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75th Anniversary of The ACU Benevolent Fund
17th April 2025 sees the 75th Anniversary of The Auto Cycle Union Benevolent Fund.
Set up in 1950, the Fund, which is a Registered Charity, is there to assist past and present members of the ACU and their families in times of financial hardship. Hardship can occur for many reasons, often due to an accident, (not essentially motorcycle related), illness, bereavement and at times, in the most distressing of circumstances.
The Trustees and Administrative Committee of the Fund are extremely grateful for all the help they have received over the past 75 years. In the past 10 years alone, they have awarded Grants in excess of £670,000.
Fund raising of all kinds, donations and the purchase of the Annual TT Badge is essential. Thank You to those of you who have supported the Fund. However, for the work to continue for many years to come they cannot do this without your help.
The Fund has Representatives in all areas of the UK, from the North of Scotland to Cornwall and not forgetting the Isle of Man.
More detailed information about the work of The Auto Cycle Union Benevolent Fund and their Representatives and how to donate can be found on their dedicated page of the ACU Official Website: www.acu.org.uk
Help the Ben Fund to continue their good work - you never know when you or a member of your family might need their help. Any donations would be gratefully received.
"Happy 75th Anniversary ACU Benevolent Fund"
ACU Benevolent Fund TT Badges 2025 are now available, this year celebrating 75 years of the TT marshals. Badges can be purchased directly from ACU Western Ben Fund Officer Tom Vivian at Board Meetings or events, priced at £4. Also available by post from ACU Rugby, £4 plus £2 P&P. All proceeds go directly to the Ben Fund. The ACU "Ben Fund" is available to riders and officials - find out more.
Contact: Diane Williams, Assistant to the Secretary General, diane@acu.org.uk, 01788 566439.
[on 03Apr2025]
CHG's Championship Trial venue change
Cheltenham Home Guard MCC's ACU Western C, D, E Trials Championship round will now run on June 8. This has been moved from June 22 to avoid a clash with an ACU British Championship event. Entries will open nearer the time and we will let you know when they do on this website.
[on 10Feb2025]
Glos & Cots trial postponed
The Drake & Gibb Trial set for January 12 has been postponed due to the venue not being available. Contraflow works on the A40 are the issue, so the club is looking for an alternative date for this trial, when the roadworks allow. [on 22Dec2024]
Drag racing talk for Ben' Fund
ACU Western Grass Track Recorder and Centre Benevolent Fund Officer Tom Vivian gave a talk on his experiences in top level drag racing in the 1970s and 80s, in aid of the Ben' Fund.
Tom's talk, in association with the Vintage Motorcycle Club, covered his years on Triumph and Weslake machines. His supercharged Weslake 1000 V-twin was on display at the talk from on Thursday, January 18 - 30 people attended the talk from Malvern MCC, VMCC, ACU Western and Leominster Classic MCC, and a total of £158 was raised for the ACU Benevolent Fund. Thanks to everyone who attended for their generous donations.
If you missed it there is another talk planned at the Worcester Auto Club Tuesday 26th March, Tower Buildings, Perdiswell, Worcester.
All proceeds to the ACU Benovolent Fund which supports injured riders and organisers on a confidential basis. It is funded entirely by donations, and Tom does sterling work in selling merchandise and shaking tins to raise funds. A suggested donation of £5 on entry would be appreciated at the next event.
[on 28Jan2024]ACU Western Trials Championship - round 1 postponed.
The first round of the ACU Western Trials Championship has been postponed. Due to an issue with tree felling at the proposed venue, organisers Gloucester and Cotswold MC is looking to move Round 1 from the January 14 date. A new date will be announced as soon as possible.
Dates for the rounds are currently provisional and will be confirmed after the next ACU Western Board meeting on January 15. This year's championship has nine rounds, and two reserve dates which can be used by clubs in the event of a postponement - it is hoped that riders will be able to plan their year more easily. G&C is unlikely to use one of these dates for one round, as the dates for the championship are currently provisional. We will keep you updated! [on 19Dec2023]
New Club Membership fee collection system.
