Mersea Island Scooter Rally 2008

The journey for us Essex boys is a very short 27 mile flick through the coast roads and a nice journey it is, when it ain't fucking pissing down. however, a 27 miler, normal 50 minute journey became nearly 2 hours when former Grasp bassist and new frontman of "tommy atkins", Spencer Taylor, had to do a bit of roadside maintenance on some electric bit on his 1962 GS (the HT relay piece!), which involved him getting quite dirty...uuurgghhh, said he.
Whilst the rest of us stood around giggling at Spencer's efforts in the rain and smoking and generally enjoying the very nice Essex countryside.

We eventually got close to Mersea and rode across the "strood" the causeway thingy that links Mersea to the mainland.
As I got to the main gate first and paid my money, my mate Lippy pointed out that we seemed to have arrived on our own....
Strange....given the other 3 of our advance party had made the right turn with us...mmmmmm

Five minutes later, all became clearer. Further down the small lane, Spen had taken a sharp right at a faster speed than aerodynamics and weather conditions dictated, on a rode covered in cow shit and diesel.
The GS and him had a brief contact with terra firma, which Terra Firma, as usual, won. Unfortunately, our mate Keith following behind recognised the scenario as a club formation sliding gig and decided to chuck his P range at spencer....Last man, Sean, decided to opt out of the comp at the last minute and came to rest safely short of a ditch....

Bugger.
However, due to the wet conditions, there was very little damage to either scooters or riders, albeit a new brake lever is required for the GS and a bit of filling to the the right hand bubble..., the p range has a scratched mudguard....
both riders bruised but giggling...
strangely, 10 minutes later, a huge sign appeared on the corner " VERY SLIPPERY"...thanks DVLC.

Anyway, undeterred, we hit the camp site, with Blocky as OC recce finding a great spot on a very sheltered treeline/hedgerow.

TENTS UP First, Bunk UP later....

Tents pitched four of us rode into West Mersea and bought as much Nelson Mandela and red Grape juice as a 120 quid whip could buy in North East Essex...Which was quite a lot to be honest.
On returning to camp, we moved across to the main do and started to drink our way through the recently purchased beverages and meet up with loads of old mates and make a few new 'uns as well.

Time flies when you're wankered and before I knew it, more of our brethren had arrived, with Brother Hunty producing a Gazebo from nowhere...hmmm...our numbers were 9, when my good friend and BFSC member Si Brunskill joined us to be entertained for the weekend. Should also mention Daz Stocks and Ravey Davey arrived and we had a VERY good chat on a number of stupid subjects...and loads of beer...
Friday's live entertainment went by in a whizz, a acid jazz type quartet keeping the ageing mods amongst us happy, whilst the punk rock fans were kept interested by gaz and the Gonads, fronted by Garry Bushell. And my old mate Tony Perfect on lead guitar....wrecking crew assembled to the front of stage...off you go lads..I do believe there was a little Ska type Action early on, but I missed out on that. The Reggae/ska room that was meant to be a northern room seemed busy as was the alternative/rally sounds room near the bar. After that, it all gets a bit hazy, but around 2.30 in the morning, I seem to recall that I bumped into Bagzy. who somehow had sneaked onto the island without me knowing. after sharing a few cold brews provided by the luvvly Roann from the AFSC, I then diversified onto some superb coffee the girl was dispensing from a proper coffee pot...great. Sometime later, I was wandering back to my tent when a car tried to run me over. strange....
I seemed to recognise the driver as it sped past me...mmmmmmmmm

Saturday morning was indeed a bit of a bastard before somebody got out the portable BBQ's and breakfast was cooked up by Griff and Graham, both new prospectee's to our club. My mate John produced yet more red grape juice and we hit the rocky road to oblivion...time...0845. oh dear. 5 bottles before breakfast.....hmmmmm oh dear.

