Club News

Hello All, First, The Usual Suspects, UK Tour, 2026 continued in a festival of friendship at The Three Magpies a few weeks ago. It was our 50th time there and bombarding you with reminders of that in HV, here and on Facebook, reaped the reward of several new faces in attendance and a very special, memorable weekend of fun. The steep, winding lane down to Claverton Water Wheel, clogged with traffic in the blistering heat, was unforgettable, more so going back up. Pictured above is the tricky attempt to line up a lot more outfits than you can see here, for a group photo. Dave Cox, with the hat, on the left, awaits to take it.

 

Secondly, Dave Cox, our Webmaster, presides over a website which we've begun to think is significantly underused as a valuable resource we don't make the best of. The website is often the first point of contact with the club for people wandering around the internet and the first option to go to for info for people only just aware of our old Soviets. Traditionally no one sends anything in, not having thought of it. However, it's a fact that the various pages on the website are a lot easier to find particular content on than scrolling for a mile up Facebook or remembering which issue of HV your concern was dealt with in.

 

Had a good time at a rally, enjoyed conquering adversity in an epic engine rebuild, made it home from exotic adventures in a journey Marco Polo would be proud of? All of that's vital encouragement for those who follow you. Perhaps we should think of sending tales in to the website as well as HV. We might chat about this at the AGM. See below for details.......

 

Our next 2026 camping weekends are..............

 

Red Star Rally, or East European if you like, and COC AGM, Friday 30th July – Sunday 2nd August 2026, Talybont Farm Campsite, Talybont on Usk, Brecon LD37YJ.

This is a joint rally hosted every two years,now more frequent than the previous every four years, this year by the MZ Riders Club, with the Jawa/CZ Club and the Cossack Club. It usually has a brilliant turnout and in the past there have been over 200 people attend. The campsite is brilliant with lots of flat grass, excellent toilets and showers and a couple of real ale and food pubs less than 10 minutes walk away. It really is a beautiful part of the country.Contact Andy Binns on 07980 837005 email bynnsi@gmail.com or Sandy Morgan 07929 955 221 email sandyjmorganmz@icloud.com or Peter Ballard idandreg.cossackownersclub@gmail.com 01225 891634

 

The COC AGM, is where you get to chat about the running of the club, make helpful suggestions and vote on them.

 

Norfolk ’n’ Good COC Weekend of September 4th-6th. We're returning to the campsite right in the centre of Loddon, Loddon Marina Campsite, Bridge Street, Loddon South Norfolk NR14 6EZ.

The site has been significantly tidied up. It's quite pleasant now with two clean toilets and a shower in a toilet block which looks pretty much complete these days. Loddon is a spectacular location with a host of eating and drinking opportunities. It's on The Broads National Park with rivers and cruisers contrasting the canals and longboats of other COC camping weekends. The Saturday ride out is to Raveningham Threshing Fair, an agricultural show/classic vehicle weekend. We might get in free if we can blag a place on display as fascinating classics. Punters early enough might enjoy a Friday evening ride out to Geldeston Locks Inn, if dry weather means the track across the swamp is OK.

 

B&B is available in Loddon itself and in many of the surrounding villages. Of course you will need to book that in advance. Booking your pitch on the campsite is not strictly necessary because we're operating an informal, pay on the day, £20 per pitch per night even is there's 10 friends in your tent. However it would be polite to ring the campsite, a guy called Lee Jackson on 0779867263, so he can type you in on his spreadsheet. Contact: Paul Codling paulcodling@mail.com 01508520890

 

COC Autumn Dent 2–4 October 2026 Conder Farm, Dent, Cumbria, LA10 5QT

There is no official organiser for this, the weekend runs on the formula of the first weekend in October, so those who know go then. It's very much a COC institution. The scenery is as good as Yorkshire gets, although politically it's in Lancashire.

 

NB. Mick, who ran the Conder Farm campsite is now in a nursing home. At the time of writing we're not sure if we'll return to Conder Farm in October. The site was being run by Mick's son when we were up there in May but as a rented property, anything could happen. There are plenty of other camping options in Dent itself and in the surrounding Dales. Watch this space.

