Greetings everyone.

 Welcome to the Blue Knights! This is a great organization. I have been a member for 5 years now and believe in the organization. I have friends all over the world because of it. Our slogan is " there are no strangers, just friends you haven't met yet".

 We are going to be known as England X. We have the unique opportunity to have British and American personnel in the chapter. British Police, the USAF and RAF make up our current membership. We have started with 13 members and can grow to 25 before the end of the summer if all the applications come back in. I will canvas the area and get the word out to other departments and boost the membership even more before the end of the year.

 We believe in the family, especially the kids. They are our future. We plan on outings and breakfasts in the future. We'll also do runs and events without the kids. (Some like to get together and go fast) I am available almost anytime for a ride out. Although I ride a Gold Wing, it will do 90mph and I will do my best to keep up with you sporty type.

 This Chapter is what we make of it. You have good officers at the helm and we will all be very active. Whether you ride to an event or drive a 4-wheel vehicle, it doesn't matter. We want you to come out for a good time. Plan on attending events and functions of other chapters here in England and in Europe. The costs are usually very inexpensive and the accommodation is usually good. (A youth hostel in Germany opened my eyes to communal rooms and showers!)

 Again, welcome to what I hope will be the best chapter in England and all of Europe. I will do whatever I can to make that happen. Just give us a chance and you'll see why the organization is so large and continues to grow.

 Sincerely,

Corey

Ride with Pride

The Vice - President....

I have been riding for about 4 years now, started off about 9 years ago watching road bikes at Snetterton, Mallory Parkand Cadwell Park.....great fun but I was only a pillion; my ambition was to get my licence. At that time there were not many "girlies" out there. I started off on a Suzuki GP100, which I rode for about 2 years. Now I ride a Kawasaki KZ750 1976 classic, showing her age, but great fun to ride, a bit sluggish at times, normally ridden in all weathers but this winter has been in for a service and a long wait for parts from Japan......

Dawnie

The Dogsbody....

What better title for the Secretary, Treasurer and Webmaster....perhaps not as bad as some things I've been called! "The art of communication is one requiring great skill and much practice", or so the saying goes. I offer little skill or practice but will make up for this with enthusiasm. Like Corey, I don't ride a sports bike, I've nothing against them but being "vertically challenged" does add it's own dimension to bike selection. Fortunately, as a devotee of cruisers, this poses me no problem! My Virago can hold it's own when required, but speed and burning rubber are not what it's about to me. I just enjoy the journey, the freedom and the sheer exhilaration of even the shortest ride. Just as well since I commute daily on my bike (and you should see what road grit does to chrome!).

 Our Chapter is whatwe make it; not the President, VP, or me, but all of us. In the weeks and months to come (with the arrival of warmer and drier weather) our attention will naturally move toward riding, along the way give some thought about howyoucan contribute toour enjoyment.

Richard

Plans, plans and more plans.Have you ever wondered what goes into starting up a new Chapter? Little did anyone of us know no doubt when we enquired! Hopefully, by the time you have finished reading this column you will have an insight into the organization of the Chapter and the roles of the various officers. Thus when you have a stunning idea for Chapter activity you will know who to speak to first!!

 Naturally the Chapter has its own hierarchy, the purpose of which is to manage the day to day affairs of the Chapter and meet our liability to Blue Knights International. The Chapter is therefore naturally headed by a President, supported by a Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer (the latter may be combined). Assisting this fine body are Directors who have support roles: these include the Quartermaster and Ride Captain. Additional responsibilities may be assigned to other individuals, for example, webmaster. During the initial year of activity these duties are normally undertaken by the founding members of the Chapter and thereafter are elected annually.

The Chapter runs to a constitution laid down by the International organization, but additional elements beyond those required, may be proposed and adopted (by vote).

The rest of the activities are team efforts, but it is, nonetheless, important that we structure what we do for the benefit of all. To this end it is our intention to produce and agree a planned list of events that we shall hold, this will include the likes of "ride-outs", a couple of charity functions, visits to other Chapters, not to mention the odd competition and last, but no means least "family events". The aim, ultimately, is to have something for everybodyWwhich is fun! It is fully appreciated that the pressures of everyday life and our various law enforcement duties and rosters are not easy, but with a little effort, we could become part of the antidote!

 Got any good ideas? Know of a worthy Charity? Got some special skills which can aid the Chapter? Just speak out!

What's the first thing that happens when it all goes horribly wrong? You feel that rear wheel sliding, or that car cuts you up at a roundabout (turnpike); for me it's the inevitable swear word or grunt followed by a rush of fear induced adrenalin. We've all been there and we've all got stories to tell. If we are honest to ourselves the majority of these "incidents" have been caused by our own mistakes or misjudgment. If we share these experiences we can learn from one another......

 So this one comes from my first ride out with the guys which could have had costly results. At the end of the brief account the lessons learned are spelled out!

