THE DEVON SECTION DINNER

This years dinner was held at the club-night venue, the Town Arms, South Molton.

Our fears that the room might be too small to accomodate the 38 people who booked proved to be unfounded. It was cosy but fine. The meal provided was good value for money, and was popular with dog owners because the quantity of meat provided defeated most diners.

This years awards went to he following:

Jean's Trophy for most points on a Pre-war machine went to Ray Rowcliffe.

Lee Plain won the Ron Ley Cup for the Best Effort on the Scrumpy Run and the Thelbridge Trophy for the Best Girder-fork bike on the Autumn run.

The Woodman Shield for knowledge of the highway code was won by Rodney Hann.

The Reed Motors Tankard for Best Tele-fork Bike on the Autumn run went to Brian Cordy.

Ian Bryant was awarded the Les Soper Tankard for most points on a Non-British machine.

The VMCC Cup for most points on a Post-war Machine was won by Brian Cordy.

Maurice Ley was presented with the Scrumpy Run Shield and the Ilfracombe Shield which he won at this years Scrumpy Run.

There were plenty of prizes for the raffle and one persons luck was really in that night. I am still waiting to hear if he won the National Lottery as well! I thought it was a very good night and hope everyone else enjoyed it too. A good end to a successful club year.

Happy Christmas everyone and a peaceful New Year.

Calendar of Events 2011

These are the events for 2011.

The geust speaker for January's club night is someone from Quinces Honey Farm,which as you know is based in South Molton. Please come and support the club on what I am sure will be another interesting evening.

The next run is on New years day, starting at Witheridge. I hope to see you there. If not to ride then for a coffee and a chat and to see off the brave souls who have ridden there bikes.

I wish all of you a very merry Christmas and safe riding for next year.

Guy Fawkes Run

On the first cold morning of the winter 21 riders gathered for coffee and a warm-up at The Corn Dolly in South Molton for the start of the Guy Fawkes run.

Although cold, we set off in sunshine through lanes that were in places strewn with fallen leaves. Our route took us through the hamlet of Twitchen and up onto Exmoor where the roads were mostly dry.

On good wide roads with splendid views we rode along Twitchen Ridge to White Post, then turned left over Hawkridge Plain to Five Cross Way. We then turned south to cross the North Devon Link road via the bridge at Hares Down, then on past the "Log Cabin" and south west to Chulmleigh for lunch at The Red Lion.

We were pleased to welcome a new member, John Stanley, on his first run with the club. John rode his 1974 BMW because his Triumph, being a Triumph, was off the road.

There were no mishaps on route but the tail of the run had a little excitement, became separated from the main run when two runaway horses bolted out of a farmyard into the road in front of them. But our gallant boys rounded them up and returned them to a grateful farmer.

At one point Ray had a little engine trouble which he thought might be a sticking valve but that passed and he got home safely.

There are no more "Runs" now until the New Years Day run which starts at Witheridge. Brave hearts and warm clothes are required for this run.

See you there?

October Club Night

The next club night is on October 21st. We have a special speaker, Ian Cowling. He is coming to give us an illustrated talk on the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway. It should be very interesting as this is a very popular subject. We have opened the night to anyone interested in coming. So please make a special effort to attend & feel free to bring along as many friends as you like. The more the merrier, we want a really good turnout.

More pics of Autumn run

Hi folks. Thanks to Clatters for the run report and photos. Here are some more pics that I took at the start of the run. Some of the photos I took came out too blurred to use as you chaps were going too fast for my camera to focus!

Many Congratulations to Rod, Brian and Lee on winning the awards. Also thanks to Brian Chidgey for planning the route and organising the Hoghway Code questions.

Annual dinner 20th November 2010

Ray is eager to hear from you to book your seats for the annual dinner. This year we are having it at the Town Arms in South Molton, there will be limited numbers so book early. Timing is 7pm for 7.30pm and the cost is £15, see you there folks.

Autumn run 10th October

Rodney highway code ace Brian and Lee win

Despite a rather misty start, 21 riders, and one pillion, descended on Den and Sandras house to begin the day with a great egg, bacon or sausage bap, once again our thanks go to Den, Sandra and her helpers for this great start.

