The i2i Motorcycle Academy is run by Tom Killeen at locations across the UK, the nearest to Kent being Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedford. I managed to get on the last course of the year, Machine Control 1 at the end of September.
Tracey and I won a half day of time out on the bike together. We rode from Tenterden, across the marsh down to Dover and to St Margaret’s at Cliffe. We had some lunch and a drink and soaked up the views – beautiful by the beach. But…
John had been a stalwart member of EKAM for very many years and held various positions during that time, including that of Chief Observer. During my own 26 years of membership, John has always been there, not only as my friend, but also as a mentor to myself and many other members.
At 5 am, 30 people on 27 bikes met in the darkness in lane 192 of Dover docks. By the sounds of it a few members had to get up in the incredibly early hours to meet up in time. The usual issue of not enough serviceable straps to hand was sorted and we all met aboard one of the new P&O ferries.
Kent Event Marshals’ calendar is as full again as it was before Covid. But with it new types of events have arrived – a couple of mass runs/walks in support of hospices, and helping British Masters’ Racing Club as marshals on cycle races in Kent, Surrey, Essex and Derbyshire.
Matt and Reece are Guinness world record holders for the longest journey by scooter and sidecar. In 15 months, they covered 34,000 miles in 35 countries – and are one of two Ural dealers in the UK. They offer courses riding Ural motorcycles and sidecars around the North of England.
Yep, the Midsummer Madness trip to France is back in the EKAM calendar after a three year hiatus. “Brilliant” I thought, “I really need something like that to blow away the cobwebs of the last few months”, so I pinged and email to Sarah as soon as I could.
The weekend was something of a scorcher and the Betteshanger Sprint enjoyed perfect conditions for what is one of my favourite events. After the travails of Covid the event now seems to be fully up to speed. It was a great event with much interest in EKAM.
The 2024 EKAM trip to Wales, was another cracking event. Well organised with an outstanding venue and brilliant planned ride-outs. We even had enough sunshine for me to pick up a tan, despite a five minute deluge of biblical proportions, hey at least the bike got a bit of a clean.
So, club Wales Ride, May 2024. Alexa wakes me up at 6am and asks me what I’d like. My answer doesn’t please her as she responds with, “I don’t know that one”. As always, I delay swinging out of bed, still traumatised by having to step out on to freezing lino through the 1950’s…