The Committee

Chairman – Tony Brown

   I’ve been the Club Chairman since 1979 and I have been involved in motorcycles nearly all my life.
   It was hard not to take an interest in bikes as my father was the late George Brown (a founder             member of the club)  of Vincents Nero and Super Nero fame, and once had a motorcycle shop in           Stevenage.

    At 16 years old, I started sprinting (drag racing in todays terms) on a 250cc Ariel Arrow, winning the     250 British Sprint Championship 3 times. I then upgraded to Nero and then Super Nero.

   I also road raced a 350cc Aermacchi and then a Yamaha TZ350. Unfortunately my road racing career came to an abrupt end when I crashed the Yamaha in the Isle of Man at Brandywell putting myself in hospital for six months. (least I got a ride in the helicopter so they tell me).

After that I went back to sprinting on Super Nero and achieved six World Records.

My first road bike was a Triumph Tiger Cub but today, now getting on a bit in life, I ride sedately on a Triumph Street Triple.

Secretary – Mick Taylor

  I first joined the club in the mid sixties, served on the committee in the early seventies and I’ve        been Club Secretary since the early eighties.

  My first bike was a Excelsior Talisman twin, followed by a NSU Max and then an Ariel Arrow. I’ve had        various road bikes since.

  I started road racing in the mid sixties on a 125cc Bultacos followed by a 125cc Yamaha, competing
  in club events and the 125cc British Championship.

At that time, I also took up competing in trials events on Bultacos, Montesas and a Suzuki. I stopped
road racing in the seventies but continued trials riding into the early eighties.

I’ve been a regular visitor to the Isle of Man since 1976 and still love going there for the TT.

I still ride and am now on my 4th Aprillia – they are fantastic bikes and ooze class and style. I really can’t understand why every club member hasn’t got one.

 Jackie Armstrong – Treasurer

I have been a member of the Club since 2019 when my husband, Kelvin bought a Yamaha MT09 SP and in 2024 I took over the role of Treasurer. I am an IT Training Manager for a law firm in London and part of that role includes training on Excel which is one of my favourite pieces of software (I know, it takes all sorts!). I am enjoying creating spreadsheets to keep track of the Club’s money.

I ride pillion on Kelvin’s bike (which is now an MT10 SP) because unfortunately my legs aren’t long enough to ride a bike of my own! I did ride a Yamaha FS1E when I was 17 because I grew up in Walkern and in those days there was very little public transport and I needed to get to college in Ware.

We have 3 grown up children Jamie, Leah and Callum. Jamie also has a motorbike (a Triumph Daytona) although it only comes out in the good weather. Callum isn’t interested in the slightest and Leah is married to Dan who is a Police Driving Instructor and has a motorbike of his own (a Kawasaki).

Others Making Up The Committee

Carol Hutchins

I’ve been a member of Stevenage & District MCC since 2018.

I married into motorcycling and have been riding since 2002.

My 1st two wheeled machine was a Peugeot Zenith 50cc scooter (I know…. but you’ve got to start somewhere… lol)

After passing my bike test I owned a Kawasaki ZXR400 L9 1998 , then moved to a Honda CBR400 NC29 1990, Honda CB500 1996, Suzuki GSXR600 K6, Kawasaki ZX6R 2012, Kawasaki ZX10R KRT 2016, Kawasaki Z900 Street Naked 2018 & current bike is a Kawasaki Z900 Street Naked 2021.

The 1st track ridden was the notorious Nurburgring in Germany on a tourist day in 2005 on my CBR400, then I got the bug and then rode Cadwell Park, Snetterton, Mallory Park, Oulton Park, Donnington Park, Anglesey, Pembrey, Thruxton and a European 3 day track event at Portimao in Portugal.

I started racing in 2011 with the NGRRC in the Street stock 400 on a Honda RVF400 NC35 for a couple of seasons.

I have been a motorcycle MOT tester at Raceways Motorcycles Stevenage Old Town since 2004

“Cider Bob”

I joined the S&DMCC in 1988 when I first moved to the area, as a way of getting to know local motorcyclists, and I’ve been with it ever since, often being on the committee.

I’ve been riding all year round every year since I was 16, having started on an embarrassing Honda C50 (but it was faster than all my mates 50s!), moving swiftly to a Yamaha RXS100 and owning more than 40 bikes of various types and sizes over the years. At the moment, I have a Triumph Tiger 660 Sport, which I use most days, a Triumph Tiger 1200 which only comes out when there is no salt on the road and a Honda CRF250L.

I’ve also done a fair bit of green-laning and motocross over the years with bikes ranging from an old Suzuki TS185ER to ex-army Armstrong MT500 and currently the Honda CRF250L but my favourite was a Yamaha WR450F.

