Big Andys Scootering Site

For me, the above title just about sums up the whole weekend in 4 short words but i shall expand on it a bit. The weekend for me started on Thursday morning. I had been on holiday from work all week but having been decorating all week i was ready to go. My wife Dawn was following up later in the day in the car with my daughter and her friend as Dawn was at work until 2pm. As i got my scooter out of the garage i noticed that the Scorpion exhaust was a bit loose, so after a quick tighten up i was off on the 100 mile trip to sunny Skegness. When i got the other side of Nottingham i stopped to check my exhaust again. It was a bit loose again so again i tightened it up knowing i was going to have to stop on a regular basis to keep checking it. The last time it came loose without me knowing it blew out the back wheel with my scooter going down the outside lane of a duel carriageway and me down the inside lane.

I arrived in Skeggy about 1:00pm having taken just 2 hours and 15 minutes to get there in glorious sunshine, i was well chuffed. I headed straight to the Street, the venue for this weekends festivities, as i promised the organisers, Lincoln SC's Nigel, Simon & Paul, i would call in on my way through to see if they needed anything doing. Luckily everything was in hand so after a coffee and a chat and excepting the offer of a free drink later, i set off again on the last 5 miles of my journey to Chapel St Leonards where we were staying. We stayed out of town as Dawn and her brother owned the caravan we were staying in so it cost us bugger all and thats the kind of price i never turn down. After a stop at the off licence i settled into the caravan with a few beers to await my families arrival.

Dawn and myself joined the members of Lincoln SC in the Street about 9pm having abandoned the kids for the evening and settled down to a nights drinking. Only problem was i was driving so it was coke for me (and a couple of newcy brown ales) The PA boys occasionally disturbed our peace and quiet as the blasted out music to test the system, before we called it a night about 1am, knowing we were in for a few late nights ahead so needed our beauty sleep.

Friday morning arrived and we shot over to Morrisons in Skeggy to get the weekends supplies, stopping at the campsite on the way back to see how it was going. We couldn't stay out long as we were awaiting the arrival of our weekend guests, Jamie & Phillapa, but wait, who's the first people we see at the campsite, yep Jamie & Phillapa who had also stopped by to say hello so we stopped most of the morning greeting our buddies, drinking lager (Dawn was driving) and getting sunburned. Myself and Rudy gave Dave Porter abuse as he attempted to put up his tent until he asked for help and we both vanished.

Having shown Jamie & Phillappa the way to our caravan and getting their luggage in, we were back in Skeggy at the Ship where Tony '1 Shirt' was celebrating his 40th birthday. Sat around him were several members of different Blues clubs and Rudy so i plonked myself in the middle of them under the parasol as my head was by now getting sore with sunburn. We were soon joined by the Edinburgh Blues who had decided, as it was Tonys 40th, Skeggy was the place to be instead of Kelso.

We left the Blues at the Ship about 7:30pm and headed for the Street as myself, Jamie and Phillapa were all working and Dawn went off to the Barfly to meet some of her friends. The Street was quiet up until about 10:30pm as most people took advantage of the good weather but as night drew on it soon filled up. DC Fontana took to the stage complete with their new female addition. This group from Tamworth were an all male group when i booked them a few years ago for Brewers Droop, but last year added a female singer and have added another female this year. Indeed the females seemed to grap most of the lads attention as they went through their repertoire. The next band up were The League Of Mentalmen and they are just that, Mentalmen. These lads are not as good as Basketcase but are a very good second. They did their gig in 2 parts coming out the second time dressed in womens clothes. Disco Daz finished off the night in the main room with the usual rally favourites, whilst Wigan Tim & Dave Porter entertained those in the back room. There was also a Northern Soul room at the side of the main room and a Ska/Reggea room downstairs so there was something for everyone.

