This evening we shall be delighted to welcome local Duacti enthusiast Mike Coward who will tell us about his visits to Spain for Track Day training instruction with Simon Crafar 1998 British Grand Prix Champion at the Motorland Aragon GP Course.

Mike is the very proud owner of a cherished Ducati 1299 Panigale which he hopes to bring with him to help illustrate his talk. Mike will provide more details of his talk later but these must await until after his visit to Spain this October.

Please put the date of the 13^th November in your diaries.

With best wishes

Doug Masterton

Chair, Harrogate Advanced Bikes

Dear friends,

Our next monthly meeting will be held on Monday 9th October at Bilton Cricket Club. All members and associates are warmly invited to come along and a supper will be provided.

There is no formal speaker on this occasion and so it will be a good opportunity for meeting up and sharing. The committee would be very pleased to receive ideas, suggestions and contacts that can help build a programme for the coming months.

I would like to thank all those members who have asked about my health and progress. My situation has been ameliorated and I am booked to have an operation at the end of October.

Sincerely,

Doug Masterton, Chair – Harrogate Advanced Bikes

Within the past few days, two of our observers, Andy Pratt, who is also our treasurer and Dave Cranswick have passed their examinations to become National Observers.

A clear system of qualifications is part of the general policy of the IAM to raise and assure the quality of the instruction offered to Associates with consistent standards throughout the country. The standard that they have achieved meets the rigorous requirements of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI). Andy and Dave have had to demonstrate their skills both having the quality of their riding rigorously assessed and showing that they demonstrate their ability to observe and assess the examiners own riding.

I am sure all members would like me say ‘congratulations’ to both members and to thank them for the time they put helping the biking community ride more safely and enjoyably. This message also gives me the chance to thank our Chief Observer, Bob Hill, for the way that he has encouraged Andy and Dave, offering them his own considerable experience and support. IAM Roadsmart is moving to a system when, next year, all observers must complete a qualification before they undertake helping associate prepare for the Skills for Life assessment. Bobs leadership and enthusiasm is putting us on track to achieve this.

A big pat on the back to everyone who is helping Harrogate Advanced Bikes make its fullest contribution to safe riding in our region to which I add my personal thanks.

Doug Masterton

Chair, Harrogate Advanced Bikes

The first evening meeting this autumn will be held at our usual venue at Bilton Cricket Club from 7:30 pm. All members, associates and any would-be associates will be very welcome.

Our previously planned event for this meeting has had to be rescheduled for later in the year and therefore the evening will be a largely social event. There will be the chance for us to share experiences of the journeys that we have undertaken this summer, perhaps as an inspiration for others to try unfamiliar roads. There will also be the opportunity for us to look at some or all of the film, ‘A Street, a Track an Open Road’ which many members may not have seen and which illustrates, in a very entertaining and meaningful way, many aspects of advanced riding. The presenters include well-known faces but the film comes with a warning of the use of strong language.

Bilton Cricket Club will be providing the usual supper afterwards and I do hope that you will be able to make it.

Sincerely,

Doug Masterton

Chair, Harrogate Advanced Bikes

This ride out will be led by Doug Masterton and will head for the North York Moors.

Please assemble at the car park next to Asda in Harrogate from 9:00 am in time for a briefing and prompt get-away at 9:30. The route will pass through Boroughbridge and then via byways to climb onto the North York Moors using Wass bank. A coffee break will be taken at Helmsley. We will then enjoy a ride on the bikers’ road from Helmsley towards Stokesley but turn off near the end at Great Broughton to head for Battersby and Commondale. Lunch has been arranged at the Cliffmount Hotel, Runswick Bay which offers a carvery or sandwiches.

The return run will traverse the North York Moors on the high road that runs from Castleton via Hutton le Hole to Kirkby Moorside and then will descend Sutton Bank to Thirsk. The final leg will be from Thirsk to Ripley via Ripon.

David Haywood has kindly offered to be ‘Tail-end Charlie’.

