Dear Friends, Chums, those with beards, and those who like Ford Transits!   Let Christmas commence!   Tickets are now on sale for the aforementioned Bunfight – it’s the greatest Christmas Party ever! At Birtley Golf Club!! On the 16th December 2024!!! How many others are there? Grillions but none so good as this one!   At this party, there will be nibbles, films, good craic and of course FOOD!!   The fun, japery and tomfoolery includes standy up bingo, raffles and quizzes to suit all tastes AND that old favourite (no – not our Cultural attaché) –the passy the bucket game!!!! As with all such things, valuable prizes are to be won all over the place and for no apparent reason!!   So (I hear you say) surely such frivolity and japery will be mega expensive? How will I ever afford it on my measly income? Will I have to sell my wife/partner/significant other? Surely, I can’t afford it now I have no heating allowance? Does inflation mean a staggering price increase!!   The answer to all of these worthy questions is a resounding NO!!!  Not whilst I am coming to it at least!!   It only costs YOU £6 a head! THE SAME AS LAST YEAR!!! You have never had it so good (if at all)!   You can pay by cheque, cash or PayPal to me (petebagnall44@hotmail.com). If you are going to use PayPal, please make sure you use the ‘Friends and Family’ option, otherwise we don’t get the full amount and yours truly has to make up the difference.   Please also tell me ahead of time if you are going to come along as we need to get the buffet sorted.   So, buy those tickets, get your Christmas outfit on and come along. The fun will kick off at 8.00’ish so see you there.   It’s going to be good!!   P.S Tickets are limited so get in quick. The first ticket has already been sold!! P.P.S Admittedly to me but you have to start somewhere.

This is to give notice of the Northumbrian Section AGM. This will be held at the Birtley Golf Club on Monday 18/11/2024, starting at 8.30.   Here we’ll discuss the results of events and finances over the previous year, discuss matters arising and any other business. Also the committee for the following year will be elected. Come along and have your say and help the Section to thrive and grow in the years to come

Just a place holder really. The final start point my be Kiln Pit Hill or a few miles up the road at the Anchor in Whittonstall. Watch this space!

The date and format of the Bob Rawlings Run has been changed this year for a variety of reasons. It will now be a 2 day social event, based around Wooler, starting on Saturday 14th September. We will have social runs on both the Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, we aim to have afternoon tea at Chillingham Castle. On Sunday, we shall tootle off somewhere else. There will be no questions etc, so this run won't be part of the Northern Road Run championship this year. Come for one day or two. Highburn House Country park is available this weekend so why not make a weekend of it of camping, craic and tootling round the Northumbrian region. Good weather has been requested from the appropriate authorities. If you are thinking of going, please let me know for numbers etc. P.S. if you aren't staying on the campsite, we'll start off from the long stay carp park on Rycroft Way at 10.00 each day, just up the one-way street that runs past St. Ninian's Church

Come along and join us all for Geoff's Cloverleaf Rally. The central base is the Bradley Burn Farm Shop and Café on the A689 1.75 miles east of Wolsingham. The café is open from 9.00am and the first bike will set off at 10.00. It takes the form of 3 circular routes during the day, returning for tea and cakes at Bradley Burn at the end of each 'leaf'. The organisers will be happy for non-VMCC members, perhaps friends, who would like to sample a VMCC event, even on newer machines, to take part. There is no entry fee, but entrants can make a donation to the marshal's expenses if they wish. As always, fun, sun* and frivolity are guaranteed (* fingers crossed)! What more do you need? Hope to see you out there it's going to be good! Contact Geoff on 07999940727 or via g.grigg@sky.com for more details

