2009 Activity Suggestions

[Pedro]

Hi All

now the weather is sh*te and a good percentage of us aren't riding our bikes so much how about giving some thought to what we can do in the new year. Personally I think 2008 was a little flat, most due to cack weather, so how about getting some ideas in place for things to do in preparation for the better weather next year?

So far, we have Arrow Mill Monster Weekender to look forward to.

What else can you suggest? Can you help organise something? Perhaps the area Reps can coordinate ideas from people in their areas?

Please don't post forum suggestions on here, this thread is for ride outs, meets and events etc.

Personally, I'd like to see a load of standing meetings set up, you know the sort of thing, a set sunday morning at a suitable venue, with perhaps a rideout planned in the afternoon. If each area did this, the rideouts could be to meet points for several area groups to meet up. I think it would be great to get more people out and about, after all this club is about our bikes!

Also like to see some events that can help towards our chosen charity, the Air Ambulance Service. Perhaps something sponsored?

Come on, don't be shy, post your ideas and suggestions here!!

Ta

Pres Ped

:ukm:

[mintyhit]

This is a bit vague but I have always wanted to ride the entire length of the A5, the first part is quite boring but the drive through Wales is pretty incredible. I don’t know if anyone would be interested in this run next summer.

James

[DavidEJM]

I was thinking that the charity thing could be fun. We get to ride our bikes and raise money for a good cause too.

How about planning something national for the next Children in Need thing? Maybe a huge get together like the Belgian club or a relay round the country with one group moving on to the next over the course of a couple of weeks so that the club does the whole circuit. Each individual could do as much or as little as they liked as long as there was a ride to the next meeting point to hand over the 'baton' etc etc. arranged stop offs at several of the better Ducati dealers/specialists along the way to raise additional funds and ending in a ride into the studios from Ace Cafe on the night?

Oooooh where did all of that come from?

[ricky]

come to ireland!!! maybe for the NW200 weekend then do a couple of days spinning about:drunk:

[desmo]

How about us organising regular Sunday meet-up's in different parts of the country? We could organise it so that people could spent Sunday morning riding to say a nice country pub, we could have a pub lunch & then either just chill out for the afternoon or go for a pootle around the local area, before the ride home.

I live in Bristol, I don't mind organising a few of these in 09, maybe the first one could be the Cotswolds, Stow / Bourton on the Water / Morton on the Marsh are a few places that spring to mind.
Lovely riding country with good country pubs & fairly central.

[pegboy]

I was thinking that the charity thing could be fun. We get to ride our bikes and raise money for a good cause too.

How about planning something national for the next Children in Need thing? Maybe a huge get together like the Belgian club or a relay round the country with one group moving on to the next over the course of a couple of weeks so that the club does the whole circuit. Each individual could do as much or as little as they liked as long as there was a ride to the next meeting point to hand over the 'baton' etc etc. arranged stop offs at several of the better Ducati dealers/specialists along the way to raise additional funds and ending in a ride into the studios from Ace Cafe on the night?

Oooooh where did all of that come from?




I would be willing to participate in something like this, if Children in Need for example we could carry a fluffy toy monster as a Mascot, then the location we pass the "monster mascot" on at a dealer, a local pub, town hall, we could organise a quiz night, including some auctions, or we could all donate motorcycle gear to evening to aution off etc to raise further funds. See what other events match up and gate crash them for futher exposure and fund raising, A friend of mine did a bike ride for a charity some time ago and he asked all his mates to sponser him, he raised just over £2000 alone, had a wed site to donate to.

I believe anything is possible but the problem is who is willing?

I'm In.

[fatbloke]

get hold of Ducati and all the other clubs and have a national Ducati day

[sprintbint]

get hold of Ducati and all the other clubs and have a national Ducati day

Why not a national Ducati weekend?

[bigredduke]

get hold of Ducati and all the other clubs and have a national Ducati day

I really like the idea of a HOOGE National Ducati event. The Italian event in Bristol was one of the best bike-related days I have enjoyed. Just gawping at lovely machinery and nattering with the owners and being part of the ride-in (thanks once again Stafford) was triffic. Good weather helped of course and that is, unfortunately, always going to be a problem in the UK.:grump:

[Stafford]

Ah, big reg what a nice bloke you are, and yes a huge rally thing could be a hoot.

