Wednesday 4 July 2018


MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS: CHEQUE PAYMENTS

On 30 June 2018, the Executive Committee considered ways of driving down the use of cheques. Consideration was given to increasing the cost savings offered by the other payment methods, but whilst the existing discount for Standing Order payments has had some success, it was concluded that fee differentials were unlikely to provide sufficient incentive for the necessary total shift from cheque payments to the use of PayPal, online banking or Standing Orders.
 

It was noted that Standing Orders are often confused with Direct Debits.  Direct Debits are commonly suspected of allowing funds to be extracted from an individual’s bank account without their knowledge or agreement; the Club does not use them.  A Standing Order is an arrangement between only the Member and his or her bank, not involving the Club, providing for the payment to the Club of an amount specified by the Member, on a specified date.  The Club has no way of influencing the amount paid or its timing and the Standing Order can be cancelled by the Member at any time without the knowledge of the Club.

The Executive Committee decided that the payment of membership subscriptions by cheque would cease to be an option on 1 July 2019.

The programme of change will be supported by items in Fishtail reminding Members of the timescale together with the details of the various alternative payment methods.  Standing Orders can be set up by the Member online to the Member's bank or using forms which can be obtained from the Member’s bank, downloaded from the Club website or obtained by email or post from the Membership Secretary (Renewals), who will be pleased to assist in cases of difficulty.

Saturday 23 June 2018

CLUB DIARY: November 2018 ONWARDS

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST VERSION OF DIARY

The diary contains details of all Centre events except routine meetings held on regular dates. Details for those can be found on the Centre details page, or in any issue of Fishtail.

Please send events details and updates for the diary to Mike Williams  at pro@velocetteowners.com 

Updated 25 November 2018

Latest update: Various shows and committee meetings added

Sunday 6 May 2018

Brooklands Velocette Day

If you were lucky enough to climb the Test hill at Brooklands last week  you may find your picture here:
CLICK HERE
Regards
Tom

Saturday 10 March 2018


MALICIOUS EMAIL MESSAGES FROM “FACEBOOK DOCS”

A few VOC members have recently reported receiving emails from “Facebook Docs” and claiming that “The Velocette Owners Club Sent You A Document”.

These messages are nothing to do with the VOC, nor indeed with Facebook.  They are malicious “phishing” messages which seek to deceive you into revealing personal information, addresses, passwords, etc., which can then be used to defraud you.

You should not open such messages and you should certainly not click on any links they contain.  The safest approach is to delete them immediately.

Monday 22 January 2018


2017 RACING SEASON RESULTS

Our two regular TT competitors, Tony Ainley and Dave Burrell, represented the Velocette marque in the 2017 Manx Senior Classic TT.  The Club is pleased to award each of them a contribution of £400 towards the huge expense of competing on the island. We look forward to reading Tony’s account of the event in Fishtail.

A total of seven Club Members and three non-Members competed with Velocette machines in the VMCC British Historic Racing (BHR) 2017 season. The Club Members comprised Tony Ainley, Dave Burrell, Keith Riley, Grant Sellars and Mark Stoker – all prominent names in previous seasons – together with two very enthusiastic new names in Tony Green and Sam Page.  Tony and Sam both raced rigid MACs, whilst Sam also competed very successfully with an MOV, between them turning in more race starts than last season’s total, a remarkable and very welcome development which greatly helped to reverse the steady decline in participation over the previous few years. All these Club Members qualify for the award of the Club’s donation of £40 for each of their collective total of 117 race starts. 

The Club’s range of racing trophies is awarded to the most outstanding Velocette-mounted competitors over the BHR season, irrespective of whether or not they are Club Members.

The Dave Allcock Memorial Trophy is awarded on the basis of the highest points gained during the BHR season. The 2017 winner by a substantial margin is Sam Page, a Club member for four years but a newcomer to these awards, who campaigned a rigid MAC and an MOV, achieving a remarkable 20 podium places including 12 wins.

The Arthur Lavington Trophy, awarded on the basis of the number of highest places achieved during the BHR season on a 500cc machine, goes to Sam Rhodes, who raced Graham Austen’s very rapid MSS.  This was the machine which Sam also rode to victory in the Lansdowne Club Class Championship. The Renee Rhodes Trophy, the 350cc equivalent of the Arthur Lavington, is taken by Keith Riley, aboard his very quick MkII KSS.  Keith retains this trophy for the fourth consecutive season. 

The Harold Willis Trophy is awarded to the most successful rider of a girder-forked machine who is not the winner of another Club trophy. The 2017 winner is Tony Green who, in his second year of membership and first full season of racing, racked up no less than 30 starts and finishes, including several podium places, on his rigid MAC.

The trophies and start money cheques will be presented at the AGM on Sunday 18 March 2018 at the Alcester War Memorial Town Hall.

My grateful thanks to John Hannis for his help in compiling the analysis of the racing results.

