chance to compete. News of various things happening within the main club was discussed by national chairman Fred Hall and his wife Sylvia. If I have missed anything out please excuse me and accept my apologies. Over all a very lively meeting finished off with some excellent sarnies!

Sorry Dave and Martin, whilst writing this report and after pleas for me to carry on by members who look forward to reading it in the Nacelle, I have decided to keep on with being the scribe for a little longer (you can relax now Mick), so you’ll have to put up with my diatribes. Many thanks to all who asked me to carry on with my reports and I will try to keep up the standards.

Make the best of your bike and enjoy your riding, life’s not a trial run.

GLOVEBOX