ISLE OF WIGHT (AUG 22-25 2003)
WHAT MOD RALLY??
Having not done the Isle of wight for a few years, myself and Dawn were really looking forward to this rally despite the fact that most of the ii family were not going to be there. Dawn paticularly was looking forward to the ride down there as it was going to be the furthest that she had ridden her scooter and was going to be a good test of her riding abilities. Anyway, due to Dawn still being a learner we were going to avoid the motorways all the way down untill we reached the M3 but as we would only be on it for 5 minutes we decided to risk it (tut tut).
We were booked on to the 20:40 ferry from Southampton to East Cowes so we set of 15:30 which left us 5 hours to get there. The journey down was scenic but uneventful, passing a couple of broken down Lambrettas on the way including Hammy (Nuneaton Pacemakers) whos Lammy had blown up on the M3 although we didn't realise it was him untill we had passed by. So near yet so far. Anyway we arrived at the port at 19:55 having just missed the 19:50 ferry so parked our scooters up at the front and waited for our ferry. Hammy turned up about 20 mins later having had a lift from the really nice man. By the time we borded the ferry there was only about 20 scooters and the ferry men told us there was only room for about 4 scooters, so we boarded only to find there was loads of room so everyone got on in the end.
Beer in hand, myself, Dawn & Hammy settled down on the upper deck of the ferry in the increasing darkness of the night and whiled away the hour to the island arriving about 21:45. Hammy had arranged for those nice boys from Ital Scooters to meet him to take him to the campsite, so as we landed myself and Dawn rode off to Ryde.
We arrived at the speedway campsite just after 10pm and after last minute directions from Nigel, Janice,Micheal, Batty & kim, who were just leaving the site, we found Nigels van and started to set up our tent. Now if you've put up a tent in pitch darkness you will have some idea of the fun we were having but try doing it with one hand as the other hand was holding my phone to my ear as Jimmy Jazz rang me every 2 minutes to see how we were doing, so eventually i had to be blunt with him and tell him that as it was going to be late by the time we got into town and as we held weekend passes for V.F.M. we were going to go straight to the ice rink where V.F.M. were holding there dos Friday& Saturday night. So tent sort of up, lucozade specials in hand, we were lucky enough to get a taxi at the site entrance and got dropped off at the ice rink but as the taxi driver had got no change and i only had £20 notes, the driver told us it was on him (what a nice chap)
On entering the ice rink, we straight away bumped into the other Brewers who had made the trip down namely:- Steve, Shep, Roger, Dean C,Bruce & Jane. Paul & Lorraine had stopped in their hotel and we soon found Nigel, Batty and their other halfs to make up a good turn out of Burton Brewers, and indeed we were sooned joined by Johnny & Sharon as well. Also in the hall were ex members Tyrone & Debs, Dean & Karen as well as Big Shep & Amanda, and Daz and his mate were to join us in the morning, All in all an excellent turn out of Burton folk (we also bumped into Brad & Jo on Sunday on the high street).
The Selecter were the band on stage for our enjoyment tonight and had just started as we entered the building. I enjoyed them but they are not everyones cup of tea but then again who is. I was gobsmacked later on when in walked (i don't do vfm) Jimmy Jazz with Taxi and a stuttering I-Spy. Obviously I-Spy had had a few alcoholic refreshments beforehand as he was, shall we say a little bit tipsy and spent the hour they were there telling me his thoughts on the V.F.M. crew. Now i know they are not everyones favourite people, but i for 1 think they do a great job, so myself and I-Spy had a good discussion on the subject with Jimmy adding his tuppence worth by telling me i had sold my soul because i had agreed to do a spot of work for them.
The night ended only to quickly, so myself and Dawn left to get the bus back to the camp site only to have our obligatory fall out and she went back in a taxi and i went back on the bus, well it wouldn't be a rally without a small fallout and at least we got it out of the way early so we could enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Saturday morning, we awoke to bright sunshine with the smell off breakfast wafting in through the tent as Nigel and Janice were cooking away. As Dawn and i had arranged to meet Jimmy and Nobby for breakfast in town, we had to turn down Nigels very kind offer of breakfast and we shot off into town to find Jimmy, who had told us we would find him easily, all we had to do was look for his scooter in town. Well his scooter was bound to stand out amongst the other 1,000 scooters in town wasn't it. As if by some miracle we actually did find him quite easily as we saw nobby standing outside the cafe and then spotted Jimmys scooter, so we entered the cafe and proceeded to fill our little bellies with a full monty breakfast, minus the black pudding but with an extra sausage instead.
Our bellies full, we all went our seperate ways, with Jimmy, Nobby & their mates going back to their campsite to drop off their scooters so they could return to town and do what scooterists do best, ie drink heavily, and Dawn and myself going off round town, 1 to find a chemist and 2 to start on the alcohol. Chemist found we settled in the Wetherspoons pub at the top of the hill and then went down to meet Jimmy at the King Lud. Then we went off to the ice rink to view the custom show. There was quite a few scooters on show, most of them the regular participants, but there was a few i had not seen before or for a while. Dawn and i then wandered back into town to the Squadron pub to see how badly Wales were doing against England at the rugby. I was quite surprised to find that England were only about 30 points ahead with around 10 minutes to go, but Jimmy still did his best to wind me up. Then came the usual news that Derby had lost, so as far as sport went, saturday afternoon was not a good one. After the rugby we wandered down the hill to the Reden pub to meet Taxi and a very quiet I-Spy (properbly still hung over). Also in there was a few of the Brewers, as well as Davey from Leicester who was sat with I-Spy and Taxi.