Here are the results of the ’24 Gathering Trophy awards.   I hope you will all come back next year to either try to retain your trophy or win one!   Tell your friends and get them to come along to NG ’25.   It’s going to be good.   Trophy winners 2024 Performance Veteran(Pre 1915) St Andrews Motors Trophy Not Awarded Vintage (1915-1930) Thompson & Brown Bros Trophy Brian Smith KOBI Post Vintage (1931 -1945) National Benzole Trophy Paul Farley Post War (1946 -1960) Boldon Salver Kelven McNish Post 60's (1961 - 1972) Mill Garages BMW Trophy Bobby Robinson Classic post 1972 Ken Pell 3 Wheeler Jacks Cup Mark Bell Best Overall Nick Robson Memorial Cup. Bob Rodgerson Concours d'Elegance   Veteran(Pre 1915) Frank Smith Memorial Trophy Not Awarded Vintage (1915-1930) Cowie Cup Geoff Green Post Vintage (1931 -1945) Pons Aelii Trophy Paul Farley Post War (1946 -1960) Selwood Garages Trophy Rob Woodford Post 60's (1961 - 1972) Hunting-Solvol-Autosol Shield Geoff Pennycook Classic post 1972 John Duguid 3 Wheeler Lord Montagu Trophy Dave Chambers Best BSA B.S.A. Cup Jon Spawls Other outstanding efforts    Machine Journey Pilgrim Trophy. Russel Thornton Spirit of the Gathering Brian Smith KOBI On/off Trophy Pete Smith Wobble Tony Cowley Best Dressed Guest Peter Thompson Boat Anchor of the Year Tom Norman Colonial Shield Peter Thompson Bob Rawlings Peter Bates Rookhope Ryde Bill White Trophy Jon Warren C2C misguided Perseverance Dr Nick Hill Trophy Bob Rodgerson C2C Concourse Paul Barbrook

The regs and menus for the Coast to Coast 2024 event (on 5th and 6th of May) are available to download now from the 'Regs Available' Section of this website. Be quick because it is going to be good!

As we splash into April, just a reminder of the Founders Relay Rally that is on Sunday April 28th. The Section is hosting 2 checkpoints. There is one at Path Head Water Mill, Blaydon and one at Bradley Burn Farm Café, Wolsingham. At Path Head, we will be especially remembering our friend Barry Stevens. In his honour, we'll have an informal run from Path Head to Bradley Burn, setting off around 11.30 (ish). Both locations have cafes for tea and buns and will be open from 10.00 until 4.00. There will be a check-in desk where you can get your official signing in sheet...signed AND a VMCC sticker!!! After that, you can head out into the Wilds of Wannee and visit other checkpoints as well! What more could you want? For full details of the other checkpoints etc. please see the VMCC Members area https://www.vmcc.net/Founders-Relay-Rally So, tell all your friends, get your mighty beasts fettled and see you out there. It's going to be good!

As the title says, we are having a Great White Elephant Sale to banish the winter blues. What better way to get bits to fettle your mighty steed, bike gear that doesn't quite fit and presents for the relatives you don't really like! So get your pale pachyderm unpacked and come along to the bargain sale of the Century ( well - week actually) at Birtley Golf Club on Monday 26th Feb. Please note the items should be bike/engineering related. No Catherine Cookson novels, duff aftershave etc. please. Kick off about 8:15 'ish. Be there for all the bargains - it's going to be good!

Yes it’s the Breakfast Meet organised by Dave Harrison.   Dave has worked long and hard to find somewhere that actually opens for breakfast on a Sunday.   There’s a Full English Breakfast available, it’s bound to be good weather AND great people to talk to. What more could you want???   However, there’s more!   The brekky price has been discounted by a whopping 50%!!!!!   It’s going to be so good, I must go for a lie down to compose myself!   Follow the instructions attached to get yourself on a truly wonderful event!!

This is the event organised by the national VMCC. In honour of Founder Allen, Sections around the country are setting up checkpoints which anyone can visit, in any order. We are tentatively going to have one at Bradley Burn Farm Cafe (as we did in 2023). There may also be another one. Details will be forthecoming - watch this space.

Tickets are now on sale for the aforementioned Bunfight – it’s the greatest Christmas Party ever! At Birtley Golf Club!! On the 18th December 2023!!! Well actually, it’s the only one but you get my drift. At this party, there will be quizzes, raffles, stand up bingo, nibbles, films, good craic and of course FOOD!! As if this were not enough, we have the return of an old favourite. No – not Peter Bates – it’s the passy the bucket game!!!! As with all such things, valuable prizes are to be won all over the place. So (I hear you say) surely such fun, frivolity and japery will be mega expensive? How will I ever afford it on my measly income? Will I have to sell my wife/partner/significant other? The answer is a resounding NO!!! It only costs YOU £6 a head! A positive bargain as our Prime Minister would say!! You can pay by cheque, cash or PayPal to me (petebagnall44@hotmail.com)(mailto:petebagnall44@hotmail.com). If you are going to use PayPal, please make sure you use the ‘Friends and Family’ option, otherwise we don’t get the full amount and yours truly has to make up the difference. Please also tell me ahead of time if you are going to come along as we need to get the buffet sorted. So buy those tickets, get your Christmas gear on and come along. The fun will kick off at 8.00’ish so see you there. It’s going to be good!! P.S Tickets are limited so get in quick. The first ticket has already been sold!! Write a comment… • • • • •

