EDITOR’S BLURB
Well I’ve landed in Student World and I’m still alive, though I may be an alcoholic at the end of this course!! I’ve met up with some bikers who live in this town (but aren’t at the University) and they seem jolly nice – I spent my first night with them at one of the local pubs (couldn’t face the fun and games at the student night-club) and got thoroughly wobbly!!
Fortunately, I did manage to get here with enough petrol – though I only had six miles left in my reserve tank as the fuel ‘crisis’ came to an end and petrol stations began the slow process of refilling their tanks. I must say that for an unorganised, spur-of-the-moment demonstration, they certainly made their point, though now all the terrorists across the world know all they have to do to bring England to a stand-still, is order, what, six missiles, and blow up the oil refineries!!! Let’s just hope that the Government (elected by the people to run the country for the people??!!) have listened to the message their country has tattooed on their foreheads and does something about the extortionate fuel tax. Otherwise we won’t be able to go to rallies and get very drunk and enjoy ourselves and that would be bad! Ok, there are serious reasons but we all know what they are so I’ll stop babbling now.
I hope that the A.G.C. will still be well attended, though I know that several people from the region will not be able to go because other plans have been made for some time, for that weekend. Ain’t life a bitch – the first year it’s a quick jaunt down the road and we can’t even make it!!!!
Well there are still plenty of rallies and parties to attend before the christmas cards are out of date and the pudding is 100% proof, so I hope all you party animals out there will carry on boogying (is that even a word?) and let me in on some rally reviews – this is your magazine, so let me know what you want to read about, or, better still, send me your articles etc.
Cath.
All correspondence to this magazine should be sent to:
The Editor, WRAG mag
c/o 7 Glenarm Walk
Brislington
Bristol
BS4 4LS
CONTRIBUTORS
Cath – Editor Claire Bryant Chris Beek Itchy Fish Promotions Bill Pugsley
WESTON-SUPER-MARE
Those of you that have ever taken a ride
out to Weston super Mare, to sample the delights of a stroll along the prom or
fish & chips beside the seaside, will have more than likely parked your
machines alongside the Tourist Information Center (TIC) in the middle of the
one way system. In fact, if you had
tried to park on the road in the area of the Tropicana, the parking attendant
would have advised you to move down to the aforementioned area.
How did you get into the area? You must have ridden up a kerb, across a pavement and possibly ignored North Somerset District Council’s sign that reads ‘ Parking motorcycles on this pavement is strictly prohibited’, yet who do you think employ’s the parking attendant who directed you there?
Local bikers decided that this had gone on for long enough and on Sunday 16th July, highlighted the problem by arriving en-masse to each take a parking space along the sea front. After about 40 car parking spaces had been taken up, the North Somerset Council Rangers arrived in one of their ‘busy bee’ vans, no doubt alerted by one of the parking attendants, who were seen to be walking up and down in an ever increasingly agitated state.
Discussions then took place and the motorcyclists were advised to park outside the TIC or pay the £4 per motorcycle (not £4 per car space) fee. The bikers agreed to move providing, of course, that the ‘busy bee’ had a good screwdriver tucked away somewhere because, being all good law abiding citizens, the offending signs would have to be removed first. To the bikers astonishment this could not be done “ What happens if we park there and N. Somerset D.C. decide to enforce the letter of the law?” they said.
Finally the following interim position was agreed. The bikes would be moved to the area outside the TIC, within the next 30 mins (there were a large number of cars arriving by this time, as well as more bikes) and the signs would be overlooked for the immediate future, while the Rangers started the process of making the area a legal bike park. This will be a long-winded affair, as changes to the traffic order have to be made and notices produced.
Somewhere along the way the local MAG group suddenly appeared with a petition to which everyone was encouraged to sign, nearby traders (who do very well supplying food and tea), two police officers (who gave us a contact within the local force, as the police would also like to see this become a bike park), the general public (who enjoy the impromptu bike show) as well as all the bikers that arrived during the day.
All in all it would seem to have been a very successful day, and we thank everyone who gave his or her support. We will keep you all informed as events unfold.
Many Thanks, North Somerset MAG.
Tony organised the tickets for the show on 8th July and ten of us went along to the last performance on the Saturday night. Tony and Trish invited Ali and myself to stay at their home for the weekend and on the Friday night, Tony cooked a wonderful meal; his talents are being wasted!
On the Saturday we started getting in the party mood mid afternoon and cracked open a few beers before getting dressed up! Tony had organised taxis’ there and back, so we could all enjoy the evening…drink lots of beer!