Our 1^st Treasure Hunt, was met with dry weather & 5 treasure seekers

Everyone agreed they’d had a fun day out, on great roads, visiting places not seen before.

Some highlights:

Two of our intrepids, walked under the War Memorial at Hardraw, looking for the checkpoint clue, which was  umm……….

The War Memorial,,,,, HA HA….   Here’s a couple of photo’s to help you boys!

And two others decided the checkpoint was not at the Café, where the clues list said it was, but at a Heritage railway station 200 metres away. They said they enjoyed the walk.

Fortunately the clue was railway related & they got the correct answer, more by luck than skill!

THE RESULTS

Our tail enders, were Derek Boulby & Mike Fourie, thank you for participating

Our two runners up, were Pete Smith & John Blanchfield, who answered all seven clues correctly, but were not able to answer any of the extra questions asked about one checkpoint

Our clear winner, was….

Judith Gasser, who got all 7 clues,  and was able to answer one of the extra questions. Judith didn’t put a foot (or tyre) wrong, and with no Sat Nav, all done on maps & memory

So WELL DONE JUDITH, CONGRATULATIONS

Please let the committee know if you would like another event like this to be organised next year – perhaps not in the holiday season.

Dear friends,

This message is just to remind you of our ride out next Sunday which will take the form of a navigational scatter rally. I hope that many of you will be able to come along and take part.

Please remember that you need to study the map of the rally beforehand, decide what places you are going to visit and plan your route. To see the map and obtain the full instructions – click here.

On arrival at our usual departure point (car park next to Harrogate Asda) you will be given the list of questions that you will need to answer by visiting the places you have chosen. It is not really feasible to leave planning your route until the day. Bob, Andy and I will be around at the start of the event to answer any questions you might have.

I hope to see many club members on Sunday and hope that you will enjoy this departure from our usual routine.

With best wishes.

Doug Masterton

Chair, Harrogate Advanced Bikes

Dear friends,

I must extend to you all an apology about the confusion in our diary concerning events for August. At the recent meeting of the club committee we realised that we had nothing to propose for our normal Monday evening club meeting for August and decided not to proceed with one. What we had not realised that this did not match the entries in the club diary on our web site which announced that there was to be a club meeting on Wednesday 9^th of August (changed day) and an evening ride out on Monday 14^th August. I cannot remember the circumstances which led us to put those dates in the calendar.

My sincere apologies to any members who turned up at Bilton tonight (Wednesday 9th) and found nothing going on. As far as I am aware, and I stand to be corrected, I do not believe anyone is planning to lead a ride out on the 14^th of August – but an offer would be welcome. The diary on the web site will be changed to avoid further confusion. I believe that the events listed from August 20th onwards will go ahead as planned, all being well.

I do apologise once more if you have been inconvenienced by this muddle.

Sincerely,

Doug Masterton

Chair, Harrogate Advanced Bikes.

Dear friends,

The regular club meeting scheduled for the evening of Monday 14th August at Bilton Cricket Club has been cancelled.

When the remaining year’s programme was discussed at the recent meeting of the club committee, it was felt that attendance at an evening event in the middle of August would  be low. In addition, it had not been possible to identify a speaker or activity for the evening.

The next evening meeting will be held on Monday 11th September and details will follow later.

Sincerely,

Doug Masterton – Chair of Harrogate Advanced Bikes

Dear members,

Following the meeting of the HAB Committee that was held on Thursday 3rd August, I am pleased to inform you that Paul Dresser has agreed to take on the role of club secretary. Committee members are very grateful to Paul for being willing to undertake this important responsibility. We are pledged to offer Paul all the support that he may need.

Paul can be contacted via secretary@harrogateadvancedbikes.co.uk

I would also like to use this opportunity to thank sincerely Dave Dickinson, our former secretary, for his conscientious contribution to our work.

Sincerely,

Doug Masterton

Chair. Harrogate Advanced Bikes