I try to get at least two long distance tours in each year (normally more) and I go along to most Monday club nights – usually leading one of the group rides. I’m always up for a ride if I’m not at work and time/commitments allow. I’ll also talk to almost anyone so if you come along to a club night, introduce yourself.

I’m also the “webmaster” so if you have any constructive criticism, email me by clicking here!

Darren Neilson

I passed my motorcycle test on 20th October 1995 and it changed my life for the better.

I have had many motorcycles throughout the years my first real bike being Yamaha RSX 100 (red one) and numerous Honda crunch boxes from C50/C125s my current bike is a Triumph Tiger 900 GT.

I joined the Club in Autumn 2023 and to my delight was asked to join the Committee in March 2025.

I do lead some of the ride outs on a Monday evenings which I really enjoy as well as weekend ride outs when I can… so watch out for the posts!!!

The thing I love most about motorcycles is meeting like minded people and having a sense of freedom there simply isn’t anything better. In September 2024 I came back from my first ever trip from France and Spain which was absolutely amazing  and now planning on going to Spain and Portugal this year.

Remember life is what you make, so enjoy it.

Kelvin Armstrong

At 16, I started riding a Yamaha FS1E and then progressed up to a Yamaha RD200 electric at 17.

I first joined the club in 1979 for a couple of years before discovering cars and women!

I then had a long break from motorbikes thanks to marriage, mortgages and three children!

I returned to biking and the club in 2019 riding a Yamaha MT09SP, I rode 30,000 miles before upgrading to my current bike a Yamaha MT10SP.

My wife (Jackie) regularly rides pillion and our weekends usually involve a ride out to a cafe or event.

I was elected onto the committee in 2024 and look forward to helping out with the running of the club. 

Pete Blackburn

I’m 47 years old, ride a Triumph Street Triple and have been an active member of the Club for about 17 years.

I have for the past 6 years been on the committee – my role being to organise ride outs and to be involved in the organisation of bike trips with other members.

I’m a keen classic bike enthusiast and have visited the Isle of Man on several occasions, twice doing the parade lap at the classic TT.

Steve Whyte

I joined the Club quite recently in the Autumn of 2023. I passed my Motorcycle test in the March of the same year. So I’m quite new to the motorcycling world! I joined the Club to help improve my riding and to meet like minded people.

I own a few motorcycles a Triumph Tiger Rally Pro, a Honda CB1100 and a er Honda C70! Along with a 1974 Honda CB750 that I’m still not working on much, but hope to soon.

I  wanted to join the Committee to help out where I can and to represent other Club Members views and opinions. I look forward to the next 12 months of being on the Committee.

President – Gordon Hallett 

l discovered powered two wheels when I was about twelve, mostly in fields around Titmore Green and Wymondley.

I got my first legal bike at sixteen and passed my test the same year – there were no learner restrictions back then! I went through a wide selection of bikes at that time, all changing hands for about a tenner!

I dabbled with grass track racing & trials too; both with a sidecar outfit, but both badly! On an apprentice’s pay, it was hard to do repairs & maintenance (well, that’s my story)!

The “first phase” of biking ended in 1965 with another sidecar outfit, on which l courted the wife, later to be swapped for four wheels (the bike, not the wife) when I needed a more practical means of transport for family life.

The itch used to return, but lack of money and children prevented me scratching it until the late 1980’s when our daughter went to Uni and we had a bit more cash. Off I went again; with bikes of my youth, I’d buy a box of bits, rebuild it and then sell or keep it (mostly the latter). Jan “tolerated” my love of bikes but would often drive to the Monday night motorcycle Club meet, picking up a couple of other wives on the way.

In 2005, I entered the Moto-Gino of Italy – a thousand mile ride with special stages over 5 days, up & down mountains, on a 150cc IOhp mount. I finished 82nd of 108 starters and 98 finishers; probably the height of my biking life.

After l lost Jan, I did a tour of Route 66, Las Vagus, & the Grand Canyon, on a Harley Davidson Electa Glide, again about 1000 miles, of which l enjoyed the sights rather than the bike.

Just before Covid l bought my only ever new bike, a Royal Enfield Interceptor, put it away over lockdown, only to find it “put on 200kg” in the duration. Unfortunately, age and health etc meant l struggled to pull it’s 220kg out of the garage.

So, now I am happy with my Italian lightweights and my 150kg Guzzi V50, but I enjoy the tinkering as much as the riding.

I can always be seen up and down the country with my old bikes at shows, keeping the heritage of the present day bikes alive.