Events and Treasury - Mike Embling

Mike joined the club in early 2008, after seeing an advert in the MSL and wanting more riding. He studied the website and said to Jan this is the club for them, they do no “Camping”, just hotels. He sent the membership form off went to his first meet, Martin & Hilary Young’s at Benson just 12 miles from the family home in Didcot.!!

Mike said he was born a motorcyclist, always on and off his father’s bike, burning his legs in the process, but it did not deter him. He was taken the Oxford Speedway at the tender age of 7, he loved it so much he went every Thursday, which included a trip every year to the World Final at Wembley. At 16 he got his licence, his dad bought him a Raleigh Moped, 6 months later he past his test, then he bought a Scooter, 3 years later he bought his first real motorbike a Royal Enfield. He then meet Jan and they went out together, but parted after a few years.

The Enfield was sold for a car, as one was needed to do his work, but it was soon joined by an old BSA B31, then in 1969 he was given in exchange for some work he had done a pair of, his dream bikes, Rudges, a 1939 Rudge Ulster (named after winning the Ulster GP in the early 30's) and a 1937 Rudge Special (the touring bike), both of which he still has.

He then joined the VMCC to become the Oxford Section Secretary, they were a bit in the doldrums, so he set to work at handed over a few years later as one of the best Sections in the VMCC. At the same time he joined the Rudge Enthusiast Club ( he has been a member for 40 years and still is) starting off in his early days as Social Secretary, Magazine Editor and finally became Chairman. During that time Mike helped organise Grass track Meetings and International Moto Cross meetings & the workload became so heavy that he had to give up all the official jobs to concentrate on being an ACU Steward in the Southern Centre, which he retired from this role 5 years ago.

So with the Rudge, he spent his holidays every year, 2 weeks at the TT and a week in Southern Ireland doing the Irish National Vintage Rally.

In 1976 he treated himself to a shiny new Yamaha XT500, so it was onto the green lanes and a few enduros, not the best bike to cut your teeth at either, eventually selling it for a 250XT which is a lot more manageable. A Yamaha XJ550 was then added to the garage which was ridden for many years before giving way to an 1100 Pan, which was a great bike to ride.

Mike reached the age of 60, he then had to decide, a Harley or a Goldwing, the Goldwing won, so a GL1500 was purchased, but apart from the comfort it wasn't a riders bike, more a posers bike, so 2 years later he sold the “shed” and acquired a n 1800, or to the club the “Ice Cram Van”. His favourite bike is still his Rudge Ulster, and it is to see the light of day again soon at a club event!

To pay for all this he spent the first 2 months in a engineering shop before moving onto Local Government in the drawing office, studying at college for his ONC and HNC, he was offered a job in Building Control, which he then spent 32 years at in several Authorities, qualifying as a Chartered Surveyor. Wanting a new challenge he started his own Building Design Practice 17 years ago. After a 20 year gap he met up with Jan again and they got married 23 years ago. They are both looking forward to a lot more years “Riding in Good Company” with the club.