French Run - The Story So Far

Discussion in 'UK Motorcycles' started by antonye, May 26, 2006.

  1. antonye

    antonye Guest

    Update from TOG:

    BGN has set some kind of new record - attending a French run but
    never actually making it onto foreign soil, but still leaving the UK...

    Apparently he needed some oil for the bike, as in "most of it". It
    took 3/4 litre to bring it up to the oil window, but the damage was
    already done. He never made it off the ferry and elected to stay
    on instead and get recovered from Dover.

    Just to add insult to injury, while waiting to be recovered at Dover,
    a seagull shat on him.

    Still at Dover, Sniper decided that programming his GPS was more
    important than getting the ferry. So much more important in fact,
    that he missed it.

    WUN takes the prize for arriving first, even though Champ caught
    him up en route and went past. It's just that Champ got lost.

    More updates as they arrive.
     
    antonye, May 26, 2006
    #1
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  2. Twice, now.
    The TC.
     
    Grimly Curmudgeon, May 26, 2006
    #2
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  3. antonye

    Cab Guest

    BWAHAHAHAHAHA.
     
    Cab, May 26, 2006
    #3
  4. I think we've heard that particular tragedy already.

    I knew I should have arranged to mysteriously turn up at the hotel by
    train as it looks like a room would have been guaranteed given the last
    minute drop outs - shame French train services in Ardennes are so shit.
    Oh FFS. Some things don't change - ISTR similar faffing around when I
    lead a convoy to the Black Horse for an *OSM some time back. I'd
    memorised the route and apart from road works on the very final stretch
    of road that required a diversion no other map or electronic
    consultation was required.
    Hah! Sets an interesting precedent for finding their way round the
    Ring.
    <rooted to the spot>
     
    Paul Corfield, May 26, 2006
    #4
  5. antonye

    Ace Guest

    They had a spare room anyway, wot I booked on Wednesday.

    He still got there earlier than many, AFAICT.

    Everyone got wet, it seems, and they still haven't decided wether to
    do the Ring or not - I've checked the forecasts, and it looks like I
    can get a dry run up to that part of the world, so I'll do it anyway,
    Ring or not.

    --
    _______
    ..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
    \`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
    `\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
    `\|/`
    `
     
    Ace, May 26, 2006
    #5
  6. Paul Corfield wrote
    If that was the one I was on there was no problem. At last not from my
    perspective which was for much of the time firmly centred on Aide's
    black leather clad arse squirming about atop a yellow motorcycle.
     
    steve auvache, May 27, 2006
    #6
  7. Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, antonye
    This isn't technically true, others arrived before me. But I am quicker
    than Champ.

    Especially when sailing past him chatting to a couple of coppers beside
    the M20...

    --
    Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer

    WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
    SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
    Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
    Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000
     
    Wicked Uncle Nigel, May 28, 2006
    #7
  8. antonye

    Cab Guest

    Really?
     
    Cab, May 28, 2006
    #8
  9. Bwahahahahaha. I look forward to this particular story - old uncle
    tease.
     
    Paul Corfield, May 28, 2006
    #9
  10. <vvvbg>


    --
    Dnc

    B1200 - +30bhp ~|~ ZZR1100 - faster when upright
    V2300 - flat cap and rug ~|~ A6 2.5TDi V6 Quattro Sport

    MIB#26 two#54(soiled) UKRMMA#26 BOTAFOT#153 X-FOT#003
     
    DoetNietComputeren, May 28, 2006
    #10
  11. That might be my fault that. Perhaps my comment of "that's a cheeky
    plate innit?" as you left the Relais carpark was play knockey-go-whatsit
    with thingamy.

    Sorry.

    --
    Dnc

    B1200 - +30bhp ~|~ ZZR1100 - faster when upright
    V2300 - flat cap and rug ~|~ A6 2.5TDi V6 Quattro Sport

    MIB#26 two#54(soiled) UKRMMA#26 BOTAFOT#153 X-FOT#003
     
    DoetNietComputeren, May 28, 2006
    #11
  12. You're only 12 years behind me in finding this out. They had a system in
    place yonks ago, but it was shit and coppers weren't at all surprised
    when it produced nothing useful most of the time.
    You're only 12 years behind me in realising this. The UK is fucked up
    and lots of people have voted with their feet. I said for years, long
    before I left, that coppers demanding ID from people is a damned
    un-British way of doing things. Gets more and more like Bloody Europe
    every year.
     
    Grimly Curmudgeon, May 28, 2006
    #12
  13. antonye

    DR Guest

    You shouldn't use two metasyntactic variables in one sentence, you
    know.
     
    DR, May 29, 2006
    #13


  14. You're just bitter that Champ credited me with your recent version of
    above statement aren't you. Oh. Hang on. You weren't there. Umm, never mind.


