Black Country MAG

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since 04.04.2000

Welcome to Black Country MAG

...to all friends, old and new. Wishing you all a happy biking New Year - and, hopefully, drier rallying in 2008!

This seems to have been a vain hope, so far!!!

Welsh National Motorcycle Show, Builth Wells.

As you know, this show was cancelled at the last minute. JJ and I had tickets for this and have received a letter from the organisers about refunds (or rather, the options available to us!). If anyone with tickets has not yet received this letter, e-mail me and I will let you know what it says.

Our Black Country AGM was held on Monday 28th January 2008 at the 'Park Inn', Woodsetton, 9 pm. 2008 Minutes

In my report you will see I mention a weblink to a biker b and b in South-West France. Le Pech Wow!! My link seems to work! The couple who run it seem very friendly, and can offer tent space as well - We do have lots of room for tents either in front or behind the house. We can of course offer breakfast and are happy for campers to use all the facilities. The only down side is we do not have toilets outside so it would be a matter of coming indoors for the bathroom facilities.

The West Midlands MAG AGM was held at the Park Inn on Saturday, 23rd February 2008.

One of our earliest ride-outs of the year took place at the beginning of February. On Sunday 10th bikers headed for the Motorcycle Museum at Meriden in memory of Fred Hill. Black Country MAG members set off from the Park Inn (16 bikes this year!) for the Bewell Head Working Men's Club, Bromsgrove. There we joined other West Midlands riders to continue the journey to Meriden. You can see a report of last year's event here Report. This year, the weather was glorious (for a change!) and your webmaster forgot the camera!!! Please send me any photos you have (by e-mail to wendy@blackcountrymag.org.uk) and your comments, and I will post a report of this year's event!

Update - I now have photos from Pauline, which I will post on the site. Still no report/comments on the day from anyone, and I am out of words right now (yes, really!!) so just look at the pics for now, folks.

'Ded Duk Rally' (Gloucester MAG) took place Easter weekend 2007 Report

From 2008 this rally is to be known as the 'Slippit Inn Rally'. There should be a report of this year's on Gloucester MAG website.

West Midlands MAG hosted this year's National Conference - for the second time in 3 years! This was an honour, and a reflection of all the effort made by Midlands members (and especially Eddie) 2 years ago. There was free camping again overnight on the Saturday, at Stoke Prior (the HOE site) and music was provided by 'No Spring Chicken'

Another popular MAG event - Heart of England and the Brum Run

This will be a week later this year - 11th to 13th July 2008, the Brum Demo Run taking place on Saturday 12th July.

Last year, this stood out in my memory as a warm, dry weekend in a long, wet summer!! Eddie already has the groups booked - 'Hybrid' on Friday night and 'No Spring Chicken' on Saturday - as well as a DJ. Should be a great weekend, so hope you will join us.

Back from the Dead 6

We were unable to go, so as yet I have no pictures or report to post. We plan to hold a Back From the Dead 7, hopefully in 2008, and think we may have found a (suitable) new venue. Watch this space for further details.

What is BCMAG?

Black Country MAG is a local branch of the Motorcycle Action Group, covering Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Dudley and Walsall. We meet on Monday nights at the Park Inn Public House in Dudley.

While our main mission as a group is to enjoy ourselves as much as possible, we also find time to get involved with regional MAG events such as the Heart Of England Rally, and the Fred Hill Memorial Run. Since 2006 the Brum Demo Run has returned to the Heart of England Rally weekend.

We hold a rally of our own (see above - 'Back from the Dead') and for the last three years this has moved to the end of September. The weather is unpredictable, but this does not seem to prevent everyone enjoying themselves.

Stuff to get involved with...

Details of MAG's latest campaigns can be found on the MAG UK and West Midlands MAG websites.

The biggest threat now (the licence directive has been passed) is External Vehicle Speed Control (EVSC). Information can be found on the West Mids site, and Central's site.

Locally, the whole area is having a transport and infrastructure overhaul, with special lanes and congestion charging being just a few things on the cards. Details can be found on the West Midlands MAG site.

To find out about NABD events and campaigns, contact Vic the West Midlands Rep.

Stuff we're doing next

An up-dated account will be posted after the AGM.

A run-down of all Regional events can be found on the West Midlands MAG site.