As usual on refuelling my bike I checked the tyres and noted that the pressure on both was down, so duly took the opportunity to set them correctly. The ride went well, met the guys as planned and off for a ride through Thetford Forest and surrounding area. As the "newbie" to group riding I was duly stationed in the middle, a BMW to the front and Gold Wing to the rear. The winter roads were dry and the sun was shining, what more could you want? As the afternoon progressed the bends got tighter and with it the challenge as we weaved and swooped down the lanes, sheer poetry in motion!
 

Later in the afternoon as we we rounded a bend, a line of traffic could be seen stationary at a set of temporary traffic lights. The BMW came to a controlled stop (no doubt the ABS helped!), I applied my brakes and noticed in my mirrors that the 'Wing to my rear off side was breaking too. As my rear wheel locked on the now damp surface (the cooler air was condensing onto the road) I slid toward the rear of the Beemer, which I had been following in a straight line on exiting the bend. After what seemed like minutes, I halted about for feet from the rear of the Beemer. I don't know who was more surprised, me at not coming off, or the Beemer pilot at not being hit. A few seconds of rapidly inhaled air later I realised how lucky I had been.

 At the subsequent coffee break I learned lesson 1:

When riding as a group stagger your positions. If you do slide, or overshoot, you have an escape route which doesn't involve a direct hit on the bike in front of you.

But why did the brakes lock-up like that? I'd ridden on similar surfaces at the same sort of speeds before; the road wasn't contaminated, no oil, no diesel, so why? On washing my bike the following day returning the suspension settings to "normal" as opposed to "sport" and checking my tyres I was to learn lesson 2:

Not all garage air lines have accurate gauges, check with a trusted (manual) gauge where possible. The gauge had been badly under reading. I had overinflated my rear tyre which I had put down to the stiffer suspension setting. The profile of the tyre when over inflated was such that it reduced the contact patch of the tyre by at least 60%
When I needed the tread on the road it wasn't there.

Moral

 1. Always ride staggered within a group.

 2. Never trust garage airline gauges.

Chapter Regalia. Like most organisations, the 'Knights have their own regalia about which we are particularly proud. Through a unique (and unexpected) combination of skills your President and VP have been able to produce a range of products for sale not just within the Chapter but Internationally. Corey has applied for authority to market a number of the items and both he and Dawnie have been busy producing samples aided by Tonia (Corey's wife) and Gaynor (Richard's wife). Watch out for the fashion show (!)and exhibits at the Meeting. There will also be some fantastic prizes in the raffle.

For those of you who have not entered the day in your diary, spoken nicely with the skipper to rearrange your shifts and, bribed the wife/partner, the inaugural Chapter Meeting will take place at Parkside Police Station, Cambridge on Saturday 26th February 2000 at 1200hrs (midday). Please ensure that vehicle details are passed to the VP in advance. A proforma for this purpose was attached to the letter you will have received from the Sec. For those with Internet access, details are also on the website. The website address appears as the header this page in case you missed it!

For those with Internet Email addresses, please ensure that the Sec has your details (including any changes). Email addresses are detailed at the end or, on the homepage.

ENGLAND X

See details of the Chapter Meeting in the adjacent column or checkout our web site at:

http://homepages.tesco.net/~ bravestar/bkcambs.html

Also watch your post and Email!

OTHER CHAPTERS

England IV Rally mid September 2000, Newquay Cornwall. Organised rides plus local attractions Cost £60 per person, accommodation in the Bay Hotel.

Presidents Meeting March 2000, date to be fixed, Nottingham.

Germany X 28 April - 1 May 2000, Rally with accommodation in police academy at Malente Kiebitzhom (Schleswig Holsten).

England III Walworth Castle hotel, EarlyMay 2000 , guided tour rides cost £65 for weekend per person.

England II Redmire Re-Union, late June 2000. Accommodation in refurbished ex railway station @ £10 B&B per night, free camping/caravans. Organised rides through Yorkshire.

England V End of June/early July 2000. Ride out plus cricket! (England V versus rest of the World!) Accommodation available in large "patrol tent", or nearby hotel. Contact England V for details (via Pres, VP or Sec).

Sweden I 6 - 9 July 2000, European Conference, Bommersvik, Stockholm.

England VI Motorradtouren - Eiffel 2000. MidJune 2000. Cost £250 for bike and rider, £200 for pillion. Price includes return overnight ferry, hotel, evening meals and breakfasts.

Sadly, a couple of days before going to print the following message was forwarded from QUE I:

 "It is with regret that I have to announce you the passing away of Florian Massé. Yesterday, we had the sad news from his wife Pierrette, that FlorianMassé had past away at the age of 83. Flo was a retired member of the Québec Provincial Police when he joined the Blue Knights. He was a Québec 1 member for almost 20 years. Flo will be remembered most for his involvement in maintaining the canteen, which we called " La Terrasse à Flo " or " Flo's Bar " at our Chapter's monthly meetings for years.

He rode with Pride,"

Jean-Paul Renaud
Québec 1
Chapter President

This newsletter was originally produced in WordPerfect on an iMac, subsequently re-worked and summarised inNetscape Composer before being hosted.  Future editions will include graphics. Submissions should be forwarded to the Sec in ".RTF" format (notMS Word ".DOC" format). Graphics may be also be submitted in any standard format, but preferably GIF or JPEG.