This month's cover picture was sent in by Phil Acton and is of his wife's Suzuki Van Van Mike Roberts who did the picture editing and graphical work.

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2 This month's cover picture was sent in by Phil Acton and is of his wife's Suzuki Van Van Mike Roberts who did the picture editing and graphical work. Picture sent in by Roy Clouter The SAM Observer January Page 2

3 Chairman Secretary Treasurer Vice Chairman Membership Secretary Chief Observer Buddy Co-ordinator Buddy Co-ordinator Caring SAM Events Events Publicity Co-ordinator Publicity Discount Scheme Group Nights Webmaster Magazine Editor Your Committee No Calls After 9pm Please Officers Beverley Rudland John Sillett Bryan Duncan Committee Members Martin Drury Linda Barker Derek Barker Stephen Cook Vicky Smith Brian Ellis Vincent Evans David Arbon Paul Spalding Martin Drury Graham Parker Graham Parker Mike Roberts Felix Oliver National Observers Mike Roberts David Rudland Karl Hale Richard Toll Stuart Young Leia Dowsing Lee Gage Observers John Morgan Steve Gocher Paul Newman Simon Phillips Tony Chyc John Sillett Paul Spalding André Castle Steve Studd Mark Hardy Ruth Elmer Ross Mckinlay Tim Murgatroyd Chris Smith Associate Co-ordinator, Susan Smith, I.A.M. Examiner Kevin Stark The SAM Observer January Page 3

4 Contents My Trip by Roy Clouter 2 Committee 3 Chairman s Chat by Beveley Rudland 5 Test passes 6 SAM Committee Nominations 6 A Gentle Reminder by Linda Barker 9 G day all by Brian Ellis 9 Glorious Scotland in October by Vicky Smith 10 SAM Breakfast Run by Vini Evans 13 Saturday Jaunt by Vini Evans 14 Social Ride 15 SAM Theory Evening by Derek Barker 16 Editorial by Editor 18 Advertise Here by Committee 19 Members Information by Mike Roberts 20 SAM Dates for you Diary 21 Our Venue 24 Next Issue Closing date for copy Friday after club night. Send via or on a USB memory stick (which will be returned) or even hand-written, not a problem. The Editor reserves the right to edit, amend or omit as he feels fit. WEBSITE ADDRESS SAM is a registered Charity ~ No All Official Correspondence to: John Sillett 37 Bishops Hill, Ipswich, IP3 8EW John.sillett1@ntlworld.com The SAM Observer January Page 4

January s Chairman s Chat Dear Reader, Happy New Year and welcome to the January edition of our SAM magazine, I hope 2015 is going to be a brilliant motorcycling year for you.

5 January s Chairman s Chat Dear Reader, Happy New Year and welcome to the January edition of our SAM magazine, I hope 2015 is going to be a brilliant motorcycling year for you. As I contemplate what 2015 has in store for the Rudland household I am beginning to get a little sentimental about handing over the SAM Chairmanship in February. Being SAM s Chairman over the past four years has been an enormous privilege, although I have no doubts at all about my decision and I am confident that I shall be leaving SAM in extremely safe hands, I shall miss the camaraderie of the Committee and my involvement in the monthly group meetings. If you have ever contemplated being a little more involved in the running of the group, if you have particular views on how the group should evolve or you simply want to help promote motorcycle safety in Suffolk, I strongly urge you to join the committee. Alternatively, if you know someone who is regularly expressing ideas about how the group should move forward please ask them to consider joining the committee, there is a nomination form further on in the magazine and also available on the Website. If you would like any further information about joining the committee or how the group is run please feel free to give me a call on or send me an at beverley_rudland@yahoo.co.uk As for what s going on in the Rudland household at the moment, we are determined to achieve an enviable number of motorcycling miles in 2015 and David has a couple of motorcycle projects sitting in the garage. Looking further ahead, the Riders for Health trip to Zambia in 2016 is still a strong possibility but we have yet to reach a unanimous decision. I look forward to catching up with you at the January group natter night or at a group night in the very near future. With my very best wishes for Beverley The SAM Observer January Page 5

