Big Andys Scootering Site
an independant scooterist's web site....e-mail address:- big-andy@ntlworld.com
THE AA RALLY
We had decided earlier in the year that we would go down to the Isle of Wight on the Wednesday and have a bit of a holiday as we were taking our daughter Sophie with us. Nigel, Janice, Michael and his girlfriend Kirsty arrived on Tuesday night along with a mate of Nigels called Mark. Almost as soon as they arrived, myself Nigel and Mark were in the garage doing bits & bobs to Nigels scooter as he had said it wasn't running right. After a couple of hours we called it a night and went indoors. The next morning Nigel took his scooter out again and he was still not happy, so he decided to whip the head off it and look at the barrel and piston. The piston had a crator in it and part of the edge missing so we decided to set off and see how it performed. We only got as far as Ashby on the way to the A42 before it was obvious that the scooter was not going to make it so we headed for the service station at the A444 junction. Another problem had arisen by the time we got to the services, my scooter kept losing power, so when we called the AA i explained there would be 2 scooters to pick up. An AA truck had pulled in at the same time as us and parked in the lorry park but we still had to wait about an hour before the company the AA had sent, turned up. The mechanic knew nothing about motorcycles so called for relay to come and collect us. Now what was the point in sending someone who didn't know anything about motorcycles. Anyway we were told we would have to wait for another hour. As we waited, sheltering from the rain we saw the AA truck that had pulled in the same time as us, drive out and then appear in the car park looking for us. I was livid. How could he sit up there for 2 hours keeping us waiting, so i went tearing in to him telling him exactly what i thought of him. The driver looked scared out of his wits and explained that it wasn't him who had been sat up there but someone else. Infact the driver had waved to him as they passed. I apologised to the driver who then informed us he was only picking one scooter up not two. I had to wait for another hour for my pick up so all in all i thought the service given to us by the AA was appalling and i will be changing my breakdown cover when the AA one expires.
I pulled up on Southampton docks at 16:55 and was met by the others who had arrived a bit earlier, but the dock worker told us we could not get on the 17:00 and would have to wait for the 18:00. Just as we were unloading my scooter from the AA truck the heavens opened and the rain poured down, soaking us in seconds.
Ferry caught we were soon on the camp site at the Smallbrook Stadium and setting up our own little canvas village, having taken a few other tents down for fellow Brewers. We soon had all the tents up and made our way into town to meet up with Steve Foster, Johnny Bolland, Johns Mate Dave, Kitch and a few others in the King Lud. We then went to another pub up the road before retiring to bed after a long, exhausting day.
Thursday morning came about too quickly for me but dragged myself out of bed to a cup of tea and a couple of bacon butties. Taxi had by now turned up to say hello and find out where we were as she was bringing a few tents down on Friday. Some of us then rode into town to pick up a few supplies and i told the lads on the gate that Nigel had ordered a new barrel & piston from PM Tuning and it was being delivered sometime that day to the gate. When we arrived back on site the parcel was there waiting for us so Thursday afternoon was spent watching Nigel & Michael putting the new stuff on his scooter. As the evening wore on we went upto the clubhouse for the free BBQ laid on by the VFM and a few drinks. We said our hellos to those who had arrived that day and tucked into what food was left. Myself & Dawn retired to bed really early that night as Dawn had said earlier she was tired so, as i was also tired, by 10pm we were back in the tent only for Dawn to moan she had found her 2nd wind and had wanted to stay. !Women!
We awoke Friday morning to find it was raining outside, which was to stay with us well into the afternoon, so Dawn, Sophie and myself had breakfast in the clubhouse to get out of the rain. We were soon joined by Steph who had arrived in the early hours and kipped in her car until daybreak. When we returned we found Taxi with Mick & Sarah sheltering under the gazebo. Most of us then decided the best thing was to go to the pubs in town to keep out of the rain, so before long we were all sat inside the King Lud drinking and saying our hellos to all the people we knew as they came in, including Jimmy Jazz, Knock Back Nobby, Dunny, Tara, Mike (I-Spy), and Pitchie & Andrea. Before i knew it, it was time for me to go back to the site to get changed and report for duty at the ice rink. I had only just got back to the camp site when my phone rang. It was dawn to tell me there had been a massive argument between herself and Nigel over my daughter Sophie. Dawn and myself had feared this would happen before we left as Sophie and Janice do not get on but at the end of the day Sophie is 13 and still a child and Dawn & myself will always stand by her. The problem was that everyone had been drinking all day and tempers flared.
I arrived at the ice rink slightly late and extremely worried about what had happened with Dawn & Sophie. Dawn had decided to stay at the tent, leaving me on my own. Most people noticed how quiet i was that night but i was concerned about what would happen over the remainder of the weekend.
The Supatones were first up on stage and soon had the crowd dancing to their ska covers. My fellow Brewers soon turned up to cheer me up. In attendance by now were, Roger & Steph, Paul, Andy Delee, Dean C, Rich & Kerry and Nick & Ruth. Ralffy was also on the island with Nigel. I was also collared by Baggs and his mates from Blue & Gold SC.
Next up on stage was The Paul Weller Council who had never done a scooter rally before. They were ok but not my cup of tea, infact i think the Supatones should have gone on last as they got people dancing. Anyway the DJ's, Daz, Tim & Evo played their tunes through the rest of the night until kicking out time at 3am. The only problem we had all night was with Popeye who seemed to want to pick an argument with everyone who came near him. We finally lost patience with him and threw him out.
