...is the umbrella organisation representing 12 regional blood bike charities, all providing a motorcycle based, free delivery service to the NHS; moving vital medical supplies, blood and pathology samples from medical centres and hospitals throughout the UK.

Recently NABB member groups have become involved in the transport of frozen human milk from the donor to the milk processing hospitals. This has been a real life saver due to the necessity of very premature babies intolerance to anything but human milk.

Run entirely by volunteers, NABB member groups have over 700 active members with a fleet of 35+ emergency response motorcycles. All NABB riders have an Advanced Riding qualification, are trained in the movement of medical essentials and operate from individual regional charities, but with a common goal, to alleviate suffering and reduce the funding pressures on the NHS.

NABB was formed in 2010 and is chaired by Gloucestershire man, Gordon Downie.

Severn Freewheelers are the regional Blood Bike group operating in Gloucestershire, Hereford & Worcester and North Wiltshire. Over 70 volunteers help Severn Freewheelers carry out their much needed service. Severn Freewheelers run 4 x BMW R1200RTs and a Honda Deauville, all emergency response equipped and handle some 3000 call outs per annum.

www.bloodbikes.org.uk

The Prescott Bike Festival was born out of the need to raise awareness and fundraise for the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes and one of its member groups, Severn Freewheelers. For 22nd April 2012, the Prescott Bike Festival will be bigger, better and hopefully generate even more money for this worthy cause than before.

Set at one of the most prestigious hill climb venues in the UK against the beautiful backdrop of the Cotswold Valley, the Prescott Bike Festival aims to provide something for everyone; a relaxed family atmosphere, a huge variety of entertainment and a rare opportunity to ‘Run the Hill’ on your own motorcycle.

Well supported by the bike industry, highlights of the 2011 event included the UK debut of the Morgan Three Wheeler, classic machinery from the Brooklands Museum, helicopter rides, live bands, the Stunt Starz stunt riding team and the chance to meet the stars of the British Superbike Championship. Not to mention riders aged from 8 to 81 taking to the hill.

In 2012, the Festival will feature the addition of a new Race Bikes Thru’ the Ages display area. Never before has such an extensive collection of bikes been brought together. Here, festival goers will not only be able to get up close with rare exotica, early pioneering machinery, modern MotoGP bikes and more but see many of them in action, ridden by race riders. Of particular note is support from the Lansdowne Classic Series, who will be displaying some of the most prestigious race bikes of the 50’s and 60’s. The 2012 Festival also promises a kids demo area, a new Orchard Food & Bar Village, a Run the Hill Fancy Dress competition and so much more.

One of the most amusing new features for the Prescott Bike Festival 2012 was inspired by the unexpected entry of super hero, Superman, into last years’ Run the Hill. This year, entrants can choose to tackle the hill climb in fancy dress, raise money for the Blood Bike charities and win a fantastic prize for the best costume of the day!

www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk has just been launched to provide more details on what will be in store and give the opportunity to purchase advance tickets and secure your place to Run the Hill. There are just 200 entry places to Run the Hill, so it’s best to book early!

Prescott Bike Festival will take place on Sunday 22nd April 2012 and all proceeds from the day will go to the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes and Severn Freewheelers.

www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk

www.serv.org.uk

The Heritage Motor Centre, in conjunction with local design agency Box Clever Marketing, has won a prestigious national award for its conference marketing at the Meetings Industry Marketing Awards.

The awards, which celebrate the industry’s best marketing initiatives of the year, were announced at the Park Plaza Riverbank London on Monday 17 October. The Centre was amongst the final four for Best Brochure – Venues/Destinations and beat off strong competition from the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Jersey Conference Bureau and Victory Services Club in London.

The HMC and Box Clever Marketing successfully developed an integrated campaign with the tagline ‘an ideal blank canvas for conferences, meetings and events’. The campaign focused on the HMC’s unique selling points and was so successful it expanded into the reception area to improve communication, increase bookings and occupancy and maintain the conference rate during  the economic downturn. The campaign’s success was reflected by occupancy rising by 7%, confirmed bookings from new customers increasing by 25% and the e-version of the brochure receiving 100's of views per month.  8% of confirmed bookings so far this year have come via online sources compared to 5% for the entire 2010.

Julie Tew, Managing Director at the Heritage Motor Centre stated “We are thrilled and honoured to have won the gold award at the MIMA 2011. Winning this award is testament to the quality of work and creative talent that has gone into creating our conference marketing”.

