Good to see that the IAM Chairman, Alistair Cheyne OBE is checking out his member groups’ websites (or at least his media and marketing people are…)

Quote from the “Welcome” section of the Winter 2014 magazine:

… we can learn a lot from our motorcycle groups. Take a look at the Thames Valley Advanced Motorcyclists website. You’ll see a group of 900 members, with plenty of social, sports and activity motorcycling.

Shame he got the name wrong but nice to be recognised for the work that goes into designing and maintaining this website.

Unfortunately, this mention seems to have no measurable affect on the website visitor numbers. Maybe nobody reads his column (?)

The Slipstream team have created a festive Slipstream Xmas Xtra edition for you this month and it’s available on the website now. Just click the cover image on the left to access it.

This extra edition is available as download only (we don’t normally create a printed version in December).  If you have never used the website before, just fill in the New Registration details section and click Submit.  Your membership details will be checked and then you will receive a confirmation email and initial password shortly afterwards.

Enjoy the magazine and Happy Christmas

Salli G
Slipstream Editor

Welcome to the (slightly) newer TVAM website

Wider pages

There’s a change to the look in that the “industry standard” webpage now caters for an audience that has larger screens. Statistics show that although 50% of users had screens that were 1024×768 or smaller (2011), this now accounts for less than 20% of users – the vast majority using screens that are 1366×768 (most laptops) or 1920×1080 (desktops). The original site was beginning to look a little narrow on the larger screens so we have adjusted the baseline to a width of 1250 pixels. This has also allowed use of a slightly larger font (14pt from 13pt).

Latest Views

This has been available for a few weeks now. It represents a “TVAM Blog” and is designed for comment rather than “news”. Contributions should be sent to committee@tvam.org for inclusion. This content is public.

Testimonials

These appear on the Home Page and are selected from the feedback that we receive from our courses and events. The content is selected at random from the list – if you hover over the text it will freeze to allow reading of the longer entries. This content is public.

7Ws

This is brand new and we welcome the 7Ws team to the website. We have incorporated the content from the www.7xws.co.uk site and included Lou’s blog. This content is visible to TVAM members only.

Your Committee (Mugshots)

New in the Members’ Area is a page containing photos of the members of the committee.

Congratulations to Ewan Hind and the Thame Village Idiots for winning at the National Rally!

We have a provisional date booked of 4th November 2013

to run a TVAM members only Track Day.

Tony Hamer and his wife Teresa take to the skies with TVAM balloonist Peter Dowlen, enjoying their auction winning trip from the TVAM New Year Ball. A perfect evening flight across Buckinghamshire from Great Missenden.

A combination of the money raised at the New Year Ball (£1,746.50) and your loose change placed in the collecting box at St Crispin’s (£69.71), added up to an enormous £1,816.21. Thank you to all who donated, and keep putting your change in the box at the coffee bar.

A huge thank you to all who donated prizes for the raffle at the New Year Ball on Saturday 26th January. Special thanks go to Peter Dowlen, Gary Peacock, Janet Richardson and Blade Motorcycles for their generous auction prizes. We raised a massive

£1,746.50

for the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance with the auction and raffle. Thanks to all those who attended and supported this event.

Auction Prizes

Hot Air Balloon Flight for Two – Up and Away with balloonist Peter Dowlen
Silver Bracelet – Designed and made by Gary Peacock
Silver Pendant – Designed and made by Gary Peacock
Silver Pendant – Designed and made by Janet Richardson
Neil Hodgson Signed Baseball Cap – Donated by Blade Motorcycles

Raffle Prizes

£200 Voucher – California Superbike School
Training Road Day Voucher – Rapid Training
TVAM Track Day Voucher – TVAM
£100 Tyre Voucher – GS Motorcycle Tyres
£30 Voucher – Hughenden M40
£50 Voucher – Ultimate Ears
Bike for a Day – North Oxford BMW
Scotoiler – Robin Hennem
SW Motech Fog Light Kit – Robin Hennem
Optimate – Hatfields of Crowthorne
Helmet (XL) – Pro Bike, Newbury
Ixon Ladies Jacket – Charon Willis
Airhawk Seat Cushion – Bykebitz
Oxford Chain and Padlock – Infinity
1hr Massage Session – Poppy Bowler
Holistic Therapy Voucher – Jacqueline Dunne
Winter Driving Kit – AA
Acumen Charger – Berkshire Motorcycles
Chain and Padlock – Berkshire Motorcycles
Turbo Tax Tube – Berkshire Motorcycles
Silkolene Kit – Berkshire Motorcycles
Bike and Wheel Kit – Nick Robinson
Gents Top – Bulldog Triumph
Ladies t-shirt – Bulldog Triumph
5 t-shirts – Bahnstormer Motorcycles
Oxford Cargo Net – Blade Motorcycles
ForceField t-shirt – Blade Motorcycles
Hot Hood Balaclava – Blade Motorcycles
Feridax Mug – Blade Motorcycles
Shoei Bike Dust Cover – Blade Motorcycles
Necklace and Bracelet – Gary Peacock
Moet et Chandon – HR Solutions JM Ltd
Bottle of Malt – Dawn Armstrong
Bottle of Champagne – Nigel Taylor
Bottle of Red Wine – Chris Caswell
Chocolates – John Rodda
Sanctuary Toiletries – Mr & Mrs Lipscomb
Board Game – Mr & Mrs Lipscomb

…plus all those who brought prizes along on the night.

To All Volunteer Toy Run Marshals

I just wanted to officially thank all 110 marshals who gave up their day to volunteer with the many various marshalling duties for the 27th Reading Toy Run event held on the 9th December.

It took me a lot of work to arrange the weather (neither rain nor snow) and people seemed happy with this. The day went well and all 1300 riders in the Toy Run cavalcade were marshalled safely along the 7 mile route without a hitch.

About 70% of the marshals come from TVAM and it is this support that provides a reliable back-bone for the marshal collective.

I wish to send a massive thank you to Lyn Allen, Yvonne & Steve Myers, the Heralds, the SERV bikers and all the (orange) TTMs.

Lastly to all volunteer marshals on the Toy Run, on behalf of myself, Ben & Jane Spiller, Sean Stillman, Barnardos High Close School and the several thousand grateful children who will have a better Christmas this year…

…thank you, have a great Xmas and a safe New Year.

Garry Andrews

Please feel free to browse Chris Caswell’s memories from the day – click on the image at the top of the entry to go to his Picasa album. Alternatively, free downloads are available from Chris’ website and you can also purchase prints from there.

http://icedaction.photoshelter.com/

New Year Ball tickets now available online in the TVAM webshop

Please log into the website and go to SHOP where you can purchase your tickets by Paypal, Credit or Debit card.

You can still order and pay for them at St Crispins (see Robina or Anthea).

If you would rather pay by cheque or have any other questions please email events@tvam.org