Brian had laid on a very enjoyable run, which this year was the same as last. Everyone was given a highway code questionaire, a route sheet and a voting slip to be completed at or before the mid day break.

The morning run took us through Bickleigh, Silverton, Broadclyst and on to Whimple, there was little for Ray and Gordon to do as rear marshals until about 50 yards from the lunchtime pub where Dens cub had to finish the ride with a push. The fault was a loose carb and we thought all was well.

Shirley waved her wand over the questionaires which led to Gordon and Rodney Hann having to complete another set of questions which Rod won, ( ex Police so he ought to didn't he ). The voting slips revealed that Lee won the girder vote on Charlies AJS and Brian Codey won the tele vote on his Bonnie, well done to you three.

The afternoon run lasted only a couple of hundred yards for Den, who elected to wait for pick up to home. Lee had a couple of minor hiccups but Charlie would have been proud how he got going again.

We all then finished up on Exmouth sea front for an ice cream drawing quite a lot of interest from passers by, it was nice to see Ken Alsop come down to see us all.

Autumn run October 10th

Lets see you at Sandra and Dens in Crediton this Sunday for this years Autumn run, good weather has been laid on and a mouthful of bacon will set you off to a great start, its always a good run organised by Brian so fire up the bike, see you there.

F.A.A. run, another picture

A further picture of our F.A.A. run has come to light, it is apparently a picture of a pilot flying his Buccaneer on to the carrier during our visit !, seems vaguely familiar though, not sure he should be handling this much extra horsepower.

F.A.A run 26th September

Nine of us assembled at the Junc 27 rest area and signed on in perfect weather for the run to the Fleet Air Arm museum at Yeovilton. Gordon offered a suggestion of three possible routes but all decided to follow him!.

We set off at 10.30 taking the B3181 towards Wellington, then

climbed up over the monument and on over the Blackdown hills until we arrived at the A303. Here we turned left and followed the A303 to the turning for the Museum.

We were parked in the car park, by attendents, where we found three of the Bristol section who had travelled down to be with us for the day, we also were met by a member of the South Dorset section.

Gordon did his best to try to get a few pounds off for a party of 13, but despite tears and begging, we had to pay normal ( o.a.p. ) rates, however, it was soon clear to us all that the visit was well worth the money as we had flights in helicopters onto a carrier and were able to see aircraft launch and be recovered, ( oh alright so it wasn't real but it certainly was made to feel like it ).

We all got back together at 15.00 and Gordon led a different route back through Huish Episcopi and Langport then Taunton where people began to break off for their respective trips home.

All in all a good day out in good weather, good routes, good company and a good venue

Fish and chip run 25th September

Seven fish and chip seekers braved the South Molton carnival night and met at the Honeycombe for a meal on Saturday 25th September despite having to walk a way from where they could park their cars. A good meal in convivial company was enjoyed by all, mind you some thought the band playing outside was for their benefit !.
The committee will try to avoid the carnival another time.

Girder Fork Run In August

The Girder Fork Run was on August 29th. We met at The Angel, Witheridge for a welcome cup of coffee. This run is, as you would guess, is for girder fork bikes only. Eleven girders forks turned up, however, many other club members were there to see them off.

Once again Bill chose the route around the Devon lanes, ending up at The Bell in Chittlehampton for lunch.

There is now a trophy for the best bike on the run which is chosen by the landlord of The Bell and his wife. This year they chose John Boyd's 1937 Rudge.

All they bikes completed the run, however, several had problems starting them for the homeward run!

July's Exmoor Run

The Exmoor Run was held on July 11th, meeting at Blackberries Hotel, Bampton at 10.30 leaving at 11.00. There was a very good turn out of bikes, 26 riders on what was a lovely summer's day. Peter Winch joined us, riding from Bristol to do the run on his 1982 Yamaha RS100. He obviously loves the Exmoor scenery!

The morning ride took us through the ford at Bury, always a popular bit, who's going to get wet feet? Of course there is always someone who goes mad! Then via Exton to the village of Winsford and on to Wheddon Cross. We went over Dunkery Beacon and down to Horner for a coffee stop at the National Trust cafe.