[Paivi]

I really like the idea of a HOOGE National Ducati event. The Italian event in Bristol was one of the best bike-related days I have enjoyed. Just gawping at lovely machinery and nattering with the owners and being part of the ride-in (thanks once again Stafford) was triffic. Good weather helped of course and that is, unfortunately, always going to be a problem in the UK.:grump:
And the Stone Italian Day a few weeks afterwards, that was another brilliant day. Not only bikes & cars, but food as well.

[emily's driver]

Why not move the weekender closer to June/July, when the likelihood of better weather would lessen the chances of it being a washout.

[slob]

no available bank holiday weekend....

[neilbaldry]

I will be having a Quiet year next year, up until the autumn. Shame the old trackdays went quiet.

[slob]

Shame the old trackdays went quiet.

yeah, I only counted 14 threads between April and October!

[fatbloke]

Why not move the weekender closer to June/July, when the likelihood of better weather would lessen the chances of it being a washout.

I think booking out Arrow Mill in peak season may not be viable for Arrow Mill and it may cost
a fair bit more.

[J.P]

Pedro, as you know I'm working on getting a trackday where we can take a bunch of spaces to make it, almost, like a UKMOC trackday.
Monday, August 3rd, Cadwell Park, is looking like to best option with RAPID TRAINING.
It's just a matter of cash and the number of spaces we guarantee to take.

[scrumpster]

What about a weekender tour of the country and book into travel lodges in advance - bit of a big thing to do but could be fun??? And I'm not even back on the bike yet - What am I thinking of!!! You could all get down to Bognor Butlins for the 80's weekend on 6th Feb. I'm a saddo and i'm going :mand:

[ricky]

ireland ireland ireland!!!!!! :booze::booze: get a caravan!!:drunk:

[gary tompkins]

Why not move the weekender closer to June/July, when the likelihood of better weather would lessen the chances of it being a washout.

Yeah... because June & July 2008 was such a scorcher :rolleyes:

Rod, we discussed this at Arrow Mill in May & decided it's pointless moving the weekender date. The last 2 years summers were crap, and there's no way of predicting 2009 will be any better. We will just plan the Saturday/Sunday activities with contingency plans for dodgy weather.

The weekender was at the end of May last year, so it was almost in June TBH

[Albie]

We who went will return for the end of summer to belgium so who would want to come to that. We may need to look at booking the beautiful farmhouse barn accomodation in advance and they may have finished more rooms by then. Well worth the trip.

[aurigney]

Would be well up for that.
aurigney:booze:

[emily's driver]

I think booking out Arrow Mill in peak season may not be viable for Arrow Mill and it may cost
a fair bit more.

Dare I suggest it...what about a change of venue. "Is as good as a rest" and all that. I like Arrow Mill don't get me wrong, since it ticks all the right boxes for the club's needs, (though the rooms appear to be in dire need of a coat of paint and the bathrooms are old and dated) but if moving the meet to a date closer to the peak season goes some way to lessening the chances of the whole weekend being a damp squib, weatherwise, then maybe some consideration should be given to change. I can't believe it is the ONLY venue that could happily accommodate the kind of numbers involved most years. I am probably going to be accused of heresy now. I realise the usual weekend is a bank holiday.

OK I am ready for the flak now!!!

[emily's driver]

Yeah... because June & July 2008 was such a scorcher :rolleyes:

Rod, we discussed this at Arrow Mill in May & decided it's pointless moving the weekender date. The last 2 years summers were crap, and there's no way of predicting 2009 will be any better. We will just plan the Saturday/Sunday activities with contingency plans for dodgy weather.

The weekender was at the end of May last year, so it was almost in June TBH

I agree, no way of predicting the weather, but the likelihood of it being better later in the year is the only potential advantage. You are absolutely right though, even then it could still be sh*te, especially given the last couple of years. I merely suggested it, since it MIGHT reduce the chances of a repeat of this year's downpour. Just my halfpennies worth.