The SAM Observer December 2022

Contents

Nigel & Judy Chittock 2 Committee 3

Not the Chairman’s Chat by Eric Aldridge 5 The Great SAM Challenge by Karen Payne 6

IAM Test Passes 7 Master Passes 7

SAM Theory Evening by Paul Ballard 8 It’s Christmas…. Quiz by Bryan Duncan 8 A Tale of a Pannier or two by Nigel Chittock 9 The Not So Famous 5 by Jeremy Bewich 11

SAM Committee Nominations by Bryan Duncan 13

SAM Membership Renewal by Bryan Duncan 16 Ride Leaders by Trevor Read 18

Where we are going by Vini Evens 20 Advertise Here by Committee 21

SAM Events for your Diary 21 Members Information by Mike Roberts 24 Editorial by Editor 25 MZ with Panniers. by Nigel Chittock 28 Our Venue 28

next Issue

Closing date for copy – Friday after club night. Send via e-mail The Editor reserves the right to edit, amend or omit as he feels fit.

WEBSITE ADDRESS

http://www.suffolk-advanced-motorcyclists.com

SAM is a registered Charity ~ No. 1067800 All Official Correspondence to: The Secretary, Eric Aldridge.

www.suffolk-advanced-motorcyclists.com

Not The Chairman’s Chat

From the Secretary

All SAM members that have been around for a while will be aware the Group Night in February is the annual AGM for the Club and also time to acknowledge those members who have ‘gone the extra mile’ for the club during the year. So keep Wednesday 15th February 2023 in your diary.

In the January magazine we will include the minutes from the 2022AGM and the agenda for the meeting. This will also be the opportunity for you to join the Committee.

You will be aware that over past few months we have asked for your help as we have several vacancies within the Committee.

In recent magazines some of your Committee have explained their roles.

Those of you who have ever read the IAM Handbook and in particular the section relating to Committee roles may have read that it is desirable to serve for 3 years and then give another member a chance in that position.

Our Editor has now completed 12 years and we have been asking for a volunteer to replace him since February.

(He isn’t the only one to have been on the Committee for a long period).

We have a vacancy for a member to arrange Guest Speakers on Group nights. We need a new Vice Chairman as Glyn has now taken on the Chairman role.

THESEARE MASSIVE HOLES INYOUR COMMITTEE THAT MUST BE FILLEDTO ENABLE USTO FUNCTION

There are currently in excess of 280 SAM Members. We would encourage you to consider taking this opportunity to join us on the Committee.

The consequences of not having a fully functioning committee must be obvious to you but clearly for the avoidance of any doubt this needs emphasising:

There will be NO Observer magazine without an editor and this maybe from January 2023.

There will be NO guest speakers at Group Nights also from January 2023

Without a Vice Chairman we are in breach of IAM recommendations.

We may well have to amalgamate with NorfolkAdvanced Motorcyclists.

This poster worked in 1914 for the war effort

Have you got the message?

Nomination forms can be found on website or ask any Committee member, and in this month’s magazine

At our 14th December Meeting we will have the annual SAM Christmas Quiz when we hope both members and their friends will attend to form teams trying to win our luxury prize. Light refreshments will be provided to stimulate your brain power and the bar will provide the necessary lubrication (remember card only payments).

Our quiz master this year will be our celebrated Treasurer Bryan Duncan. The questions will be across numerous topics to allow a chance for the varied knowledge for all teams.

Finally on behalf of the Committee I would like to thank you for your support throughout the year and wish you and your families a safe, healthy and enjoyable Christmas and all the best wishes for 2023.

EricAldridge SAM Secretary

The Great SAM Challenge

Thanks SAM and big thanks to Nigel and Judy for organising the Great Challenge this year.

We have had a brilliant time this year travelling round to get all the photos. (Though I moaned a lot about Great Wakering!)

It was made even better when Roger was lucky enough to win 1st prize in the raffle and then generously researched and paid for a Keis heated vest for me. Hoping to get out on the bikes soon and now the cooler temperatures have arrived I am hoping to be toasty but much less stuffed up when riding my bike.

Anyway big thanks once again to Nigel, Judy and SAM

Karen Payne

IAM Test passes

Congratulations to the members who have passed their Advanced test this month.

