Competing in Trials on Your Travel Bike - UK
 

If you want an opportunity to practice your navigational skills and off-tarmac riding then you could do worse than enter an MCC Trial. What’s the MCC? Have a look at MCC | The Motor Cycling Club - 100 Years of Motorsport to find out – probably the UK’s oldest motorcycle club.

The club runs 3 overnight long distance classic trials each year. These are the Exeter in January, the Land’s End at Easter and the Edinburgh in October.

The trials aren’t much like the kind of rock hopping acrobatics for which a proper trials bike is needed. Instead they consist of a course of around 200 to 300 miles, on public roads, with about fifteen short excursions off the tarmac to observed sections that usually consist of a longish hill climb that must be traversed without the rider footing or ceasing forward motion. To give an idea of the severity of the hills, sidecars also compete as do two-wheel drive cars (although the bikes go round before the cars).

The events run overnight and usually finish around midday the day after the evening start. There are compulsory rest halts and meal breaks. Navigation is by roadbook.

Suitable bikes? Well, just about anything that's robust and has a degree of off-road capability. Hardcore enthusiasts generally ride small trail bikes but it’s not unusual to see an Enfield road bike or a BMW GS twin. One winner used an Africa Twin. For the less skilled rider there is an easier route to follow.

Costs? I estimate about £200 per event including entry fees, fuel, meals, accommodation for the night afterwards and consumables such as tyres.

If you’re interested send me a private message to me or visit MCC | The Motor Cycling Club - 100 Years of Motorsport

Thanks

Ian Thompson

Motorcycle PR
The Motor Cycling Club.

Are the MCC still running events? I thought they'd choked themselves on their over burdening rule book.

Don't forget to remind any perspective participants about the angle of their registration plate .

Exactly where to fix their riding number, and perhaps anymore 'rules' they may have recently added, and they wonder why entries are falling !

thats a deal!
 

Cool, does that mean I can turn up with bald tyres and you put nice new ones on just before we go out for the run?

Cor, do you get paid to write this?
 

So they can be used 'Off road' as well then? I always wondered about that one!:rofl:

Africa Twins
 

I believe Caminando rides an AT, if he was not banned he would be abusing you again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :innocent:

Ian,
Way back I use to marshal on one of these trials, it was in the peak district and I think it was the Edinburgh trial.
All sorts of characters and vehicles and bikes.
I remember one year someone competed on a Z1000 with knobblies, some of the sections where quite demanding. Another time I was marshalling a stop / start obstacle in a steep gorge at the bottom of a steep bank, a heard of cows came to watch the goings on and the bank collapsed and deposited 3 distressed cows on to the course.
Loads of good fun but bloody cold, I did look at entering myself but I think you have to be a club member for a year before entering, I may remember that wrong but something got in the way.
A truly English event and worth spectating.

Steve

You have to be a member before entering, but not for a year. Simply join up a few weeks before entering.

As you say truly English events, and I guess one of the few competitions where you can reasonably compete on your typical adventure tourer.

Truly English event........
 

Would 'Truly English event' be another way of saying 'Crap weather, crap catering and ran by people with a Sense of Humour Bypass?'

None of those things, the ingredients’ are rather difficult to define. It’s about taking part but not about winning. Throw in some eccentric’s riding / driving eccentric vehicles in some fantastic surroundings and everyone is battling the elements what ever they may be.

Steve

My bike was about 6months old and the scrotum-neers had to have a debate on my bikes legality as I'd lost the tax disc, and had to report to the second lot of scrotum-neers at the overnight rest stop.

My riding number was frowned upon for being on the back of my helmet, thats's the one on my head! and not on the back of the bike.

