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Here you can scroll down through all our events from Jan - March
The Drinks are on us!
Club Night at The Magpie
Thursday 23rd January
Great turnout at the club last night - 17 people including some new faces.
Many thanks to all - especially those who travelled a long distance on a cold January evening.
(I didn’t recognise Anne but that’s because last time I saw her she was dressed as a Xmas tree at the Reading Toy Run).
All enjoyed free drinks courtesy of the voucher we obtained as a result of our Xmas meal at The Magpie.
HOWL life at its best
Tenpin Bowling
at Guildford
Sunday 26th January
On Sunday 26th January, 11 Howlers went Ten-pin bowling at Guildford Spectrum. It looked like many of us had not been for a few years and it took time to find our aim. After a rusty start, we finally got into the swing of things.
Unfortunately, I don't think any of us will be worrying the 300 club.
The competition was finally won by Steve Cribbin by 3 points from Tom Deakin. The HOC-HOWL bowling trophy will sit proudly in his trophy cabinet.
Well done to everyone who attended....and thanks to Charles for organising!
The Winner!!
Through the
Teletubby Hills
of Hampshire
Thursday 30th January
Jude Browne
OVER THE HILLS …Brilliant first midweek ride out today. 8 mad Howlers met up at the Hogs Back Cafe for a short but cool ride, led by Jon, over the rolling ‘Teletubby Hills’ of Hampshire to Newlyn’s Farm Cafe near Hook for an excellent lunch and catch up.
We even picked up a couple of new members.
Thanks to all for coming out for a very enjoyable event.
Members came from afar - Crawley, Amersham, Feltham, West Drayton and Sunbury.
Must check out the breakfasts next time!
Club life at its best
The Cafe by the Lake
Horsham
Sunday 2nd February
‘The best-laid schemes
of mice and men...'
This Sunday dawned with a much harder frost than expected.
Dan had booked a table for ten at a new venue for us The Café by the Lake, planned a route and GPX... so the run went ahead.
We assembled at Ryka's.
But the day still had a few unexpected turns for us. Dan, setting off from home in good time stopped for some fuel... but then his Pan decided to go no further.
Vaughan kindly diverted to lend assistance but to no avail.
Meanwhile at Ryka’s I suggested we alter the route to avoid the shaded country roads. I went to my NC750 to get my Sat Nav but couldn’t unlock the storage compartment – nor could I undo the steering lock.
‘’Are you sure you’ve got the right keys? quipped Peter L’’.
’’Yes of course I replied – look - here's my top box key – pointing to the top box – but there was no top box. I was trying to unlock someone else’s blue NC750.
After that, things went a bit more smoothly. Tom met us at the venue, meaning we had ten bikes with eleven Howlers on board.
It was good to meet up with Martin and Petar again – and Anne who joined us for her second outing.
The Café by the Lake, Horsham is a very welcoming, well-run venue – I recommend their most excellent giant sausage rolls with a filling of cheese and cranberries topped with sunflower seeds.
As we split up into different groups homeward bound Peter L had a Sat nav malfunction, leading his contingent down a farm track – his Sat Nav wanted to go off roading!
Everyone got home safely including Dan.
A great day out.
Devitt Insurance/ MCN Motorcycle Show
ExCel Centre
Fri-Sun 14-16th February
HOWL members straddled the three days of the ExCel Bike Show joining the 29,000+ visitors.
Steve Hill had his sights on a Transalp!
Meanwhile, Classic Secretary Steve Cribbin, presented a birthday card to Henry Cole signed by the HOWL members.
He also presented Allen Millyard an HOC Classic Section T Shirt as a thanks for his support at last year's Classic Show. You will have seen Allen sporting his HOC Beanie Hat many times on TV.
The Sammy Miller Museum had a very impressive stand, courtesy of MCN - as usual they are very enthusiastic about our show on 20th July.
MCN paid for this eye-catching backdrop with museum bikes comped in
Celebs flocked to have their pic taken with us!
Steve gives Allen a few tips!!
''To Jude - lovely to see you again - best - Henry''
Henry is alaways very generous with his time
Ghostly events at
The Devil's Punchbowl
Thurs 20th Feb
All you experienced bikers will know -
‘you can’t beat the weather’, so it was no surprise that the forecast impacted attendance on this event.
Still - there were some plus points
• It was nice and dry in the Hindhead Tunnel
• The group kept together very well - we rode ‘as one’ definitely no stragglers or gaps
• The leader was also able to act as Tail End Charlie
• The Bread Pudding was yummy
I was aware that as the pics show, other Howlers were there in spirit if not in body.
Roll on Summer and some sunshine
Jon
It was a bit soggy...
Thanks go to Gary for a bit of photo wizardry
The Bristol Classic Show
Shepton Mallet
Sat/Sun 22/23rd February
After some months planning the stand and selecting the bikes for this show we finally got to the day.
