There are a couple of treats coming up for any Buzzer who has  two spare days that just happen to be this weekend, the 24th and 25th June. There is the classic and epic trip known as The Coast to Coast, a run that takes the rider from the east coast of England over to the west coast. It’s a long but sociable event with an overnight stop in Alston in the Pennines. This is a run that anyone with an adventurous spirit … and a reliable bike! …. should consider. For more southerly Buzzers there are the two days that take in the As it Was Buzz on the 24th June; it’s a  specialist event for cyclemotors only and is a gentle jaunt through the beautiful Vale Of Pewsey in Wiltshire. The following day we all gather for The Odiham Run, this being just a one hour drive from  the previous day’s event and, once again, is a peaceful bimble, this time along the byways of North Hampshire. This event is for all types of NACC machinery as well as low-powered vintage motorcycles. As ever there  will be event tee shirts and trophies up for grabs . There is camping and B&B available for those taking in both events. Two very different  but very pleasurable  weekends to choose from.

Photos: cyclemotors on the As It Was Buzz and Coast to Coast Run

Photo – Briars Hall, our new meeting place (photo courtesy yelp.co.uk)

First weekend in March is a busy one for the club calendar. With Staffordshire and South Wales runs announced … don’t forget there’s a run if you fancy getting out and about in Lancashire.

Weather is looking reasonable here in Red Rose country, so if you fancy blowing away the cobwebs from your trusty machine after its winter break in the shed, get over to Briars Hall, Lathom, near Ormskirk, L40 5TH tomorrow for a 10.30am start. The Granadaland Lancashire Hot Pops section are having a run to St Helens Transport Museum.

Contacts are Mike Hurst 01695 732492  or Derek Ashworth 07712 814005 if you want more info.

Hope our Welsh members enjoyed celebrating Dewi Sant yesterday. If you want to continue the St David’s Day celebrations, pop along to the Vale of Glamorgan Section’s St David’s Run, starting at 10am on Sunday  from The Cafe, Llandow Racing Circuit, near Cowbridge, CF71 7PB.

Please note, St David’s strict asceticism will not be observed and members will not be required to refrain from eating meat or drinking ale!

For more info, call Barry on 01446 711103.

New Club Chairman Ray Butcher has asked that we ‘hold the presses’ pending the first committee meeting of the year which took place last weekend. The February Buzzing will be out with members shortly. Thanks for your patience.

Are you ready for the challenge of one of the ‘big ones’ in the ‘little bike’ calendar?!

This year’s NACC Coast to Coast Run will be held on the weekend of the 24th-25th June. The route starts at Crimdon Dene, Hartlepool in County Durham on the windy east coast, and ends at Whitehaven in Cumbria on the west coast, with an overnight stop at Alston mid way. Oh, and inbetween there is the North Pennines ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ (read, bleak and hilly!) plus the Lake District National Park (read, bleak and hilly again!). All very picturesque as you cover the 120 miles at cyclemotor, autocycle or moped speed. One run you’ll not forget!

After a great write-up in ‘Bike’ magazine last year – thanks to the chaps at Bike mucking in and swapping their multi-cylinder super tourers for under-powered tiddlers to have a go! – this year’s run is looking as popular as ever. Get your application in now!!

Contact D. Casper for further details by telephone on 01904 704373 or e-mail jdcasper44@gmail.com.

February is here and the Devon Section’s annual ‘Valleytines Run’ is nearly upon us.

This year it’s on Sunday 12th February. There’s a 10am start at Pete & Shani’s, Teigngrace TQ12 6QN. Contact Pete & Shani on 01626 364095 for more info if you fancy a romantic (on a moped, erm!) tour of Devon’s picturesque landscape.

Roy Best at the Devon Autocyclists adds a note of warning to say this is NOT a cyclemotor friendly route.

Don’t forget The Powderham Castle Historic Vehicle Gathering on the 8th-9th July 2017 at Powderham Castle, Kenton, Exeter. Roy will be checking in February to see who is interested in displaying bikes and helping with the section’s NACC stand. New ideas are welcomed from those willing to help out. Contact Roy by e-mail: roy@devonautocyclists.co.uk.

If you are a Facebook user, you will be able to track down the Devon Autocyclists’ Facebook page for more info. You can access it via www.devonautocyclists.co.uk.

This month’s Bike magazine features the latest publicity stunt from our intrepid Wirral Wobblers’ Section! Anything to get in the news!

The chaps at ‘Bike’ magazine kindly printed Ted Bemand’s helmet-cam shot of two of his fellow Wobblers getting into a spot of trouble on their moped during the Wobblers’ tour of Northern Ireland last year. Ted’s suggested alternative title was: “the winner of the over 80s’ mixed doubles vertical take-off competition.” He has a cruel streak! He adds:-

“The Wirral Wobblers are at it again! As well as having a ten bike formation riding team, ‘The Red Sparrows’, they are now auditioning for stunt riders for the next Bond movie, involving 007 and a suitable ‘peach’ pillion passenger ascending a vertical wall … a.k.a. parkour (free running) on a moped!”

Ted does add: “No Pensioners or mopeds were injured in the wheelie incident … well, okay, there was a broken wing mirror!”

The South Staffordshire Section have announced the date for their traditional first run of the season: The Staffordshire Fruitcake Frolic!

Liz Butler will be busy with the Great Moped Bake Off for the 10am gathering (10.30am start) at the Bradford Arms, Ivetsey Bank on the A5 near Wheaton Aston on Sunday 5th March. It was a chilly one last year, so let’s hope this year we have milder spring weather.

The route will weave around the picturesque lanes on the Staffordshire / Shropshire border with a stop for riders to refuel at Patshull Park Pool – fruitcake provided. Machines will undoubtedly see a reduction in speed on the return to The Bradford Arms.

Contact Liz or Bob Terry on 01902 842198 or rterry526@btinternet.com for more info.

The Somerset & Avon Section are polishing their machines for the club stand at next weekend’s Bristol Classic Motorcycle Show at the Bath and West Showground at Shepton Mallet, Somerset.

Last year they battled through the roof-rattling Storm Imogen to put two dozen ‘buzzing’ machines on display … and came away with a rosette for Terry and Rose Donovan’s 1958 Heinkel Perle (above). There was also a great deal of technical interest in Phillipa Wheeler’s much-travelled 1952 Lohmann 18cc compression-ignition cyclemotor.

Why not pop along to see what they’ve got on show this year, and have a natter with Rod and the NACC crew.

Cyclemotors only on the ‘As It Was Buzz’

Dates are in from Colin King over at the Thames Valley Group for the section’s two big runs over the fourth weekend in June this year.

June 24th 2017 for the 8th ‘AS IT WAS BUZZ’. This is the Cyclemotor Only Run. There’s a 10.30am start from the Royal Oak pub, Pewsey, Wiltshire, SN9 5ES .

June 25th 2017 19th ‘ODIHAM RUN’. For this one, all small engined and wheezing oldies welcome! Again a 10.30am start, this time from The Four Horseshoes pub, Long Sutton, Hampshire, RG29 1TA.

Contact Colin for more info – e-mail: eieio@hotmail.co.uk.