David Gynn his Observer was

Dean Harris Paul Filtness F1rst his observers was Mike Robert Tony Shearman F1rst his Observer was Geoff Scott Claire Harris her observer was Graham Parker

When you pass your advanced test please let Paul Ballard or Geoff Scott know

Masters test passes

Congratulations to Steve Laws passed his Masters test with a Distinction

SAM Theory Evenings

As most of you know, on the 4th Wednesday evening every month, SAM holds its monthly Theory Evening. Based on an ever revolving subject list of important rider skills these nights are an informal evening of facts and lively banter all aimed at improving your ride based on the information in the Advanced Rider Course Logbook.

Each session covers one of the four main topic areas; Overtaking Planning & Positioning Cornering Gears & Acceleration

Mainly aimed at Associates going through the course, these evenings are also a good way for full members to brush up on their theory and add their experiences and questions to the session.

The great benefit of attending these sessions in the classroom means it saves time on the road, covering theory and has the added advantage of an opportunity to discuss any issues you may have generally on your Advanced Rider Course.

Next theory night meeting will be January 25th 2023. 19:30 ~ 22:00.

Paul Ballard SAM Chief Observer

The Great Sam Christmas Quiz

Don’t forget that at this December’s Group Night (14th December) we have once again decided to hold a Grand Christmas Quiz

As well as baffling questions deviously thought up by our Treasurer, Bryan Duncan, there will also be a finger buffet

Questions will be about History, Geography, classic Sit-coms, Food & Drink, Sport, Music, True or False and, of course, Motorcycles

As well as free food, the winning team will receive a bottle of wine each.

Good Luck!

A Tale of a Pannier (or two)

As the previous two Challenge prize draws had been conducted using some form of motorcycle luggage to have the winning tickets chosen from, it occurred to me that I could provide my own receptacle for the Great SAM Challenge draw. This in turn got me thinking about how we used to go on holiday in the past.

It’s June, 1985. Judy and I had been away for a couple of short breaks to the Peak District and we fancied a longer trip to Scotland. My bike was a rather smart, black Honda CB 400N Superdream, an improvement on the 250 version that I’d passed my test on a few years earlier.

The luggage was limited to a white fibreglass top box so when I saw a pair of white Rickman panniers advertised in the paper for sale in Ipswich I went along to Colchester Road and a deal was done. About £30 for the set including brackets and keys. I had to remove the rear chrome crash bars to get them to fit but that was a small price to pay for all that extra carrying capacity.

With the oil checked and the tyres pumped up we headed north aiming for the Lake District for an overnight stop. It’s now when we look back we realise how many things we take for granted now that weren’t even an option nearly 40 years ago.

With no earplugs, intercoms, satnav, fairing or pre-booking of accommodation we made our way straight to Cumbria and found somewhere with a “Vacancies” sign outside for our first night. The next day saw us arrive in Callander in the

Trossachs where we booked into a small hotel that looked suitable for us to use as a base for the week.

Days were spent doing touristy stuff in Pitlochry, Inveraray Castle and Loch Lomond and generally riding about enjoying the 40 odd horsepower of the mighty Superdream.

It was our first experience of how wet and cold Scotland can be, even in the middle of June, and how leather doesn’t keep the water out for long, as we got soaked riding around Loch Lomond. We had taken waterproof leggings but we didn’t have any rain protection for our top halves. The water found its way through everything so the next day was spent waiting for our jackets to dry whilst we did some shopping in the town for some waterproof over jackets. My jacket was at least a proper bikers jacket, Judy’s was a plain fashion version, neither of which had anything in the form of crash protection and, of course, we had ordinary denim jeans on.

During one of our stops in one of the many scenic locations I decided that a little maintenance might be necessary so out came the spanners and chain lube for a quick chain adjustment. The teeth on the rear sprocket had started to take on a hooked appearance so I made a mental note to keep an eye on them but I was pretty confident that they would last the duration of our holiday.

The day of departure arrived so with another quick chain adjustment and the panniers secured we headed homewards, although I took a wrong turn upon joining the first motorway and found myself travelling north again. Once I’d got ourselves pointing the right way progress was good until we came upon some major roadworks on the M6.

As I backed off the throttle there was an ominous clunk from underneath Judy and a distinct lack of drive from anywhere. We coasted into a coned off lane in the middle of the M6, traffic passing both sides of us, a bit too close for my liking. As soon as a gap appeared I pushed the Honda across the lanes that were open and onto the southbound hard shoulder where at least we would only be hit from traffic from one direction.

