|
Nothing meek or mild in this year’s winter, it seems we’re
getting our fair share of it all! I don’t doubt that some of
us have been out and about, showing the world how Cossacks
are good for a little fun in the snow and ice. Specially the
lucky 2WD owners, even I’ve had to keep my collar down to
see where I was going! My choices of tyres aren’t that good
for anything other than dry tarmac. A bit like me really.
Stay safe, there’s more yet!
Martin. |
Useless Information
January was
established as the first the first month of the year by the Roman
Calendar. It was named after the god Janus (Latin word for door).
Janus has two faces which allowed him to look both backwards into
the old year and forwards into the new one at the same time. He was
the 'spirit of the opening'.
In the very earliest Roman calendars there were no months of January or February at all. The ancient Roman calendar had only ten months and the new year started the year on 1 March. To the Romans, ten was a very important number. Even when January (or Januarius as the Romans called it) was added, the New Year continued to start in March. It remained so in England and her colonies until about 200 years ago.
The Anglo-Saxons called the first month Wolf monath because wolves came into the villages in winter in search of food.
URAL MOTORCYCLES GMBH
Poschacherstr. 32, A-4020 Linz
Newsletter No.: 7
Ural Pilgrimage 2009
Dear Ural customers, in 2009 we will again organise the Ural pilgrimage. On our
homepage www.ural.cc you can also see some
pictures and videos of the former trips. The first trip is almost fully booked,
there are only a few places left. On the second trip more places are available.
This year for the first time you also have the possibility to buy the bike. That
means you can pick up your bike directly from the factory. Drive it in on
Russian soil. Then we will ship the bikes to Europe and to the dealer of your
choice where you can pick it up.
We would be happy if we could welcome you on our Ural pilgrimages!
Regards
Team of Ural Motorcycles Linz GmbH
Last month’s puzzle -
attracted a couple of good answers, But I have this answer on good authority, as
he was also the source of the picture. This was a Russian machine, capable of 45
mph across snow and was built in small numbers, for the Soviet Artic exploration
based on a
`GAZ M20’. Normally, a Russian vehicle would not be given an official name, so
at first it was just the `M20’. But, significantly the M20 was launched on 9th
May 1945 the day after VE day in Russia and under those circumstances it was
allowed the name of `Pobieda’, meaning `Victory’ in Russian.
Many thanks to David Angel for the puzzle material. Martin
 |
Bill Northcote & Mary Cooke organisers of the Popham Sidecar Weekend in
September got sliced on Saturday 28th February (about
time to)
and everyone TOASTED the occasion |
The Cossack Owners Club wishes them both happiness in the future and we
raise a TOAST to them. Talking of toast, what did you get for presents when you
were married, if you are? We all like a bit of toast in the mornings but Bill
and Mary like it soooo much the guests made sure they would never be short of a
toaster.
|
Anyone Got any Bread Then? |
 |
I would like to extend an invitation to the Cossack Owners Club to attend the MZ
Riders Club’s Scottish Rally in May. I have composed a short entry for inclusion
in your club newsletter should you wish to circulate details of this event to
your membership. Cheers. Enquiries to:- Mike Paterson MZ Riders Club. South of
Scotland Section.
(Contact COC NL Editor ~ Martin Hall)
 |
Left: A ‘quad-bike’, but the front and rear wheel are inline, but the
two ‘side’ wheels are on the same axis but between the front and rear
wheels so have to be steered half the amount of the front wheel. Sort of
begs the question, why bother? |
 |
 |
 |
|
Old and the New. A Panther outfit in the background. |
The chain
case is encrusted with ice! No more overheated clutch! |
Eastern Flat Twins – The New Panther?
The
MZ Club’s annual rally at the scenic Howstean Gorge near Pately Bridge, North
Yorkshire, is normally attended by several members of the Panther Club as part
of their calendar. This year one of that club’s members had upgraded to a Neval
Ural with double adult sidecar, and two of his mates were on a recently
purchased Dnepr MT11 and a new Ural. One of the others was sticking with his old
sloper, but it seems that Russian/Ukrainian sidecar bikes are set to become the
new Panther. There is a tenuous connection – only last week I trespassed on the
partly demolished Panther factory site to steal a piece of soiled plastic soil
pipe with which to make some leg shields for my Ural/BMW – a genuine piece of
British motorcycle history.
Good left leg exercise to start a cold Dnepr outfit.
Shame the sidecar can’t be on the right side!
Anyway the above influx, added to Tony and Jo and myself from Cleckheaton, made
it five eastern flat twin outfits on site, which outnumbered by three the number
of MZs present, most others being on various Japanese tackle and BMWs. One rider
attended on a very tidy four stroke Simson, which was in the mould of the old
BMW singles and Adrian came for the day on his old BMW R60.
Friday night was bit sparse, with only five of us being made very welcome by the
café owner, Stan, who stayed overnight to look after us, but had to sleep in the
café when he found his tent was rotten. There was no shortage of long distance
riders either. Dick came from Kings Lynn on an Enfield , Huw from South Wales ,
and another bloke, whose name I didn’t get, rode up from Kent. The frost split
Dick’s plastic Indian fuel pipe and in the morning his primary cover was covered
in crystals – the remains of £7 worth of petrol. As he was cooking with a petrol
stove near it
before
he noticed the leak it could have been much worse. Saturday night was spent
between the Sun at Middlesmoor and the Sun at Lofthouse. Johnny Shaw and I ran
the two miles between them after three pints. It was quite an effort because he
was in leather jeans and tracksuit bottoms and I was in my skirt. A good night
was had by all.
Old and the New. A traditional sidecar once used to take the family
to Scarborough, now used to carry tents and provisions! Today hauled by a 750cc
Ural
If you are in the area visit Stan and his missus and the Howstean Gorge café
near Lofthouse. He’s recently retired after thirty five years as a paramedic, so
he’s probably done quite a bit for bikers in his time. As for the MZ rally –
it’s small and it’s friendly, just the kind of rally I like for a change. Even
without the MZs.
 |
Why Not Race a Panther?
As they say; “ they shoot horses don’t they?”
Dave R ~ your next project is what exactly? |
 |