October club night

Members enjoyed an excellent evening at the Town Arms playing skittles, There was a little doubt as whether we would have the skittles alley for the evening but at the last minute, Chris was informed that all was clear. Two teams were formed under the captaincy of Myself and Chris and 5 games were played amongst much merriment and banter, I'm pleased to say that my team won but with a great deal of help from the evenings highest scorer Louise, well done that gal!.

Chris supplied some cake etc: to round off the evening, ( ta mate ), and the Town Arms did their best to limit Andy's drinking by being slow to serve him!. it was great to see Maurice so soon after his op who was successful in scoring all through despite stating that he could only count up to 10.

Now do try to make Andy's run on Wednesday 3rd November starting at the Quay cafe in Braunton a new venue for us, and on a second point, the committee are meeting in November to plan for next year so if you would like to organise a run or have suggestions please do let us know.

November 3rd ( frosty fingers ), run

 Andy has kindly agreed to lead this run, here are his details:

Frosty fingers run.

Wednesday 3rd November 2021.  11am start.

Start;  The Quay Cafe, Unit 4, Velator, Braunton EX33 2DX

Finish;  Old station House. Blackmoor Gate, Kentisbury, Devon, EX31 4NW

Lunch will be available.

We're trying a midweek run for a change as our usual Sunday runs clash with remembrance Sunday. It'll only be about 30 miles but will start at a café and end with a pub lunch in a cozy pub. We'll be taking in some lovely coastal views, quaint villages and going to the edge of Exmoor.  Mixture of unclassified roads and easier more open stretches. There will be a prize for furthest travelled to the start point.

October run report

 

10 riders turned out for our October run starting at Jonsey's cafe at Winkleigh, the weather promised all day sunshine and so great store was set on a good day out. Chris had been going to organise and lead this run but due to a medical problem, Mike had agreed to step in to lead, albeit without being able to run over the route first due to the short notice.  We all duly set off on time with Ian and myself doing back marshal duties. Within a mile or so, Mike turned us off the road towards Dolton but we immediately came up against a road closed sign, Mike decided to press on as motorbikes can usually slip through, however on this occasion this did not turn out to be the case so we all turned around leaving Mike to try a parallel route which brought us out on the way back to Winkleigh, here Mike and Ian had a chat which resulted in Ian leading us on to our lunch stop via Monkhampton and Hatherleigh. Cliff picked up a nail here and Andy's T100 could not be persuaded to restart, so Graham kindly agreed to stop with them to assist and the remaining 7 riders continued on to the New Inn at Kilkhampton.

After lunch, Mike resumed the lead and took us via Tamar lakes and Stibb cross to Torrington common. Some of the roads and lanes were in a pitiful state for which I blame the County authorities, where does the money go!.

Cliff got picked up and taken home with a wait of just 45 minutes and Graham was able to help Andy with the loan of a couple of plugs.

Thanks to Mike and Ian for the part they played in leading and to Graham for his assistance on the road, also hope Chris soon gets better to get on his BMW for the November ride out, details for this run will be forthcoming so watch this space.

October run

 There will be a run on the 10th October starting from Jonsey's cafe at Winkleigh, this run will be organised and led by Chris, lunch will be at Red Post and the finish will be back at Jonsey's, hope you can make it ( fuel allowing! ).

There are a couple of advanced notices, firstly, Chris has rung the Town Arms with a view to us having use of the skittles alley for our October club night but they have a problem with the alley being out of use at the moment due to it being full of tables etc, they will try to clear it out and let us know, if they can then you may bring your better halves, watch this space for updates.

On a second point, there will be a run in November, it will be a Wednesday run to try out this new approach, timing will be the same and Andy has kindly agreed to organise and lead it so watch this space for more info folks.

Bustard run photo

 

One of Andys photo's 

Andy's Bustard adventure

 Whilst not being an organised VMCC event, the Bustard run is well attended by VMCC members, Andy has submitted this report for us to see;

Saturday morning found us loading up the trusty old Berlingo with my 1928 sunbeam model 6, Poppy the Spaniel, Louise my long suffering “responsible adult”, assorted tools, fuel and riding gear and a weekends worth of camping gear.

A few weeks ago Louise had entered me for this run. She mistakenly assumed that the title was a typo and this would be ideal for me. It turns out that a bustard is a very large bird that became extinct in the UK in 1832. There are now approx 100 birds thriving following a programme to reintroduce them at a centre on the Salisbury plains.

The Bustard run was organised to include both Sunbeam cars and bikes of the pre war era.

Sunday morning started drizzly at the campsite just a few miles from the meeting point at the Bustard centre but soon cleared to blue skies and warm autumnal breeze.

There were approx 7 Marston Sunbeams at the start, and a couple of invited interlopers ( a Velo

Viper and a very tidy1930s Rudge)

The run started off going through some very quaint lanes and villages at what I would generously say was a “sedate” pace. It soon opened up to the rolling hills and big views of the plains, ancient barrows and carvings in the chalk hills were the order of the day. About 2/3rds of the way round the route split, there was an opportunity for the more adventurous to complete the run on one of the many unmetalled military roads that criss cross the plain. I stayed with the tarmac and was pleased I did as with a smaller group and a different lead the pace quickened and became much more involving. After all these bikes were regular TT winners in their day and are much happier at a decent pace rather than chugging around oiling their plug and spluttering and spitting like a bored toddler.

All the bikes and riders returned with no mishaps, smiling faces and some dustier than others.

We were treated to a short Landy ride to the Bustard visitor centre where we could view these magnificent birds from a hide set up overlooking the valley. Apparently the larger mature group were out and about somewhere else and with their 2m wingspan that could have been some distance.

Whilst this wasn't a VMCC event it was well supported by members and hopefully it will grow and improve with time.

Andy included some photos with this report which I cannot transfer at this time, maybe later!.

September 12th ride

 Ian offered and organised this ride and I asked him if he would do a write up for the blog as I was tied up for the day at a funeral service and so could not attend, here is his submission:

About seven of us met at the Whiddon Down Service Area and proceeded on the old A30 through Sticklepath , Okehampton then onto Sourton. Following the A386 to Mary Tavy then up to Peter Tavy across Hartford Bridge to join the Dartmoor road to Princetown. Lunch stop was a picnic, just as well because the usual cafe was shut due to Corvid outbreak. We then proceeded to Two Bridges then on to Huccaby Bridge to Venford Reservoir, Holne Chase then Holne Bridge back up to Hemsworthy Gate down to Haytor Rocks. Leaving the Moor we carried on down to Bovey Tracy back up to Moretonhampstead to finish at Whiddon Down. About 70 miles. The weather kept fine but a bit cloudy. As usual the Moor was fully occupied with people, sheep, ponies and cattle all of them very unpredictable for their actions! Fortunately we had no incidents either mechanical or physical as we all arrived back at the start quite safely and dispersed accordingly .

Thanks to Ian for that run, now Chris will organise a run on the 10th October, so watch this place or our new facebook page for details.