For all those going or thinking of going on the Ireland Grand Tour, come along to the Trust Inn on Thursday 5th February and we will run through the proposed route, dates and costs.

The dates for the Tour are Thursday 21st June to Friday 29th June

Plus if there is something you really want to see while we are over there, now is your chance to speak up!

Andy is the trip organisor so the boss has final decision if need be. And I hope there will not be a repeat of the following "Hi Jinks" as per 2009.

Yes its 2012 club run time again and what a cracker to start off with! 

We are leaving from Morrison's Car Park at 10:00 to the Haggis Auto Jumble in Lanark - now if you have ever been stuck for that elusive part for that Haggis you have had for 10 years, now is your chance. Plus I think they do bike bits as well.

We will have a bite to eat while we in Lanark.

Folks the Club has set up a Members Saving Bank account separate from any of the other Club Bank accounts.  

The reason for the Members Savings account is so that members can put aside small amounts whenever they wish towards next year’s Club Trip to Ireland or it can just be your own savings pot to use as you wish and whenever you wish. 

Johnnie Morran will administer the account and will provide receipts for all deposits and withdrawals.

Well it was an early start at 9:00 from Morrisons car park, 4 bikes and 5 folk. Andy Baird, Iain, Martin, Andy Turner and Stephen. So we had a Pan European, Kawasaki 1200, Triumph Sprint 900 and a VFR 800 – plenty of variety.

Andy Turner was on the back of Andy Baird. The “Twa Andy’s” seemed to bond well and could be see chatting to each other pointing out bits of scenery as they meandered across the Clyde Valley, however enough of that..

So off we went via the new bit of M74 and picked up Alex Petite on his Pan European at Strathclyde Park and then off to Peebles, the weather was blowy but dry and we made good time with not too much traffic in our way.
We stopped at Peebles for a break and a blether then carried on to Selkirk – we were too early for a pub lunch – it was only 11:30 and that was after we had stopped for a pee break en-route.. It’s the vibration that does it, it wakens up parts that have remained dormant for some time, like a Volcano I like to think..

A fine bunch of semi incontinent bikers. Left to right Martin, Stephen, Andy Turner, Iain, Alex

So into Selkirk and we parked up and tried the Selkirk Deli and it was really good and cheap – so that’s on the list again for bike stops! We all seemed to have soup and a roll with filling of your choice – the rolls themselves were a meal! Andy seemed to have a BLT jammed into his roll that would have filled a normal soul without the soup – all for about £3.20!

We did however spot the “Swiss Chapter” rumbling through Selkirk, he drove past twice looking menacing with his Swiss flag hanging off his Harley and yodelling obscenities no doubt, however even driving twice past the cafe still meant there was still only one of them.

So all fed and onto the bikes and I am not sure if that was the main route we were on, but it was a bit twisty with a lot of sheep wandering about, but it was fine, however the wind was picking up.

Moffat didn’t seem too big or maybe we skirted round the centre, but we got some petrol – well actually only Martin and Stephen as the rest seemed to have plenty.. So another pee and off onto the M74 heading for home. Now this is where we really felt the wind and Martin suffered badly, the fully faired bikes seemed to handle the wind ok, but Martins small handlebar fairing seemed to give him lots of grief and we cut the speed back to about 60mph and stopped off at Lesmahagow as Iain popped in to see one of his pals. Well we all got a free cuppa and biscuits, so we said we would all call in next time we passed – well cafes can be quite pricey and every penny counts.

Onto the old A74 – ah that takes me back! Anyway, we got got back on the M74 and then towards home, Alex leaving the group first and the rest headed back towards Johnstone. A good long run and a chance to see a part of Scotland we don’t often head for. 

These will now restart on a regular basis and be held on the first Thursday evening of every month at 9:00, starting on Thursday 4th August. These meetings will be really only for Committee Members to plan and progress Club Activities, however you can come along if you behave yourself.

At the Commitee Meeting on Monday 25th April the following Committee was agreed. In addition Andy Baird was chosen as the winner of the John Ross award as the person who in the opinion of the Club had contributed most to the Club in 2010 - 11 - well done Andy.

Well the race didn't go well at all as Andy and Johnnie crashed out at the second corner on the first practice run at the notorious "Switch". As you all know in the Club we do not apportion blame, but in this case it was clearly Andy's fault.

It is the drivers responsibility (Andy ) to care for any passengers welfare (Johnnie) and give the lad a Health and Safety briefing on how to go round a corner.. Ok I know Johnnie has had a bad run of luck recently over the last 10 years..

Anyway, poor Johnnie finally ended up in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness for two nights with a rubber pipe up his John Thomas with only a faded copy of MCN (bought by Stephen McKenzie - a good Samaritan if ever there was one..) to pass the time - well actually it was hard passing anything out of Johnnie at that point.. But he did have a Thai nurse that probably made the pipe insertion procedure a bit more fun.

Still it could have been worse as the sidecar suffered only minor damage and Johnnie will walk again one day.

I have exclusive footage of the crash here.. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKvciqXvjns

If you look at 1:15 into the clip you will see Andy has the brakes full on, at 1:16 abandon hope.. as although a plucky Johnnie is now leaning to the right all that is happening is that it is forcing the steering to the left. At 1:17 over it goes..

