New Forest Branch - Newsletter January 2002

Chapter Director

Les Williams

www.NewForestHOG.org

Hello Everyone,

I hope you've all had a good Christmas and I'd like to wish you a Happy New Year.
Our first big event of 2002 is the Winter Ball on the 2nd February. This is a great party but needs over 500 people to work, so if you've not got a ticket send in now. You can bring your friends as long as you sponsor them and if you are like me - a bit skint after the festive party's etc., we won't be cashing the cheques until the end of January. We do need to know numbers for food etc. so please don't leave it until the last minute or you may miss out.
Spring Fever is also taking shape, so again, if you want the best chalets get your booking in soon. You can post-date your cheque for early March on this one if it helps.
The Road captains are working on a ride out schedule for 2002, so let's make this the year where we go everywhere, do everything and create our usual mayhem in the cause of having fun.
The Christmas Party was its usual smile and the effort put into the Fancy Dress was amazing. We were down on numbers this year, even though it was moved back to its usual date, but with 120 of you turning up it meant we finished the Clubs' year with a party that you guys are becoming renowned for.
Val is organising a meet for you girls on the afternoon of the Winter Ball. It's just 200 yards down the road from the Pavilion. The details should be in this newsletter, so girls show Val some support and have a free coffee at the same time.

See you at the Ball! Les.

Director's News and Views
M.S. Wheel Appeal
"Stuff Like That!"
Welcome to Bob Long
Dynamike at the NEC

	M.S. WHEEL APPEAL
	Well, we set ourselves a mighty target of £10,000 towards the purchase price of a spanking new minibus for the Wareham and Dorset M.S. Society and I am extremely pleased to report that, not only has this figure been achieved but we've exceeded it with the grand total of £11666.71.
	As you're no doubt aware, the club has been actively fundraising throughout the past year via Pub night raffles, Quizzes and a number of one-night parties. John Hogg attracted a good deal of sponsorship for his Marathon run, Les masterminded the Wareham Quay evening, John Ellston and Chris Springle managed to trigger generous donations from their respective employers. Lyn was a diamond supplying a plethora of prizes to keep the raffle machine fed and thanks also to those people who chipped in the bottles of wine, spirits and fluffy things. Tailboards of a number of Brewery lorries fell open, as if by magic, keeping the packs of beer flowing (don't forget to wipe off your fingerprints if you won one)! The Appeal Pin itself raised a significant sum, so thank you to everyone who helped sell them and especially everyone who bought one. The girls went on a shopping spree and attended Simon Buddens self-defence class, learning about their "personal-zone awareness" which proved very effective, as the bloke that Pauline knocked around the local Clintons Cards will testify, poor sod! Revenue was also raised using the Harleys on escort duty for weddings, prom nights and Father Christmas, thanks to Rog and everyone who turned out when requested, whatever the weather.
	So, now people, I think it's time to form a club-size back patting circle, because New Forest HOG have achieved something to be rightly proud of, not only providing a worthy cause with a much needed resource but indirectly generating positive publicity for our club and motorcycling in general.
	Jolly good eggs one and all.
	Steve 354
	P.S. I'll let you know when the Minibus is delivered.

"Stuff Like That!"

Bikers, Bikers, they're all the bloody same,
Look at those disabled guys though, what a bloody shame!
Poor guys, hobblin' about on sticks or, stuck in a chair,
Don't they look a bloody state though, earrings, tattoos and long hair,
Who do they think they are, turnin' up here lookin' like that,
Bent and buggered most of 'em, got bits missin' and stuff like that,
Look funny, talk funny, walk funny, you know, stuff like that,
Must cut down on leather though, with only one leg and stuff like that,
Don't want them on our rally though, puts people off and stuff like that,
I bet they all dribble, need someone to wipe their arses and stuff like that,
What can you do with them ? They'll get in the way and stuff like that,
Expect you have to feed them too, and hold their pint while they drink,
We don't want them on our rally mate ... that's what I think.
What do you mean they're bikers just like us, bikers with grit,
That one aint got a leg to lift over his saddle, so don't give me that shit!
Oh, rides a trike does he, still gets around does he, oh yeah sure!
His trike was adapted by the N.A.B.D. was it, OK, tell me some more
Special controls and seating adapted to suit the riders own needs,
Yeah, but I'll bet it's real slow, he can't do real road speeds,
He does what with it, takes it down the drag strip? Must be bloody mad!
I suppose he's a bit mental is he, land on his head did he ... how sad,
I suppose he's 'handicapped' now is he, uses the orange badge thing,
Jumps all the queues now I suppose, even gets special parking,
What do you mean he doesn't want my pity, I'm only trying to assist,
You're really confusing me mate ... sod it I'm off to get pissed!
OK, I've had a couple of beers now mate,
so let's get it straight,
Disabled guys frighten me, don't know what to say when I meet 'em mate,
Don't do anything different, just accept them as being a biker eh?
I suppose you're right mate ... like that guy's a 'triker' eh?
Like it's a cultural thing, we look after our own, and stuff like that,
Bikers are bikers, don't matter what you ride, and stuff like that,
Tell everyone disabled bikers are welcome, and stuff like that,
There's nothin' to be afraid of, we're all bikers, and stuff like that,
Make a little effort and talk to disabled bikers, and stuff like that,
And the N.A.B.D. do bloody good rallies themselves, maybe I'll support them,
Your messages are getting through mate, I'll see my mates and report them,
Sorry if I seemed a bit ignorant, was a bit rude and maybe a little off-hand,
But you see I'm deaf mate ... and I didn't think you'd understand!

