Review 2007.

Well that’s another year gone. It’s bloody frightening how fast they go by!!

I was looking at the club website the other day and gazing through the events that Scooter Stu has numbered on the 2007 rideout page. I think it’s fair to say, that we had probably done far more than has been shown on the website, this year.                                                                        Members of the Moving Targets have attended most of the national rallies and lots of other regional and YSA rideouts. We have also got involved with quite a few local events around the Selby district. I lost count of how many midweek rides to other clubs and towns we had attended. Then there were the night Do’s, charity rides, parts fairs, custom shows and sadly a few funerals that we had also attended.

Our club came 11^th in the table for best supporting LCGB club and twelve members contributed to that points table.

Kelvin instigated a club point system for certain rideouts, rallies and social events.

Although initially a good idea, the point scoring proved a bit of a headache at times and it seemed to created a little bit of irritation in some quarters. Anyway even though the scoring has as yet not been brought up to date, it’s a for gone conclusion that Bob Hardy had scored the most points for attending all the designated events that Kelvin had originally pinpointed.

Bob’s Angie gained the most points for the ladies award. Well done Bob and Angie.  It remains to be seen if Kelvin will organize the points table in 2008.

 Riding our scoots and socializing is always important and it’s nice to know that in the short space of time we have been together as a club, a special bond and friendship has developed amongst members of this club. That’s not to say we don’t have our fallouts and disagreements. After all some of us, myself included, are at an age when we are susceptible to Victor Meldrew syndrome and downright grumpiness. This is usually made worse by varying amounts of consumed alchohol. Our success as a scooter club has been, that we are always keen to compromise and try to keep open minded about every one’s views and opinions. Long may this continue. 

Since 2004, we have raised well over two thousand pounds for several charities including the Neuropathy Trust, M/S and Cancer Research

This year I was really proud of the involvement of the smtsc with the LCGB National Coastline Charity Appeal in support of fourteen year old Robert Sebbage. We raised over fifteen hundred pounds for him and took part in the nationwide ride. Our stint was from from Selby to Hull. I won’t forget that day, even if a certain club tried to spoil it for us at the Hull end of the short journey. A really big, big thank you to all of those in the club who have contributed or helped out with all the charity events this year and over the last four years.

A special mention to Shaun Welburn, who did us proud by donating paintings again for the Charity Auction at our Annual Do. Thanks Shaun..

2. 

This year we were a little worried about what was happening to our local, the Olympia.

We hoped that now under new management, some kind of stability and order would have been restored to our favourite meeting place.  

Especially as in 2008, we would like to organize some scooter events there. Unfortunately things may have gone pair shaped again. So we might have to put stability and order on hold for the time being. 

So what can I remember about 2007?  Rain, rain and more rain!! 

January started with the Detours entertaining us at an evening Do at the Gypsy Moth.

Our first ride of the year saw 15 scoots descend on Armley Leisure Centre for the Annual Parts Fair. Whilst in February we attended Taddy Stax and the A1SC Do’s before our very own memorable Annual Do at Drax Sports and Social Club. 

In March the Riding season started properly. First of all Kelvin and Pc Pete brought back trophies from the Burton Brewers Custom Show early on in the Month.

A few members patronized Aunt Bessie Scooter Club Do. Then the first organized rideout involving about 150 scooters took place on the 11^th March at Helmsley.         

After giving the local Parking Warden heart failure we all moved off in the direction of Scarborough for fish and chips and were Micky Flint entertained us on the Karioke.

The middle of March brought the Pre season Rally in Morecambe. Thirteen members rode over in atrocious weather with wind and rain making it really hard going crossing the Pennines.

Pc Pete did his own alternative rally and signed on at the Modrepheniacs LCGB Do in Sandford

Some of us ventured over to Steve Perkins enjoyable 40^th Birthday Bash were Neville Staples was on top form. At the same time Kelvin and Craig went south with the Beverley lads and picked up a trophy at the Peanut Duck Custom Show.

At the end of March we took twenty six members to the Beverley Scooter Club Pre season Do at the Eager Beaver and the following day we had a ride with the Kippax people to Bridlington and met up with the Beverley and Bridlington Scooter Clubs. 

On 6^th April Scarborough BSRA National was well attended by clubs all over the country and thirty one smtsc members enjoyed the lovely spring weather. A massive rideout along the sea front ended in a Custom Show organized by the YSA. Kelvin’s Sx225 won another trophy at this event.

On the 15^th the VMSC Custom show at Coventry saw Kelvin win yet another trophy in the Street Racer class. His display cabinet at home was now starting to strain with the weight!

The first YSA Rideout of the year was on the 22^nd from Knaresborough to York and on the 28^th, eleven members were invited over to the biker’s Squires Café to support the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, little knowing that we would be seen on the telly later on in the year.

3. 

In early May several Scooter Clubs came to the Olympia to take part in a Multi Club Rideout. Clubs from as far as Barnsley, Bawtry and Doncaster also attended. 

Margate National beckoned on the 4^th. Five of us set off at two in the morning on what for me was a truly unforgettable journey. First of all I lost my back rack on the A1. Laden with petrol and two stroke oil, it nearly had disastrous consequences for Andy Mitch and Tony who were bringing up the rear.  Seizing my engine, struggling to get home on side lights, being absolutely knackered and cold on the way home, being cut up by foreign artic lorries and Tony having his own problems turned this weekend into somewhat of a nightmare. Whilst we were at this poorly attended National, other members of the club rode to Bridlington for fish and chips.

On May 12^th I seized my lammy again on the way to an event in Doncaster, but managed to get home in time to man the BBQ with Cookie in the afternoon, before Big Adam organised fun and games at the Olympia.