After coffee we rode back to the top of Exmoor and carried on along the coast road towards Lynton. We took a left turn down into the Brendon Valley, through Challacombe and Bratton Fleming heading for Barnstaple. Tea was calling us at Brenda's, she always feeds and waters us after the 65 mile run! Thanks again Brenda, it was lovely!

A good run blessed by good weather, lovely scenery and ending in a good tea, what more could anyone ask!

Thanks to Merv for the photos.

New VMCC Dartmoor Section

I just thought I would pass on the news that there is now a new section of the VMCC in south Devon. They are called the Dartmoor Section.

Devon is such a huge county that some members of the VMCC were finding it difficult to come to club meetings and some runs. So they decided to set up their own section covering the south of the county, (but open to all, as is ours.).

They will meet at The Welcome Stranger. Bickington, Torquay, TQ12 6JA. They held their first run called the Labyrinths Run on 29/08/10. Anyone who is interested in this section can ring Ian on 01647 252476.

We wish them well!

Our evening runs 2010

There have been three evening rides this year other than the monthly meetings, Woody has mentioned the evening run to The Bell at Chittlehampton, since then we have had a run to The Three Tuns at Silverton on 26th July and a run to The Mitre at Witheridge on the 23rd August. In both cases about 9 machines turned up, it was nice to see John Brunyee at Silverton as well as people from 'the east'. At the Mitre, we took over an outside table where 'quality' jokes went the rounds ! - very enjoyable.

Ray & Chris' Return Trip To Wales

Ray & Chris made a return bike trip to Wales at the end of May/beginning of June. We were hoping for better weather this year, but it was still a very mixed bag. We had a bit of everything, but it definately wasn't as wet as last year!


We stayed the first three nights at Crickhowell in a B&B. The first day we visited Hay-on-Wye to have a look around & see the bookshops of course. The route was via the Vale of Ewyas and over the Gospel Pass. The following day we took a trip to the Brecon Mountain Railway, www.breconmountainrailway.co.uk & then on to the Dan-yr-Ogof showcaves, returning throught the Brecon Beacons National Park.

We moved on the next day to Pentre-ty-Gwyn, near Llandovery for four nights, visiting the castle at Carreg- Cennen on the way. This is spectacular and well worth the climb up to it, the views are terrific! www.carregcennencastle.com .The Dolaucothi Goldmines were our next stop where we went underground on the Roman Tour. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-dolaucothigoldmines .In the afternoon we traversed a spectacular, isolated mountain road from Tregaron to Abergwesyn. Not for the faint hearted! A really wet following day forced us into the Welsh National Botanic Gardens where we took shelter in the greenhouse!

Then on the last day, rather weary, we set off for home. I would recommend a trip to this area, lots of other bikers seemed to love it too, quiet roads & lots of good bends! We also had several meals in the Westend Cafe where bikers from all over the country seem to gather. www.westendcafe.co.uk . A good trip!

Next Club Run - August 29th

Our next club run is on Sunday August 29th. This run is for Girder Fork bikes only. No Teles on this one please! We are meeting at the "Angel" in Witheridge, gathering at 10.30 for a start at 11.00.

The lunch stop will be at the "Bell" in Chittlehampton, as usual, where the landlord will choose the bike to be awarded the Ron Ley Memorial Cup.

June's Events

There were three club events in June. The first was the Ron Ley Run on June 13th. This is always a popular run, taking in some stunning scenery. We started at Cullompton Services on the M5, 13 of us led by Gordon over the Blackdown Hills, taking in lunch at a farm shop. Dave Heywood unfortunately had a break down with his sparking plug insert blowing out. We all made our own way home, with four of us returning to Tiverton.

June 15th was a "Ride Your Bike" club night gathering at the Town Arms, South Molton.

We had an evening meeting on June 21st at the "Bell Inn", Chittlehampton. A nice pub, well known for it's good food. A pint and a natter was enjoyed by all.

June was a lovely month weather wise and we all made the most of it.

A Lot To Catch-up With!

Sorry I have been absent for a while, but life has been extremely busy recently. I will be catching up with the club events of the summer from now on.

We have had good runs and club nights this year. June was glorious weather but the same can't be said about July and August. Never mind that's England for you! We always enjoy ourselves despite the weather. What a hardy bunch!