Saturday morning came and went. Having not got to bed until about 5am we were all a bit late getting up so it was about 2pm before we got back into Skeggy. Again we headed straight to the Street for the Custom Show and Parts Fair. Drink in hand i headed off for the Custom Show and i must admit i was disappointed by the turn out. With all the scooters in town i thought they might of been a few more on display. I had a wander around the stalls and had some more bad news. Ital had set up on the campsite and as i needed a new air filter i was going to have to go their. I joined some of the Lincoln lads in the pub next door as they watched Lincoln City FC lose their play off game, whilst Dawn, Jamie & Phillapa went back to the caravan. As i pulled up outside the caravan on my scooter an hour later i was met with a few angry looks. I had got the caravan key and as i had not taken my phone with me they had sat outside and waited for me. My excuse of breaking down and not being in the pub didn't wash so i was in the doghouse.

We dropped Dawn off at the Street about 7pm as she was on the door and went to the pub next door as we didn't have to report until 8pm. The early stages of the night was spent greeting folk i hadn't seen for a while and having to explain several times why i had left the Brewers. First band on stage tonight were Cooljerk. These lads are not my cup of tea but they seemed to do ok and got the dance floor buzzing. DJ's Wigan Tim & Dave Porter were in the main room tonight and these two make a great team, they are both totally mad. Next up were the main band of the weekend. Spunge have a very large following and despite not advertising this gig they seemed to have brought a few fans with them. These lads are always good and had the house rocking. Tim & Dave then saw out the night before we set of back to the caravan and got to bed about 4am.

After another late breakfast we went back into Skeggy . First of all we stopped at the Ship for a couple where we found the collective known as the ii. Mick, Dunny, Dean & Ann, Shh-Davey, Teresa and OAJJ as well as a few others were all there enjoying the sunshine. We then walked into town to join up with the VFM* Sunday club. I was surprised to see Ryan from Southampton who had come up that morning just so he wouldn't miss the Sunday club. Thats dedication for ya. Late on in the afternoon, whilst outside the Square Peg, one of the pubs on the prom, a big cheer went up as the Kelso boys arrived. Fossie, Matty, Foxy and the Shadys had ridden down from Kelso having attended the Scottish National rally.

Having been back to the caravan to freshen up and change we were soon back at the Street, but tonight was my night off so set about the alcohol in a big way. Tonights Bands were White Riot followed by Mistakes. White Riot had been a late replacement for The Tickets who had split up. I saw The Tickets at Whitby and although they were a mod band, i was impressed by these young lads so its a shame they have split up. White Riot though were good as usual, doing their punk covers. These lads also used to do Skaville but i believe they are giving Skaville a rest for a while. Mistakes are an excellent Ska band and the female saxophone player is really good. I have seen these guys before and they lived up to their memory as the dance floor rocked to their tunes. Before we knew it it was chucking out time and after a last drink with all the crew, we retired to our beds knowing an excellent rally had come to a close.

In the morning we packed everything up, waved goodbye as Jamie & Phillappa left and got ready to leave ourselves. Only problem was the exhaust on my trusty steed was loose again. I knew by now what the problem was. The 2 small metal sleeves that sit in the rubbers had disintegrated so the bolts were pulling through the rubbers so i knew i was going to have to stop regularly to tighten it up. That was until the heavens open and it chucked it down. With the sky all around being pitched black i reached for my phone and rang for the very nice man in a yellow van. I was prepared to ride it home checking on the exhaust regularly and i have ridden in worse weather than we had now but put the two together and i thought sod it. An hour later i was sat in the AA van on my way home.

This years Sticky Rock had been a brilliant weekend. I always enjoy Sticky Rock but the fact the sun had shone all weekend certainly makes it better. So enormous thanks to Nigel Ford, Simon Ford and Paul Breen for putting on a great weekend, your efforts are well appreciated lads. Also a massive, massive thank you to everyone who contributed to the collection on behalf of Andy Lane who had past away earlier that week. My next rally is Run To The Shires. The best thing about this rally is its only 10 miles from home so no saddle soreness. So see ya all there

SAFE SCOOTERING

BIG ANDY

P.S. Don't forget its WIGAN BLUE BEATS SCOOTER CLUB CHARITY DOO! FOR WIGAN & LEIGH HOSPICE on Sat 11th June in memory of Andy Lane .