NABD
9.
21st
- 23rd July
York
Dragway, Melbourne.
I
had seen the rally advertised in several magazines, and it looked kind of
interesting. Stunt riders, Frog & Bucket Comedy Club Roadshow (hhmn
different). Cheap beer (it gets better and better!), an impressive line up of
bands, and then something really caught my eye. Drag racing, run what y'brung
(time for insane / manic giggling). This I have just got to
do.
A
couple of friends of mine (Bill + Mandy) were on about going as well. Excellent!
Early Friday evening the bikes were packed, and with some feeble instructions
from a friend we were on our way. Two to three hours later we were nearly in
Scarborough!, low on petrol, no petrol stations in sight, an angry, cold and
hungry Mandy, an embarrassed Bill, and me trying to keep out of it.
Shortly
afterwards we managed to find a petrol station, and I was elected to lead the
way, oh s##t a responsibility I definitely didn’t want. Fortunately there was
a policeman in the garage with a map book. Sorted. We got there and it was
nearly dark, and I expect some of you reading this, will have experienced my
next minor hurdle. Yes, the new tent syndrome. Purchased some hours earlier that
day for the sum of £60. I saw it already erected (we know some jokes about that
don’t we……) in the showroom, and thought looks easy enough, pretty much
like my last tent. FOOL!. Yes I had to read the instructions, with the aid of a
lighter as it was dark. Surprise surprise I didn’t accidentally set them on
fire. The beer tent beckoned. Cheap beer? I can’t remember, it must’ve been.
I do remember the Mick Rutherford band being good though.
Saturday morning. Bacon butties and a cup of tea. Suits me sir. Wandered over to the control tower for the drag racing, to find out some details. It was £10 for as many runs as you can fit in. My first run was against a GSXR 1100, fully kitted out for drag racing. I blinked and it was gone, I must’ve found six reverse gears or something. After about twenty runs or so I had to have a rest (yes I was well and truly hooked) and started chatting to John from Acrington MCC. Who was on a slightly ill running Kawasaki Z1000R2. We decided it was show down time. On our first run, I beat him. He missed his gear TWICE!.
The next run was to be the decider, no excuses. Sat on the line concentrating on the lights, we were both in stage, flashing amber, steady amber, green, we’re off! Neck and neck down the strip. When we got to the other end of the strip we were unsure who had got the quickest time so we eagerly rushed to the control tower to see. He had beaten me by a 10th of a second. Damn! It was time to stand back and watch the stunt riders go through their stuff, an awesome display of control and balance.
Saturday night, time to head to the beer tent and then wander over to
watch the bands. The line up was: Never The Bride, Tower Struck Down, and
Rooster, all of whom were good bands. I didn’t get round to checking out the
comedy show, as I was to busy watching the bands and chatting. As the night drew
on it got colder and colder, so much for summer.
Sunday morning, and there was more drag racing (after a light rain
shower). It was one of the Straightliners rounds as well as run what y’ brung,
and there was some serious machinery there, the dedication / addiction by these
guys to run such bikes is amazing. All too soon it was time to head back albeit
with a slightly adrenaline fuelled smile. All in all a great rally, with good
bands, and all the proceeds going to N.A.B.D (National Association for Bikers
with a Disability) which is a charity, whose aim is to get disabled bikers back
on the road. The only complaint I heard was that from a single mother. As
children weren’t allowed into the beer tent, it created difficulties for her
to go and get a couple of beers.
Can’t wait till next years rally. See you there.
Ride
safe.
