Durham Classic Motorcycle Club

Paul won Best Classic Bike Award at Bikewise with his beautiful Norton Commando 750. Congratulations to him. This bike proved to be a popular focus for all spectators visiting th classic tent and brought many admiring comments throughout the day. Think Paul may have found a new owner for the bike within the club. Thanks to all members who turned up on the day & brought bikes to display. We had 12 bikes in total.

The club held it's AGM on Sun 7th March. All club officials were re-elected. The Events Calendar for 2010 will be available at the next club meeting on Sun 4th April. The 1st club run is The Foundation Run on Sun. 18th April 2010. See you all then.

Hi everyone - the club would like to wish all of it's members a Happy New Year in 2010. We look forward to some fine weather & an early chance to get our bikes back on the road after the long, snowy winter.

Please note - tonight's meeting (Sun 3rd Jan 2010) is cancelled due to the bad weather & is to be held next Sunday (10th Jan). We have tried to ring round as many members today to advise of this change.

The club Post-xmas Meal will be held on Saturday 6th February 2010 at The Harperley Hotel, nr Stanley, 7:30pm. (please contact sec. for more details/to indicate attendance). 

The next club meeting is Sun. 7th Feb 2010 at 7:30pm.

The club AGM is on Sun. 7th March 2010 at 7:30pm.

All club runs from Sun 9th August will start at 10:30am. Evening run on Wed 5th August is re-arranged to Wed 12th August.

The club is attending Bikewise on Sun 16th August & will have a stand plus static display. Members wishing to display any bikes should ensure they are in place before 10am on that morning.

At the AGM all club officers were re-selected. Membership fees were also set as per previous year levels.

The club are also holding an 80th birthdy party for it's Vice-Chair Ian 'Birdseye' Ives at the Harperley Hotel, nr. Stanley on Sat 28th March. Members who wish to attend should let club sec. know asap, just need to know approx. numbers.

The club's AGM is on Sunday 1st March 2009 7:30pm.

Next business meeting is Sunday 1st February 2009 7:30pm.

We were fortunate to have steaming hot sunny weather for this run, the weekend being unusually hot. It made a change not to have one eye on the weather!

A small group of club members turned out - not up to our usual standards re. numbers. Cec had planned a circular route, heading off over to Wolsingham, then past Hamsterley Forrest and onto Middleton-on-Teesdale, before heading over the moors to Westgate, on a single track road with numerous gates, sheeps, dead rabbits and fords before reaching Allendale Town, where we stopped for lunch. Most of us sampled the Sunday Dinner at the main pub in the centre of the town and we weren't disappointed! John didn't bother, but I think he wished he had when he saw our dinners!

After that excellent repaste, we headed over towards Hexham and then onto some more single track roads above Corbridge (which I had, incidentally, used to access The Northumberland County Show at Corbridge last bank holiday Monday due to the main roads being jammed with a massive queue for the show, stretching way past Riding Mill) before returning home via a quick fag stop at The Jolly Drovers where Cec demonstrated his 'water splash' skills in the care park.

A great day out, good company, great weather and all the bikes ran well. Thanks, Cec.

Pete

The Crooks Run was held on Sunday 11th May 2008. We were fortunate to have excellent warm, sunny weather which added to the picturesque run out into North Yorskhire, stopping at lunch-time in Northallerton. We managed to lose Birdseye before the start, even though he made it to Graham's just after 1030am and was re-directed down to Jubilee Bridge at Willington where we had all met - he never made it, sadly. Anyway, he caught up with us at the finish, back at Graham's house, for his pie'n'peas and excuses for getting lost.

A good turn out of riders and a variety of machines, old and less old - it was good to see Ray's Triumph, Graham's Norton Commando, Steve's BMW, Paul's Z1300 and Cec's Kawasaki 750 twin. The remaining riders were on newer bikes and George showed off his newly finished Sportster in Storz trim, paint-work courtesy of Kenny & Merlin Coachworks. We didn't lose anyone on the actual run, which was unusual. Thanks to Dennis for organising the route.

The food was plentiful on our return. Karen had baked some cakes which went down well, and Doreen prepared the pie'n'peas, along with some pretty mean home-made ginger snaps and cheese biscuits (recipe from the Farmer's Journal). Anyway, there wasn't much left by the time we'd all finished. Thanks, ladies, for putting on such an excellent spread, once again. Our sec. managed his usual 2 x pies & ++ mushy peas (pic below), followed by chocolate cake, fairy cakes, 6 home-made ginger biscuits, washed down with plenty of tea. He then went home for his Sunday dinner!!

Next run is June 8th - Cec's run.

UPDATE!! We are to hold talks (planned for Tuesday 13th May) with South Durham VMCC about them taking over the running of the event.

The club has decided it cannot continue to organise the Beamish Trophy Trial and is now looking for another club or organisation to take over this popular event.

Anyone interested in taking on the organisation of the event should contact Club Secretary Pete Robson on (0191) 3710866 or e-mail PRobson388@aol.com.

The club's 1st run of 2007 was The Foundation Run - starting from The Glen, Witton Gilbert. As the weather was so good, we decided to change the usual route when we got to Blanchland, extending the run to enjoy the fine weather, heading off up the dales. Last year, this run had to be postponed due to atrocious weather, this year's weather couldn't have been more different. It really was just a glorious summer's day (except it was still Spring).

