Arrangements for the 2010 GoldWing Light Parade at Blackpool Illuminations, aka Pose on the Prom 2010, are developing nicely and outline information about the practical arrangement for the Parade itself have now been released.

The Parade takes place on the evening of Saturday September 4th 2010 and is part of a Weekend of socialising, entertainment and activities to which all Wingers are welcome.

The Route is broadly similar to last year but it will start further north, avoiding the need to negotiate the busy Squire Gate Junction and also finish further north too, because it will be possible to ride directly from the Promenade, just after the Pleasure Beach, directly into the private South Shore Crescent where the Weekend Event is based.

The Route still covers almost the whole of the illuminated part of the Promenade, stretching over several miles each way and promising over an hour of spectacle and fun, riding past crowds of thousands of people.

Police and Council cooperation has been secured and all necessary special provisions will be made.

Further details can be viewed by clicking here.

Marshalling Organiser Barry and the two Police Motorcyclists

A mass motorcycle ride took place in the Lake District on Sunday 6th June in support of the Help for Heroes Charity.

Over 500 bikes of all types took part and the event went very smoothly indeed.  All credit to the brave dozen or so Cumbrians who rode mopeds and some in fancy dress.  Wingers were dressed in conventional biking gear except for Dave Sharp did his bit by dressing as a butcher.

One moped broke down and one moped rider went down at low speed on a roundabout and suffered a small graze but that was all – it was a very safe as well as successful Event.

The weather forecast which I looked at the day before was for a warm day with a risk of only light showers but there were gloomier forecasts too (for heavy rain) and this probably kept some away.  Over 600 riders had registered and made a donation so it was very worthwhile.

There was the odd spot of light rain en route but nothing worth stopping to put wet weather gear continues………

A selection of accommodation for this year’s GoldWing Light Parade at Blackpool illuminations has been available for booking via the BLP website for some time but there was an error in the link to the relevant information page on this Blog, for which I would like to apologise.

You can access information about the group of hotels and B&Bs which form the Venue for this Event directly by clicking here.  The Warwick Hotel is already full but there is still a choice of other hotels and B&Bs along the same Crescent.

Planning for the event is proceeding nicely and both Blackpool Council and last year’s Event Sponsors Knutsford Honda are both on board for this year too.

It’s going to be a Great Weekend!

Two well known riders and a very conspicuous bike

The weather was really very generous to this year’s Thundersprint and Northwich in Cheshire, the Venue of this annual sprint racing event, enjoyed what would have been a very nice day indeed even in Summer.  Out came the Factor 50 and faces and balding pates were enthusiastically rubbed with it.

Special dispensation had been given by the Organisers, apparently with some hesitation, to allow us to arrive after the deadline for the road closure into the site – providing that we pushed our bikes for the 400 yards or so from the barrier to our display position.  In a fine example to our national Conservative and Liberal Democrat politicians of the art of negotiation and compromise, we declined this invitation and suggested that mass GoldWings, at least in our hands, presented less of a hazard to pedestrians (and ourselves) being ridden rather than pushed.

Common sense prevailed and a Very Senior Organiser offered to walk in front of us to see us safely to our display area.  The walking pace was negotiated up to a brisk trot on his part and together with our continues………

VIP police motorcyclists get personal bodyguards so they can concentrate on looking cool

CLICK ON ANY PICTURE FOR AN ENLARGED VIEW

Rise Safe Back Safe has been holding an annual free event for bikers for five years and it’s built up to be quite a show and well worth going to.  This year it was in Blackpool again but had moved away from the Promenade to the resort’s huge Central Car Park.  This turned out to be a much better venue, with plenty of space, nicely sheltered from any wind and very easy to get to.

There were lots of biking organisations present and some dealers and traders together with an impressive stunt riding display and Honda’s Your First Licence arena for children which was as popular as always.  Since Ride Safe Back Safe is a Safety Partnership scheme run by the Police there were also lots and lots and lots of motorcycle policemen around, most of whom looked relaxed and smiling, with not a single wagging finger being displayed anywhere.

But from a Wingers viewpoint it was notable this year for the bringing together, for the first time at any Event, of GWOCGB’s Lancs & Lakes Region and GoldWings North West, both of which were displaying continues………

Leader's Parking Perks!

I would normally write this sort of Article on our Club Website, but why not give the wider readership of this Blog a bit of parochial news occasionally too?

Today GoldWings North West rode out to Sandbach, a self declared “historic” town in Cheshire which owes its recent fame to having given its name to what has been said to be Britain’s very worst Motorway Services.  We were there to take part in their annual Transport Festival, a static display combined with a Parade around the Town.

It’s a type of gathering which happens all over UK, attracting all sorts of proudly-owned vehicles from, in this case, steam rollers through classic cars to motorcycles and ancient push bikes.  At this Event there are no static-only displays; everything must take part in the Parade as a condition of admission.  So thankfully there were none of those chuffing stationary engines you see at some steam events.