They were also not happy about the angle of my rear number plate which is a proper plate and NOT at a ridiculous angle.
Now you have to join the 'club' at about £48-50 entry, + fuel, although you don't have to stay overnight, but as Ian says around £200 per event, I think thats excessive especially for the attitude dished out.
I did just the one and would not even consider another until the events are run by possibly younger people more in touch with the real world than the pipe smoking clothed capped tweed jacketed old f:censored:ers that are in place now, Imagine how much biking you can do on £200, 8-10 days budget in Africa or SA?.
I did though enjoy the event despite the 'school headmaster' attitude, the sad reality is, one or two sensible people would never get into a position to change attitudes, I know Ian is trying to promote their events, but any ideas he or anyone else as to offer will just be scoffed at by 'The Old Farts' club

:sleeping::sleeping::sleeping::sleeping::sleeping: :sleeping::sleeping::sleeping::sleeping::sleeping: :sleeping::sleeping::sleeping:

No:nono: ,.......Martynbiker was correct the first time, with perhaps the exception of the catering, a few cars are different, but as Ian says about the bikes, whats eccentric about them ? with the exception of Africa Twins ?
:thumbdown:

Id rather spend my money on this!
 

Now THIS sounds like more FUN! ( and its cheaper!)

Dave,
You could be correct I am thinking about 25 - 30 years ago, and rather eccentric a vast assortment would be a better description. Although a z1000 with knobblies is high on the scale of lunatic.
I bristle against authority more than most but IMHO those "headmasters" keep it the way it should be ands that’s why it’s unique, it’s been going for donkeys and long may it continue.

Steve

ahhhhhhhh tradition!
 

Ahhhh Tradition, got to keep it the way it has always been? keep it unique, thats what makes us BRITISH! cant change wont change attitude is pathetic!
c'mon Steve wake up n smell the Coffee!......


P.S. Sorry should that be Wake up n smell the Tea?

Steve, because of the headmaster attitude that is the reason that a good few members from our offroad club will not entertain MCC events, ask Ian how many bike entries were received for the 'Edinburgh' trial before F&M forced its cancellation? . And it is probably the same organisers now as it was 25-30 years ago.
There is no encouragement for riders to take up the 'sport' of Long distance trials, and I could just imagine the attitude of the 'headmasters' if 20 or so 20year olds entered one of the events!!!

Having started and helped organise an off road 4wd club for many years ,I can sympathise with the organisers .[ I used to smoke a pipe and wear tweeds too ,and was a scrutineer , never a schoolmaster though ! ]
It's impossible to please everyone and some newcomers will always try to bend the rules.
I've seen it happen many times , have given lots of advice to competitors so that they could continue and in extreme cases even banned a few vehicles.
Vehicle and competition regs have been refined over a number of years . RAC ,scrutineers,insurance and competition licences cost money - everything costs money !
If you want to enter and be eligible for a trophy , READ THE REGS , if you don't like them , don't whine about it , go elsewhere , very very simple .

I know the amount of work that goes into an event like this and if it wasn't for the the old f#ckers ,there wouldn't be an event .
If you don't like it , fair enough , it's a free world .
But why rubbish the event ?
200 quid for a long distance national event is peanuts !

If I could get back over to Blighty at the right time of year I'd love to do the Exeter .
I might even see if I could find the old briar .

Sense of humour required for this post .
 

"----------2008 HUMM Accommodation:

* Accommodation has been booked in the 4 Star "Hotel Riberies" in Llavorsi. We have negotiated a package price which includes all breakfasts and evening meals for 3 nights for £170 per person including VAT.
* This hotel has the best breakfasts in Spain, possibly the best in England - no exaggeration! Full cooked English breakfast PLUS fruit, yogurt, cereals, breads, cheeses, cold meats, fresh squeezed orange juice, etc. Three course dinners will offer a vegetarian choice as well as chicken, fish or beef. And after a hard day's riding, you will appreciate the luxury of this hotel. If your significant other is along, they will really appreciate the heated outdoor pool and the spa, jacuzzi, gym facilities, including manicures, pedicures and a variety of massages, and you will earn many brownie points ;-)
* The hotel also offers horseback riding and white water rafting for those wanting a little more adventure.
----------------------------------- "


My godfathers , " yogurt " ," freshly squeezed orange juice ", "vegetarian ", "manicures pedicures"-- it all sounds a bit nancy to me .
No I prefer:
the west country in winter ;
sleet and rain , cars with no heaters, grumpy pub landlords , muddy Barbour jackets , the steam rising from a tweed cloth cap , a pint of bitter, steak and kidney pie [if you are lucky] , spotty young oiks [with numbers on their heads] being put in their place , the friendly banter of retired schoolmasters , schoolboys on bicycles bringing fresh supplies of pipe tobacco for the marshals ---------------------------.

your worrying me dodge!
 