Those clubs in our Centre who intend to use the ACU's new system to manage club members paying their subs on the club's behalf need to setup the details on Sport:80 account. Here is the Guide they've produced which Will help you complete the process. Clubs who are not going to use online sales and the Stripe account but aim to continue with manual applications do not need to bother, but be assured, it is relatively easy to do. Membership secs will still need to validate the member so that Licences can be obtained. The ACU have announced that Clubs should be ready for membership applications to enable riders to get their 2024 licences in the press and riders already want to enter 2024 events.
Stroud Valley and West Glos already have experience. and HQ support is available.
Here's the Guide - New Club Membership Sales Feature.
And here is all our club's pages where some (SV, GC, Ledbury, WV and WG) have their membership link on. Centre's Clubs List
[on 01Dec2023]
Trevor Hunt Trophy Trial
If you missed the trial then our Editor Ben managed to capture some of the beautiful natural sections that the Wye Valley club layed out for us. Have a look. Full Results on the calendar. (And Yes, Tom Cooper did finish just before the chain decided not to play nice.)
[on 22Aug2023]YDS - Training Day
The YDS's March Training day was held at West Glos President Roy Breakwell's farm with some challenging sections to tackle. Have a look at some of the action thanks to our Editor Ben.
[on 30Mar2023]
YDS Dates for 2023
YDS Co-ordinator Simon Welch has set the dates for this year's Youth Development Squad training sessions. All on Youth updates page and our Current Event Calendar. [on 07Mar2023]
ACU Western Trials Championship Fires Up
Brett Harbud launches into the lead in Experts, Dan Bishop re-appears to lead the Club/Exps, James White takes Rob Faulkner's vacated spot in Club, Newcomer Adam Wight slots into our Editor Ben's vacated spot in Sports Plus, Dave Morris is allowed to retain his podium in Over 50s, and Ben Wilson replaces Rob Cobley who now moves up to S+. In the 3 youth classes Jamie Laverton lords it over A, Kayleigh Rich leads the B's and Harry Bishop leads in C. Full Listing and Gallery from round two on the 2023 championship page. [on 19Feb2023]
Sport:80 system problems
Almost all Centre clubs are having problems setting up the new Sport:80 system so they can both process Permits for new events and Memberships for the clubs, please be gentle with our overworked volunteers!
If you need to get in touch with ACU then we have a list of useful contacts. [on 06Jan2023]
ACU's New Members Portal system
Most of you will be getting an email from ACU HQ soon to prompt you to use their new Member's entry and licence system that promises to be easier to use. You will need to do this to enter the majority of future events. We strongly suggest that you Login to the Members Portal and double-check you have the correct email address in your profile now. This will ensure you get the link for the new system. [on 24Oct2022]
Trials stewards - we need you
The centre board appoints Stewards for Centre Championship Trials. Due to recent retirements we are looking for experienced Steward/Clerk of the Course licence holders to officiate at Championship Trials. This involves attending the event and ensuring that the ACU rules are followed and making a report for the Centre Board. Usually very enjoyable and not very onerous. A fee is paid for this duty. If you are interested and would like to help then please contact Jennie Jones the Centre Secretary.
Tony Noel, Chairman ACU Western
[on 12Jan2022]Archive video footage
Archive video footage of two ACU Western events has been brought up to date by one of our site sponsors BVM Moto. BVM's YouTube channel features 1987 video of a Cheltenham Home Guard MCC event at Upper Hill Farm and a Wye Valley AC event at Craswall (both link to YouTube). More archive video is on the way, and links to both these events and much more on ACU Western's past can be found on the ACU Western Archive [on 10May2020 22:09]
Environmental Mats
Competitors are reminded that whenever a machine is being refuelled at an ACU-authorised event, it must stand on an environmental mat. This is a rule of the ACU designed to protect our sport and the environment, Trials Standing Regulation 9: "ENVIRONMENTAL MATS - All machines and generators must stand on an Environmental mat whilst being refuelled."
[on 19Jan2020]
Defibrillator - the Yellow Bag at Trials
You should all know what is in that Yellow Bag. If someone, anyone; You, A Rider, A Marshal or even a spectator has a medical emergency that could be heart stopping then watch the video of how the thing works. It may give you enough confidence to get on with saving a life! [on 05Jun2017]