Immediately a free recovery truck appeared complete with a very irate driver. He said I was a very naughty boy and under no circumstances should I have crossed the road. (I can’t remember why I didn’t coast onto the hard shoulder in the first place). Once he’d stopped shouting and waving his arms about he loaded us up and dropped us at the first available exit.

So, out with the spanners again and with as much tension as I dare I refitted the chain onto a sprocket that bore more resemblance to a pulley as the teeth has all but disappeared. It hung on for about 20 yards before coming off again so for the second time we coasted, this time down the slip road and onto a forecourt of a car dealership in Carlisle, just over 300 miles from home.

Obviously we didn’t have mobile phones back then and no breakdown cover either as firstly it was expensive and secondly I hadn’t intended to break down. We managed to secure the use of the dealers phone and with a copy of the yellow pages I rang around some bike shops until I found one who thought they could help as long as I could remove the rear wheel for them to collect.

Being a proper bike with a centre stand, I soon had the wheel out and waited for help to arrive, which it did in the form of two scruffy blokes on an even scruffier bike. It was with some trepidation that we watched our rear wheel vanish up the road in the lap of the pillion rider.

To be honest the next hour was spent quietly as we sat on the edge of the forecourt staring at our mono wheeled Superdream, its panniers looking lost without a rear wheel to keep them apart. The silence was only broken by someone making useful comments like “pity you didn’t put a new chain and sprockets on before we left”. Why are women always right?

Eventually our scruffy friends reappeared with our wheel and some mixed news. They hadn’t got a replacement chain but they had fitted a new sprocket, although it was the wrong size (!) It was a larger diameter than the original so the gearing would be lower, but at least it had some pointy teeth for the worn chain to grip onto, and it took up some of the slack in the stretched chain. We had no other choice than to refit the wheel, reattach the panniers and head for home again. It was now 2.30pm.

With the gearing now much lower I had a choice between going slower for the usual amount of revs or using a lot more revs to keep the speed up. I chose more revs, obviously.

Progress was good although a bit noisier as we left the M6 and travelled along the A66, in the drizzle, and onto the A45 as it was then. We stopped a couple of times for a bit of adjustment and lubrication and eventually called at a Little Chef for a meal. We weighed up our options and decided to head for home, this time I was certain there was enough metal left on the cog to get us home. We arrived

home in Hoo just as it was getting dark having completed a journey of about 450 miles. The next day I inspected the rear sprocket and wondered how on earth it got us home. I wonder if there’s a record for the quickest time to destroy one?

The Superdream was treated to a new chain and sprocket set the following day as a reward for getting us back safely whilst I pondered upon the advantages of maybe having one of those fancy shaft drive bikes one day. (It did happen, many, many, years later).

As for the panniers, they are now proudly fitted to my MZ, looking totally at home in an eighties sort of way and there is a Honda CB400N Superdream in the shed as well, not the one in this article, but one that Judy has as her winter bike. I sometimes take it out when she’s not looking and wonder how we used to travel all over on it and I must admit it does bring back some memories.

Now, if I fitted those panniers on it perhaps we could just pop to Scotland or .......

Chittock

Nigel

SAM Committee Nominations

AGM

15th February 2023. Would you like to help your club out ? Can you spare a few hours a month ? And make a huge difference on what happens within the club. Like all well-oiled machines it needs cogs. Become a cog and join the committee. Now is your chance. Fill in the form and send it to the secretary via post or email. Nominations have to be given in one month before the AGM. For more information and to download a nomination form visit http://www.suffolk-advanced-motorcyclists.com/nom

SAM Membership Renewal

As we are fast approaching year end, please accept this as an early reminder that membership fees will be due on 1st January 2023.

SAM’s preferred method of payment is by Standing Order (known as STO). If you have already set up Standing Order, please ignore this message. Standing Orders are quick, easy and completely secure as YOU are in TOTAL control.

To set up a Standing Order, simply click on the following link to download and print a copy of the Standing Order Form

https://suffolk-advanced-motorcyclists.com/__trashed-2/

Complete the Standing Order form and send it to your bank, or if you have internet banking facilities, use the details on the form to set up a regular payment via your bank’s online services.

