Section Notes July 2009  
     
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In the winter months in can be difficult to find material to fill a column but, this month I find myself struggling to fit everything in.  The Scottish Section with the addition of our ex-pat members was the largest UK section with 19 attendees at the Italian International Jampot Rally.  Special mention must go to Steve Pennycook and Ivor Ward who made the heroic effort of riding their AMC machines over a 1000 miles to Borgo Priolo in Italy. Well done! Others of us travelled by modern motorcycles, vans or cars and trailers.  Our hearts must go out to Eddie & Mavis Pennycook, who intending to go all the way by AMC machine, suffered a breakdown just after arriving in Holland.  They were then forced to attend the rally by hire car.  Unfortunately misfortune stalked them with a series of small but frustrating problems including hire car difficulties, difficulty in getting a room at the rally site, breaking down with a borrowed bike (twice) and Eddie losing his wallet.  Throughout all these travails they managed to keep our and their spirits up with self deprecating humour and unfailing cheer.

 

 
  The Rally site in North Italy was set in the Lombardy Hills which are full of steep hairpins, deep valleys and sweeping panoramas.  On the tops of the rounded hill tops there were the distinctive  square church towers of sleepy little villages and on one,  a large imposing monastery. The location was within easy reach of the cities of Vigevano and Pavia which were the destination of the Saturday run.  Sadly some organisational and communication problems stopped many rally goers from fully enjoying these cities but, for those who did manage to see them it was well worth the while.
 

 

I and I’m sure many other will remember this rally mainly for the exceptional food & wine.  These were inclusive in the rally fee and I’m informed that on the Saturday night we had fourteen courses!  I had lost count (copious amounts of good local wine) but, have no problem in believing it.

 

 

 
 

 
 

The Sunday run was over challenging country roads with hairpins, steep ascents and descents always coupled with a large amount of treacherous ridged tarmac surfaces which kept you constantly on your guard.

 

There was some gossip about Michael Curry  who has been attending the meetings of another Section,  but talk that we have agreed (free) transfer terms are being officially denied as at present as no formal offer has been received. 

 

 
 
 

At this month’s meeting we were down to just four as I suspect other were still travelling and/or recovering from the rally.  Probably because of this we did manage to agree about a run to take place on Sunday the 19th  or 26th July with a route around North Fife.  Alf agreed to plan a route for the run although he does not at present know if he will be able to attend!  Further details will be available at the next meeting and will be e-mailed to those on Alf’s database.  The subject of fund raising to pay for the new web site was discussed but no decisions were reached. Anyone who is willing lend their time and efforts in this direction will be welcomed.