Twelve scoots left Selby for the YSA Otley to Yeadon Rideout on 20^th May, whilst on 25^th May, the same number journey north of the border to the Scottish National at Kelso. This was one of the best events of the year and was well organized by the hospitable  Scottish clubs. It was a shame the weather was horrid on the way home, because the route through the Northumbrian National Park was amazing. Who can forget those blind summits!! 

June was a very busy month for the club. In the first week we had another memorable event. The YSA Coast to Coast from Blackpool to Whitby. An enjoyable weekend aided by good weather and few breakdowns. We all got a certificate when we had completed the 140 mile run and Andy FB got a special framed one for riding an auto Vespa!!

Tesco Pete did us proud this month by taking part in the Euro Lambretta Rally in Holland.

Other notable events in June were the Multi Club run to Kippax, the YSA Rideout around Northallerton and the Cleethorpes National. On the 17^th   June thirty members of the smtsc enjoyed decent weather in our own town at the Selby Funday. The LCGB signing on event up at the Tan Hill Pub in upper Swaledale on the 23^rd was another memorable event 

Nineteen scooters departed for Beverley in early July to take part in the Multi Club meetup at the Eager Beaver Pub, This was well hosted by our friends from Beverley Scooter Club.

Probably the highlight of the month was the Yorkshire Invasion at a very wet and soggy Lepton on the 13^th July. Despite the weather it was highly popular with over 4,000 people patronizing the weekend event. 

Kippax Scooter Club had their annual day on the 21^st and this was followed by an overnight camp at the Sloop Inn at Hirst Courtney. The weather was once again wet and the rain probably was the reason that our Stu Mitch ended up in Pinderfields Hospital, after colliding with a Van on route to the campsite.

4. 

A wet July gave way to slightly better weather in August. Highlights were the Bradford City Square Custom Show, the Crusaders Annual event and a poorly attended YSA Bradford Rideout. We also attended a successful Multi Club meetup at the Castleford Xscape, a LCGB signing up event at the Cumby Arms at Darlington and the Hull and District event at the Ionians RFC ground.

As August Bank holiday approached twenty nine members prepared themselves for the long trek of 286 miles to the Isle of Wight. Unlike most of the summer this year, the weather was really good and a fantastic weekend was had by all. 

In September, we had a Wakey Wakey event at Walton, Castleford Midnight Runners Scooter Club’s day, the Southen Arms Do hosted by Goole and District Scooter Club and the Ysa Rideout from Wetherby to Tadcaster.

A highlight for the club was taking part in the National Charity Coastline Ride organized in support of the Robert Sebbage Appeal by the LCGB. We knew nothing about this young lad who suffered from a rare bowel illness, but it didn’t stop us raising over fifteen hundred pounds for his appeal and riding a fifty year old Model D from Selby to Hull on its way around the Coast of Great Britain. 

October marked the end of the riding season with the YSA Doncaster to Barnsley Rideout, the Barnsley Parts Fair and the finale for the year, the Bridlington National Rally.

In November nine members enjoyed themselves at a rather posh Bawtry Scooter Club’s annual Do. On the 12^th we took part in the Regional Children In Need Rideout around Yorkshire. One hundred and fifty scooters descended on the Olympia, before we escorted them out of Selby towards Castleford on a freezing cold day.

At the end of November the club enjoyed an evening at Barlow Club with Jason and Mike from Huddersfield Scooter Club providing the entertainment along with five club members dressed as ladies. A sight that had to be seen to be believed !!

December saw us host our Xmas Do in Selby at the Working Mens Club. It was a great success and a nice way to almost end a busy but enjoyable year. There was just a few more Christmas Do’s courtesy of the Inset and Castleford Midnight Runners and a social getogether around Selby town on the 29^th and that was that.

Briefly I have mentioned some of the memorable occasions that I can remember, but I am sure that there are possibly a lot more that you can recall. 

Will 2008 follow in the same vain I wonder?

Great Yarmouth, Scarboro, Whitby, YSA Selby to Castleford Rideout, Tan Hill Pub Challenge, Kelso, IOW, YSA Holland, Yorkshire Invasion at Pickering, YSA Coast to Coast and Bridlington. All the multi club rideouts, mid week rides, other Nationals and YSA rideouts, and other social events. So much to do and plan for!!! 

5.

I am especially looking forward to Bridlington in 2008 and the reopening of the Spa. Nothing beats the atmosphere of this venue which for me has some great memories from the past.

We strive to do new things to keep us from getting bored, so new ideas are always welcome. Suggestions so far, other than all the rideouts that Stu Mitch and Kelvin are planning, are to have a club outing to a good Curry house in Bradford, a Bowling night at Hull and even a Clay pigeon shoot charity event. Let’s have more ideas to keep the scene vibrant and enjoyable please.   

Can I quickly thank all those for helping to keep the Moving Targets ticking over this year. I would like to think it has been a big team effort. Whether it be Stu Mitch organising the rideouts, Kelvin’s kind donations such as the Champion Riders and IOW clothing, the girl’s participation with all the raffles, Ingy’s Djing and compere skills, big Adams the Gamesmaster, Barry’s Calvin Klien underpants, Graham and Janet’s cooking, Cookie, Angie and Joanne’s bus organising or even Andy FB’s wrist action towards Macca. I would like to thank you one and all. 

One person who doesn’t get much of a mention is our webmaster “Scooter Stu.” 

He has been there from the very start and is partly responsible for creating the smtsc.

We don’t see enough of him, but he is wholly responsible for the Club Website and as I have said before, he is ”a legend in his own time”. Thanks for all the imput into the club Stu.

Anyway the Moving Targets march on into another year. We hope you can participate in or help to organize any of the events that are planned for 2008. As always the choice is entirely yours. Do as little or as much as you like. You know were we are and what we are about.

          Take care and Ride safe. 

                                                 Derek.