6 IAM Test Passes Congratulations to the members who have passed their Advanced test this month. Graham Carey his Observer was Leia Dowsing Burt Royal his Observer was Derek Barker Paul Ballard his Observer was Andre Castle When you pass your advanced test please let Derek Barker or Susan Smith know. The SAM Observer January Page 6

7 SAM Committee Nominations 2015 The club is desperate for your help, Would you like to help out? Can you spare a few hours a month? And make a huge difference on what happens within the club. Like all well oiled machines it needs cogs. Become a cog and join the committee. Now is your chance. Fill in the form and send it to John Sillett via post or . Nominations have to be given in one month before the AGM on 17 th February For more information and to download a nomination form visit SAM Committee Nominations 2015 I nominate... For the post of... Proposed by: Name... Signed... Date Seconded by: Name... Signed... Date Nominee s signature... Date The SAM Observer January Page 7

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9 Dear SAM Member A gentle reminder Yes, it s getting towards that time of year when collection of subscriptions will soon be upon us again. This is a reminder to make sure that those of you, who have standing orders with your bank, have changed them to incorporate the increased 2 from last year. The price for renewal of subs is 22 per member, or 25 for joint membership Thank you in advance for your co-operation. Linda Barker Membership Secretary G'day all! Firstly a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all. Prompted by the IAM Inform article about a Toy Run I thought it was worthwhile mentioning a massive Toy Run I saw on 14 December (picture attached) from Adelaide to a distant location. Many thousands of bikers, on all types/sizes/ages of bikes gifted & carried Toys for disadvantaged children. It is said to be the largest bike run in the southern hemisphere... they took 15 minutes to pass me (many abreast) in one big batch at the start. If only I'd had a bike to ride! I know we don't have the same December weather in Suffolk, but it seemed such a worthwhile cause & good PR for bikers. Best wishes, Brian Ellis The SAM Observer January Page 9

Glorious Scotland in October For my second year to Scotland, a long weekend was booked with a few friends for early October at Graton-on-Spay, in the highlands of Scotland.

10 Glorious Scotland in October For my second year to Scotland, a long weekend was booked with a few friends for early October at Graton-on-Spay, in the highlands of Scotland. But as we are retired we decided to make it a week. so we planned to leave a few days earlier, take more time getting there and still have a couple of days on Sky before joining the others at Graton. Monday morning came and so did the rain but as we were not in a rush and we could leave a bit later. Typically, it was still raining after mid-day so off we went. The first stop was a travel lodge at Markfield, not much I can say about a Travel Lodge other then they serve a purpose, we got a takeaway and rested. Tuesday, onto Dumfries were we had booked a really nice hotel (Friars Carse) at a fantastic rate, bed, breakfast and evening meal for 86.50, normal rate a lot higher. Very nice hotel right on the river Nith with Salmon beats and lovely walks along the river and countryside, food was excellent, a massive grate with a roaring fire in the lounge. I would be very happy to go back there for a couple of days some time and have a better look round. Wednesday dawned very wet, pouring with rain, stair rods but we went down and had breakfast and by the time we were ready to leave the sun was saying hello, the rain had stopped and thankfully, we didn t see it again until we were on our journey home. The SAM Observer January Page 10

The scenery on the way to Sky, was magnificent, I don t think I have seen a part of Scotland that has disappointed me and the roads, well, what can I say but BLISS.

