Nacelle Report – Dec 2024

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

Winter feels like it’s well on its way since the clocks went back.  However, it’s not all bad news as the Sunday ride-outs are back to normal with the return of our Runs Leader, Collin, fit again after a few weeks out of the saddle.  If only Collin’s bike was in such rude health.  A recent ride-out saw Collin’s bike refuse to start, but with 10 branch members on hand to offer “helpful” advice, he was soon running again.  All he needed was a jump, I know the feeling…

How many Branch members does it take to start a Tiger with a flat battery?

Looking forward through the coming months we have a few events planned and a couple of others in the pipeline.  Firstly, the Christmas Buffet, which will be held on the 19th December, normal venue/time but with delicious food and fabulous raffle prizes.

Next up there’s the annual Table Top Bring & Buy sale on the 16th January.  This is a great opportunity to unload some of those parts, accessories or items of clothing that you’ve been meaning to ditch, but also to buy even more to take home and surprise the other half with!  I’m sure they’ll agree what a bargain purchase you’d made.  Helpful tip: Get there early.

Finally, we have our Branch AGM on the 13th February.  We need more members on the committee, so why not get involved, you may have some good ideas to improve the branch for the membership.  So please, as they say in the good ole USA, “step up to the plate”.

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And on the last page of Nacelle, in the 75th Anniversary Year Nacelle Front Cover Competition section was this photo, taken by Collin Fox at our September bike meet.

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary with bikes

Toy Run – Dec 2024

The annual Reading Toy Run organised by Reading Christian Motorcyclists will be on Sunday 1st December 2024. As usual, we will be supporting this in various ways, with some of our members acting as Marshalls or supporting the event at the High Close School destination while others will be joining in the ride alongside thousands of other bikers in the area. Note that this year the ride will set off at 1pm, with riders congregating at the start point from 11am onwards. There is also a new start point, which is at the Thames Valley Science Park near Shinfield Studios.

Rather than organise a ride in, this year we will be meeting up at the at the start point with everyone else. Remember to bring a toy with you. We look forward to seeing you there on Sunday 1st December

See below for information from the organisers.

See here for more information from the organisers.

Branching Out at Thruxton Superbikes

The Berkshire Stand in all it’s glory

This article is about the Branch attending the Thruxton round of the British Superbikes Championship. We had a stand there with a display of bikes for all three days from Friday to Sunday. A team attended the event and took it in turns to man our stand, so we could put on a great display while also giving everyone a chance to look around and see some racing. Everyone had a great time. This article first appeared in Nacelle, the Triumph Owners Motor Cycle Club Magazine in 2024.

To read the article in full, click the button below.

For more information about our weekend at Thruxtong for the BSB, click here.

Nacelle Report – November 2024

Below is the report published in the November 2024 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in September 2024

With the arrival of September along came the wet stuff, then it rained and when you thought “surely it can’t continue to rain”, it turned to near monsoon conditions with thunder and lightning and the associated flooding.  However, throughout the month we still managed 5 Sunday ride-outs to Avebury, Popham, Petersfield, Bucklebury and Wycombe.  Further, a couple of mid-week trips, one being to Sammy Millers Museum.  Our runs coordinator, Collin, is a bit crook at the moment, so if there is anyone who would like to lead a ride-out please get in touch with Collin and I’m sure he’d help you to arrange.

Armed police attend suspecting Chinese parts fitted to a ’69 Bonneville

So it was with trepidation that we approached the weekend of our Autumn Meet at the BCSA on the last Saturday of September, dreading what the weather might be.  But when the day arrived it was clear blue skies, dry(ish) roads and a warming sun; how the righteous are blessed.

Great weather and a fine collection of bikes at the Autumn Meet

We approximated that over 80 bikes visited with a dozen different manufacturers represented.  The BCSA clubhouse was serving drinks and Natalie’s Catering hot food.  This, apart from on-going Sunday ride-outs, was our last outdoor event of the season and our attention is now looking at Thursday evenings at the BCSA.  The first event being Bob’s Annual Quiz, to be held on 7th November and followed by the Christmas Buffet on 19th December.  In the new year we plan a Table-Top Swap meet, the date of which is yet to be arranged.

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Quiz Night – 2024

We’ll be holding our annual quiz night at our Thursday Club Night on 7 November 2024 at the BCSA.

Once again, quiz master, Bob Cromwell will be testing our knowledge with questions on motorcycle related topics and general knowledge. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the evening for the winning team.

You don’t have to form a team in advance, just come along. Teams often get formed on the night, typically around three or four people each. You can also participate as an individual if you want. It’s a great way to get to know other people and have a fun evening.

See here for some photos of last year’s quiz.

Proceedings will kick off around 8.30pm so get there before that so you can get your team together and get yourself a drink from the bar.