Spotty oiks Being put in their place by headmasters!????

Schoolboys on Bikes??

Im proper gettin worried Dude!:rofl:

Dodger, I did that llavorsi route in 2006 as it was the original Pyreknees run, within 20mtrs of the hotel there was a superb campsite that a number of us stayed at, so you had an option.

£200 for a 'national' Long distance trial is peanuts :confused1::confused1:....really:nono:

When our enduro club runs an event we get 120+ riders and our organising 'team' live in the real world and EVERYBODY enjoys the event, ALL bikes pass scrutineering because any presented that have faults have the faults pointed out and our members are keen to assist that rider to get his machine rectified......Not thrown out of the event.

The 'proof' of the event is in the entries.......wait and see if Ian can give entry figures now, compared with the 25-30 years ago that Steve Attwood spoke about.

For a real Value for Money LDT's(1 day event) try The Exmoor clouds or the Neil Westcott Memorial events in Somerset, a great days sport and organisation that the MCC could do well by watching closely.

It would also be worth seeing what sort of figures the MCC have in terms of membership....then and now?

£200 is peanuts, you are havin a laugh... Pyreknees-up and even the TT are better value.

Got to agree with you Martyn....... and most of the headmasters that were putting them in their place are now on a register...and its NOT the school one either..

its more than i earn in 2 montha actually dave!
 

Actually you is well correct there my old fella, I am Unemployed and due to Illness live in Spain courtesy of my parents. I do odd jobs when I am well enough and earn roughly 80-100 Euros a MONTH! enough just to run my bike,
so 200 quid, to me at least is loadsamoney!

thats also against the law isnt it?
 

In the UK i believe you have to be 16 or is it 17 now to buy Tobacco? so a schoolboy bringing tobacco for a marshall would actually not be allowed...:oops2:

Perhaps things are very much different where Dodger comes from, and I see he is from Canada, the same nationality as our HU founders/hosts :eek3:

so I'd better be careful what I say or Suzie may give me a dose of the 'Caminandos'
:oops2::rofl: :ban:

the canadians are supposed to be more laid back.....
 

The Canadians are 'supposed' to be more laid back as a Nation, like the Dutch.... after all you can grow Cannabis legally in Canada! and I think Dodgy, I mean Dodger, is like me, an Ex Pratt, getting as far away from possible from England, for whatever reason,Only he only knows, mine was a Divorce, he probably didnt have his registration sticker on straight and wore the wrong shade of tweed and had to retreat in semi shame to a country that for 6 months of the year is actually colder than England, serves Molson Beer, NO Steak n Kidney puddin and has Mooses or is that Moosii??:rofl:

only kiddin Dodgy! We know you can take it.... after all you admit to wearin tweed for goodness sake!

UK Christmas telly is obviously crap again .
 

dave ede being chastised by the schoolmaster Clerk of the Course for being so presumptuous as to wear his number on his head .
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...er/whacko2.jpg

Next in line Martynbiker for running away to Spain .

For those in any doubt [ THAT WAS A JOKE ] [ laughing is optional ]

This bit is SERIOUS .[ the bit below ]

Martyn :As far as I am aware, it's not illegal in the UK to have tobacco on your person even if under the age of 16 , but it would be illegal for a tobacconist to sell it to a person under the age of 16 .
Yeah, you may well be right ,dave, about the events you mentioned but 200 quid wouldn't go very far if you wanted to enter the TT [ or is there another TT that I haven't heard of ] .
Any way the original poster mentioned an overall estimated cost of 200 pounds . What does a ferry ride ,accomodation, petrol plus entry fees cost for the Pyrenkees up ?
I'm sorry that the MCC doesn't suit you [ sir] , but still, it's a bit churlish to slag them off .

As far as I am aware it is still illegal to grow marijuana in BC .
But what does that have to do with this thread ?
Obviously the hot sun has addled your brain , come to Canada ,relax and chill out a bit .