Saturday was spend much the same as Friday only the sun occasionally popped out to warm us up. We spend most of the day at the King Lud only this time Dawn was on J2O's whilst i had the lager. We didn't bother with the custom show as (1) i had forgotten my camera and (2) i've seen most of them anyway, so we stayed at the Lud until about 4pm when we returned to the camp site and spend a couple of hours with the Brewers.
I arrived at the Ice rink on time on Saturday Night and was in a perkier mood and was up for a good night. The brewers had another two additions in Mark & Mandy Evison and later that night Johnny & Sharon made an appearance as well. Also making an appearance from the ii was Taxi, Brady, Welsh Ju and Kenny. Evo was first Dj up and had a few technical difficulties put the hall was pretty empty anyway.
First band up tonight were the Cool Jerks who were pretty good and had the room dancing but i think most people were saving themselves for the next band. By the time Spunge went on stage the room was heaving and after a slow start the area in front of the stage was a mass of bodies dancing and wrecking. I hadn't seen Spunge for a while but they were still as good as ever and even wore some of the hats that the Brewers had brought with them. We all had a late shift that night as the Ice Rink was open until 4am and by the time we had everyone out i was well ready for my bed.
Sunday was the day of the ride out and, even though im not really a ride out person, i wanted to take some photos so we were up and about around 9am. I had a chat with Janice & Nigel, who was still not on talking terms with Dawn, as i wanted to know what was happening on Monday regarding our luggage. Janice said they would take our luggage but not Dawn or Sophie so we had a bit of emergency reorganising to do. Steph was going to take Sophie with her. I also asked them if they were taking Dawns scooter in the van as had been previously arranged as Dawn really didn't want to ride it back but they refused which was to have real bad repercussions later. After a few heated words and much biting of my lip Dawn, Sophie, Andy Delee and myself went off to town to where everyone was gathering for the ride out. Just before the ride out set of, we rode of to the Sandown Rugby Club, which was the destination of the ride out, to await their arrival. The first scooters arrived about 20 minutes later and as i clicked away hundreds and hundreds of them rode past. After a while we decided to go and find a pub for sunday lunch so accompanied by Daz, Keith & Joy from Ital Scooters as well as Lambretta Art Marks daughter we set off back towards Ryde.
Sunday afternoon was spend chilling on the campsite. I sat with the rest of the club whilst Dawn went for a kip. I woke dawn up about 7pm to get ready as we were popping into town to the balcony club to say our goodbyes. When we arrived Daz, Tim and Evo were again spinning the discs so i asked them if they would wish Dawn a happy birthday for a week on Sunday on the mic, but although they said they would they never did, even after being reminded again. Bloody crap DJ's anyway (only joking).
We were awoken by my alarm at 6am Monday morning to get ready to leave. We were all booked on the 9:30am ferry back so packed away quickly. Nigel & Janice left early, still without Dawns scooter. Dawn was extremely nervous about riding it home. It wasn't her riding she was worried about but she just didn't think her scooter would get her home. I assured her that if it did break down she could always ring the AA again. We went straight through Southampton and onto the M3 which is where the disaster happened. Dawns scooter locked up, myself and Roger swerved around her and stopped but Dean C hit her scooter and threw him off. Paul then hit Deans scooter and he went straight over the handlebars. A following van then hit Pauls scooter. Meanwhile several cars swerved all over the place to avoid us. I ran back up the M3 and panicked as i couldn't see Dawn. I found her sat at the side with the others and just cuddled her. We stopped the traffic to get all the debris off the road and an ambulance arrived. After examinating Paul & Dean they decided to take them to hospital just to check them out. The rest of us awaited the recovery truck, then followed it to its garage so i knew where to collect them on Wednesday when i was in the area in my lorry. We then went to Winchester hospital to find Paul & Dean. Paul was ok, just knocks and scratches but Dean had dislocated his collarbone. All in all we were all very lucky that there was no serious injuries and to quote a fellow brewer, Steve Haynes "if god was a scooterist he'd be a Brewer". Steve was referring to the fact the sun always shines on the Droop, but i think this time he was watching over us and keeping us safe. Steph took Dawn, Paul and Dean in her car along with Sophie and the rest of us set off back home on our scooters. All the time riding back, the accident was playing on my mind. What if i'd done this or what if i'd done that but all the time the thought that if Nigel & Janice had taken Dawns scooter as was planned none of this would have happened and Paul & Dawns scooters would not now be wrecks. I'm not saying it's their fault but the arrangement was for Dawns scooter to go and come back in their van. When we stopped at Oxford to refuel, Roger told us his scooter had nipped up a couple of times so was calling his breakdown company. Nicks exhaust was also hanging off so he was calling the RAC. Richard said he might as well go with Nick which left me. I was going to ride on my own but as mine had not been brilliant all weekend i called the AA. Rogers pick up arrived in half an hour, Nick & Richards an hour later leaving me on my own. My pick up arrived an hour and a bit later. I now wished i had rode on. The AA claim to be the 4th emergency service, well im just glad they're not because their service is atrocious. They can say its a bank holiday, but everyone else got quicker service than i did. I finally pulled up at home at 9:30pm totally knackered and i was at work at 4am next morning.
On reflection the whole weekend was a cracking one, with both Dawn and myself having a great time. Sophie was just Sophie and bored all the time. Our fellow Brewers were great company and great support as were my fellow VFM roadcrew members. Its just a shame it all ended as it did. Has it put us off scootering? Don't be daft, Roll on Bridlington
SAFE SCOOTERING
BIG ANDY