Category: News

Announcements, news items, Nacelle reports, articles

Nacelle Report – May 25

Below is the report published in the May 2025 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in March 2025

While Digger and I have been touring over 4,000kms of southern India it’s been a busy March back at the branch. John Bottomley’s talk on Ducati development and GP racing was well received and well attended early in the month.

John Bottomley presents ….
…. in front of a full house

The lack of an official Runs Co-ordinator seems to have focused the faithful and a run has taken place every Sunday, with bonus rides mid-week as well.  Special mention for Graham Steele and his leadership on several occasions.  There’s been new destinations too, so why not join a run one Sunday and give it a go, who knows, you might even enjoy it!

Meanwhile… Graham King, Mick Bennett and Terry West have been touring Spain and happened to bump into Triumph factory representatives who were out there testing new machines.

Mick Bennett, Terry West and Graham King meet factory testers in Spain

Looking forward, the first Saturday of May (3rd) sees our first outdoor event of the season, the Spring Meet.  Held at the BCSA from 11am, open to all and most importantly FREE!  Refreshments will of course be available in the clubhouse.

For full details of all our events check out the branch website.

Ride fast and safe.

Bibendum

Nacelle Report – Apr 25

Below is the report published in the April 2025 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in February 2025

Spring is sprung, the grass is riz,… etc.  At last we’ve left winter behind and can look forwards to better days for riding Triumphs.

Serious stuff a the AGM

Our AGM had only one change to committee membership and that was the resignation of El Zorro as Runs Co-ordinator; and with no takers it remains a vacant position.  However, the runs continue every Sunday with members stepping up to the plate to lead a ride.  So if you fancy a ride to somewhere and would like to lead, you’ll be welcomed with open arms.  Talking of which, on Good Friday (18th April) there will be an organised ride for the Easter Egg run; see our website for up-to-date details of the ride.

Another cold one but no lack of willing riders

Looking forward and slightly later than we would normally hold it, is our Spring Meet which will be held on Saturday 3rd May.  For this meet, which is free to all, we will be holding a collection for a new (for us) charity, namely Blood Bikes.  Our Regalia officer, Chris, is a Blood Biker and put on a presentation at the recent AGM about the organisation.

(Si Si) Je Suis Un Rock Star

Finally, I managed to catch our Chairman in his alter ego, a Rock star, a musical maestro, Axe-man and Keyboard Warrior for that little known band Cheap-day return, only kidding Nick, the band is called Off-Peak Return and playing at a venue near you soon…

I’m off to Southern India for a bike tour, but will catch up with you next month, ride safe and fast.

Bibendum

TOMCC AGM 2025

The venue for this year’s TOMCC AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the TOMCC CIC will this year be held in Rotherham in Yorkshire on 13 April 2025. The agenda and details of the propositions to be discussed at this years AGM together with the financial accounts and the minutes of last year’s AGM are published in the April 2025 issue of Nacelle. There are some important issues to be decided at this year’s AGM, so all Branch members are encouraged to read the information in Nacelle. Several members of the Branch are planning to attend the AGM this year, but all full members of the TOMCC are welcome to attend and are encouraged to do so. See here for more details of the AGM on the main TOMCC website.

Nacelle Report – Mar 2025

Below is the report published in the March 2025 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in January 2025

With a few bright days at the end of January and the first appearance of snowdrops in the hedgerows, spring is finally in the air.  By the time you read this I hope winter is a dim distant memory.  But we’ve been making the best of the dark evenings and held our annual Bring & Buy sale in mid-January. If you were there I hope you grabbed a bargain.  I know an absolute bounder who snaffled a rare Smiths instrument, less said, the better. A good evening with a presence of over 40 members.

Bargains galore at the annual Bring & Buy sale

A fortnight later saw Richard Wheadon present a talk on his role within the TOMCC; that of Machine Registrar.  Richard described the necessary forms to be completed in the pursuit of obtaining a registration, either repatriated machines requiring age related plates or a “home” barn-find with an old-style log-book to retain an original registration.  He touched on dubious stampings and emphasised the importance of doing your homework on the machine before parting with your hard earned cash.  He further explained how matching numbers had become so desirable, that the temptation to doctor numbers to match one another, now appeared to be on the rise.  So, branch members, hope for another presentation by Richard on fakes; perhaps next year.

Richard Wheadon, TOMCC Machine Registrar, presents…

March’s presentation will be by John Bottomley, VMCC, on “The development of Ducati Racing machines” and will held on 6th March.

