Peter Collins bike to go display at this year’s motorbike show in Llangollen

ONE of the most famous bikes in the history of speedway is going on show in North Wales for the first time.

The bike, ridden by world champion Peter Collins during the golden age of the sport in the 70s, will be on display at this year’s motorbike show in Llangollen.

It now belongs to John Peers, of Gresford, a fan of the sport in its halcyon days who got to know Peter Collins long after he had retired.

He will be bringing the bike along to display at the Royal International Pavilion show on Saturday and Sunday, August 1 and 2.

The show, organised by David Green of Xuberance Events, was launched last year and was a roaring success, attracting bikers from throughout the UK.

John, 50, whose business, John Peers Insurance, specialises in lorry and plant insurance, also offers cover for bikers and even for speedway riders but his interest in the sport dates from his 1970s teenage days.

In those glory years of the sport, massive crowds packed floodlit venues such as Belle Vue in Manchester and Wimbledon’s Plough Lane.

Mounted on a 500cc bike with no brakes and no gearbox, Collins duelled with speedway titans such as Denmark’s Ole Olsen and New Zealand’s Ivan Mauger.

John said: “I still love bikes and I’m really looking forward to the motorbike show.”

David said: “It’s great John is able to bring the Peter Collins bike along – that’s part of speedway history.

“We have had fantastic support from the riders but I have been saying for years that Llangollen is the ideal location for a motorbike show because this area is already a popular destination for motorcyclists.”

Source:http://www.wrexhamchronicle.co.uk

Motorcycling Queensland delivers real benefits to licence holders

As Motorcycling Queensland prepares to relocate to a brand new premises located on Gordon Street in the Ipswich CBD, General Manager Lindsay Granger took the opportunity to encourage all riders to take up the advantages of a competition or recreational motorcycle licence.

Motorcycling Queensland, affiliated with the national body of Motorcycling Australia, is the controlling body for motorcycling sport and recreation in Queensland. Motorcycling Queensland currently have in excess of 7,000 licence holders, over 300 venues and nearly 100 affiliated clubs.

“If you own a motorcycle and are keen to take your riding to the next level, we can put you in touch with a local club and issue a licence which allows you to ride at a wide range of events. Motorcycling Queensland licence holders, clubs and participants are provided with insurance cover and are kept up to date with events in and around your area” he said.

Lindsay, who has held the position of General Manager since 1995, continued “Queensland has some of the best run events in Australia and Motorcycling Queensland ensures that licence holders gain access to safe, quality tracks and superior venues”.

Motorcycling Queensland administer all aspects of motorcycling across many disciplines including Motocross, Road Racing, Coaching, Dirt Track, Enduro, Historic, Junior, Observed Trials, Speedway and Women’s Racing. Each discipline is managed by its own sub-committee. Recreational riding is also administered by Motorcycling Queensland for non-competitive riding such as trail rides, practice, coaching and other non-competitive events.

Amongst other things Motorcycling Queensland also issues permits to clubs and promoters to conduct events, conducts training programs for volunteers and liaises with local and state government and other stakeholders on all aspects of motorcycling in Queensland.

Source:http://www.ma.org.au/AM

Mini motorbikes not road–ready

Parents and guardians are being warned by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service to think twice before purchasing mini motorbikes, quad bikes, mini scooters and mini dirt bikes as Christmas presents for children unless they have a safe and legal place to ride them.

The bikes are miniature motorcycles and scooters which are usually powered by a small petrol engine.

Police officers are urging parents, before they spend any money on the vehicles, to consider not only the legal aspect of these bikes, but also the likelihood of injury to riders.

“These bikes can only be used on private land and never on a public road,” said Inspector Derrick Elliott of the Traffic Management Unit. “If they are used on a public road they are subject to the Traffic Law which requires the rider to have an appropriate driver’s licence, current insurance and relevant documentation from the vehicle licensing department.”

Under legislation the police have the power to seize these bikes if they are being used illegally.

“We don’t want to spoil people’s Christmas fun,” said Inspector Elliott. “But we want to make sure people are aware of the law. If you really do want to buy one these types of bikes make sure that you have access to land where it can be used safely and within the law.”

Source:http://www.caycompass.com/cgi-bin

Dad fined €500 for riding son's 'toy' motorbike

A FATHER who went for a ride with his child on a small scrambler bike he bought in a toy shop has said he couldn't believe it when gardai asked to see his driving licence for the vehicle.

Kevin Kelly (25) said the motorbike, which has a 20cc engine, was so small that it fit into the boot of the squad car.

Kelly, of Kilcarrig Green, Tallaght said he was unaware that under the road traffic legislation that he needed to have insurance for the vehicle also.

He admitted to driving the motorbike without insurance or a driving licence at Suncroft Drive, Tallaght.

Sergeant Michael Leahy told Tallaght District Court that he stopped Kelly shortly after 3pm on April 29 last year.

The sergeant said he asked Kelly to produce his driving licence and insurance at a garda station within 10 days but he refused to nominate a station.

Sgt Leahy also said there was no registration number on the vehicle and Kelly wasn't wearing a safety helmet.