The HMC is a dedicated conference and exhibition centre conveniently located off junction 12 of the M40 in Warwickshire. The Centre offers over 20 stylish meeting rooms for 6 - 600 delegates with internal and external exhibition space and outdoor event space licensed for 5000 people. Set in 65 acres, the Centre also boasts a meadow for team building, two 4x4 off-road tracks, 2000 free car parking spaces, and external hard standing (9700sqm), ideal for marquees and outdoor events.

www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

The IAM is calling for the end of British summer time because accident rates increase when the clocks go back in October. Research shows that changing the system could save up to 80 lives each year on Britain’s roads.2  

An IAM poll of more than 2000 motorists last winter found that 65 per cent would support a double summertime system – moving the clocks forward by one hour throughout the entire year, while still putting the clocks forward in spring and back in autumn.  

There are 17 per cent more pedestrian road casualties in November than the monthly average. This sharp increase is likely to be partly attributed to the winter clock change*.

There is also an increase in the number of motorcycle accidents in November – 41.8 per cent higher than the normal monthly average and 73 per cent higher than in February*1. Numbers of casualties stay relatively constant but the rate per billion miles dramatically increases in autumn.  

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “Changing the current summertime system would save lives. Children especially are more likely to be out and about after school and an extra hour of daylight will make them more visible.   “We want to see a three-year trial of the new daylight system. 

If the trial period proves the new daylight hours to be a disadvantage, it is clear that the current system should be reinstated. However with convincing evidence of the potential benefits, it seems only right that we pilot a new system.”

www.iam.org.uk

Responding to an increasing number of enquiries over the forthcoming EU Type Approval regulations, the BMF have produced a comprehensive briefing document outlining the current position, explaining the EU process of government, detailing the measures under discussion and by listing a Reality Check, dispelling a few myths over what will and will not reach our home shores.

The document, ‘Briefing On The EU Type Approval Debate’ explains the all-important differences between the EU Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, and also explains the differences between EU Regulations and EU Directives, an understanding of which is crucial for lobbying to be effective say the BMF.

It points out that the regulation being debated proposes to add or change some requirements and bring all the legislation on motorcycle Type Approval together, voting on which will be on the 22nd November. It is these processes, along with unconnected unilateral measures proposed by other European governments, that have caused confusion say the BMF. 

While the BMF is supporting a forthcoming demonstration in Brussels against the unpopular requirements of anti-tampering contained in the Type Approval regulations, it says that it’s important to get the position clear, hence the briefing.

THE REALITY CHECK–LIST 

Anti-Tampering – Powers to make changes more difficult to the engine and drive train of motorcycles

Myth busting reality:

It will not be illegal to change components on a motorcycle

There will not be spot checks of motorcycles on the road

It will only apply to new motorcycles

ABS - Commission wants powers to specify minimum safety equipment for motorcycles including mandatory ABS on larger bikes or CBS on smaller bikes as well as Automatic Headlights On (AHO) on all bikes

Myth busting reality:

Original text excludes enduro and trail bikes

Off switch probably up to manufacturer discretion

AHO already on nearly all bikes sold in EU

On Board Diagnostics (OBD) - will be compulsory in two stages OBD 1 and 2

Myth busting reality:

Not an onboard tracking device – only shows component failure or component out of tolerance

Will not stop bike working

Emissions - Bring pollutant limits for bikes in line with cars in three stages over the next decade. Bikes must remain compliant for 50,000km (less for smaller bikes)

Myth busting reality:

Bikes release a much higher amount of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons than cars

Catalytic converters can be fitted to motorcycles and routinely are

Bikes over 7 years old will not be banned from entering town centres

Measures Outside of Type Approval

There is nothing in the proposed regulation on the wearing of compulsory high visibility clothing; town centre bans for old motorcycles; power limits or European wide MOTs. Some other EU countries have proposed such things, but not the EU and they are not being proposed in the UK either says the BMF.

The BMF have a long record of lobbying on EU matters and working through FEMA (Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations) and the FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme), as well as having discussions with the UK government, the BMF have made the case for British motorcycling.

BMF Government relations Executive Chris Hodder said: “This is about perspective. There are benefits in Type Approval where high quality standards for original equipment and performance are concerned and where barriers to trade are removed, but the BMF is vehemently opposed to any regulation restricting an individual's freedom to modify or improve their own motorcycle.”

BMF EU Type Approval Briefing document