12 bikes left The Glen. Best Bike on Run, voted for by members at the Blanchland stop, was Ian Ives on his AJS 350. Ian is a very popular club member and it was a pleasure to see the delight on his face when he won The Foundation Run Trophy.

We stopped at Wolsingham for a cup of tea on the return journey. George Mc managed to squeeze an extrordinary number of cups of tea out of the teapot whilst sitting outside the cafe enjoying the sun and a chat with a fellow harley rider and his wife (from Sunderland)....harley luggage being one of the topics of conversation (yawn......I know....!).

Bikes on the run included a 350 AJS, BSA 350 (had to go home early at Iveston due to engine bolt coming loose), BSA Super Rocket 650, 2 x Harley Sportsters, Kawasaki Z1300, Yamaha 535, Triumph Trident...sorry, can't remember the others.

Pete

The club held a presentation evening on Saturday 25 November in The White Tun pub, Witton Gilbert for the 2006 Beamish Trophy Trial.

The presentation of trophies to class & award winners was followed by Pie & Peas.

Photos of the winners receiving their trophies & awards can be found on the Beamish TT website - click on this link

• the club is hoping to turn out for the Durham Police Easter Egg Run on Sunday 16th April - bikes will leave Tesco car park (Gilesgate) at 10am, heading off to Darlingtom Memorial Hospital, Bishop Aukland General Hospital, University Hospital Durham, & finally ending up at Police HQ, Aykley Heads, Durham. Easter eggs will be distributed at all hospitals.
• our 1st proper club run of the season is The Foundation Run on Sunday 9th April, leaving The Glendenning Arms, Witton Gilbert at 10am for a run of apprx. 60 miles (weather permitting). Check with run coordinator Davey Herron if weather is bad on the day.
• we are hoping to arrange for a club (pin) badge (metal/enamel) to be made available this season. We are in the process of looking at suppliers.
• the club is looking for more assistance running the Beamish Trophy Trial on Sunday 17th September this year - namely, marshalls to assist on sections throughout the day. We are desparate for more help. Anyone interested should contact the club secretary Pete Robson on (0191) 3710866 or e-mail on P.Robson388@aol.com

The Club AGM was held on Sunday 5th March 2006 in The Glendenning Arms. Dennis Mawson was elected Chairperson, with Davey Herron reverting to Vice-chair.

Membership fees are now due for 2006.

Members voted to reduce the yearly membership fees for OAPs, students & unemployed to £7.

The 2006 club events calendar is now available.

Members & their bikes turned out, once again, at Durham Police Bikewise at Aykley Heads. Thanks to all members who made the effort to turn up & show their bikes. Ray Luke's beautiful Triumph Tiger 100 '63 won Best Classic Bike in Show - thoroughly deserved. Michael Callaghan's BSA Super Rocket won Best Paint in Show. 

Club run on Sunday August 7th, was to the Corbridge Classic Bike Show. Many members attended but unfortunately we were unable to put on a display of member's bikes at the show due to there being no available space to put the bikes collectively. Yet, there was a vast area set aside for bikes to be displayed in the 'judged' show - this was only a third full. If Tyne Valley Classic Club want other classic bike clubs to attend their show, perhaps they could try & ensure their 'display needs are considered. Nevertheless, a masive turnout of bikes (claasic & modern) on the day, the weather stayed fair, and a chance to meet up with old friends from other areas & catch up on news.

10/04/05. Foundation Run left The Glendenning Arms at 10am, today, 60 miles. Small turnout of members, weather fine, not too cold considering the recent low temperatures. Best Bike on Run was awarded to Pat Bennet for his BSA A50. John C broke down at Burnhope, spark plug problem on his Triumph & Ken M suffered a puncture on his Triumph & sidecar, resplendent with it's new fairing. Pete managed to run up a grass bank after putting the Triumph into neutral on a hairpin but escaped unscathed! What is it with Triumph's? Landlady of The Glen, Loo, rode on the back of Davey's Yamaha, she seemed to enjoy it. 

Mortons Media Publishing, who publish the magazine 'Classic Bike Guide' (CBG) have kindly agreed to provide the entrant's numbers for the 2005 Beamish Trophy Trial. This was agreed with Editor Tim Britton, who participated in the recently held 2004 BTT.

An article on the Beamish appeared in the November issue of CBG. Our thanks to Tim Britton for his excellent article, which included many pix of entrants & machines.

The club has it's very own band 'The Sidevalves', with three club members playing in the band.

The band plays classic rock and blues, covering bands & artistes such as Free, Bad Company, Neil Young, Gary Moore, Joe Cocker, Rory Gallagher, Thin Lizzy, Santana, Dr Feelgood, Joe Walsh, Jeff Heeley, Stones, ZZ Top, Doobies......

A 5-piece line-up, featuring club members Davy Herron on 2nd guitar & harp, Pete Robson on lead vocals and Pat Bennett on bass guitar, plus Brian Alderson on lead guitar, Dave Kay on drums.

The band are available for bookings anywhere, anytime, usually playing locally in the pubs, birthdays, bike club bashes. Contact Pete Robson (0191) 3710866.