And guys ,I worry about you too !

Merry Christmas .

roflmao!
 

:rofl: :D :rofl: :D :rofl: :D :rofl:
The Canadians are 'supposed' to be more laid back as a Nation, like the Dutch.... I was comparing the Canadian laid back attitude to the Dutch laid back attitude Dodger! hence the reference to Cannabis?

At LAST we have an EX MCC Member that didnt have a Sense of Humour Bypass when he Joined!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice one Dodgy!

Can't images like that get you locked up ?

Camainando got banned for abusive comments :ban:


I got an infraction notice and 9 points?? for inciting and gloating :rofl:



So what will you get for S&M images with a minor?:nono::helpsmilie: :stormy::ban::hang:possibly a visit ?....:detective:

you got it wrong Dave
 

You guys are the best double act I've seen in a long while ,
kinda reminds me of :
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...ardyimages.jpg

or is it :
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...yousir203b.jpg

no no here you go :


http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...tain-COVER.jpg

Have a fun Xmas fellas .
[ I know you will !]

frightening thought........
 

All the best Dodger, I am at work and have been most of the day, I think from posts, that Martynbiker as been riding and chilling out in sunny Spain, hope you have enjoyed the day.
Can only reconise Laurel and Hardy, who are the others?:thumbup1:

Oh yes! have i EVER.....
 

Aye been out riding in the Mountains and off road here in Sunny Spain, well, it has been warm today, open face lid weather and I have a sunburned face too!
this is what I been up to Dave,Dodger and anyone else who wants to see........

The Bah Humbug! Xmas Day Rideout..... - ADVrider


Martyn:mchappy:

MCC I Love it
 

I’m With Ian on this one the MCC events are great I’ve been doing them on and off for about 10 years on solos and sidecars :scooter:
At the moment I have an XT600E the only mods I have done to it is one tooth down on the front sprocket and a set on trials tyres MT43s
I’m not doing the Exeter this year but will be there for the Lands end at Easter if you are quick you could join the club and ride in the lands end

Dave sorry to hear that you had a bad experience of the MCC but lets be fair the rules are there for a reason I don’t know what type of other events you have competed in but I sure if you turn up at any of them with your number stuck on the back of your head they are going to tell you to sort it out have you ever read the ACU rule book there are pages of stuff like size shape and position of numbers , We all have to stick to the rules and its not that difficult give it a go you won’t be sorry

If you are thinking about it why not go and watch the Exeter and talk to some of the riders one of the best places for this is at Sims as the Village hall there will be doing food and drinks here’s the link to were it is

MCC | The Motor Cycling Club - 100 Years of Motorsport

MCC | The Motor Cycling Club - 100 Years of Motorsport

1) I have ridden in one day 'feet-up' trials...where it was and is common place to have your number on the back of your helmet as well as a one on the front of the bike.
2) One day long distance trials with numbers as point (1)
3) Enduro, stick-on numbers front and side of machine
4) MCC trial, the only one that want a special mounting for the number.

Riding numbers were only a small reason for my disappointment with the MCC, it was the general attitude at the Popham start and "You will have to see the chief scrutineer at Yeovil" threat. Once I'd got to Yeovil the chief scrutneer turned out to be a decent bloke.
I know Ian has a passion for trials be it one day or LDT's but if he is to get anywhere in promoting them they(MCC) will have to change their attitudes especially to the angle of reg' plates considering the majority of the UK's offroad bikes are enduro based and road legal but obviously not MCC legal. Despite my 'run-in' with officialdom I enjoyed the event but believe me Ian has his work cut out to turn things around.
And still no one has come back and answered any of the points I brought up in a previous post?

scared or embarrased Dave?
 