11 The scenery on the way to Sky, was magnificent, I don t think I have seen a part of Scotland that has disappointed me and the roads, well, what can I say but BLISS. We arrived on Sky via the bridge and headed for Dunvegan on the north-west coast. finally finding our accommodation late afternoon, a very nice B&B but we were just outside town so had to ride in to eat at the well recommended old school house, which meant we ate early then freshened up, I prefer to freshen up then eat but I can t have everything just as I like, well not all the time. Thursday we had a look round Sky, our first stop was Dunvegan castle which is well worth a visit, then we rode round taking in the scenery. We found a small reconstructed thatched village, proved interesting, The Sky Museum of Island Life, again worth a visit if you go to Sky at any time. Friday we left for Graton-on-Spay, this time going back over the bridge we stopped to take in Eilean Donan castle, you have probably seen it on a calendar. I ve been told it s the most photographed castle, and it s still used which helps to make it more interesting, when you listen to the stories told you can imagine the parties that go on, the lives of the people that still live in the castle. We stopped for some lunch at Ballachulish slate quarry, we had some nice warming soup, we weren t cold but it s nice to have a hot lunch now and again, sandwiches get so boring. We arrived at our next B&B mid-afternoon and got settled in before the others arrived from the Golden Lion Hotel in Leyburn, where they had stayed Thursday night. The SAM Observer January Page 11

12 As we had been to Kinross House last year, we know we would be welcome and well fed at breakfast (the best breakfast I have ever had in a B&B). The Pie pub had been booked for our evening meal, it s called the Pie pub because that s all they do is Pies, other than beers of course, just like a normal pub but the only food is Pies, pies and more pies. We had some enjoyable riding on Saturday, visited a Distillery, not one that was still working but very informative none the less, Pie pub for the second time, they are nice. Sunday we rode to Applecross, again the scenery was great and the roads better then great, we had a small amount of rain but not enough to stop us enjoying the day. Monday we set off home, staying in Leyburn as they had on the way up and continued home Tuesday morning, unfortunately it was torrential rain on the A1(M), very unpleasant but we had had good weather up until then and it did clear up a bit in the afternoon once we stopped for lunch. The bikes needed a good clean and some TLC the next day, the whole trip was very enjoyable with some good company, some good laughs, good food, so we will probably do similar next year, let s hope we get the good weather we have had the last two years. Vicky Smith The SAM Observer January Page 12

13 BREAKFAST RUN st February 2015 Ruddy Duck Café Swanns Garden Centre Bromeswell IP12 2PX Tel: Meet at Stowmarket Tesco s IP14 5BE in good time for 09:45 departure. Ride Co-ordinator: TBA Follow Gun Cotton Way and Navigation Approach to join the B1113 through Old Newton. Turn right at White Horse Finningham. Cross straight over the A140 at Stoke White Horse with great care. Join the B1077 to the right carrying on through Debenham and Winston until reaching the A1120. Join it to the left but turn off to the right after only 100 metres to Helmingham. Turn left at the triangle green, through Otley to Clopton where a left is taken onto the B1078 to Wickham Market. Turn right at the roundabout, over the A12 to Tunstall. Turn right at the Green Man on the B1069 through Eyke to Swanns Garden Centre on the left. Please check the SAM Calendar and SAM Forum on-line for last minute changes/cancellations. On the Forum you will also find the routes as text, route cards, and on Google Maps / Streetview, along with a photo of the destination, so you can familiarise yourself with the route before the day. The SAM Observer January Page 13

14 Saturday Jaunt 14 th Febuaruy, 2015 Mr Allards Stowupland IP14 4BD Tel: Meet at Beacon Hill lorry park IP6 8LP in good time for 13:30 departure. Ride Co-ordinator: Vini Evans Join the A140 and get in lane quickly for the right turn to Coddenham. Just past the church the 'main' road turns sharp right but instead go straight ahead. Through Crowfield to Pettaugh. Turn right on the A1120. Follow this to Dennington where a left is taken just past the church onto Laxfield Road. After three quarters of a mile turn left onto the B1118 to Stradbroke Turn left on the B1117 to Eye. At the High Street turn right and follow until meeting the A140 at Brome. Turn right and then immediately left through Stuston to meet the A143. Turn left and follow to Rickinghall where a left turn is taken onto the B1113. At Old Newton crossroads (Leg of Mutton) turn left. After three quarters of a mile turn right at the old primary school. Straight over the small crossroads and along to the farm shop entrance on the right at Stowupland. The SAM Observer January Page 14

Social Rides Please note that it is you, the rider, who is deemed to be in control of the vehicle at all times during an Observed Run and during all other Group activities and that the Committee of

