Author: Ton-Up Ted

Below is the report published in the April 2023 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in February 2023

It’s that special time of the year when we hold our Branch Annual General Meeting on a Thursday night. A review of the year showed that that it’s been getting better all the time, with membership up, more activities and more people coming to them. The same committee got re-elected without change. We’re looking forward to another year with lots happening and more new faces coming along.

Our first ride in February was to TJ’s Café, which is on the site of an Old Spitfire factory near Swindon. Collin brought a drone with him and used it to take an aerial photograph of us in the car park. Following on with the Spitfire theme, our next ride was a short run to Popham Airfield, home of the Spitfire Flying Club. The next Sunday, we rode to Thruxton, an iconic destination for Triumph Owners, with a great café. Our final ride of the month was to Loomies, while three members went to Meriden for the EGM on TOMCC’s Future.

A group of around 15 from the Branch rode in convoy with Colin Woodward’s hearse from his house to his funeral to pay our last respects to him.

We’re looking forward to warmer weather with our first Lunchtime bike meet on Sunday 23 April at the BCSA. We’ll also be participating in the annual Easter Egg run again on Good Friday and we’ll be having more rides and hope to see more bikes at our Thursday night meetings.

Keep on rolling! 

Ton-Up Ted

Below is the report published in the March 2023 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in January 2023.

The weather outside was frightful!!! But the company delightful!! Freezing cold weather on a Thursday evening did not stop a record turn-out for our annual branch night bring and buy sale. We put up some extra tables to hold all the motorcycle paraphernalia for sale and over forty people turned up to look through the bargains on offer.

The cold weather didn’t stop us getting in four rides in January either. First ride of the year was a short ride to Popham Airfield and the café there. We were next on the road again to the café at the Weald and Downland Museum. The following week we met for a ride to Wycombe Air Park, and enjoyed a breakfast in the cafe while watching the helicopters landing. Last Sunday ride of the month was to Longstock farm.

A small group of members met for a night of good old rock and roll at the annual Rockers Reunion in Aldershot.

Sadly, long term member Colin Woodward passed away in January. Our thoughts are with his wife Pearl and family.

To brighten up the cold evenings, we have planned a couple of special events for Thursday evening Branch meetings. Steve Yarwood will be giving a presentation on the 2^nd March about his ride across Europe to Istanbul on his Triumph Rocket and Norman Hyde, a legend in the world of Triumph motorbikes, will be giving a presentation on the 23 March.  See our website for more details.

Keep on rolling! 

Ton-Up Ted

Below is the report published in the January 2023 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in November 2022

So here it is, Merry Christmas!! Everybody’s having fun!!

We had a good turn-out for our annual Branch Quiz evening. Around 35 people competed in teams of four or so to win prizes, wracking our brains to answer a mix of motorcycle and popular culture questions set by Bob, our quiz master. Congratulations to the winners!!

Despite the wet weather, we still managed three ride-outs in November.

Our first ride-out was on a Thursday to the Court Hill Centre near Wantage.

We had a good turnout for our ride on Remembrance Sunday to the Army Flying Museum near Middle Wallop. We left early so that we would arrive at the destination in time for us to observe the minutes silence at 11am.

Our last ride of the month was a Sunday run to Savages garden centre. Despite the name, the café there was a little more genteel than we are used to, with tea in fine china cups and saucers and delicate forks for the cake. But we rose to the occasion. Our ride home was interrupted by the untimely death of a pheasant who clearly hadn’t been following the green cross code.  

We’ll be having a bring and buy sale at our Branch night on the 19 January. So if you have some motorcycle related paraphernalia that you no longer need, why not bring it along to sell? Or just come along and browse through what’s on offer? You might just grab a bargain!!  

Keep on rolling! 

Ton-Up Ted

Below is the report published in the December 2022 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in October 2022

Great Balls of Fire!!!! We had a cracking turnout for our curry night for members and partners, held at our usual Thursday meeting venue. Around forty people came and we had an enjoyable evening eating curry together.

Despite the wet weather, we managed five rides in October. Our first was a Saturday ride to an open day at a classic car restorer. It was interesting to go around their workshops and see cars in various stages of restoration. The following day, we had a ride out to the Departure Lounge Café near Alton.

Our third ride was an amazing chase, though Hamble bound, it turned out not to be; as some got lost, but then were found, and some rode to the sea!! Rain stopped play again the next weekend, but we fitted in a mid-week ride to Goodwood Motor Circuit, had lunch in the café there and amused ourselves watching some drivers on a track-day. We were fed up with cancelling rides because of bad weather, so for the last Sunday of the month, we just ignored the dodgy weather forecasts and went for a ride anyway. Eight riders set out for Thruxton.  We did have some good riding on dry roads, but we also had some very heavy rain and got completely soaked!! Just think positive and remember the good bits!!

We’ll be having a Special Christmas Evening for members and partners on Thursday 15^th December, so save the date and come along!!

Keep on rolling! 

Ton-Up Ted

Below is the report published in the November 2022 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in September 2022.

Hello sunshine, goodbye rain!! Saturday, what a day!!  Our lunchtime bike meet was a happy day. Around 70 bikes came rolling in to park on the lawn while their owners ate, drank and chatted to other riders. Everyone had a good time and a couple of new members joined on the day. We’ve also had some new members come on Thursday nights, join our Whatsapp group and come on rides. A very warm welcome to you all!

We’ve had some great Sunday ride-outs this month. Our first was to Loomies Moto Cafe, where we sat drinking on leather sofas around a coffee table made from a Snap-on tool chest.

