The Sporting
MOTORCYCLIST
is published monthly and is available through your Clubs or by direct subscription
Editor
(ACU Southern Centre) John Bramall
16 Gifford Close, Fareham, Hampshire, PO15 6PJ T: 01329 823282 E: johnbramall246@btinternet.com
Editor
(ACU South Midland Centre) Bob Twigg
2 Harwood Close, Welwyn Garden City, Herts, AL8 7SN E: bobtwigg@ntlworld.com
Editor & Advertising and Distribution
(ACU South Eastern Centre) Andy Wood 30 Westways, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 6AA Tel/Fax 01732 865380
E: anmarprintingservices@gmail.com
Printed by
Anmar Printing Services, Edenbridge, Kent
SEPTEMBER 2020 VOL. 20 ISSUE 9 PUBLISHED ON THE 1ST OF EACH MONTH
All material for TSM should reach the editor by the tenth day of the month preceding publication.
FROM THE EDITOR'S CHAIR n By Bob Twigg
The Covid lockdown has created a very difficult motorcycle sport year. If the lockdown and the present conditions still apply in 2021 there will have to be some thinking about centre and club championships in all disciplines. Most centres and clubs have abandoned the chances of 2020 championships. Also, the fact that some riders will have lost money due to the closure of their workplaces. On my "grumpy" side it does look like a difficult future for off road motorcycling in general. I liked Andy Wood’s comment in the July issue on the governments idea of other forms of transport for the masses. I'm not sure that the Mums of today will allow their offspring the chance to buy and ride a motorbike. "Ooh they are much too dangerous" will be their response. Motorcycles are not dangerous, first it is down to the "nut" that holds the handlebars and secondly you are more vulnerable on two wheels either on a pushbike or a "motorsickle". Luckily I only had one nasty on a road bike when an "elderly" person came out of a side turning and "T" boned me. Again luckily I was on a customers bike (having spent hours rebuilding the gearbox) my boss bought the damaged machine rebuilt it and made a profit when he resold it. I did have a sore bottom for a while though! I'd better not mention the accidents and injuries I've had in trials though, that was just me being a clumsy idiot for nearly sixty years. None of the above must put anyone off motorcycles, there is nothing in this world that can compare to riding a motorbike (no rude comments please), you can have more fun on a moped than when you are driving an Aston Martin! Ours is the best sport in the world, keep at it lads and lasses and let's hope we can get out of this Covid thing very soon. Lastly, an apology, Rob Warner's article in an earlier issue was credited as being by me, sorry folks it was written by the man himself South Midland "ace" Rob. All the best. Contributions in this issue: Viv Brackett, Andy Withers, Alan Turner, Mike Wiseman, Bob Brown, John Bramall, Bob Twigg, John Kitchener, Dave Blanchard, Fraser Law, Bob Twigg, Barham MCC Would you like to contribute? Please send to the editor, contact details on page 3.
Cover Photo: Chris Koch Photo by: mxphotos
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