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Frank has extended an invitation to his talk to BTSC members in the Gloucester area. See flier below for details.  Life Vice President and Former Director of The British Two Stroke Club Limited Brian, who was a founder member, when the Club reformed back in 1979/1980 together with Colin Atkinson and Dave Benson, sadly passed away after a short illness in October. Brian was a Life Vice President and was a director from 2004 to 2021. Brian was a regular at Colin’s meeting, riding through the Dartford Tunnel on his trusted Greeves, but in the 1990’s he decided to relocate to the South Coast, to be nearer to his daughter Karen and his Grandchildren. He came to live a few roads away from me in Waterlooville, Hampshire and by chance, we met up and started the Solent Section of the Club. Brian then accompanied me on my various trips to France (Luc Sur Mer and The Somme), Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg. He was also a very active Member of the Club attending the AGM’s, Chiltern Hundred Runs, Surrey Hills etc. He also took part in the International West Kent Runs. He could always be trusted to have a cup of tea wherever he went. We used to meet once a month in his house in Waterlooville, planning what and where we should go every Wednesday and Sunday. We were always made welcome by Janet and Brian, with tea and cake. We had many an adventure around the country leaving his exhaust system on the A272. Having to make a makeshift gear lever from a spark plug spanner on the West Kent Run, riding miles with a flat type on his little Bown, smoking out France on my Greeves on the hills near Arromanches in France, but we always got home safe and sound. Brian would always be there to volunteer if we needed, as a backup driver and I recall twice we made trips with the Francis Barnett Club (The long trip from Lands’ End to John O’Groats and back and the Welsh Dragon run) where he drove his trusted Car, pulling our two-bike trailer for thousands of miles, never complaining, whist we enjoyed the riding. His skills of reversing a trailer into the most difficult of places and getting stuck were well known! On our various trips aboard, we had many an adventure, I recall on one trip to the Somme his gearbox on his 250 MZ broke on the way to Dover, he returned home with only top gear working, then switched bikes to his 150 MZ and belted around the M25 to arrive early the next morning in time to catch the Ferry. On another occasion in France at the Hotel near Luc sur mer he produced a tray, cups, and teapot from his bag together with English teabags so that he and his roommates could have a decent cup of tea each morning. He was a true Gentleman. Brian always a keen dog lover and walker and accompanied me on a monthly trip to London where we set ourselves a challenge, to visit as many of the Free Museums and Wetherspoons in London Area using our free bus passes and the Megabus (train) rides. We set ourselves a budget of £10 a trip. We visited 54 Wetherspoons and countless museums, even getting on the Thames Clipper to Greenwich and when asked if we had a Freedom of London Passed Brian said yes and we got subsidised travel. I asked Brian what a Freedom of London Pass was, and he said no idea. We caught the Free Bus Back. On another occasion he manged to arrange a backstage visit to the Globe Theatre all for free, he had many friends and colleagues throughout the country. He also helped arrange the local Mayor of Havant charity bike ride (raising thousands for local charities), putting up and taking down the signs without a fuss always there to help. Sadly, as his health deteriorated, we had to stop the trips, but we then went out each week in my 1935 Morris 8 just for a cup of tea until he was not able. A true rider of Motorcycles and supporter of Two Strokes Rest in peace now Brian. You will be missed. Robert Hill BTSC Secretary From: Mel Holley <secretary@fbhvc.co.uk>
Date: 14 September 2023 at 12:57:55 BST Subject: URGENT - Special offer for your members for this Saturday's Motul Hill Climb at Shelsley Walsh, Worcestershire Good afternoon We appreciate that this is short notice, but we'd be grateful of you could share this with your members please. The key message is that members of FBHVC-affiliated clubs (i.e. your members) will receive a discount of 15% OFF when using promo code FBHVC23 in checkout. Details are below: Drive Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb at the first ever Motul Hill Climb Drive the oldest motorsport venue in the world still to run events on the original course on Saturday 23rd September 2023. Each driver will get 4-6 runs up the hill in their own vehicle with passenger and spectator passes sold separately. As an FBHVC member, tickets are discounted by using promo code FBHVC23 If you are a car club member, don't forget to use your discount code! DRIVER PASS https://www.clubmotul.co.uk/p/shelsley-walsh-driver-pass/355 Take in the countryside as you countdown to a mile of iconic twists, turns and straights of the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb. PASSENGER PASS https://www.clubmotul.co.uk/p/shelsley-walsh-passenger-pass/356 Strap yourself into the passenger seat for a ride up the legendary Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb. SPECTATOR PASS https://www.clubmotul.co.uk/p/shelsley-walsh-spectator-pass/357 Watch an eclectic mix of cars speed to the top of the hill at Shelsley Walsh and enjoy the rolling hill of the Worcestershire countryside. WHAT'S ON? https://www.clubmotul.co.uk/r/club-motul-hillclimb/65 FOOD&DRINK The bar will be open to keep drinks flowing and there will be a selection of food available throughout the day. PRIZES AND GIVEAWAYS There will be prizes for 'Best in Batch', 'Best in Show' and 'Surprise of Shelsley' at the end of the day and some Motul giveaways too. OIL ANALYSIS Motul will be offering an oil analysis service. Oil samples will be taken from your vehicle on the day and a full health report will be sent out to you via the Motul UK Technical Manager. Technical support will also be available on the day. Mel Holley Secretary, Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs Ltd. PO Box 1563 Peterborough PE1 9AU PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW ADDRESS ABOVE, the telephone number remains unchanged Tel: 01708 223111 Email: secretary@fbhvc.co.uk Registered in England, Company No. 3842316. VAT Reg. No. 636 7886 83 The run was inaugurated many years ago by Bill Drummond, who has decided to give it up due to family commitments. Fortunately Ron Lewis has stepped into the breach to organise the run and keep it alive.