At 2deg C it’s a little nippy on the Ridgeway

Meanwhile, weekly ride-outs continue, albeit it’s been a little nippy…

Bibendum

John Bottomley – GP Racing Development

500cc GP Race Bikes in action

John Bottomley will be giving a presentation to the TOMCC Berkshire Branch and invited guests on Thursday 6 March 2025, starting at 8pm at the BCSA.

In his presentation he reviews the 500ccc world championship from 1947 until the introduction of the MotoGP format in 2002 and traces the winning machines and the increase in engine performance.

He shows how Ducati fits into this picture and picks up the academic background of the key Ducati designers and the design aspects they introduced. He concludes with a look at as much of the technical detail as he has gleaned regarding Capirossi’s 2002/3 MotoGP bike.

In addition, he answers the question of why they had to put GPS on the bikes. I didn’t know they had. Did you? Come along and find out.

Branch AGM 2025 – photos

The committee at the 2025 Branch AGM

The Branch AGM was held on the 13 February 2025 at the BCSA. There were 32 members in attendance. Here are some photos from the meeting.

The existing committee were re-elected to their existing roles with the exception of the Runs Coordinator role, which became vacant. Therefore runs will be organised by a number of different people going forward See here for more details of the current committee.

Lunchtime Bike Meet – 3 May 2025

One of our previous Lunchtime Bike Meets

We are having a Lunchtime Bike Meet on Saturday 3 May 2025 from 11am to 4pm at the BCSA. It’s a great opportunity to meet other riders, see their bikes and have lunch and a drink . All motorcycles and riders are welcome. 

A wide range of food and drink will on sale in the club house.

A collection will be taken for Blood Bikes , which is a charity which uses volunteer bikers to deliver vital supplies like blood to hospitals. See here for more information about Blood Bikes.

See here for details of the venue.

See here for pictures from one of our previous Lunchtime Bike Meets.

Bibendum on Nacelle Front Cover

The front cover of the February 2025 issue of Nacelle, the Triumph Owners’ Motorcycle Club Magazine, featured a picture of Berkshire Branch Vice Chairman, aka Bibendum, with his well used 2007 Triumph Scrambler taken on a ride-out between Christmas and New Year. The picture was was in stark contrast to typical magazine covers showing shiny bikes. The bike was pretty filthy and Bibendum was dressed like he was going on an arctic expedition. But it did illustrate a point. The Berkshire Branch go on ride-outs throughout the year, even on very cold winter days. There is no pressure to do so. Many of our members only go on rides in warm dry weather and we all probably prefer riding in the summer. But some of us get withdrawal symptoms if we go more than a week or two without going on a ride, so we brave the freezing conditions throughout the winter. In fact, with the right kit on, riding in the cold when its dry is a lot of fun. So if you’re the sort of biker who can’t bear to give up riding just because it’s winter, you’ll feel at home at the Berkshire Branch. Our Club nights continue all year, every Thursday evening as well, whatever the weather, but in the winter most people do come to those in cars. We’re not completely mad !! See the full magazine cover below.

The front cover of Nacelle with Berkshire Branch Vice Chairman

Nacelle Report – Feb 2025

Below is the report published in the February 2025 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in December 2024

Happy New Year!  I guess I should have started last month’s report with this, but I’m sure you’d have read the report before Christmas had even taken place, so that would have been a little previous.

December started with the Reading Toy Run which many branch members either attended or marshalled.  The weather could have been kinder, but it’s winter, what do you expect?

He’s not really Santa, just one of his little helpers!

Mid-month and the Christmas buffet at the BCSA saw nearly 70 members and plus-ones enjoying a great evening together.  The raffle had some tremendous prizes and if you were lucky enough to win, then I’m sure you were well pleased.

The Christmas buffet at the BCSA saw nearly 70 in attendance
Great to see so many members at the buffet, it must be the lure of a free meal!

By the time you read this the Table-top Bring & Buy sale would have taken place, did you snaffle a bargain there? 

However, more importantly, on 13th February the branch AGM will take place and it has to be said that we need more committee members.  So why not put your name forward?  The role that really needs filling is Runs Co-ordinator, so if you’d like to lead any runs, why not have a go?   This could be a role filled by more than 1 person.  I know it would be difficult to outshine Zorro, who has done a fabulous job, but he’s also the Treasurer and needs a little slack cut.  Help and assistance would of course be given in any role, so please consider serving on the committee.  Do I sound like I’m begging?  You betcha!

Bibendum