Members of PECAM Committee work very hard behind the scenes for the Club and Members and we thought it would be good to introduce you to them and give you an insight into who they are and what they do.
This Month I would like to introduce you to Martin Jones, Ride Co-Ordinator
How did your journey with Motorbikes begin?
Just passed 40 years of riding milestone, starting on my 17th birthday on a Honda CB125 Twin with 16.5 bhp! for the princely sum of £60 the bike was in bits at the back of someone’s garage, my
Dad built and restored it for me six months before my birthday.
I was dreaming of a Kawasaki AR50, but at 16 but it was too pricey and 30mph limit was not so appealing, so I painfully waited.
I passed my bike test after eight months using the popular Star Rider training scheme and then moved on to a Honda 250 Superdream.
In my twenties I became a learner instructor for Surrey County Council on a Honda CBX750 that was my first big bike and was one of the early CBT instructors when it was first introduced.
After a few years I did the SCC advanced course that was a fixed six classroom course with some all day rides to the west country, with the Police testing at the end (if you weren’t ready – tough!).
Over the years I have had 25 bikes of all shapes and sizes, much of the time I have had two bikes but peaking at three, but those days are over (I dread to think how much money has been spent) now settled on my 6th GS, a 2020 GSA that I have had for three years, that is almost a record for me, but I did have a K1600GT for five and a half years that I think is the longest ownership.
Adventure bikes are my favourite and have been the garages mainstay for some time now, and hence my PECAM name @scaffold (bikes with scaffold on).
When did you join IAM and PECAM?
About a year and a half after the SCC course I joined the IAM – one intro ride, then a check test, then the test all in the space of about four weeks!
Immediately after that I trained as an Observer and carried out that role for about three years until I couldn’t commit the time as I had three young children by then.
I joined PECAM in 2007 after moving up from the south where I had been a member of LAM (London) since 1994.
What does your role as Ride Co-Ordinator within PECAM involve?
This is my second stint as Ride Co-Ordinator for PECAM since I joined.
I enjoy my role, as the ride outs are my favourite part of what the group does and helps keep me sharp, especially as I don’t ride everyday like I used to pre-covid, working from home about 95% of the time.
There is nothing more satisfying than planning and executing a ride that everyone enjoys. Getting out for a good ride with friends and a chin wag over breakfast is great.
We are always looking for more ride leaders and we offer training for that, so please be in touch if you would like to get involved.
I am currently embarking on the National Observer training as another side to my involvement in PECAM but the ride outs will always be my favourite activity and encourage everyone to get involved for the social contact and keep their riding up to scratch. I instigated the group ride introduction and group ride leader training several years ago and think it has gone well, to increase the uptake for the rides.
My greatest joy is motorcycle camping trips that I started as soon as I met Jimmy Duff from PECAM many years ago (unfortunately he has left recently due to moving away but there are now a good few others in the group that enjoy the same adventures on a regular basis.
If that appeals to anyone reading this – message me to be included.