Ride of Respect 2013

Anyone else registered or interested?

I think it’s a shame that its not going through Royal Wooton Basset this year as it was the locals there that made the Repatriations what they were.

Let’s hope the (minority) Miserable locals that are constantly moaning about the noise at Brize Norton stay away. I must remember to give it some extra revs if the route passes through Black Bourton.

I work at Brize so will be a bit of a busmans holiday for me, but if anyone else is interested there are some good roads around the Cotswold area for a blast.

LINKY HERE

stevemcc wrote:. . . must remember to give it some extra revs if the route passes through Black Bourton.

Yeah. . . . 'cos , like that'll win 'em over huh

Nobody wants to win them over, we have bowed down to there every whim and still they continue to moan,
Ill give you some examples: No access through the back gate to the base as it may upset their children. Done. Followed by no ground running of engines at night as it keeps them awake, Done. Followed by no running of Generators / 20/40 KVA power sets for the Aircraft at night, Done. Followed by minimum flying at night, Done. Followed by No Engine ground running at all over one side of the base, Done.
The actions of these people have caused a massive extension to Handling times and indirctly delayed flights going to theatre with essential kit for our troops. They have added hours to the maintenance of aircraft which otherwise would be flying our troops and supplys in and out of theatre.
No Engine ground running at night means that these people can get uniterupred sleep whilst our troops sit in a desert waiting to come home to see their loved ones after a 4 months deployment only to find the aircraft they are coming home on is delayed.
I personally dont know how these people can sleep at night whether there is noise or not, also why did they buy a house next to an Airfield and not expect it to be noisy.

I urge you to read THIS then read the comments

If a little blip on my throttle passing these NIMBYs houses reminds them of the general publics support of the troops and of their small mindedness then I would urge eveyone to join me.

Rant over.......soz touched a nerve there....

I must stress this is the Minority of the local residents of Black Bourton and NOT the residents of Carterton who have been extremely welcoming to to influx of troops, families and the Mighty Hercules from Lyneham.

My friend,

You may rant in my ear all day and all night . . . I know exactly where you are coming from.

But still . . . our (the collective & royal . . we) revving of engines as we pass said CND Eco General small narrow minded amebas . . . . only serves to shorten the time to our next refuel, and stregthens their . . . . see told you so , na na nana naaaaaaa.

My choice, and solution . . . . . . costs 2p and ringing ears (if you wern't wearing yer ear deeefs). But that's radical and could get me promoted to Colonel, . . . in some desert states

I'll be there - will be 'working' on the day Am one of the road marshals taking the groups out.

steve where are you stopping or are you going straight from work if stopping near by if i come thinking of traveling down sat stopping over nightin a near by travel lodge
pete

I doubt very much the route would go through Black Bourton/Alvescot, but as Tel said, maybe best to let the NIMBYs alone - you have demonstrated what they can achieve if they get organised and get connected so we don;t want them slapping speed limits on every road in the area (those that aren't already 50-limited already, that is ).

I now live a few minutes from Abingdon and grew up in Carterton (thanks to dad's RAF career; my folks still live there), so was thinking of signing up, but then I am also renovating a house and keeping up with the social calendars of the kids, so not sure where I'll be yet.

Wooten Bassett was made by the town and its people - I do wonder how Carterton will react, although expect it to be good. Of course the town itself isn't a patch on (R)WB. I really wish the repatriation route would have come out of number 1 gate and straight through the town.

Even if I don't sign up, if I suddenly become free on the day I may wander over and pay my respects along with an appropriate donation.

kwakkat wrote:steve where are you stopping

Pete, not sure if you were asking me or Stevemcc.

If it was me ... I will most likely be staying over, don't know where yet - but I'm sure you'd hope I'll not be in the Travelodge The 'work' I was referring to wasn't my day job

A bit of a long shot, but if there is anyone who holds an Advanced Riding cert (IAM, RoSPA, ERS ..) or is working towards it, is close-ish to London, would be interested in Marshaling and be open to some training - please let me know.

The estimation is that 30 Marshals would be required for this event, but so far we have the grand sum of 12.
Ratio's about right though - first event in (R)WB there were about 20k attendees with 30 marshals, they expect 10k ...
We will know by the end of the week what the police will be expecting us to do and can work the our numbers from there ..

kwakkat wrote:steve where are you stopping or are you going straight from work if stopping near by if i come thinking of traveling down sat stopping over nightin a near by travel lodge
pete

If its me you're asking I will be leaving Swindon about 9am and going straight to Abingdon Airfield for the 10am check in.
Anyone is more than welcome to join us.

no it was to stevecat not stevemcc

Will let you know where the USR's (including me) will be staying. We'll be up at stupid o' clock so we can be on base for a briefing and do the reccie ride - guess the closer the better, but as we won't (hopefully) have to chisel ice off the bikes first could be an easier start!
Don't worry, hopefully the plumbing or whatever else doesn't blow up in the hotel.

Might be worth eyeing out the Holiday Inn (stayed at the one on the M4 last year), way better than the Travelodge

kwakkat wrote:steve where are you stopping

Booked in the Newbury Chieveley Travelodge £29.05 with the happy box breakfast

Did anyone go?

I saw 4 Thundercats - Yelow/Silver, Blue, Red/White and all Red like mine

I was there, all red bike, arrived around 10.20, I saw a thunderace, but no other cats.
Great turnout from both bikers and the local villagers.
Top Respect to both.

I saw more Thunderace's than 'Cats.

I spotted you (having now seen the pic of your bike and Reg). Think you were in group 5 (that last of the Police escorted rides).
Were you towards the back of the group? You rode past me and then stopped a little way away, but there wasn't any time for me to leg it over - any way you'd have wondered why a marshal was chasing after you !!

I had walked down the field a few times looking out for 'cats, but didn't do your group - I'd just been told I was leading the final ride for the marshals and then found out it would be without police help (how do I get myself into these things!!)

I video'd the last group riding out. The camera time is an hour out, I probably forgot to reset it from Europe.  Maybe you'll see yourself in it. It is a bit like watching pain dry though.

Just spotted myself 02:34 into the video.
Just like to say a big well done to yourself and all the other support riders, marshals, organisers and helpers for making it all run smoothly.
I must admit I was welling up a bit with all the support from the local villagers and especially the families holding up pictures of their sons.

Nearly had a moment with a Thames Water van pulling out on me about half way through the run, but apart from that I loved it, made me proud to be British.

Thanks again I'm sure the families of the fallen appreciated the support and the money raised will help with the legions efforts.

Thanks Steve, am pleased you enjoyed the ride, does make doing the USR thing worthwhile.

Was that Thames Water incident near the reservoir? I did think it was potentially dangerous around there.

I had the welling up feeling on the sighting lap of the very first Royal WB ride a few years back.
It wasn't quite the same for me this year, unlike previous rides, we didn't do the entire route with the riders therefore not being able to take in the crowds and atmosphere.
The sighting lap was at 7:15 before anyone was out and the other full lap was when I led the last ride - I was waving at everyone I could see to get them ready for the group coming through. By then it had started raining and many people had packed up.

There was a photographer or two on the airfield, he's put his pics up for perusal and purchase

Yours truly is in the first two pics on the Last / Marshalls ride.

Its like the proverbial needle in the haystack looking through those pics, eventually found my group in wave 5 page 33 onwards, wish I hadn't bothered looking when I seen the price
I hope he's giving a healthy percentage to the RBL, I know he's got to make a living but £15 for a digital copy!! nearly split my Bovril.

You can always get a small pic for free

Two red 'cats side by side