15 Social Rides Please note that it is you, the rider, who is deemed to be in control of the vehicle at all times during an Observed Run and during all other Group activities and that the Committee of Suffolk Advanced Motorcyclists cannot and do not accept any liability whatsoever for any injury to person or damage to vehicle occurring in the course of any rally or other event organised by the Group. Any member attending such an event does so entirely at his or her own risk and must maintain their own insurance to cover any said injury to person or damage to vehicle and must be riding a road legal vehicle, having valid road tax, insurance and MOT certificate (if applicable). Participants on S.A.M social rides are advised of the Events Committee s guidelines as follows: You will be expected to provide a suitable means of carrying a map of the route If possible, have breakdown cover for your machine. Be responsible for your own safety Rides will commence promptly at the published departure time. Have a FULL tank of fuel No more than 5 in a group. The SAM Observer January Page 15

16 SAM Theory Evenings As most of you know, on the Thursday evening, directly after Group Nights, SAM holds its monthly Theory Evening. Based on an ever revolving subject list of important rider skills these nights are an informal evening of facts and lively banter all aimed at improving your ride based on the information in How to be a better rider. Each session covers one of the four main topic areas; Overtaking Cornering Planning & Positioning Gears & Acceleration Mainly aimed at Associates going through the Skill for Life course, these evenings are also a good way for full members to brush up on their theory and add their experiences and questions to the session. The great benefit of attending these sessions in the classroom means it saves time on the road, covering theory and has the added advantage of an opportunity to discuss any issues you may have generally on your Skill for Life Course. Derek Barker, SAM Chief Observer The SAM Observer January Page 16

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18 Editorial Welcome to next year, I m still in last year as I write this bit. December hasn t been great and as I m waiting for groundworks and planning permissions which seem to take ages, on a good point I managed to get my groundworks done at home so now I can start doing the brick walls on my new garage, which will mean my poor bike will have a home again. Last Sunday 14 th December, I had to do my Ho Ho Ho bit, weather seemed ok so I took the bike, first time in almost two months, after a few coughs fired into life, checked to tyre pressure and set off. First stop Diss, then Walberswick via Stradbroke, then to Saxmundham, heading south with the wet roads and low winters sun. Fortunately, the sun had set by the time I left Saxmundham, headed to Ipswich where I filled up with petrol, then headed to Otley. Back on the A12 I got behind an Ambulance with its blue light flashing and they are very bright, almost blinding, after turning off on the B1079 it took me a few seconds to get my night sight back again. After leaving Otley it started to spot with rain. Home again and the bike put away, dirty, supper was on the table. This made me think, what is better, wash the bike when you come back? I don t like the idea of splashing cold water on hot engine parts. Or wash it before going out so it dry s quickly. Or wait until the engine cold to wash, but then it takes ages for it to dry, not good if it s wet and cold. Safe Riding Felix... Editor Bowman s Barn, Back Street, Gislingham, Suffolk. IP23 8JH. Tel: editor@suffolk-advanced-motorcyclists.com Thank you To all the members who have contributed to this month s magazine. The SAM Observer January Page 18

19 Closing date for copy Friday after club night Advertise here 25 for 1 / 8 page Annual Advertising Rates: Advertise on the SAM website for an additional 25. Contact: Felix Sam.editor@btinternet.com 35 for ¼ page 50 for ½ page 75 for full page If you d like to help save the Group on the printing and postage costs of your monthly hard copy of the SAM Observer by opting to receive an notification instead, then please give me your details on Group Night or send me an . I hope that you have been enjoying the reports that members who go on ride outs have written, and as you can see, it doesn t have to be a wordy passage, so feel free to scribble a few words down, a few pictures and next month you will have another great magazine to read Don t forget to take your cameras and a notebook to record your trip then you can write a nice article about it for your favourite magazine. I have a word template if anyone would like it, me and I ll send you a copy which has all the formatting re-set on it. Please remember that we use Times New Roman as the main font for the magazine at a size 16 so that when the printer converts the A4 pages down to A5 the font looks like a 12. I like pictures to be separate to your articles because I can make them bigger or small to fill the page The SAM Observer January Page 19