Ron comments, "I’d like express my gratitude for his (Bill's) encouragement and expertise as I endeavour to keep support for the run going." The run will be on Sunday 8th October. Meet at 10.00 for a 10.30 start at Wisborough Green. The run is approximately 40 miles long, travelling through back roads and ending at Queen Elizabeth Country Park. For more information contact Ron Lewis at ronlew.46@hotmail.co.uk or 07800 539510. Two separate bike thefts have been reported to the club recently.
The first theft was from premises in Cottingham, Northamptonshire where three bikes were stolen. One was recovered but still missing are Suzuki GT 500 registration VHP 181S and Suzuki GT 750 registration SLU 917R. Our second reported theft is from a garage in the Coventry area. Stolen was a James Cadet 324 XVU, engine number 15T1227, frame number CL15A7284, colour maroon. Please keep an eye out for these bikes. Should you come across them or have any information regarding the thefts please e-mail me on BTSC@janiszakis.com As the club speeds towards it's smokey 100 year anniversary we are setting club members a challenge which harks back to the clubs inception back in 1929 and Tommy Meetons love of longer distance ventures.
The BTSC was formed in 1929. The lead being a famous competition rider of the day, T.G. (Tommy) Meeten, a former Tourist Trophy rider and a competitor in the Scottish and International Six Days Trials. He also set several world and endurance records on two-stroke machines. The definitive facts are now lost in the smoke filled past. The story goes that in 1923 he was so impressed by the performance of a 147cc Francis Barnett model he rode in a trial he chose to campaign two-stroke machines in preference to much larger four-strokes. For many years the British Two-Stroke Club was based at T.G's motorcycle shop, originally at Dorking in Surrey and subsequently (as Meetens Motorcycle Mecca) at Shannon Corner, New Malden, also in surrey. He also took a Francis Barnett on a Land’s End to John O’Groats As an homage to Tommy’s pioneering work with two stroke machines, and 2023 being our 94th year the challenge is for 94 members to cover 94 miles in our 94 year, the challenge will be continued, each year the mileage will increase by one mile and by one member until 2029 when we hit the 100. The challenge must be completed in one hit and in one day between 1st April and the 31st October 2023 with a maximum number of competitors for 2023 of 94 and is only open to fully paid up members of the club. Badges and certificates will be awarded to members completing the challenge successfully and recorded in The Independent. Click here for full details along with an application form which is available in the members section of the club website. Best of luck to you all and I hope to hear from the 94 soon. Howard We are very sorry to hear of the death of Dave Benson who was a Life Vice President of our Club. He was also our Marque Specialist on Villiers engined Motorcycles, as well as our Technical Officer. He will be missed by us all. Dave served as a Committee Member and Treasurer for many year and was made a Life Vice President on his retirement. Member Bernard Stevens shares these memories of Dave: I was sad to hear of the passing of Dave Benson yesterday! Dave was a member of the club when I joined 40 years ago.I have to admit not knowing Dave too well but obviously our paths did cross in those years I found his knowledge of all things bike especially Francis Barnet was impressive. On a Chiltern 100 run someone had left their spot on a large roundabout by Luton Airport !Dave took over the lead and took at least 50 miles before we got back to Polluxhill with Dave saying "I thought I would take you the quick way back!" Another year 2007 Dave took part in the West Kent run on a home made special called a 'Walker Bull Dog Pup' a very low rider ,solid rear end, but powered by a 1000 cc JAP V twin. My last meeting with Dave was at the end of the BTSC 90th anniversary run to the Surrey Oaks pub in 2019 where we enjoyed a pint together! great guy ! and will be missed.  Unfortunately our director and regalia officer, Andy, has suffered an 'off' on his Royal Enfield. He is currently recovering from his injuries. We wish him all the best and a speedy recovery!
The proposed vehicle anti-tampering legislation is set to be debated in Parliament at 4.30pm, Monday the 25th of April.
If you haven’t heard about the anti-tampering legislation and its potential impact on our hobby look here at the BMF report. https://www.britishmotorcyclists.co.uk/anti-tampering-threat/ The debate on the legislation has come about because of a successful petition which you can see here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/600954 You can also follow the debate live at this link: https://youtu.be/TxV7WyUO9F4 Us motorcyclists know that we need our wits about us when riding our bikes so we're not likely to be using a mobile phone whilst riding. Nonetheless here is an update from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency on the use of mobile phones. From today (25 March), rules in The Highway Code are coming into force to make any hand-held use of a mobile phone while driving illegal, except in limited circumstances.
The changes were supported by 80% of respondents in a public consultation in 2021. This means you must not use a device in your hand for any reason, whether online or offline. The law applies to you if you’re:
You can find the full rules on using a phone, sat nav or another device when driving on GOV.UK The government’s award-winning THINK! team will launch an awareness campaign today to remind drivers not to use a hand-held phone at the wheel and the penalties of choosing to ignore this new law. Why staying up to date is important. It's important that everyone – not just learner drivers – understand their responsibility for the safety of other road users. Many of the rules in the code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you’re committing a criminal offence. If you do not follow the other rules in the code, it can be used in evidence in court proceedings to establish liability. How to stay up to date. The full version of The Highway Code is available, free of charge, on GOV.UK. |