After a quick photo call when the taxi arrived we were on our way. We hit the Horn and Trumpet for a few pints before the show and met the rest of the Rocky Horror gang. The pub was packed with people all dressed up for the show and queueing up outside the Hippodrome was a great laugh. There was an Asian family armed with a cam-corder who had seen nothing like this before, I am sure they went home thinking Bristol was full of perverts!
Lew and myself were Rocky Horror virgins, but I don’t think it showed, especially when you look at the photo’s!
It was a great show and we even managed to get a drink at the interval, which in the Hippodrome is a miracle. After the show it was back to the Horn and Trumpet next door for some more beer! Of course drinking all this beer does mean a few trips to the gents and dressed in stockings and suspenders etc did make it rather amusing. One good thing we found out we got served first at the bar.
We can’t wait for the next one…thanks again to Trish and Tony for a great weekend.
Chris and Ali.
On Saturday 9th December, I am getting tickets for the Blues Brothers last performance at the Bristol Hippodrome. If you want to go, let me know asap (cost £20 a ticket). Dressing up is the way to go, so dig out those black suits or nun’s costumes.
SODBURY BIKE SHOW
At this years bike show back in May, the weather was pretty hot and the party mood in full swing, as approximately 2,000 people came through the gate. With 116 entries into the show, the standard of show bike was high, as you can see from the photo’s. Pete Bunce from Ogri MCC did us proud with the daytime music and the bands, Voltage and Sump, kept up the great atmosphere well into the night. £446 was raised for the British Heart Foundation, which is brilliant, and the show will go on next year – the exact date will be announced in the near future.
Itchy Fish Promotions/Cath.
Dear Western Region
Just a quick note to say thank you all for my leaving present and cards as well as your best wishes and support. As you will notice on page 14, I have had to disclose my new phone number for the purposes of the magazine and MAG(!!!) but if anyone does happen to want to contact me for a chat (or gossip), they are more than welcome (it’s a bit lonely out here!).
I am currently settling in ok but haven’t made too many friends (boo hoo) however I have spent quite a lot of time in the bar (they sell snakebite!!) on purely research purposes!
Thanks again,
Cath.
Dear WRAG mag
I have read every edition so far published and am amazed at the very high standard of content, however, I have also noticed that the contributors list is extremely short and wonder why this is – do you put your own name at the bottom of most of the articles in an act of plagarism or do you simply not receive anything from anyone other than those mentioned?
If the latter is true, please print this letter in the hope that some people out there may actually read this and send in some articles, letters, jokes or whatever.
P H Warrior.
A strange rally, not only in name, this rally is held at the Bungalow by Bristol Airport and is organised by the Bogtrotters MCC. It is attended by small patch clubs from Wales, the Midlands and the South Coast. MAG had a good turnout thanks to NotAvon and the Weston crew but it must be noted that six of us were O.F.O.F. members (for those who don’t know Old Farts Over Forty). This MAG off shoot is by invitation only, made up of party animals over the age of forty.
Friday’s entertainment was Clive Live, when he stopped using foul language and telling crude jokes, he could actually sing quite well.
Saturday morning brought another nice day, so we set off to Glastonbury for a ride out. Tony, who could not stay the night owing to a pre arranged dinner engagement, packed up his tent. After Tony had packed his bike up and we were all about to leave on the run, Sue mentioned that the band that night was the Ruscus Root, (for those who don’t know, they are a great covers band) our Tony now had a dilema…should he stay or should he go? So we all set off for the run and Tony was thinking it over along the way. Glastonbury was packed, we mooched about and did the sticky bun thing and Tony phoned Trish to try the water…it was very hot!! But after another telephone call, he told us he was staying.
We went back to the rally site via Bridgwater to pick up Ali, so we all crashed in the garden for an hour with a cold beer, before setting off.
When we got back, we all helped Tony put his tent up again. The food at the Bungalow was good but they were very short staffed! The band, as expected, were great, they did the Welsh in ’99 and the Western Region Party. After the first set we had the usual prizes and raffle, what followed was…well, unusual. Body piercing and sponsered pubic hair shaving! One bloke pulled out a huge machette to help with the trimming. They did raise over a hundred pounds for charity.
A good rally and right on our doorstep, one for the diary for next year, perhaps!
Chris.
All you O.F.O.F. members out there…stop press…on the 17th, 18th and 19th November at the Birmingham Exiles Rugby Club, the Boring Old Farts MCC are holding their annual rally. This is the same weekend as the N.E.C. bike show and it is walking distance from the rally site. Cost £10 for the weekend or £6 for one night. Directions M42 junction 6, A45, rear of the Clock pub on the B4438 – contact 07977 581 6244.
Well, how nervous were Bristol MAG when the weather forecast a hurricane for the Bristol Bike Show and how relieved when it passed us the day before!! Fortunately, another brilliant show was held this year, with ultra organised marshalls(?!) and a slightly less stressed Richard at the helm!