Toy

Defence solicitor Grainne Malone said Kelly was driving a small scrambler bike, a child's bike which can be bought in a toy shop. Kelly's young child was also on the back of the bike when he was stopped by gardai.

Ms Malone said Kelly believed the bike, which he'd bought for his child, didn't count as a normal motor vehicle because it had such a small engine, 20cc or less, and "genuinely thought" it was safe to drive it.

She added that Kelly didn't nominate a garda station to produce his insurance as he simply didn't believe he needed insurance for the vehicle.

The court heard that Kelly, who is on disability and not working, has 18 previous convictions, mostly for road traffic matters.

Ms Malone said Kelly made a genuine mistake, but now accepts he was wrong to ride the bike.

Judge David McHugh fined Kelly €500 and disqualified him from driving for five years.

Source:http://www.herald.ie/national-news/courts/dad-fined-euro

A new campaign to cut bike insurance claims

A new campaign has been launched to better road safety for motorcyclists, bike insurance customers may like to know.

As part of the Winter Riding Campaign, Devon County Council has launched the campaign which involves documentary style videos based on various bikers.

According to Devon County Council, the videos provide motorcyclists extra awareness of road safety and aims to reduce the risk of possible accidents.

The campaign was also introduced to reduce the amount of motorcycle insurance claims being made on Britain’s roads.

Councillor Margaret Rogers, executive member of the environment of Devon County Council said "The videos are good fun and passing them on helps spread a really worthwhile message about bikers keeping up their skills."

The footage has already attracted 25,000 hits in its first few weeks after being posted on Youtube and the Motorcyclenews website.

The Winter Riding Campaign is part of one of many of Devon County Councils schemes aimed to improve rider safety. In 2004 Devon County Council had launched the “Bringing Bikers Out of the Blindspot” campaign.

Meanwhile, proposals for speed cameras are being made by residents of Wigan after speeding motorcyclists were caught riding up to three times above the speed limit.

Campaigner, Patrick Prosser said: "So many students walk down this road every day. It is only a matter of time before an accident happens where a speeding motorist loses control and ploughs into them, causing multiple fatalities."

Source:http://www.onlyfinance.com/Bike-Insurance

Five Burlco men charged in motorcycle-theft ring

Five Burlington County men have been indicted by a county grand jury for their alleged roles in a motorcycle theft ring, state authorities said yesterday.

The indictments followed an investigation by the New Jersey State Police and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor into a group of people who were stealing motorcycles, retagging them with new vehicle identification numbers, and selling them.

In some case, the suspects were submitting phony insurance claims representing that the cycles had been stolen from their owners when they actually had been given up by their owners, authorities said.

"Frequently, insurance fraud investigations lead to evidence of stolen vehicles, as well as owner-initiated give-ups," said the state insurance fraud prosecutor, Greta Gooden Brown.

Wilson Lopez, 25, of Burlington City; Tyrone Sapp, 31, of Willingboro; and Angel Carrion 3d, 28, of Mount Holly, were charged in one indictment with conspiracy, eight counts of theft by unlawful taking, and five counts of receiving stolen property. Lopez also was charged with one count of fencing.

Also yesterday, in two separate indictments, the same Burlington County grand jury charged Neil C. Moyer, 33, of Browns Mills, with receiving stolen property and fencing, and Ian Boyington, 30, of Riverside, with receiving stolen property, alteration of a vehicle identification number, and a motor vehicle title offense.

The indictment charges that between December 2003 and June 2004, Lopez, Sapp and Carrion conspired to steal six motorcycles and two vans. The indictment also alleges that Lopez organized the fencing of a stolen motorcycle.

Moyer was charged with knowingly taking possession of a stolen motorcycle and selling it. The indictment charging Boyington alleges that he knowingly purchased a stolen motorcycle stamped with an altered vehicle identification number, and that he fraudulently titled the motorcycle.

Source:http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/nj

Bike insurance fraud gang pleads guilty in court

A gang that allegedly specialised in making false bike insurance claims and pocketing thousands of pounds in payouts have pleaded guilty to charges of fraud, reports said.

The gang from Weston-super-Mare, a court was told, often made false claims for the theft of non-existent bikes.

Five members of the gang appeared before the court and were named as: Andrew Hall, 34, of Brompton Road, Oldmixon; Jody Cowell, 28, of Monkton Avenue; Duane Long, 20, of Thirlmere Road, Weston; Mathew Potter, 25, of Londsdae Avenue, Weston; and Liam Lees, 22, of Locking Road, Weston.

The court also heard that the underwriters for all policies purchased through Carole Nash was a firm called Groupama, based in Portsmouth.

Mr James Ward, prosecuting, said they became quite suspicious at what looked like an organised theft of off-road bikes in and around the Bournville estate in Weston-super-Mare.

But they discovered through investigation they were dealing with an insurance swindle connected to claims for non-existent off-road motorbikes, and not the theft of the bikes, he added.

Judge Jamie Tabor accordingly convicted all the accused persons, handing them penalties that ranged from curfew, unpaid work to the weekly payment of compensation.

Source:http://www.onlyfinance.com/Bike-Insurance-News/