If payment by Standing Order is not possible, payment by bank transfer (known as BACS) is perfectly acceptable. Our details are;

Suffolk Advanced Motorcyclists, Sort Code: 20-92-08, Account No: 10363650.

The cost of renewal remains, yet again, unchanged at £22 for a member and £25 for joint rider/pillion members.

SAM no longer accepts payment by cheque or cash.

If, for whatever reason, you cannot pay by either the STO or BACS options, please contact me directly and we will find another way.

Stay safe, Bryan Duncan, SAM Treasurer duncan173@btinternet.com 01728 688864 07879 654122

Where are we going and how are we getting there? Social Rides in January

We’ll all be desperate to get out on the bikes for some fresh air after the festivities of Christmas and New Year. On Sunday 8th let’s meet up in the car park behind B&M at Copdock in good time for 09:30 departure. It’s always just a little later in January and February to allow for a thawing in any frosty patches, although if the weather is foul with snow or ice then the Ride Co-ordinator will cancel the event for safety. Keeping away from the tiny lanes at this time of year we’ll head out to Hadleigh on the A1071, turning up on the A1141 through Lavenham to join the A134 to and around Bury then on to Barnham. At Euston we’ll head down the A1088 through Ixworth to join the A14 for a couple of hundred yards before taking the slip road to Woolpit and into the rough car park of ‘The Hungry Stag’

https://the-hungry-stag-cafe.business.site/

Nearly two weeks later on Saturday 21st it’ll be a day for our Jaunt. Meeting at the re-opened Beacon Hill Services in good time for a 12:30 departure. Heading out through Coddenham we’ll turn off at Ashbocking and up through Helmingham to join the A1120 as far as Saxstead Mill. Then it’ll be through Framlingham and Rendham to join the A12 down to Friday Street and via Snape and Tunstall to Bromeswell. Inside the grounds of Swann Nurseries we’ll find ‘The Wild Blackberry’ café. Parking is again on rough ground but perfectly manageable for us advanced riders. Cough.

https://www.wildblackberrycafe.co.uk/

Vini Evens

Advertise in our magazine

Annual Advertising Rates: Advertise on the SAM website for an additional £25. Contact Felix for more details 07712649860 editor@suffolk-advanced-motorcyclists.com £50 for ½ page £75 for full page Norfolk Advanced Motorcyclists

3rd Monday of the month, 19:30, at The Cottage, Thunder Lane, Thorpe St Andrew. NR7 0JD Chairman, JohnYoung, 07948538036 Secretary, PaulMilner, 07834600665

Sunday 4th Breakfast run to Mr. D's Diner, Hatfield Peverel, Meet behind B&M, Copdock in time for 09.00 departure

Wednesday 7th SAM Committee meeting 19:00~22:00. Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre, Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave, Ipswich IP5 1JF

Wednesday 14th SAM Group Night. Announcements followed by the Great Christmas Quiz night. See the Calendar for latest info. 19:30~22:00 at Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre, Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave, Ipswich IP5 1JF Bar serving drinks, including teas and coffees.

Saturday 17th Saturday Jaunt to the Bistro at Stonham BarnsMeet at Tesco, Stowmarket at 12:00.

Saturday 25th Happy Christmas

January 2023

Sunday 1st, Happy New Year

Wednesday 4th SAM Committee meeting 19:00~22:00. Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre, Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave, Ipswich IP5 1JF

Sunday 8th Breakfast run to the Woolpit Stag. Start from behind B&M at Copdock. Please arrive in time for departure at 09.30 latest

Wednesday 18th SAM Group Night. Announcements followed by Guest speaker, Jim Jarvie O.B.E. Identifying, investigating and prosecuting drug smuggling in the UK or see the Calendar for latest info. 19:30~22:00 at Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre, Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave, Ipswich IP5 1JF Bar serving drinks, including teas and coffees.

Saturday 21st Saturday Jaunt to Wild Blackberry at Bromeswell. Meet at Beacon Hill Services in time for 12.30 departure

Wednesday 25th Theory Evening 19:00 ~ 22:00. Come along and learn more about Roadcraft. Topic: To be confirmed, Contact: Paul Ballard, Meet in The Board Room

February 2023

Wednesday 1st SAM Committee meeting 19:00~22:00. Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre, Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave, Ipswich IP5 1JF

Sunday 5th Breakfast run TBA

Wednesday 15th SAM Group Night. Announcements, AGM, followed by Guest speaker, TBA or see the Calendar for latest info. 19:30~22:00 at Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre, Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave, Ipswich IP5 1JF Bar serving drinks, including teas and coffees.