As usual, there were loads of categories for the show and the voting was carried out by members of the public. The standard of show bike was very high and again there were bikes parked up that should have been in the show – it’s always worth a look through those bikes as well as those on show.
The party was another great success, though few laughs were had at the news on our arrival, that the barbecue cooker was absent without leave, however, the cooks did a splendid job using the kitchen, though an indoor barbecue confused some people! The Mudsharks played a great set and the Worried Men, taking the main spot, kept the dancers on the floor – the Mudsharks also did an acoustic set at the camping area, after the party had left the clubhouse. Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves and there wasn't even a fight this year (thankfully)!
In total, around £700 was raised for the fighting fund and I think that’s jolly good, seeing as a lot of people where put off by the weather forecast.
My thanks go to all those marshalls and helpers out there – you did a brilliant job.
Cath
On 6th June we were finally ready (or not) to leave grey old England, destination Morocco. A night ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo, landed us in France for a steady days ride to the Vendee area. Two days in the rain with our friends before heading for the south and the sun. We met Jennie and Bedwyr in the Pyrenees at Oloron St Marie and all four of us disappeared into Spain for a week and a half. Plenty of cheap booze and good food. Thanks Jennie and Bedwyr for your company and entertainment.
Ferry number two was from Tarifa, Spain to Tangier, Morocco (£50 return each). From the boat Morocco looked fine. No mass of Moroccans trying to steal, mug or touch you up and it looked modern! Then we got off the boat!! It cost just to pass through passport control and a policeman asked if this was our first time in Morocco. When we replied “yes” he smiled and said “Oh! Good luck!” Ten minutes in Tangier and I was ready to go home! We headed for the coast on the wrong road. Great start but it was better than Tangier with its crazy drivers, smelly streets and staring eyes. Tim got us onto the right road and we were off.
Sale (Rabat) – Essaouria – Agadir – Tiznit – Tafraoute – Tarouclait – Quarzazate – Marrakesh – Fes – Chefchaoues – Tangier.
Morocco as a country is quite beautiful in the mountains and pretty in the towns but the people never leave you alone. Trying to sell anything ‘special price’, scrounging cigarettes, money – one man even wanted to share me with Tim! Flattered – I don’t think so! The only place we felt unhasselled were the campsites, which were not quite like any camping we had done before. There were no cleaning materials because they didn’t bother. Many sites have swimming pools but only one had any water in it and we had to share that with half the population of Fes. The lifeguards let all sorts of dangerous diving and bombing etc. but no goggles (very dangerous)!!
The roads were good (as good as any in Bristol anyway) and the towns were full of manic Moroccans beeping their horns, overtaking left and right, but once you left the towns, the roads were ok. The mountain roads were wonderful: breathtaking scenery and hardly any traffic. Miles and miles of empty road shimmering in the distance.
I think my favourite places were Chefchaoues and Marrakesh. Chefchaoues because it was relaxed (compared to everywhere else) and small enough not to get lost in the mechisa (walled town) and cheap. We stayed in a guest house which was £5 per night for both of us. We also bought a carpet (mat) from a man who told us he looked like Phil Collins (which he did) and wanted to marry “beautiful English girl”!!!!
Marrakesh was exciting and like nowhere else I have ever been. The mechisa was huge and cost us 60p to be shown our way out. Money well spent. The evening was great, there were so many stalls of food, storytellers, snake charmers and fire-eaters.
I really enjoyed our trip to Morocco. The hassle was all part of the experience. There was no problem with safety for us or the bikes and gear. We thought petrol might be a problem but there were plenty of garages and it was cheap. July was probably the wrong time of year to visit Morocco because inland it got very, very hot. We were told we could cash travellers cheques easily; not true I’m afraid. Cash is very easy to change, sterling, dollars and Spanish pasetas.
Well, that was Morocco, what next???
Claire.
15.10.00 Not So so-so Soup Run Supporting the Julian Trust Andy
Bring tinned food, blankets Bristol MAG
Etc, for the night shelter
21.10.00 Ali’s Party The Mudsharks are playing @ Ali or Chris
The British Legion, Pawlett.
Camp @ 32 Quantock Rise, Pawlett
21.10.00 & Weston Beach Race N. Somerset MAG require Ian
22.10.00 support with marshalling the 01934 811 656
bike and helmet park.
28.10.00 MAG National A.G.C. New date, still at Exeter. MAG central
28.10.00 Halloween Party Waggon & Horses, Bristol Claire
Bristol MAG Live music – FANCY DRESS 0117 951 1357
21.01.01 Regional A.G.M Details to be announced.
06.05.01 Weston–s-Mare Pet Details to be announced.
food run.