 

Anyone interested in the Dent weekend should send questions to paulcodling@mail.com

 

The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show, 10–11 October 2026, Staffordshire Showground, ST18 0BD

Contact: Comrade Carl by phone only on 01253720327 if you would like to display your bike on the COC stand. He has very limited internet access. The show is very much a club social event, a camping weekend if you want that but the show ground is only minutes away from Stafford itself and a hundred B&B opportunities.

 

NB, displaying your bike offers free show entry!

 

Red Oktober Day, Ace Cafe, date to be confirmed, likely Sunday 18 October 2026 Ace Cafe London, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London, NW10 7UD

Eastern Bloc vehicle meet in collaboration with the IFA Club.Contact: Andrew Mutter andrewmutter@yahoo.com 07775890815

 

Note. These following MZ Club weekends as published in MZ Rider Magazine, our source, might not have comprehensive contact details. In those cases, try Sandy Morgan, MZ Club events coordinator, sandymorganmz@gmail.com

​​

June 19- 20th, South of Scotland Midsummer Camp, The Kendridge Hotel, New Galloway, DG7 3PR. Further information from Gordon Wilson 01786 832336.

 

July 10-12th, Highlanning Farm, Dent, Lancashire. I hope to arrive Friday afternoon, please visit The Heritage Centre to pay. Tony Searle.

 

July 10-12th, Pewsey Camp, Coopers Arms Pub, Ball Road, Pewsey, Wiltshire, SN9 5BL. Free camping. Three pubs, a real cask ale bar and the usual fast food outlets and a supermarket, all within walking distance. For those wrinkles with bus passes (but not welsh ones!) Salisbury and Marlborough are only a short distance away. Why not have a 2 week holiday by riding to The New Forest Rally the following weekend, only 50 miles away. Further details from Mike Dalton mtdalton@talktalk.net or 07729 305060.

 

July 17-19th, New Forest Rally and Two Stroke Day. A joint rally between The MZ Riders and the BTSC featuring a rideout on Saturday and Sunday at the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum.

Camping is £20 per night and £40 if you hire one of the site's 4 man tents to do it. Notify Nick, the MZ Club's weekend man in Christchurch, if you want one. His number's below. The address is The Nature Campsite, Christchurch, BH23 7EB. Please don't arrive until Friday but you're welcome to stay until Monday to take advantage of the museum's opening. Nick is on 07982677770 or at tudge12@gmail.com

 

August 21-23rd, AGM and Annual Camp hosted by The North West Section.

 

The 2026 MZRC AGM and camp will take place at The Turner Hall Campsite, Seathwaite, Broughton-in-Furness, Cumbria, LL20 6EE. The campsite is situated in the Dudgeon Valley area of South Lakeland. The facilities, including showers, are good if a bit small. The camping fees for 2025 were as follows, adults £10, tents £2m, motorcycles £1, camper vans £5, cars £2, all per night and cash only. Any changes to these prices will be announced as soon as possible. The nearest pub is a 15minute walk away where there is a fine selection of beers and a fine menu that includes a breakfast menu too.

 

September 4-6th, MZRC Eire Rally, Glencar, Co Kerry. If you are booking rooms please deal directly with Noreen on 00353 87 747 1074 or 00353 66 9760101. Please let them know you are with the MZ Group for the weekend. If you are going to stay in the 8 berth dormitory please message me directly. Please note, if camping, no need to book.

 

September 11-13th. Bristol Section Camp, Ashen Plains Campsite, Dursley Gloucestershire, GL11 6AD.

No need to book. Camping is £15 per person per night. This is a quiet campsite with good facilities and a really nice communal room with a big log burner. Jawa/CZ and COC members are welcome, of course. Questions to Konrad at konradpieta2@gmail.com or 07548316430.

 

The pub is a long walk back up "cardiac hill" after a skinful.

 

October 9-11th, Northumbria Section Camp, Alanholme Caravan and Campsite, Long Martin.

3 miles North West of Appleby, Cumbria. I hope to arrive Thursday lunchtime. Payment method to be confirmed, Tony Searle.