Anyway, it was all good fun and if you look at 3:41 you will see what happened to the next sidecar down!

So Friday night was a bit subdued but we managed to get pretty pissed in the Hotel and decide to race the sidecar on Saturday - well Martin seemed really keen on the idea.

On Saturday it was into Aviemore for some breakfast then off to Inverness to see Johnnie - flat on his back with a neck brace on. We bought some tie down straps and got Johnnies bike ready for taking home and left money with the Thai nurse for "extras". We didnt bother with trying to race the sidecar however as the Police were holding onto it - for a wee sneaky shot down the hill no doubt!..

So our spirits lifted at our humantitarion work in Inverness we all went for a slap up meal in the Hotel and had plenty of Vodka's as we were bagged up with beer! Back to the camp site and lots of snoring - Martin as usual!

Sunday it was multi tasking as we all packed up and Andy went to Inverness to pick up Johnnie, most of us went for see the Police to release the sidecar as Johnnie was getting out, a breakfast in a Subway - good value breakfasts for 2 pounds! and Iain went to locate the sidecar as the Police said we could leave it at the Police Station for a couple of weeks - aye more shots down the hill - what are they like!

So off packed up we set at high speed back home, stopping at Perth for a coffee and then home in great weather!

A good weekend, but pity about the crash and a new design maybe for next year! Those who went were Andy, Johnnie, Graham, Martin, Jim, Iain and Stephen

Yes its true, once more we have held Club membership fees down offering great value in these austere times caused by the Labour party... All you have to do is pay your meagre fees and we will not come to your door.

Listen, you all know the money was due at the end of March and have you paid? - have you chooky!.. Did you think we would forget?..

So Andy will be on your case very shortly.  Did we get big Andy's money before he went to Australia?.

Remember this low membership offer does not apply to Labour voters within the Club as they will have to pay an additional £5.

Tories and Lib Dems need not apply for membership - try the Tennis Club..

Clearly we are all very upset at the disappearance of Jim during the Club Run, without accusing anyone at all, it seems that a "missleading" instruction was given to the Club Chairman as regards the route - its an easy mistake, its a human mistake and Johnie - no one is directly accusing you, apart from Graham, Iain, young Andy, the two tables behind us in the Carbeth Inn and the bar tender. The waitress said she just "thought" you looked guilty.

Anyway, lets put it behind us and hope for Jims safe return if he hasn't already run out of petrol on some deserted moor, no doubt he will have just enough fuel left to set fire to the bike to attract a helicopter..

We had set off from Morrisons at 11:30, the Club Members (at that point were..) young Andy, Iain, Jim, Johnie and Graham. Stephen went in his car as he was very ill. Stephen got to the Carbeth Inn at 12:05.. At 12:47 the remainder turned up (apart from Jim). So the car park was just ice and it was not the best place for the bikes - but there was nowhere else!

Place was quiet and the food was good and we had a very nice waitress serving us and some good crack. We decided that having now three Andys in the Club is too much, as we now have Andy Turner - so plain Andy is now called Mexican Andy - "Arriva Arriva" seemed to be the reason.

Anyway about 14:00 we called time, manhandled the bikes out of the car park and off home.

Club Forum - www.strathgryffe.proboards.com

Photo Album - www.strathgryffe.com

Martin (The Power Ranger..) - www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jqFcCrZnKg

Cairngorm Extreme 2010 the crashes - McKenzie and Crone flip it at 4:07..

- www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmH45DGwCx0&feature=fvw

However just in case you think McKenzie and Crone were bad..

- www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cYcNKxI37I&feature=related

All the Club Camping Weekend and Ireland Photies are now on-line at the Clubs Photo Album www.strathgryffe.com I will patch in all the remaining events as I get time. I have left most at photo quality so you can download them, print them, email them and put them on special interest web sites as you see fit.

For any legal action against me, my solictor is Austin Lafferty and I am one of his best customers..

Well done to the brave Strathgryffe boys who waded through ice cold fast flowing water, to rescue a Moto Guzzi (Italian motorcycle) rider who was dangling perilously over rocks after he flew over a bridge when he didn't make it round a corner.

Johnnie Moran in action, he was later to fall off in a farm.. 

Without fear, Johnnie even with all his problems, and there are many, rescued a fellow biker from the deep depths..

The deep depths with rocks. All joking aside it was a long way down and the Guzzi rider ended up with a broken knee cap. Not nice.

However Its about time that the actions of our brave lads such as Johnnie were formally recognised, a bit like Grace Darling with a nose ring. And if you don't know who Grace Darling was, look it up the web..

I was thinking of an engraved Club Pen - always welcome on the run up to Christmas, mounted on nice plinth. Then while I was down at the Lodge sinking a few, I thought of something of perhaps a bit more spiritual..

I note the Moto Guzzi boys have left a couple of thank you messages on the Guest Page, thanks guys much appreaciated.

The Guzzi Club members were also camping in the camp site. However they cant do you for it these days as long as you are discrete

Now our good friend Andy has "managed", to get a whole host of workshop manuals in electronic format for all manner of bikes - so you dont need to buy an expensive manual! All you need to do is to buy Stephen a pint on a Monday night (I am Andy's front man), let me know what manual you want and leave it to me..

www.motorcyclenews.com    

www.bmf.co.uk      

www.mag-uk.org