They are either scared to come out of the closet (too busy thrashing the schoolboys) or Embarrased by their total stupidity in the face of reasonableness. I mean c'mon, Bob, this is what you wrote...... have you ever read the ACU rule book there are pages of stuff like size shape and position of numbers ,
EXACTLY! Pages not just ONE page, multiples thereof!.... of stuff like shape n position of numbers. No wonder the average bloke considers the MCC boring. you lot are too tied up in wanting to have 'rules' for this and 'rules' for that,and whatever we do we cant let him ride with a sticker that is not applied correctly and straight, its against the 'rules' !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good Grief.:thumbdown:
This is the type of :9898: that Dave & I are against. Condemn us if you must, but I would rather ride alone:funmeteryes: than with a bunch of tossers that are bothered wether or not my number is on 'Correctly':funmeterno:

Martyn

I rest my case
 

This is probably the most comprehensive reply that could ever be aimed at the MCC with their love of the 'rule book', not only do they have their own one but also in conjunction with the ACU one (Blue book). I have a copy somewhere. the sort of book that you would read if on 'Death Row' then you would find yourself 'pushing' in further up the queue :rofl: just to end the pain .

Is there a place in motorcycling for anything other than basic rules?

Due to the constant threat of litigation even our Enduro club is having to go Limited....even more rules, but unavoidable.


I hate rules, I say :ban: The Rule book and just :scooter:

youll be Joining an 'Outlaw Motorcycle Gang' then Dave?
 

No, wait!....... even THEY have rules....... Hmmmmmm .....now that reminds me EXACTLY why I choose to ride ALONE!
OK, riding alone is Unsafe, Stupid and probably Grossly Negligent, but and here is the point its FUN,and whats more its MY choice. there is no-one to point a finger and say you have done something 'wrong', wrong in whose eyes anyway? the MCC's?, the ACU?
I stop when I want to, more often than not, I don't stop other than for a 'P' and a Picture..I make my own pace, ride where I want, when I want, at a speed I like. If I want to 'Pop' the odd 'Wheelie' I do, if I want to re-ride a section of track/ road/ riverbed/ goat-path because I enjoyed it.. I do... I have that freedom, a freedom not given to riders in Organised Events.
and you know the BEST bit Dave? I don't have to wear a silly Number!!

Come over and Join Me sometime Mate, You Will LOVE it!

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/e...E/DSC05117.jpg
Oh Oh! those Boxes are probably against the rules Dave! ( Page 123, paragraph 3 subsection 4 :rofl:)

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/e...E/DSC05170.jpg

not all the roads are as smooth as this one........
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/e...E/DSC05172.jpg

and not a Tweed Jacket, Pipe or Flat Cap in sight!

MCC supplementary regs section J " Motorcycles classes must NOT attach numbers to Clothing, but MUST be fitted to a flat plate (plastic is
recommended). One to face forward and one rearward."

It took me all of 3 minutes to find on the MCC website . Not hard really .
There are assholes everywhere Dave and it sounds like the scrutineer at the start was , in your opinion , one of them , maybe he has the same opinion of you .The chief scrutineer was , in your opinion , a reasonable bloke and you then went on to enjoy the event .
You weren't excluded.
A happy result I would have thought .

Perhaps a well written letter to the Clerk of the Course would be a better way to get your point across to the organisers . All letters written to the club officials should be read out at meetings .
I know that when I was on the committee of a 4WD club we were very conscious of members feelings and always tried to accomodate factions within the club by making new classes or by changing certain regulations when necessary .
However we ignored gossip, sour grapes and attempts to spoil the clubs reputation by disgruntled competitors , thankfully I can only recall one occasion when a member competed in an illegal vehicle and even then we allowed him several competitions and turned a blind eye until the full membership could vote on the vehicle's eligability .Unsafe vehicles were never allowed to compete .

When we first formed the club , we wanted to keep things simple and unfettered by rules , however we found out that the committee would be personally liable for any injury or damage to competitors or spectators .This could have been ruin for most of us , therefore we had to become either a limited company or join the RAC MSA , we chose the latter for simplicity, insurance and commonality of vehicle regs . Thus , although we then had to play by their rules , we were able to carry on holding events as a club and drivers could also carry on entering and having fun competing , [which after all ,is what it was all about] .

Your comment about what effect it would have if more 20 year olds competed ;
I can only think that they would be welcomed with open arms , I know in my old club we always had a good cross section of ages .Age is only one aspect , frame of mind is what counts .
I've known some incredibly hidebound ,annoying ,unadventurous prats who still had peach fuzz on their chins .