20 MEMBER INFORMATION A lot of useful information about SAM and its activities is available on our website. Below are some key links members will find useful. CONTACTS Contact details of SAM s Committee & Observers, complete with photographs so you can recognise everyone. CALENDAR Our online calendar with relevant links which can also be linked to your smartphone. Contact: Mike Roberts OBSERVER ASSOCIATE CHARTER What is expected of the Observer and Associate while preparing for the IAM motorcycle test. Contact: Derek Barker CARING SAM Our customer service & complaints procedures. Contact: Brian Ellis DISCOUNT SCHEME Proof of identity will be required to be shown. (e.g. Current IAM/SAM membership cards) Save your membership fee, and more, by using these retailers who give a discount to SAM members. Contact: Graham Parker ADVERTS Got something to sell? Want to see what other members are selling? See our online adverts section. Contact: Mike Roberts SHOPS T-shirts, sweatshirts, fleeces, hats, and more are available from SAM s two online shops. Contact: Mike Roberts The SAM Observer January Page 20

21 FORUM All the latest news and discussion on all things SAM and motorcycle related. Have a read, and then register to join in. Contact: Mike Roberts SAM Events for your Diary January 2015 Saturday 17 th Saturday Jaunt, Mistley, CO11 1ER Meet at car park behind Copdock, Currys IP8 3TT in good time for 13:30 Briefing and departure. Tuesday 20 th SAM Group Night. Natter Evening. Fynn Valley Golf Club. 19:30 ~ 22:00. Bar and restaurant serving all types of food/drinks including teas and coffees. Thursday 22 nd Theory Evening. Fynn Valley Golf Club. Come along and learn more about Roadcraft. 19:30. This month s topic: Cornering February 2015 Sunday 1 st Breakfast Run, Ruddy Duck Café. IP12 2PX Meet at Stowmarket Tesco s IP14 5BE in good time for 09:45 Briefing and departure. Wednesday 4 th SAM Committee meeting. Fynn Valley Golf Club.19:30 Saturday 14 th Saturday Jaunt, Mr Allards. IP14 4BD Meet at Beacon Hill lorry park IP6 8LP in good time for 13:30 Briefing and departure. Tuesday 17 th SAM Group Night and AGM. followed by Guest Speaker. Fynn Valley Golf Club. 19:30 ~ 22:00. Bar and restaurant serving all types of food/drinks including teas and coffees. Thursday 19 nd Theory Evening. Fynn Valley Golf Club. Come along and learn more about Roadcraft. 19:30. This month s topic: Gears & Acceleration The SAM Observer January Page 21

22 March 2015 Sunday 1 st Breakfast Run, TBA Wednesday 4 th SAM Committee meeting. Fynn Valley Golf Club.19:30 Tuesday 17 th SAM Group Night. followed by Quiz Night with Mike Roberts and Derek Barker. Fynn Valley Golf Club. 19:30 ~ 22:00. Bar and restaurant serving all types of food/drinks including teas and coffees. Thursday 19 nd Theory Evening. Fynn Valley Golf Club. Come along and learn more about Roadcraft. 19:30. This month s topic: Overtaking Note from Editor Please check the SAM Calendar & Forum for further details and for any changes after going to press. Especially in winter months when the weather can be unpredictable. Disclaimer The articles published herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Institute of Advanced Motorists or the Suffolk Advanced Motorcyclist Group. They are the opinions of individual contributors and are published with a view that free expression promotes discussion and interests. Norfolk Advanced Motorcyclists 3 rd Thursday of the month, 19:30, at Dunston Hall, A140, Norwich, NR14 8PQ Chairman, Rob Chandler, Secretary, Alex Mason, The SAM Observer January Page 22

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The SAM Observer April Page 2

The SAM Observer April Page 2 This month's cover picture is a scan of the painting of Derek Barker presented to him by the SAM Observers on his retirement from the role of Chief Observer. Derek continues as a National Observer for