Next was a ride to the rural charms of the Court Hill Centre with a stop at the H Café and a browse around the adjacent motorcycle clothing shop on the way home. Our Saturday bike meet still left some of the Branch members with enough energy for a ride-out the following day to the Turville Heath Barn. Last ride of the month was all the way to the classic vehicle themed Gilk’s Garage Café, an 80 mile ride with a hearty breakfast at the end (but no black pudding!!).

We’re having a quiz night on Thursday 10 November, with a mixture of general knowledge and specialist motorcycle questions with prizes to be won. So come along and join the fun. And remember, we have regular ride-outs and weekly Thursday meetings throughout the year. Happy Days!!

Keep on rolling! 

Ton-Up Ted

Below is the report published in the October 2022 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in August 2022.

We get around!!! For the first time, we had our Branch stand at the British Superbikes race meeting at Thruxton from Friday through to Sunday. We got to see some fantastic racing while we flew the flag for the TOMCC to a lot of the race day visitors, many of who were not familiar with the Club. Our stand also made a handy base for all our members attending the BSB. We had another stand on the same Sunday at the Popham Motorcycle Megameet, a large classic bike show, autojumble and trader market.

It was very hot at both events, but we survived the heat with real cool heads by keeping in the shade, wearing shorts and drinking lots of water.

We had our stand out again at the Swallowfield Show on Sunday and Monday over the bank holiday weekend. This was a massive country show incorporating performing dogs, show jumping, horticulture, baking, craft, Scottish bagpipers, BMX stunt riders, classic vehicles and many other exhibits. It was a fun change from our normal motorcycle events, with something for everyone and more family members joining in.

Getting around to all these shows still didn’t stop us having a couple of ride-outs to TJ’s Café in South Marsden and to Compton Abbas Airfield near Salisbury.

Thursday club nights have been buzzing during the summer. As autumn comes, we plan to have some special Thursday evenings including a curry night and a quiz night. Check out the website.

Keep on rolling! 

Ton-Up Ted

Below is the report published in the August 2022 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in June 2022.

Bring me sunshine, in your smile!!! There was plenty of both at our Old Bike Gathering. Nearly 100 people came, with over 60 of them on historic bikes more than 40 years old. We also raised £200 for Thames Valley Air Ambulance.

There were five prizes. Best in Show went to Roy’s 1964 T120 Bonneville. The Steve Butcher Memorial Trophy for Best Branch Members bike went to Keith’s BSA Rocket 3. The Best Triumph prize was won by Mike’s 1968 T120 Bonneville. The Best British prize went to David’s A10 BSA and the Best Foreign prize went to Tony’s Kawasaki Z900. Congratulations to all the winners. You can see photos of the show, including all the winning bikes on the Branch website.

The day after the show we rode down to Thruxton with some members of the local RAT group to show off our Triumphs and watch Historic Racing. We had a great time, but were puzzled why all the vehicles racing had twice as many wheels as they needed.

Our Branch stand was at Dr B’s Custom and Classic Bike Show, an annual event that raises money for Dr Barnado’s.

We rounded of the month with an evening ride out to Cassington Bike night.

Its summertime, so there is a lot going on. The Branch stand will be at the Popham Motorcycle Megameet on the 14^th August and we have another Saturday Bike meet in September. Check out the events page on our website.

Keep on rolling! 

Ton-Up Ted

Below is the report published in the July 2022 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in May 2022.

Here we go, rocking all over the world!!! We had five Sunday ride-outs in May.

First ride of the month was a damp run to the museum of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in Lyneham in Wiltshire.

We had heard that the Haven Café near Salisbury had re-opened as the Thyme and Tides Deli Café, so that was our next Sunday ride. After sampling the food and drinks at the outside tables, we decided to ride back home via Popham Airfield. One of the bikes broke down on route though, and had a long wait for the breakdown service to pick him up, so we brought him some refreshments.

Our next ride was to a try out another new café, TJ’s near Swindon, which looked promising. The café was great, but everyone got soaked on the ride home.

We had fine weather for our last two rides: to the Jackeroo Café at Thruxton and the Blaze Inn Saddles pub.

With the lighter summer evenings, we are getting more bikes at our Thursday Club nights and we are seeing new faces coming along nearly every week. We start at 8pm, but people can come anytime during the evening which ends soon after 10pm. If you want to have a drink, or some food, and chat with fellow Branch members, please come along.

We are planning to have a Branch Barbeque one Thursday evening during July, so we look forward to seeing you there.

Keep on rolling! 

Ton-Up Ted

Below is the report published in the June 2022 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in April 2022.

We were all sippin’ at our nice cold beers lazing on a sunny afternoon at our Bike Meet the day before the Club Annual General Meeting hosted at our Branch venue.

Around 90 bikes rolled up for the afternoon and were parked on the lawn. There was a mix of local visitors and TOMCC members from other Branches who had come for the AGM, including our Club Chairman Ken Talbot and his wife Jan.

Ken and Jan met up later that evening with the Berkshire Branch and some other TOMCC members for a game of skittles in the bar. The weather was cold on Saturday night, down to minus 2 degrees, so not many took up the offer of free camping. But there were a few hardy people in tents and a couple of vans. It was great to meet so many members from other Branches on Sunday for the AGM.

On Good Friday, Branch members joined with thousands of others for the Annual Egg Run in aid of Dr Barnado’s, followed by lunch at the H Café in Berinsfield. On Easter Sunday, we had our Branch stand at the MAG Easter Bike show.

Other highlights his month include a ride to the Army Flying Museum in Middle Wallop and a ride to Rykas Café at Box Hill. There were some new faces at our Thursday Club Nights. Remember our Old Motorcycle Gathering on the 11^th June 2022. Check our website for the latest news.

Keep on rolling! 

Ton-Up Ted