As you can imagine, Saturday becomes something of a blur. The rain stopped and we got some great Essex sunshine and warmed up till the next set of showers. The Gazebo was our base all day and we'd sent the lads down town armed with 170 quid and they returned with further cases of Uri Gella, plus a load of driving lager, and more red grape juice. About 1900 we moved across to the main do with our cases of beer and listened to the live stuff. Some Who tribute (oh dear), The Elements, not bad...and a Ska covers band which everybody seemed to think were great. They certainly sounded great.
We pitched ourselves in the middle of the bar marquee alongside the Norfolk AFSC mob who were then joined by the Viking contingent, so home from home for yours truly....it got messy...good to see all the lads though.
Should mention that young Brunskill had left us due to a family commitment, although rumours that the MOD would not pay for any liver transplants after drinking with our lot have yet to be confirmed....No sign either of young Adrian, so I must be the only BFSC member on the island....
Some of the keener members of our club ended up partying on till 0430, whilst some of us knocked it on the head slightly earlier, but it was a cracking night anyhow...
Again the rain poured all night, making the tent dismantling phase of the weekend less pleasurable, but once done we got underway and home somewhat quicker and with less accidents than Friday's journey. All in all, an absolute belter of a weekend and the BFSC badge was displayed in full glory on Friday night when my red t-shirt arrived...

Blocky

A quality rally again for me, only my 2nd Mersea. Rode down on Friday with Bish, who sneaks through the traffic like a bloody lunatic. Stopped off for some grown-up scoff before we hit the Island. Blocky left me a voicemail Friday afternoon which went something like "l/FJCaslkjcx'AS, LKDF;adj;A, HDFUIHEhdhslkdjk77778q, briiiilllliiiaaaaannnnttttt, burp, fackin cants, lkjhsdjkAa3654we, ((*&&^%%$£$£, burp, hic, and I was camping with this lot!!!! Hit the rally site about 1830hrs and headed to the AFSC camp to say hello. Usual scooter riding faithful were there, said my hello's then went to find the BAD, Old Firm. Blocky managed to string a sentence together, but the remainder of his club couldn't. They all moved heaven and earth for me to pitch me tent, Stella shoved in hand whilst erecting me little thingy (reminds me of German rallies). Changed into me undercover red BFSC polo, then introduced to Blocky’s mob properly – cracking geezers who you wouldn’t mess with. Odd that they all support the claret and blue team, Aston Villa!!!.

Ravey Davey and Daz Stocks (on R&R) wandered over to say hello, had a few beers with them and chewed de fat. I then took a bimble back over to AFSC central to catch up with the lads. Met Pat Paterson, who I haven’t seen since Holland 2005? Spent the rest of the night with him and Daz Stocks outside the main do, near to the bar. In the bar I went up and bought a round (don’t laugh) and they charged me £4.80 for a double Bacardi and coke, Wattisham Smudge (AFSC) was behind me and asked if I liked Vodka, looks the same colour to me as Bacardi, so of course I said “yes”. He then disappears and comes back with two small bottles of Vodka, sorted for the rest of the night!! Cheers Smudge. Me and Pat then proceeded to waffle all night whilst bouncing between the main do and the Northern/Ska room (main restaurant).

With the drive back home for me Sat after lunch I decided at 0230hrs to call it a night. On the way back I said my “good nights” to the AFSC lads, bumped into Bagzy at this point I think? Although brief, I did say “hello”? Anyway, off to scratcher for me. Awoke at 0730hrs needing a tinkle. On the way back from the loo’s I bumped into Bish who hadn’t quite made it to bed and was riding around the campsite, he was in fine form and had paced himself well, if I had of been staying, I would probably have been still drinking with him.

Sorted out my admin then went to the food area for a brew. Only a £1 for a small brew in a plastic cup – result!! Wandered around the dealers village and had a good nose at the all the stuff for sale. Christ knows what the parts were, so I kept me hands in me pockets. Looked more like Craig B and Bagzy’s area to me (and Dai of course).

Caught up with a few more people then back to the West Ham enclave to see the BAD Old Firm hitting the bottle again, well it was past 1000hrs!!! sat with the Essex faithful until I had sobered up enough to head off. Left the campsite after lunch and headed home in the frickin wind and rain which we had ridden down in. Journey back was uneventful and made it home in good time.

Top rally for me. I met some crackin’ lads and it was a pleasure to meet all of Blocky’s lot. Would definitely prefer this lot on my side if things kicked off, not the other way around. It was great to meet the AFSC riding faithful, some of them I haven’t seen in a while.

Until next time The Short One