Myself and Dawn had now decided we were hungry so we said our goodbyes to I-Spy and Taxi who were leaving next morning and arranged to meet Jimmy on the morrow. We found a cafe that was doing a steak dinner, but halfway through the meal Dawn found a large black hair in her peas so off she went and gave the manageress hell and came back with the news that the meal was to be free. A steak always tastes better for some reason when you know you haven't got to pay for it. We then returned to the campsite to get ready for the nights excesses.
We started the nights festivities at the Marine pub on the front which was absolutely heaving so we sent Darrens mate Justin and Micheal to the bar (well they were the youngest) whilst myself, Dawn, Nigel, Janice, Darren, Batty and Kim waited outside. We then wandered over to the ice rink, somehow losing Batty and Kim, who were not to be seen again that night.
The entertainment tonight consisted of 2 Tonic and, direct from America, The Inciters. I thought 2 Tonic were excellent but have to say i was very disappointed with The Inciters. i had heard nothing but good stories about this band and was keen to see them but to be honest they were good to start with but then seemed to drag on and on, eventually becoming boring, so we left the ice rink to return to the campsite (along with half the people in the hall).
Sunday morning arrived far to quickly and i flew out of the tent to get to the site entrance where i had agreed to work this morning. Jimmy came down to pick Dawn up to go into town and possibly to do the ride out. I was going to miss the ride out as i was on the gate untill 2pm but as it was, Jimmy and Dawn didn't go on it either. I spent the rest of the morning in the pleasant company of Paddy, Trev & his misses from Halifax Elite. We had been told it would be a Quiet morning but it was anything but, as we hardly sat down all morning. My stint over, i rode into town to meet Jimmy and Dawn at the King Lud. Not long after i had settled down with my pint, the pub filled up with a big bunch of leather clad rockers who went by the name of 'The Boring Old Fartz. Now 20 years ago the pub would have erupted into a mass brawl but this is now and we all had a good chat and laugh together. After all they are just the same as us,ie going away for the weekend with their mates and getting pissed, except their 'scooters' are quite a bit bigger and faster than our scooters.
We left the pub to go and get something to eat via a call at the Ryde Theatre as the manger of the Jamm had rang me to tell me that if i wanted 2 free tickets for that night i had to go up and collect them before 6pm. We had a meal in a cafe on the hill which can best be described as adequate but, and i promise this wasn't a scam, Dawn found yet another hair in her meal so went off to complain to the extremely fat ba****d, disquised as a chef who became abusive towards Dawn. So much for the customer always being right. Anyway the manager intervened and offerd Dawn a free sweet. The staff in the cafe later told us that the chef was always a awkward, miserable sod at the best of times and that they hated working with him and even gave us a free ice cream milkshake when the fat ba****d wasn't looking.
Tonights entertainment was to start at the Ryde Theatre where we were supposed to meet Jimmy but he phoned to say he wouldn't be there as he had only just woke up and was going on the p**s with his mates from Leicester, so Dawn and i went on our own. The night started with The 10 o'clock Scholars who are destined for bigger and better things, followed by The Paul Weller Connection. Just before the Jamm went on stage, Dawn and I nipped backed stage to say hello the guys, infact i was quite chuffed that they even remembered my name and after a brief chat we wished them well and said our goodbyes as we were shooting off soon down to the Balcony club.
We arrived at the Balcony club about 12:30 and found Nigel and crew who were sat next to my morning companions from Halifax.
Monday morning we were awoken by the noise of people packing away and we were soon joining them in dismantling our temporary home and loading all our gear on to our scooters. We were booked on the 10:50 ferry but as we arrived portside at 9:30 we were allowed on to the 10:00 ferry instead. We came across the Brewers who where leaving a service station just as we were pulling into it so said our hellos. They told us to get a move on and ride with them, but i told them to shoot off as myself and Dawn were quite happy on our own so we could ride at our own pace. The rest of the journey went well untill we were on the M42 (i know i know). As myself and Dawn overtook a lorry at about 70mph Dawns scooter seized up badly and despite her brilliant effort to stay on she became a member of the tarmac surfers club. Luckily she was only slightly injured with a sore thumb and a bruised knee but it scared the s**t out of both of us. I rang Nigel & Janice who were in their van and they came back and picked Dawn up and took her home. We were later informed that the engine was badly damaged and would need a virtual rebuild. Still it could have been a lot worse.
So that was the end of a brilliant weekend. We were told by many before hand that this was a mod rally, but, although there was plenty of mods there, us plain old scooterists were easily in the majority. So big thanks to everyone who organised all the different events over the weekend, you're efforts are much appreciated, yes Jimmy, including the lads from V.F.M. whos work often goes unrewarded. Also cheers to you Jimmy for 'looking after' the wife for me sunday morning and also to you I-Spy for letting you're guard down
Unfortunately we won't be at Mersea Island, so we now look forward to Woolacombe next month
see you there
SAFE SCOOTERING
Andy (BBSC)