Dedicated to the N.A.B.D.,

and written by Beemer,

ALIEN NATION.

Director's News and Views
M.S. Wheel Appeal
"Stuff Like That!"
Welcome to Bob Long
Dynamike at the NEC

MEET THE COMMITTEE MEMBER

Name: Bob Long
Position: Western area rep
Home, area: Bournemouth
Current bike: XL 53 c Sportster, Swapping it for a Heritage classic this year.
Modifications: None yet!
How long have you been riding? 30 years, with a break during RN service taken it up again two years ago.
How many bikes have you owned? 4
How many of them were Harley's: One
What made you buy a Harley? Always wanted one
How long have you been a member of New Forest Hog? 2 years
Annual Mileage: About 5000 last year
Do you or have you belonged to any other bike club: The 59 club
Favorite Food: Curry.
Favorite Drink: Whiskey.
What do you like most about your Harley? Getting on it.
What's the worst thing about your Harley? Having to get off !
Favorite Road: Route 66.
Favorite group: New Forest Hog! (Beach boys)
Favourite TV show/soap: Star Trek.

New Forest Western Area Rep. - Bob Long

Director's News and Views
M.S. Wheel Appeal
"Stuff Like That!"
Welcome to Bob Long
Dynamike at the NEC

Dynamike at the NEC

The International Motorcycle and Scooter Show 2001
NEC Birmingham , England - Novenber 2001

The Show this year broke all attendance records with over 205,000 visitors attending, and this is totally unbiased, whilst I was there on the last Saturday the Harley-Davidson stand had a constant mass of visitors, where most of the others only had large crowds when dancers were performing. The whole H-D stand was well set out with 2002 models, a good fashion show and girls who were interested in the products and dressed as one would expect in clothing that could be bought from any dealership, and most of them were from Wolverhampton. Everyone visiting the stand was made welcome and every stationery Harley was available for visitors to sit on and get a feeling for the lifestyle. The sides and rear of the stand were well kitted out with clothing and accessory displays and 2002 model year catalogs were freely available to all. I could have spent all my time on the stand, just watching the expressions on the faces of so many people who you could see that they were hooked and one day like the rest of us they would live the legend and be a part of the lifestyle.

Jeremy Pick - HOG Rep, H-D UK

The Polaris Victory was on display on the Barrus stand, as were just a few other cruisers, but they did not hold the fascination of the real thing. I was really taken with the locally ( Bewdley - Stourport ) made BMW trike, but it wasn't a patch on a Harley one, neither was the V-Max version. I would recommend visiting the NEC Motorcycle Show to all our members, it is another experience, well worth the travel, the Birmingham International train station is right next to the exhibition center.

Many bargains can be purchased at the show, especially if you visit towards the end, most of the accessory companies would rather sell items cheaply than take them back to re-stock. Many of the exhibitors were displaying one hell of a range of entry level powered two wheelers and off-road type motorcycles, this is a real expanding market area, I don't know why H-D don't get in on the act with the entry level Buell Blast, I reckon it could be a real interesting entry point into the Harley Sportster and Buell market and would bring many younger riders into the scene, just as the V-Rod will bring in many who are disillusioned with the Japanese race replicas, at least now they will get to know that Harleys can move, can handle and can stop, we just need and educational program for many of the motorcycling press, who still have the same pre-historic attitude to Harleys as they did in the days of AMF.

I went round most of the stands and apart from the really well restored old English motorcycles, I found that the models that I photographed to be far more interesting than most of Harley-Davidsons competitors had to offer.

Models above coutesy of Superbike

and these models courtesy of MotorCycle News

DynaMike Caddick, New Forest HOG

Director's News and Views
M.S. Wheel Appeal
"Stuff Like That!"
Welcome to Bob Long
Dynamike at the NEC

NEW FOREST HOG BRANCH - Newsletter January 2002
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Created 9 January 2002, last updated 12 January 2002