After several days of sunshine, and warm temperatures for April too, it had been a surprise to wake up to cold, damp fog and less than 100m continues………

Crezz holding his Route Map

An active Member of GoldWings North West, Adrian Cresswell, known as Crezz (soon to Iron Butt Crezz) will be leading a team from GoldWings North West to take part in the second RBLR 1000 mile endurance ride in support of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

In October 2008, the Royal British Legion Riders Branch (RBLR) came up with the idea of breaking the world record for the largest number of riders completing a 1000 miles ride in less than 24 hours, all starting and finishing at the same place.  The RBLR1000 was born and it’s being repeated this year!

The inaugural Event started from Squires Cafe, near Leeds, in June 2009. The 1000 mile ride was done using one of two routes, a Northern Route into Scotland or a Southern Route taking in the West Country. There were 162 riders and 9 pillions who completed the ride, which would have smashed the world record if the Americans hadn’t pipped them to the post.  However the Event did break both the European and UK records and so far has raised over £33,000 for the Poppy Appeal.

This year there is the same gruelling requirement to complete 1,000 miles in less than 24 hours using either a Northern or Southern circular route starting and finishing at continues………

The Wirral Egg Run takes place on Sunday 28th March.

This is an annual event which raises money for local children, children’s charities and donates Easter eggs to hospitalised children.

Traditionally it takes place on the Sunday immediately preceding Easter and so it again for 2010.

Several thousand participants are expected to take part in the Event.  It’s usually very well organised with lots of Stewards and Marshals – and the Organisers would be delighted to hear from any Winger who is willing to help.

Riders from GoldWings North Wales will be attending, so visit their Club Website for the rendezvous if you would like to meet up and ride with them

Picture from the BBC News Website - click on the image for an enlargement

An estimated 15,000 bikers and passengers turned out to honour the people of Wootton Bassett yesterday, saying thank you for their efforts to honour the Fallen of our Armed Forces as they are repatriated.

A detailed report with a video and lots of pictures can be viewed on the  BBC News Website.

The idea of this ride was being kicked around a local bike club of which 18 year old Elizabeth Stevens was a Member and it took off spectacularly when she decided to put it on Facebook.

The bikers gathered at Hullavington Airfield and were organised into groups leaving at intervals throughout the day to ride through Wootton Bassett.

The charity Afghan Heroes became involved, the Town’s Mayor was supportive and so were Wiltshire Police, who did their bit to make the Event happen safely.

Well done all concerned; this was a splendid example of what bikers can do to contribute positively to our Society.

The Organisers of the Blackpool Illuminations  GoldWing Light Parade, Britain’s original, brightest and best, have finally revealed the new Venue for the popular social weekend which is part of the Event – and it’s a whole Crescent of hotels and apartments, right on the Promenade.

On the face of it they were going to have real difficulties replacing Pontin’s Holiday Centre when it closed abruptly soon after last year’s Event.  It had been the Event’s home for several years – not perfect but it worked, or at least it worked in most respects for most of the time.

But the new Venue turns out to have a number of real advantages over Pontin’s and not many drawbacks – well, nothing that can’t be sorted one way or another.

The new Venue also takes the Event, now in its eight year, into Blackpool proper, and into proper Blackpool accommodation – hotels and B&Bs.  A group of these, all located along the same Crescent, on but set back from South Shore Promenade, are cooperating enthusiastically with the BLP Organisers to make the 2010 Light Parade innovative as well as successful.

The Crescent where the participating hotels are located also provides useful parking, display and Parade mustering space, although the Hotels all have out-of-sight off road overnight parking too.

The new venue will allow the Organisers to provide much better for day visitors as well as those coming to stay.  All the parking and display spaces will be open to non-resident GoldWings and the participating Hotels are all offering catering and other facilities for non-residents.

The location is a short stroll south of the Pleasure Beach, close enough to be handy to pay a visit on foot and handy for the Trams, yet far enough away from the really busy parts on the Prom (eg the Golden Mile) to provide, for example, crowd-free Parade mustering.  The Crescent is also right opposite the formal start of the Illuminations, so it’s ideally placed for purposes of the Parade Route.

As well as support from Blackpool Council and Knutsford Honda again this year, the event has the support of an enthusiastic bunch of Blackpool Hoteliers and Landladies.  They are combining to welcome Wingers to their Crescent by coordinating their entertainment programmes for the Event as well as offering specially discounted accommodation and even discounted bar prices.

This year’s event can also look forward to cooperation from Blackpool Police and there will be no risk of a repeat of last year’s misunderstandings.

Let’s hope that 2010 will see the return of genuine friendliness to the UK GoldWing community and an end to the factionalism.  The Blackpool Light Parade is organised for the benefit of all UK Wingers, regardless of whether and to which club or clubs they might or might belong.

For further information, including about the new venue and how to book your accommodation,  visit the GoldWing Light Parade Website.

You can also go directly to the Accommodation page.

It’s going to be a Great Weekend!