Lorraine Allaway lost her husband Bob, in a horrific head on crash with a drunken driver. She has started a petition to hopefully make changes to the law and bring in harsher sentencing that should deter others and save other families the distress caused by such lenient sentences.

From Lorraine

On Saturday 3 October 2015 at 12pm, My husband Bob (Drac) Allaway from Long Preston, Skipton was riding his motorbike along the A65 near Settle when he was involved in a head on collision with a Nissan Note.

Bob sadly died at the scene, from multiple injuries. At the time of the accident Bob was only 46 years old and still had so much more to give.

He could be counted on to join charity events when he would dress as his alter ego Freddie Mercury. He spent many hours collecting for Macmillan cancer support and the Love Leah fund.

A roadside breath test was conducted on the driver of the Nissan Note and he returned a reading of 83ug per 100ml of breath – nearly two and a half times the legal limit (35ug/100ml). North Yorkshire Police conducted an investigation into the collision and found that whilst under the influence of alcohol, the driver of the Nissan Note had driven his vehicle across double solid white lines onto the wrong side of the road and collided head on with Bob’s motorbike.  

The driver pled guilty and has been sentenced to four years and eight months in prison and served with a five year, eight month ban from driving for causing the death of a motorcyclist whilst being drunk behind the wheel. So this driver will serve approximately two and a half years of his sentence whilst my family suffer a lifetime of pain at the loss of my husband.  

I know any changes to the law will not affect the sentence this man has received but I hope that it will save other families the distress caused by such lenient sentences. If I were to go out and kill someone with a weapon I would get a life sentence but you get in a car drunk and kill someone you get 4 years, where is the justice in that. It is a disgrace and an insult to those left behind.  

Sign here

A novel run is being organised by Auld Reekie Edinburgh (ARE) Section of the VMCC to give non-members a taste of Club life and action on Saturday 24 September, 2016.

The novelty is to combine a road run from a central starting point (the Lochside Bistro, Loch Leven, Kinross) with a social get together at the halfway lunch stop ( The Crieff Visitor Centre, Crieff). The event is tailored to classic motorcyles from the 1970s through to 1991 with a run of around 100 miles on A and B roads but any machine made prior to 1992 is eligible to enter. The Club is keen to attract new members and for this reason there is no entry fee and two ways to enjoy the day. The “Ride Out” will leave the Lochside Bistro from 10.30am for a run around Perthshire to the lunch stop at the Crieff Visitor Centre where, from about 12.30pm, individuals can “Ride In “ and meet us for a chat and/or get a bite to eat. 

Alastair Alexander, VMCC Area Rep. for Scotland said, “Many enthusiasts do not know that bikes made from 1991 or earlier are eligible for VMCC events. The 1970s and 1980s were dominated by Japanese motorcycles and we are keen to see them and meet their owners on the day. Spectators are most welcome to come along to the start at Kinross from around 9.00am and at the lunch stop. Kinross and Crieff were chosen because of their accessibility to riders from all over Scotland and beyond. Come and join us and see what the VMCC has to offer.”

Alastair Alexander - Area Rep. Scotland

Entry forms are available from ARE Section Secretary, George Plumb on 0131 333 3336 or [email protected].

The forthcoming “Pure&Crafted” event, held over the weekend of 12th and 13th August 2016, featuring amongst many others, the sounds of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Mando Diao, Band of Skulls and more, includes with the thrills of the Motodrome, a myriad of specialty stands and displays, a red open top double decker bus and, as well as an Ace Cafe London display, from central Berlin starting on Friday 12th at 10.30am  to the Pure&Crafted Showground  at  the unique Postbahnhof event venue location, the Ace Cafe London “ Ton Up & Cafe Racer Ride“

As a warm up for this event, and with free admission, a special Ace rock n’ roll and cafe racer party featuring bikes and, live on stage, the four piece r n’ r sounds of Ray Allen & Band and the wax spinning  Record Hop maestro,  DEE-JAY Red Mokum, is being held at Berlin’s famous Roadrunners Paradise Club on Thursday night 11.8.16  from 8 to late – join us with loud pipes in celebrating clip-ons, rear-sets and rock n’ roll!

www.pureandcrafted.com

Star-studded line-up of World Champions, Grand Prix heroes and awe-inspiring 500cc machines is announced  

Pack your tents, sun-cream and shorts/bikini (!) and go camping at a Biker Friendly campsite

www.thebikerguide.co.uk/bikerfriendlycamping.html