The "Buzzing" Club

Great to see those intrepid buzzers from the Wirral Wobblers are in this month’s Old Bike Mart with the first part of their tale of moped adventures in the Netherlands earlier this summer, where they met up with their Dutch counterparts.

Their ‘Tulip Challenge’ was the latest in their series of summer tours commencing with the Isle of Man in 2015 followed by Northern Ireland last year. And, it’s all for charity too. The 14 Wobblers who went over for a 500 mile Continental jaunt did so to raise money for Medicin San Frontieres. If you want to add to their fund, here’s the link.

For club members who don’t subscribe to Old Bike Mart, Wobbler scribe Ted Bemand promises the tale will appear in the club magazine … so look forward to the usual tale of moped mania!

If you are in or around South Staffs and fancy a run out on your ‘tiddler’ tomorrow, pop along to ‘day two’ of our Annual Rally over at Wolverhampton Rugby Club, Castlecroft Road, Wolverhampton, WV3 8NA. It’s a 10am start for a run out along the Staffordshire / Shropshire country lanes.

Today – ‘day one’ – was a cracker! The sun came out in force, as did Buzzing club members. The day’s near 40 mile run took us over to the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site for lunch – many of us indulging at Eley’s World Famous Pork Pie Shop. An added bonus was a stop off at the picturesque village of Pattingham’s Classic Vehicle Show. Our buzzing machines turned up en masse and created somewhat of a stir, proving popular with the locals of all ages.

Photo: 10am gathering at the Rugby Club

For those of you in the Black Country or South Staffs area, you will be pleased to hear that the South Staffs Section’s mid-week runs are to be reintroduced!

If that moped, autocycle or cyclemotor is languishing in the shed and looks like it could do with a run, here’s an opportunity mid-week. For good company and the smell of two-stroke oil, get over to the South Staff’s regular meeting place, the Bradford Arms at Ivetsey Bank on the A5, on Wednesday 19th July. There’s a nice big car park. It’s a 10am meet-up for a 10.30am start. A 35 mile run is planned, with a lunch stop. There might even be an icecream!

Further details from Ian Harris on 01952 460254.

Photo – Kreidler Florett awaiting company at the Bradford Arms

As some of you may know, Orange – my e-mail provider – has bitten the dust. I’ve set up a new e-mail account which members can use to contact me about all things related to the Shropshire Buzz’Ards Section.

My new e-mail address is: burgessrepairservices@gmail.com.

The Shropshire Buzz’Ards have completed our three big runs for the year (you can read what we got up to in ‘Buzzing’ magazine) and our next section event, other than regular monthly meetings at the Corbet Arms, will be at the Borders Classic Motorcycle Show in Cleobury Mortimer over the weekend of 9th-10th September. Look forward to seeing you there.

John Burgess

Photo: John with fellow Buzz’Ard David Eyre (right) at the Corbett Arms, Uffington near Shrewsbury

News has come in from Roy Best at the Devon Autocyclists that there will be a re-run of the section’s Lyford event which took place earlier this year on 30th April in horrendous weather.  The re-run is planned for Sunday 1st October. Meet at the Lyford car park at 10am for an 11am start with refreshments at Roadford Lake café and return to car park.

Despite heavy rain throughout the day, April’s Lyford run was not cancelled – we’re made of tough stuff here at the Buzzing Club! ‘Lyford 3′ was completed successfully by six hardy souls. You will be able to read the full tale of West Country derring-do in August’s issue of ‘Buzzing’. Hence, October’s run has been named ‘Lyford 3.5′ … and hopefully October will bring kinder weather than April’s showers.

Put it in your diary and pop over to hear the tales of April’s feat of autocycling endurance as you enjoy the same run … hopefully minus the precipitation!

If you haven’t booked for the Club’s National Rally in Wolverhampton there’s still time. It all starts this Friday evening (30th June) and continues through until Sunday 2nd July. The venue is the Wolverhampton Rugby Club, Castlecroft Road on the very edge of the city, on its border with leafy Staffordshire.

There are camping and camper van facilities, a Friday night ‘social’ at the clubhouse over either curry or a fish and chip supper. This sets you up for the runs out on Saturday and Sunday into the winding lanes of the Staffordshire and Shropshire countryside; and there’s a Saturday evening meal for attendees … oh, and the Rugby Club does a fine breakfast, available on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Sets you up nicely for a pootle out on your buzzing machine!

Contact Bob Terry and Liz Butler from the South Staffs Section for the full details, either e-mail: rterry526@btinternet.com or telephone 01902 842198. They look forward to seeing friends old and new, and machines shiny to oily rag!

Photo: riders gather to refuel with tea and butties at Patshull Park Lodge during the 2016 rally

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

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.