On Friday 21st Feb the Bristol Classic team arrived to set up the stand and arrange the bikes in a a pleasing configuration. Our stand was a bit snug - but it is free and in the main hall.
It all went quite well apart from Jude almost ending up in next doors stand after putting slightly too much pressure on the flimsy partitions. Saturday morning was bright, and we arrived to find Dave T there with his bike, Sarah & Chloe soon arrived with the regalia boxes and set up their stall.
We decided to use both backdrops for maximum input and soon bikes were in position and the regalia/membership table set up as well as the most important bit—the tea table.
Recognise that rear?
Almost open for business
Pretty bikes all in a row!
We had a very busy Saturday with the Bristol Classic Team talking to all the show goers. We reminisced with them, advised them, and sold them membership and regalia. We offered tea and coffee to members and new members and had a very enjoyable—although cold and tiring day. (note to self—wear another layer next year) Several branch members popped along too. Sunday was wet and windy and attendance was down a bit, but we still had a steady flow of people to our stand. We welcomed Jo and Chris from Gloucester and Andy from Bristol, Mared represented North Wales and Cheshire and Tony (GS) and Zoe came along to say hi and have a cuppa and I’m sure there were some other branches too—so thank you all for coming.
Can you spot Andrew Langdon of 'Team Flying Duck Theory' who looked in for a cuppa?
We were lucky enough to entice Sammy Miller onto the stand for a photo opportunity after he had been bidding for an interesting bike at the auction.
We gained 10 new members who have now been welcomed into the club via email and Sarah took in a total of £305 for regalia and membership. Ian Jefferson may have gained us some advertising which Erica is following up.
All in all, a very enjoyable show with a great bunch of people who formed the Bristol Classic Team.
Next one up is Kickback Show at Malvern on 12/13th April.
Then our Classic Show at Sammy Miller's 20th July
Report by Jude
Howl Celebrate the Chinese Year of the Snake
Saturday 1st March
A really enjoyable evening for 25 HOWLers and 1 rattlesnake at our Chinese meal out. We blitzed the menus as we celebrated the Year of the Snake at The Zen Garden Restaurant, Leatherhead.
Charles provided a couple of brilliant quizzes – as an ardent devotee of the series, Zoe came out tops on the Doctor Who questions.
Club life at its best
The tablecloths had suffered badly by the end of the evening!
As you can see, Anne entered into the spirit of things
... shaking her rattlesnake tail
HOWL Pig Out at Orchard View Farm Café
Sunday March 9th
A glorious week of sun brought out a bumper turnout of 14 HOWLERS and friends as 6 different bike marques -Harley, Yamaha, Triumph, BMW, Bullit and even some Hondas met for a run through The Chilterns to Orchard View Farm Cafe.
Let’s hope this doesn’t prove to be the last day of summer.
It could have been 17 but Gary and Cindy were left feeling a little deflated by a puncture and pain stopped play as Jude’s knee was very ‘ouchy’ – (non-medical term).
Can you spot the Hog?
Simon and Karen pictured here with Kevin's Triumph Rocket 3 and Kevin's son Sam's Bullit
The excellent giant home-made sausage rolls topped off a great day out.
Now...
...and then -see below for explanation
a T5 Vespa similar to Rob's 😍
A close up of Rob’s number plate gives his two wheeled history in one sentence. The T5 is a reference to his first machine - a T5 Vespa
... In fact if you look closely at the tree in this close up pic you'll see Gary and Cindy managed to beam down to join us! 😂
HOWL Pop down
to Popham Airfield
Thursday March 20th... Summer came back!
– so 13 Howlers and friends on 11 bikes popped down to Popham Airfield.
Making the most of a blue-sky day, we were the very definition of an eclectic group of bikes - Gold Wings, Forzas and Triumphs came in two by two.
A Harley, BMW, Vespa, Crosstourer and me and my Marmite bike, made up the group.
Thanks to Ian for being a right Charlie (Tail end) and Karen and Nicole for some great pics.
We welcomed new member Stuart and friend Andy on their Wings - Andy and his wife run The Pinewood Café bike venue. – I sense a visit coming up!
So, on the day that Heathrow was closed, HOWL still managed to arrive on time!
HOWLERS Head to
The Wild West
Sunday 23rd March
On Sunday 23rd March - Twelve HOWLERS headed to the Wild West – well actually it was the top of Boxhill for a great meet up at Smith & Western.
There getting into the spirit of the venue we ‘indulged in hearty portions of Mexican/Cowboy-approved cuisine that had us yeehawing for more.
There was lots of toe tappin’ and knee slappin’ as we ‘got off our horses and drank our milk’.
Dan found himself banged up in jail
but we managed to get him released on bail!
Thanks to Rob for the venue suggestion.
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