Don't forget that our very own MIB will be giving one of his world famous talks on Monday 27th November. This is on the Atomic Bomb. We'll have a raffle in aid of charity, nibbles and lots of fun. Come along - it'll be a blast...

Well, in preparation for Halloween, this is to remind you there will be a film night on Monday 30th October at Birtley Golf Club. By the time I get all the stuff set up, it should be around 8.15 when we get started. There'll be a selection of films about motorcycle touring from days gone by, old motorcycle events, dodgy modifications to bikes etc. All fun stuff. Also, there will be nibbles provided to enhance your viewing experience as they say. All for a measly pund! What more could you ask for?

Remember that, on the 8th October, we are holding the final Section run of the year. This is the Colonial Run. The starting point has been moved a couple of miles up the road from Kiln Pit Hill to The Anchor Inn, Whittonstall, Northumberland, DH8 9JN The run will start at 9.30. It is a run with some parts of the route on unmade roads and BOATs that make is more suitable for bikes equipped with trials universal tyres. An alternative route which by-passes these is available. Hope to see you there - good weather has been requested..

A newish event on the Northumbrian Section calendar, riders will enjoy a mixture of Co. Durham roads and scenery, with an excursion into Northumbria as part of the fun. The first one last year was a great event, very well received so why not come along? The central base is the Bradley Burn Farm Shop and Cafe on the A689 1.75 miles east of Wolsingham. The cafe is open from 9.00am and the first bike will set off at 10.00. Food, drink and toilets will be available throughout the day. There will be room to park trailers if necessary. The address for Bradley Burn is:- Bradley Burn Farm Cafe, Wolsingham, Bishop Auckland DL13 3JH The route totals about 80miles, fuel will be available multiple times along the route.   The organisers will be happy for non-VMCC members, perhaps friends, who would like to sample a VMCC event, even on newer machines, to take part. There is no entry fee, but entrants can make a donation to the marshal’s expenses if they wish.   As always, fun, sun* and frivolity are guaranteed (* fingers crossed)!   What more do you need? Hope to see you out there – it’s going to be good! 

Just a reminder that - as we move into June - the Gathering is fast approaching. If you want an entry and have not sent in your forms yet, please can you get them in ASAP! It's going to be good!

The Breakfast Meet on Sunday 25th June is a chance to have breakfast at a lovely location in Northumberland, chat with your friends and then tootle out for a run into the glorious Northumbrian countryside on a route of your choice. It's a great way to get in the mood for the Northumbrian Gathering in a couple of weeks' time. It has proved difficult to find a venue for breakfast this year (last years venue at Thropton has closed) . The organiser has arranged an alternative venue for LUNCH at :- THE CROWN INN, HUMSHAUGH, HEXHAM , NORTHUMBERLAND, NE46 4AG. If this proves to be a success or if riders prefer this option, then this venue can be used in future years. Riders should arrive at the Crown Inn at 12.00 hrs . To add to the enjoyment, the breakfast is subsidised by the Section. Could anyone wishing to attend please let the organiser Dave Harrison know so we can pass on numbers to the manager of the venue What more could you want when good weather is (virtually) guaranteed!?

Now that the excitement of the C2C.has turned into a rosy glow in people's memory, the fun just keeps on growing in the Northumbrian Section. Yes, the Rookhope Ryde takes place next Sunday (7th May) after the coronation of C111. So blow away the patriotic fervour by turning up at Wylam, ready for a 10.00 start. This year, we go nowhere near Rookhope (as is tradition). The good weather we missed this weekend has been transferred to next week instead. See you there - it's going to be good!

Regulations are now available in the 'Regs Available' section of this website for the Northumbrian Gathering 2023 - the 44th time this has been run. You have to be there - it's going to be fun!