If you DO want to bring about a change , I suggest you DO write to the MCC and state your concerns , it is the only way to lend credibility to your comments .

If you had read carefully and not just the 'number' placement before running to the MCC rules, you would have seen that there was more than one issue with them.

I took my displeasures up with Ian the MCC PR man for motorcycles, and our offroad club of some 120 members has one member that participates at MCC events on a regular basis and has done for years.

so is it the BIKE or the RIDER that Competes Dodger?
 

The bold is my replies Dodger.......

have a good un'

Martyn

Well Martyn , it's a dangerous world , if you don't carry ID - you can't be identified , a valid driver's licence has to be produced at the start .

No club rules were broken , the vehicle was allowed to enter but not to compete for a trophy against other class eligible vehicles .

We once stopped a fellow from driving who went to the pub at lunchtime , drink and drugs are not allowed . Do you want everyone to be tested at every event ? Get Real !
The MCC are covered by insurance from the RAC MSA and the ACU , if you have concerns then talk to them about it .

As for the tail wagging the dog , again - get real , nobody in their right mind would risk bankruptcy because they happened to enjoy organising events as an unpaid but enthusiastic amateurs .

I was giving you all some of my experiences as both orgainiser and competitor ,hoping that it would put some of the criticisms into perspective . Wailing on endlessly about the regs because you don't like them is fine but doesn't really achieve much other than filling the pages here .
If dave ede joins the committee of his enduro club as it becomes a limited company , I am sure he will have a much clearer idea of how bloody complicated it becomes when you try to put on competitive events for others to enjoy .

I thought i was being 'Real' Dodger....
 

you admitted your club broke the rules, and that could have resulted in an accident, which could have resulted in a law suit.
I can only recall one occasion when a member competed in an illegal vehicle
YOUR words, not mine..... COMPETED & ILLEGAL in the same sentence......


enough said......

Have a good one Dodgy!

Martyn

I'm glad you took it up with the MCC on an official basis .

Maybe I read you post wrong before I "ran to the MCC rules "
But I did indeed see more than one issue .
There were three issues I believe :
No tax disc -invalid number placement - angle of number plate .
By your own admission you were in violation of two regulations , the angle of the number plate seems a fatuous reason for complaint from the scrutineer , but even so you could have been excluded , --but you weren't .

AH Martyn , to add further fuel to the fire ,and to help your never ending quest of hair splitting .
I stated that no club rules had been broken .
The competition was a trial where one competes against the course , not against another vehicle or driver .
I could dig up a list of rules and regs and competition descriptions and spend hours explaining the complexity of the situation and maybe even ask for witnesses from the old club if they could be traced .

But then you might just be taking the piss .

im not splitting hairs, your contradicting yourself!
 

Dodger Quote:
Originally Posted by Martynbiker http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...s/viewpost.gif
The bold is my replies Dodger.......



have a good un'

Martyn

Well Martyn , it's a dangerous world , if you don't carry ID - you can't be identified , a valid driver's licence has to be produced at the start .

No club rules were broken , the vehicle was allowed to enter but not to compete for a trophy against other class eligible vehicles .

We once stopped a fellow from driving who went to the pub at lunchtime , drink and drugs are not allowed . Do you want everyone to be tested at every event ? Get Real !
The MCC are covered by insurance from the RAC MSA and the ACU , if you have concerns then talk to them about it .

As for the tail wagging the dog , again - get real , nobody in their right mind would risk bankruptcy because they happened to enjoy organising events as an unpaid but enthusiastic amateurs .

I was giving you all some of my experiences as both orgainiser and competitor ,hoping that it would put some of the criticisms into perspective . Wailing on endlessly about the regs because you don't like them is fine but doesn't really achieve much other than filling the pages here .
If dave ede joins the committee of his enduro club as it becomes a limited company , I am sure he will have a much clearer idea of how bloody complicated it becomes when you try to put on competitive events for others to enjoy .


So which was it? was all I was asking?