Saturday 21st Saturday Jaunt TBA

Wednesday 22nd Theory Evening 19:00 ~ 22:00. Come along and learn more about Roadcraft. Topic: To be confirmed, Contact: Paul Ballard, Meet in The Board Room

MEMBER INFORMATION

A lot of useful information about SAM and its activities is available on our website. Below are some key links members will find useful.

CONTACTS

Contact details of SAM’s Committee & Observers, complete with photographs so you can recognise everyone.

https://suffolk-advanced-motorcyclists.com/contact-us/

CALENDAR

Our online calendar with relevant links which can also be linked to your smartphone. Contact: Les Smith

https://suffolk-advanced-motorcyclists.com/sam-calendar/

OBSERVER ASSOCIATE CHARTER

What is expected of the Observer and Associate while preparing for the IAM motorcycle test. Contact: Paul Ballard TBA

CARING SAM

Our customer service & complaints procedures. Contact: Brian Ellis TBA

DISCOUNT SCHEME

Proof of identity will be required to be shown. (e.g. Current IAM/SAM membership cards). Save your membership fee, and more, by using these retailers who give a discount to SAM members. Contact: Dean Harris https://suffolk-advanced-motorcyclists.com/disc

ADVERTS

Got something to sell? Want to see what other members are selling? See our online adverts section. Contact: Mike Roberts TBA

SHOPS

T-shirts, sweatshirts, fleeces, hats, and more are available from SAM’s two online shops. Contact: Mike Roberts https://suffolk-advanced-motorcyclists.com/sam-shops/

FORUM

All the latest news and discussion on all things SAM and motorcycle related. Have a read, and then register to join in. Contact: Mike Roberts TBA

www.suffolk-advanced-motorcyclists.com

Editorial 2022

Firstly I would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and great New Year. Let’s hope that everything has settled down and we can get on with our lives in peace and harmony.

My poor old bike sits forlornly on the drive waiting to be ridden. We had a Christmas party to go to in Easton-on-the-Hill and I had planned on taking the bike, but due to other things going on we ended up taking the van, getting home at 5ish with the bike looking at us on her side stand and I’m sure I saw a tear coming from the headlight…. It was raining as well. Well that’s all my biking news this month, I’m sure there are lots of stories that you have ridden over the summer months that you would like to share. Wouldn’t you…. Type up a quick write up, add few pictures and ping there you are. Another brilliant magazine. Don’t leave it to someone else cos it ain’t going to happen.

editor@suffolk-advanced-motorcyclists.com

Safe Riding Felix.. Editor

Bowman’s Barn, Back Street, Gislingham, Suffolk. IP23 8JH. Tel: 07712649860

Thank you

To all the members who have contributed to this month’s magazine. 

Note from Editor

Please check the SAM Calendar, Forum & Facebook page for further details and for any changes after going to press. Especially in winter months when the weather can be unpredictable

Disclaimer

The articles published herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Institute of Advanced Motorists or the Suffolk Advanced Motorcyclist Group. They are the opinions of individual contributors and are published with a view that free expression promotes discussion and interests.

Any comments please email the editor.

Closing date for copy Friday Friday after club night

If you’d like to help save the Group on the printing and postage costs of your monthly ‘hard copy’ of the ‘SAM Observer’ by opting to receive an email notification instead, then please give me your email details on Group Night or send me an email.

I hope that you have been enjoying the reports that members who go on ride outs have written, and as you can see, it doesn’t have to be a wordy passage, so feel free to scribble a few words down, a few pictures and next month you will have another great magazine to read

Don’t forget to take your cameras and a notebook to record your trip then you can write a nice article about it for your favourite magazine. I have a word template if anyone would like it, email me and I’ll send you a copy which has all the formatting re-set on it. Please remember that we use Times New Roman as the main font for the magazine at a size 16 so that when the printer converts the A4 pages down to A5 the font looks like a 12. I like pictures to be separate to your articles because I can make them bigger or small to fill the page

GTR By Orford Castle