    --
    Dnc

    B1200 - +30bhp ~|~ ZZR1100 - faster when upright
    V2300 - flat cap and rug ~|~ A6 2.5TDi V6 Quattro Sport

    MIB#26 two#54(soiled) UKRMMA#26 BOTAFOT#153 X-FOT#003
     
    DoetNietComputeren, May 29, 2006
    #14
  15. antonye

    Ace Guest

    I think you're right about that, but I'm sure you're wrong about point
    1. It is in fact a requirement to carry licence and insurance with
    you, but one that is normally waived. The 'producer' is allowed in
    lieu of reporting you for the 'offence' of not carrying documents.

    As for the Insurance register, well quite clearly it's not 100%
    correct, as it didn't include your new bike. I guess it's probably
    using reg. no as a unique key, so if you have a multi-vehicle policy
    it's not going to show under each plate covered.

    --
    _______
    ..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
    \`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
    `\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
    `\|/`
    `
     
    Ace, May 29, 2006
    #15
  16. antonye

    Rattie Guest

    Not strictly speaking, hence the old producer.
    About 99%. Fall off is usually due to a check being done within 24hrs
    of a policy being taken out, so the InsCo database hasn't been updated
    yet. It's not actually a Police database as such. It's the InsCo's,
    which Police now have access to via the PNC.
    Works like this. Database is, for all intents & purposes, extremely
    accurate. Multi vehicle policies sometimes cause a bit of digging
    about, as does CIHAGM insurance. However, most people can remember
    the index of at least one of their "fleet" for a multi vehicle, or the
    index of their own bike on CIHAGM riding. This will clear up the vast
    majority of the ones falling through the gap. If a chap were to still
    be having problems, but still insisting that he is insured, then a
    phone call to the InsCo's' Police Liaison line will clear that little
    problem up. I have to confess that it sometimes takes a little bit
    of reminding to the driver/rider about the whole power to seize that
    brings forth the truth. To be perfectly frank, most forces have
    limited space to store seized vehicles, so not too many are actually
    being taken off the road on an ad hoc basis. It's generally reserved
    for pre planned operations. In any event you have to be pretty damned
    certain that no policy exists before you take the vehicle away.

    I've yet to seize one where an error has been made on the D/base.
    For ones that are uninsured but aren't seized, it's a fixed penalty
    notice of a £200 fine and 6 points. The seized ones get the FPN and
    points, as well as a removal fee and a per diem storage charge. More
    often than not the person will just sign a disclaimer for the vehicle,
    and it's then disposed of.

    Producers are a pain in the cajones for everyone. With Driving
    Licence, Insurance and now MOT records being (gradually) computerised,
    Police Forces have been told to cut down on their issue, as checks can
    now be done roadside. Less hassle for the motorist as well,
    particularly if you find you've misplaced one of the docs.

    I can certainly see why you're annoyed, when you clearly have
    insurance, and do have great sympathy with you for having been on the
    wrong end of the threat of vehicle seizure. However looking at it
    from the "Dark Side" as it were, it's a fairly satisfying feeling to
    get an uninsured vehicle off the road straight away. One less to
    cause problems for everyone else.

    HTH
     
    Rattie, May 29, 2006
    #16
  17. We followed Snipers GPS through the centre of Cambrai. Did the by-pass
    on the way back. Twice as quick :)
     
    eric the brave, May 29, 2006
    #17
  18. antonye

    Rattie Guest

    It's not. You've really got to show that you checked every other
    which way before you take the thing. Phone calls to InsCo's, checking
    of other policies and the like. Or at least that's the way it works
    in the Met. Also, in the Met, it's only the Traffic Police who are
    permitted to seize the vehicles anyway. Partially due to the fact
    that the officers in Traffic have a much better understanding of
    vehicle documentation, and can generally be relied on to do the
    necessary checks to an acceptable standard.

    It really isn't a case of "if the database doesn't show insurance on
    one check, then your vehicle's off to the pound, chum", honestly.
     
    Rattie, May 29, 2006
    #18

  19. That fucking sucks. Sorry, but it does. The sort of twonk who drives or
    rides uninsured isn't going to give a **** about a derisory fine, and it
    would take half a dozen fines to equal the size of one premium.

    OK, so that would mean 36 points too (!) but the sort of shitbag who
    drives around in an uninsured untaxed vehicle all the time isn't going
    to be overly bothered about licence niceties either.

    I've mentioned this before, but I far prefer the attitude of a friend
    who's a beak in the Midlands. His bench has the attitude that it
    shouldn't be cheaper to flout the law than to obey it. They have a tame
    broker on hand, and every time they have an uninsured driver they
    contact the broker and ask (for example) how much TPO insurance would be
    for a 19 year-old with a chavved-up Nova GTE. And they then set the fine
    at that plus 50%. Job done.

    Small fixed penalty fines for something as serious as no insurance are,
    IMHO, the sign of a contemptible system that doesn't GAF.
     
    The Older Gentleman, May 29, 2006
    #19
  20. The Older Gentleman wrote
    Nice. Please pass on my good wishes to your "friend" for his endeavours
    and suggest he seeks some more publicity for his cause.
     
    steve auvache, May 29, 2006
    #20
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