Club rules weren't broken .
Vehicle class regulations were .
He didn't "fit" into any of our classes , it was too late in the season to start a new class .
He was allowed to enter but not gain points in any class .
We could have excluded him ,
we didn't .
The club voted for a new vehicle class at the AGM .
Everyone was happy because the club officials took a broad view [ or blind eye whatever you want to call it ] , it happens all the time in motor and motorcycle clubs .

Happy New Year !

I use to ride 'reliability trials' here .. no numbers on bike or me .. mostly I remember a 'card' - scrap of paper that people took and wrote things on and I got back .. fairly simple really .. just went out and had fun .... There were rules .. you had to have ACU membership .. and have read the rider rules .. most of which had no aplication for what 'we' were doing ..

I wonder how the MCC would react to a OZie on a OZ regoed bike turning up .. "Tax disk ? Wots that, mate?" "MOT? .. wada ya mean? :P

Come on over to England, and compete again, I'll even lend you my bike :thumbup1:

As Kevin 'bloody' Wilson would say dilligaf !! :rofl:

He does have a point ya know.........
 

You see frank, THATS what I am talking about! i have visions of this.....

Oz official: you read the rules?
Oz Biker: yes
Oz official: you can read then?
Oz Biker: Beggerorrf.......

thats the way it should be......:rofl:

Quite how such an innocent,well-meaning,informative thread has turned into an excuse for people to vent their spleen at the organising club of a trial is beyond me.....amusing in places though i must admit! I'll openly admit also to having competed in MCC events over the last 20 or so years(along with just about every other type of 2,3,and 4 wheeled motorsport going) and have enjoyed myself mostly.Granted MCC trials are not everyone's cup of rosey-lee (the same goes for road racing,motocross,enduro,even........travelling!) but please don't knock those who spend their own (un-paid) time and efforts to allow others to have fun in parts of the country where un-metalled vehicular rights of way are vanishing by the day.The work that these people do is in some cases the only reason why you CAN STILL RIDE in such places.In several cases the MCC is the ONLY club permitted to run legal,organised motoring events in areas otherwise closed off to vehicles full stop,hence the reason for needing to be "seen" as a respectable organisation by the general public many of whom care very little for motorcycles in particular.This is the real reason for scrutineers,etc wishing to make sure every competing vehicle is fully road legal and looking as respectable as possible.Yes it is possible to get an MOT on an enduro bike with questionable lights,numberplate size/positioning,silencing,etc....(my own exc 525 is a prime example) BUT there's no way i would enter it into a classic trial as it's a bit too uncivilized in the public's eyes.
However......pretty much any TRAIL bike produced in the last 30 years IS suitable with minimal or no modification,and this includes dual-sport bikes.When Ian posted this thread i think he intended it to be aimed towards those of us who have such bikes in the shed and who "have always wanted to have a go at that but never knew how to go about it".It took me a couple of years in the pre-internet days to track down the MCC so i could have a go myself,which i'm glad i did otherwise my little collection of tin-ware would be missing a certain Triple award (won on an pretty standard MZ on road tyres back in 1996),and many fond memories and friendships would'nt have been formed.

and why is that then?
 

The reason for this is because the General Public are generally misinformed and class all 'Bikers' as loud, rowdy, trouble makers, and i must admit in a lot of cases because of teenagers on 'crossers' or bikes without baffles cos' they 'go faster' they have a right to their opinion.
look at the amount of 'minibikes' & 'Pitbikes' the Police confiscate for being ridden Illegally and there is no wonder only clubs like the MCC can get permission to ride in some places.

we haven't been venting our spleen at an Organisation, we have been having a good old leg pull and 'dig in the rib's' at a few members of an Organisation who love RULES.......and there not even about Bikes...LOOK
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Martyn/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-9.jpg[/IMG]

MCC | The Motor Cycling Club - 100 Years of Motorsport

on the first page THREE pictures of CARS :9898:.. Hardly a MOTORCYCLE CLUB is it?