Friday 7 July 2017

IMPORTANT _ MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS by Bill Greenwood

Alex Wood will no longer be acting as Membership Secretary (Renewals). Our Membership Secretaries are the most hard-working of any of the Committee members and the Club is grateful to Alex for volunteering to take over from Mike Spink and for his hard work, in trying circumstances, ever since.  Until a successor is appointed, Bill will handle renewals in an acting capacity, with Jeff Whitworth continuing to provide his excellent service to new members.

We are taking the opportunity to immediately implement a well-proven and professionally-supported database system, which has been thoroughly trialled over recent months. Our Treasurer, Tom Roche, has been leading the trial and will continue to manage the launch of the system. We are confident that the new system will greatly streamline our operations and provide a solution to the membership renewal problems which some members have experienced in recent times. We recognize that there is still a backlog of corrections to resolve; this is in progress and will soon be completed.

If you have any such problems, please do not hesitate to contact Bill on:-

membership@velocetteowners.com
Tel:  07764 281 371
or by post at:-
7 Townsend Road, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 4BQ

TO WHICH ADDRESS ALL FUTURE RENEWALS
BY CHEQUE SHOULD BE SENT

If you are currently renewing by cheque we urge you to move to payment by Standing Order which, incidentally, will save you £2. When you do so, please ensure that you include your Membership No. in your Standing Order instructions to your bank. The Standing Order form can be downloaded from the VOC Website by clicking on ‘Join/Contact’ and selecting ‘Membership Renewal’.

Please bear with us as we bring the new system on stream and do not hesitate to contact me with any membership renewal problems.

Friday 26 May 2017

NATIONAL RALLY UPDATE

2017 Rally Update

We have arranged a couple of runs this year to accommodate those who wish to put a few miles under their belts, and a shorter run for those who want to potter along and take their time, maybe with a smaller capacity machine.
The runs will start at different times to minimise any mix up about getting on the wrong route. Although there will be a few instruction sheets around we’ve already checked the routes and there will be guides to lead the way.

Run1 :- Will start at 1pm  (1300. Hrs) from the car park. It will cover around 45 miles and take in Rugeley, Blithfield Reservoir, and the edge of Uttoxeter. After a tea stop the route continues via Stowe-by-Chartley, Wolseley Bridge, and through the “Chase” back to Burntwood.

Run2 :- Will start at 1.30. p.m. It’s about 25 miles long and will head for Rugeley via Slitting Mill, then on to Wolseley Bridge, a tea stop and then a similar route to run 1.

I know that these will be enjoyable rides out, Many thank to Mike Spink (Saturday Run Man) and his “team” of helpers.

We are having a much larger marquee this year, this is so that a presentation can be made to commemorate the Neil Kelly’s win in the 1967 Production TT. This will also allow more room for the Saturday evening BBQ. Again can you let Jim Plant know of your intentions for the Saturday evening so that he can gauge how much he will need to purchase for the BBQ. James.plant@homecall.co.uk - 0121 709 4906
Two Club advertisers, Grove Classic and Messrs. Thurston have booked places in the Auto/Trade Area. I do hope that others will do likewise.
On another point can I again ask (plead with) those considering staying overnight at the Rally to let me know. So far less than 12, yes twelve, have indicated their intentions !

Alan Harper
email:  brassedoff25@gmail.com  
Tel :     01543 682438

Sunday 16 April 2017

Vic Pratley, R.I.P.


The Club is saddened to learn of the death of Vic, a long-term member, past Chairman and Trustee of the Club.
Vic's funeral will be on Tuesday April 25th at 10.45 am, at St Mary's the Mount Church, Glebe St, Walsall WS1 3NF
The family have asked that Donations in lieu of flowers are made to : St Giles Hospice, Goscote Lane ,Walsall. WS3 1SJ

Wednesday 29 March 2017

New "60 year" Club machine badge !

Those members who attended the AGM will have received a complimentary copy of the new badge ( see below)

The next distribution will be to those attending the National Rally and following this all remaining members as at January 1st will receive a badge by post


Tuesday 31 January 2017

DATES FOR LANSDOWNE SERIES 2017

Lansdowne Classic Race Series 2017

Following on from last season's racing results, you may like to know when and where it should be possible to see Velos racing in 2017.

Here are the dates and circuits at which the Lansdowne series will be run:
Date
Circuit
Provider
Notes
April 15/16
Pembrey
CRMC
4 races
May 6/7
Donington Park
CRMC
3/4 races Endurance Legends weekend
June 3/4
Cadwell Park
NG Racing
3 races
July 8/9
Castle Combe
NG Racing
3 races
August 4-6
Donington Park            
CRMC
4 races – Classic Motorcycle Festival
October 7/8
Brands Hatch Indy
CRMC
3 races – CRMC Race of the Year

Other events will also have Velos racing and we will post details as we obtain them