Christmas Club Night 2024

The BCSA bar where we meet on Thursdays as it is now

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the club, with our room covered in Christmas decorations. We’re getting ready to make the last Thursday before Christmas on the 19 December a really special club night starting at 8pm at the BCSA. It’s open to all Branch members and their partners and there will be a complimentary buffet of festive food and Christmas music. The bar will be open as usual. We will be holding a raffle with some great prizes. So come along and enjoy a yuletide evening with fellow Branch members.

All members should have received an email about this by now. If you are planning to come and partake of the food, please reply to the email and let us know to help us plan for the right numbers of people.

Bring & Buy Sale – 2025

We will be having a bring and buy (aka autojumble) sale for motorcycle related stuff at the BCSA on Thursday 16 January 2025 at our Thursday club night, from 8pm to 10pm. So if you have any: motorcycle clothing, parts, tools, accessories or books that you no longer want, bring them along.

Just turn up with your stuff and lay it out on a table in the bar and see if anyone wants to buy it.

Or just come along and browse through what is on offer. You might just grab a bargain.

Food, drink and endless chat about motorbikes is also on offer as on all other Thursday club nights.

See here for photos of our 2024 Bring & Buy Sale

Annual General Meeting 2025

The 2025 Branch Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on:

Thursday 13 February 2025 at 8.30pm

It will be held at the BCSA as part of our weekly club night. The AGM will start at 8.30pm. All Branch members are welcome to come to the meeting where we review the last year, present the accounts, elect a new committee and discuss plans for the coming year. Branch members can vote, ask questions of the current committee, put forward propositions and join in the discussion. This is an opportunity for all Branch members to have a say in the plans for the Branch during the next year.

People standing for the committee must be full members of the Branch and must be nominated by two other full members at any of the Thursday club nights leading up to the AGM on the nomination sheet that is on the notice board by the bar.

Come along and have your say in how the club is run. Consider how you may be able to participate more in club activities. Do you think you might like to be a committee member?

See the following links for more information.

Current Committee Members

Committee Roles

Nacelle Report – October 24

Below is the report published in the October 2024 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in August 2024

August was a hectic month for the branch, commencing with the Popham Megameet held on the first weekend. It was a cold night there, but it soon warmed up on Sunday morning, with plenty of members visiting our stand and, as always, promoting the benefits of membership. It’s a great event with a large autojumble and always the opportunity to bump into old friends.

A busy branch stand at the Popham Megameet

The following weekend, we attended the three-day BSB races at Thruxton.  Although dogged by rain when we set up, the races were never affected, and the sun was cracking the flags for the superbike races. The support races had Triumph ST765RS’s and Daytona 660’s in the SuperSport and Sportbike classes respectively, with excellent results in both.  It was a great weekend, which we hope to attend again next year.

Over 80 years of Triumphs in the Swallowfield Arena

For the Bank Holiday, our stand was at the Swallowfield Country Show.  This has a large contingent of classic vehicles on display.  For some obscure reason, our stand is always near the traction engines and I swear I can still smell the smoke from those coal fires that drifted constantly across our stand.  However, with arena processions for the bikes, our members were proud to “show what we brung”.

With ride outs on the Sundays in between the weekend events it was a full on month of Triumph.  Finally, a reminder that we have our Autumn Bike meet at the Burghfield CSA on Saturday September 28th.

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Nacelle Report – Sept 24

Below is the report published in the September 2024 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in July 2024

“In the summertime when the weather is high, …”, well we won’t be doing a ton or a ton twenty-five, but the Sunday branch ride-outs have been speeding along many a lane.  So if you’d like to ride with other enthusiasts get in touch with Collin, the Runs Coordinator.

Branch Chair Nick Swain presents the Steve Butcher Trophy to Brice Haines

Our summer barbecue took place in mid-July and thankfully we were blessed with a fine evening.  I hope everyone enjoyed the food, they seemed to as everything was consumed, I promise there’ll be more “long dogs” next year.  With great raffle prizes for a lucky few, the evening concluded with the Steve Butcher Trophy for Best Branch Member’s Bike.  Awarded to Brice Haines and his impressive 1938/39 5T Speed Twin, chosen by the current holder of the trophy, Jim Biggs. 

Calne cruising

The last Saturday of July saw a few branch members cruising off to Calne, Wiltshire, for the “Largest free-to-attend motorcycle event in Europe”.  I had been to this event many years ago, but it’s huge and takes over the whole town (the last time I had seen a town taken over by bikes was the Guzzi centenary celebrations in Mandello Del Lario).  With bands performing, food vendors, trade and club stands dotted around the town it’s a fantastic event.  If you’ve never been put it on your bucket list for next year.

Finally, we’re having a bike-meet at the BCSA on Saturday 28th September.  As usual, all marques and models will be most welcome.

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