Martyn 'no spleen' Biker

Well said John
I will see you on the Lands end as I can’t make the Exeter this year but have a good one :D

Bob Thorpe

And Martynbiker for someone that has no intention of competing in MCC events I can’t understand why you are so happy to put other’s off and to slag the club off
As my old Mum used to say if you have nothing nice to say nothing especially if it on a subject that you don’t appear to be very well informed about :smiliex:

i havent put others off Bob
 

Bob, Can you show me WHERE on any of these posts I have advised anyone NOT to join the MCC?, I actually think they do a good job apart from the excessive rules! (oh and the fact that MCC stands for Motor Cycle Club and they allow CARS :thumbdown:) and all this ribbing started as a bit of banter between Me, Dave Ede, & Dodger... as a result of a Post by Ian. it actually has nothing to do with the rest of you apart from the fact its a public forum, so stop getting your knickers in a twist all of you and see it for what it is, A little light hearted banter and a distraction from the crap on TV If you wish to comment, fair play, but Im not against anyone.....

Imagine if you can, any of the comments I post said with a sly ole' grin and a twinkle in the eye! and you wont be far off the mark mate!:thumbup1:

Martyn

Off Topic ,
 

Bob you will have to cut Martyn some slack , the poor lad has had a tough time with rules every since a run in with Authority in his youth .

Yep ,that's right ," operating a pedal cycle without a current Cycling Profiency Certificate ".
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...r/GetImage.jpg

Oh the Shame of it !

Nice one!
 

:rofl: you really DO have some strange pics on your HD Bloke!

Martyn

Banter [total rubbish ]
 

This conviction wasn't Martyn's first offence , earlier that week he had been caught smoking and drinking behind the bike sheds .

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...he_chimp_s.jpg

What would his mum say ?

Dodger, you know this can only go one way!
 

:rofl:.....

Revenge, Dodger....... will be SWEET! :thumbup1:

Martyn

Banter [ utter twaddle]
 

Martyn's mum decided to do what the British always do in time of crisis ; have a cup of tea .
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...r/chimpmum.jpg

His dad however was too busy reminiscing about his former glory days on the silver screen .
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...r/chimpold.jpg

Sadly Martyn pondered his future .

Banter [ leg pulling ] [ complete idiocy] off topic
 

And so, maligned and misunderstood, Martyn empties his piggy bank buys a motorcycle and hits the road :

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...3ff82e3c_m.jpg

Who knows where the road will take him and what adventure lies in store ?



[ Cheers for now Martyn , work beckons and I shall be away for a while , have fun plotting your revenge , Best Regards old boy !]

The Dodger

hee hee .........
 

Oh I will dear chap........ I will......:thumbup1: Revenge is a dish best served......COLD

Martyn

Especially for Dodger
 

Banter..... :offtopic: fun, dont anyone get too offended......

Dodger...... you like my girlfriend? shes a Cutie...., Im not so sure about yours though! Enjoy! :rofl:

YouTube - Dodger's revenge

Martyn

thats a good one!
 

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::r ofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rof l::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

How much did you pay those actors ?
 

Ha ha ha , excellent !

Not many people know about your former musical career Martyn , but here you are with your band !

YouTube - PG Tips Monkey Swing Band

Was that dave on drums ?

Go DaddyO ! Go !

Mcc versa Golf
 

G·day,:thumbup1:
have any of You eager discussers played golf?:huh:
There·s a load of elderly geezers ( about my age) imposing/maintaining ridiculous rules, the importance of which, have totally overtaken the game/sport itself!:( "Hallo there- You looked at the ball in a mischievous way, Sir". "One penalty stroke"! :confused1:
Politicians don·t step down when they ought to either!:thumbdown: ( :oops2:---:offtopic: --- :ban:)?
Love and peace,
Dan:tongue_smilie:

Nice one.
 

Havent you seen the Cadburys ad? it was a Young Phil Collins...

You got to come up with something more creative and ORIGINAL than Chimps now fella, Ive upped the stakes somewhat Old Boy!

Martyn

pulled!
 

Wrong Dodger, I sat out that number as I'd 'pulled' the young female chimp, I am the one on the dance floor, the 'jive monkey' took her out for a steak meal after,and asked how I'd like my steak, I replied "am on a diet, so don't want it fried, so can I have it done under the gorilla" :eek3:

Well said that man!!:clap: