Houdi
In November 2011 Houdi suceeded Chris and took up the reigns leading the club into the future.
What's to come?
Wait and see!
What's to come?
Wait and see!
Chris
After a long period working tirelessly for the Club behind the scenes, both on the national committee and before that with the production team of 'On The Highway' - the Chopper Club's in-house magazine - Chris was able to bring his organisational and management skills to the fore when he became Matt's Vice President.
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His quiet and efficient style was further honed when Matt stood down in 2004 and Chris became the natural choice for President, leading from the front on his show-winning gold S&S chop and continuing to emphasise the Club's main aim of promoting custom motorcycle building – and riding – in the UK
Like all the Presidents before him, he left the Club better than he found it. During his term he led the Club to Chopper Club Netherland's epic 25th Anniversary Run, to Chopper Club Germany's Euro-Run in 2010 where we took over an entire zoo and safari park and, last but not least, the National Club's 35th Anniversary Run at Cublington in 2008 where we managed to completely fill our club land with a record-breaking 1700 members, guests and a truly massive array of quality chops.
Chris has travelled extensively, constantly strengthening the National Club's ties with our brothers in Germany, Norway, Holland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Belgium, as well as maintaining the friendships he had helped create with other clubs throughout Europe.
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His quiet and efficient style was further honed when Matt stood down in 2004 and Chris became the natural choice for President, leading from the front on his show-winning gold S&S chop and continuing to emphasise the Club's main aim of promoting custom motorcycle building – and riding – in the UK
Like all the Presidents before him, he left the Club better than he found it. During his term he led the Club to Chopper Club Netherland's epic 25th Anniversary Run, to Chopper Club Germany's Euro-Run in 2010 where we took over an entire zoo and safari park and, last but not least, the National Club's 35th Anniversary Run at Cublington in 2008 where we managed to completely fill our club land with a record-breaking 1700 members, guests and a truly massive array of quality chops.
Chris has travelled extensively, constantly strengthening the National Club's ties with our brothers in Germany, Norway, Holland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Belgium, as well as maintaining the friendships he had helped create with other clubs throughout Europe.
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Mat
Mat, started his term by continuing the work of previous Presidents in establishing close links with other countries keen to become part of our future expansion.
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In August 1997, Mat led the entire Club on our first ever run to Norway, a testimony to his determination and planning ability and August 1998 also saw us celebrating our 25th Anniversary on our original piece of land in Buckinghamshire.
This event was tangible evidence of the Chopper Club's ability to build some of the best custom bikes in Europe, with our membership at the forefront of custom bike construction. The Custom Show judging must have been the most difficult ever, but all those receiving prizes from Mat were well deserved (included amongst these were Hank, now fully recovered, and Bill Gill, in remission from his illness). In the summer of 1999 Mat and Hank organised an incident packed marathon ride across Spain and Portugal. Fifteen members and their Ol' Ladies, riding chops across previously uncharted territory, visiting old friends and meeting new ones along the way. Their ultimate destination, the Faro Show, proved fruitful with both Twizzle and Scotty picking up prizes.
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This event was tangible evidence of the Chopper Club's ability to build some of the best custom bikes in Europe, with our membership at the forefront of custom bike construction. The Custom Show judging must have been the most difficult ever, but all those receiving prizes from Mat were well deserved (included amongst these were Hank, now fully recovered, and Bill Gill, in remission from his illness). In the summer of 1999 Mat and Hank organised an incident packed marathon ride across Spain and Portugal. Fifteen members and their Ol' Ladies, riding chops across previously uncharted territory, visiting old friends and meeting new ones along the way. Their ultimate destination, the Faro Show, proved fruitful with both Twizzle and Scotty picking up prizes.
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Hank
In late 1989, following the devolution of Chopper Club Ireland from the NCC, it was perhaps fitting that Boots should hand over the Presidency to Hank at the Club's first event on our own land - a place that has become our spiritual home.
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Boots also gave us all a sense of history and purpose - during his term we celebrated our tenth anniversary and were able to see the importance of recognising our past and anticipating our future. Hank took over from Boots at the end of 1989, consolidating our position across Europe and expanding our purchase of land throughout the mainland. Learning from our earlier experiences, Hank skillfully led our progress, establishing permanent sites at several locations throughout the country. He also resolutely pushed up the quality of our membership and, leading by example, expanded the boundaries of custom bike building with bikes like 'The Fly', setting standards for years to come. In addition to developments at home, with the devolution of Chopper Club Wales and Chopper Club Scotland, Hank also expanded our European operations with the establishment of Chopper Club Germany and Chopper club Norway. He continued reinforcing our sense of history, leading us in celebrations of ten years in Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg.
Realising that the future of Custom biking in Europe was threatened by European legislation, Hank campaigned for the, then fledgling, FEM and made the first of several donations on behalf of the Club (£3500) in '95. With issues like TuV, the End of Use directive and the recent trike ban in Belgium, Hanks foresight was indeed accurate. During Hanks term we celebrated the NCC's 20th Anniversary in Scotland in August '93 and embarked on a building programme on each of our sites. Following a serious road accident en-route to the Belgian Anniversary run and his subsequent protracted recuperation, Hank handed over the presidency to Mat at the end of 1996, having, over the years, earned both great admiration and respect.
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Realising that the future of Custom biking in Europe was threatened by European legislation, Hank campaigned for the, then fledgling, FEM and made the first of several donations on behalf of the Club (£3500) in '95. With issues like TuV, the End of Use directive and the recent trike ban in Belgium, Hanks foresight was indeed accurate. During Hanks term we celebrated the NCC's 20th Anniversary in Scotland in August '93 and embarked on a building programme on each of our sites. Following a serious road accident en-route to the Belgian Anniversary run and his subsequent protracted recuperation, Hank handed over the presidency to Mat at the end of 1996, having, over the years, earned both great admiration and respect.
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Boots
By August of '79, Dino's circumstances had changed and he stepped down as President, handing over the job to a shy retiring chap named Boots.
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Boots held the Presidency for ten years, during which time he improved the Club out of all recognition, especially in three distinct areas: Firstly, Boots concentrated on the quality of membership, both in terms of numbers and the machinery they rode, effectively raising the profile of the Club both here and in Europe with successes by Chopper Club bikes in many major shows. Secondly, Boots was the prime mover behind our expansion into Europe with the formation of Chopper Club Nederland, Chopper Club Belgie and Chopper Club Luxembourg during his term as President. Club Runs now, as a matter of routine, involve trips across Europe and brought the realisation that the Club, its members and their machinery were at the forefront of European custom biking. Thirdly, Boots saw the need to own our own land and initiated a countrywide search for suitable venues, culminating in the purchase of our first permanent site in Buckinghamshire. Boots' pioneering spirit was matched by his determination and perseverance, both of which were put to the test during our long legal fight to use the land we had just bought.
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Dino
Following Bill must have been a very difficult task for Dino. But, during the fifteen months that he held the Presidency, Dino set the Club on a path which is still current today.
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He pushed us towards quality of machinery and raised the profile of the Club through our appearances on, the then popular Custom Car and Bike show circuit, showing everyone that we could produce some of the finest contemporary machinery.
Dino also widened our horizons by leading an annual run down to the South of France, aptly called the 'Run To The Sun'. Introducing our Membership to both European travel and showing the Europeans the very best of what British custom bike building had to offer.
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He pushed us towards quality of machinery and raised the profile of the Club through our appearances on, the then popular Custom Car and Bike show circuit, showing everyone that we could produce some of the finest contemporary machinery.
Dino also widened our horizons by leading an annual run down to the South of France, aptly called the 'Run To The Sun'. Introducing our Membership to both European travel and showing the Europeans the very best of what British custom bike building had to offer.
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