The
first run on the German calendar is held by
Scytheman
S.C. Germany in the
north
of Germany near Hamburg and as The Heide Heizer boys from Celle were holding a
party on the Thursday night, it was the perfect warm up for the coldest German
run . I arrived at Steve Evans's house after a seven hour drive, The original
plan was to over night at Dia Ransom's but a last min duty change prevented him
from attending. A quick trip to pick up Ian Botham (Hi Lisa) then it was off to
John Wymark's.
The
Heide Heizer party was in full swing when we arrived but I think we were all pre
occupied with the impending run and the atmosphere seamed a little flat? The
beer was good and the eye candy was superb, made me feel a little old
considering my eldest is now 22, the average age of the girls was about
eighteen! After a belly full of beer it was decided that we would make for the
swinging little town of Bergen for a few more scoops of Pils. (mistake number 1)
After ordering a taxi, John Wymark
showed us his impression of "Spewey McGewey", it was brilliant but
the taxi driver didn't like it? Needless to say John made his way home leaving
Ian, Steve and I to find entertainment in Bergen. We did our best then sacked it
in favour of an early night (half four!) At this point I would like to say thank
you and sorry to Lisa Botham who we woke up for egg and chips! We got toast,
more than we deserved :-) Staying up until half six gassing is not a brilliant
idea before a Scooter Run but you only live once!
Friday at the Truck Stop Grill, The
Hohne's crews official RV point, we were joined by Craig Ballantyne
and
Neil Evans, Steve's older brother. Bratty and chips later it was time to set
off. The ride there was uneventful barring the usual wrong turn. The Hohne
Vespas didn't disgrace themselves like the previous week and Craig's GP purred
like a kitten. On arrival at The Scytheman Run we were treated to
a display of professional tent erecting from Steve and Ian. These lads must have
practised for months on this comedy routine and it made us feel proud to be part
of the same well oiled military machine that can take a solid hour to put a two
man tent up. At one time Steve Evans's tent resembled a scale copy of the Wright
Brothers first flying machine!
Milling about at the camp site and meeting the old and bold Scooterists has a certain etiquette that cannot be rushed. And the friendship our club has made with our German cousins is pretty much set in concrete now, and for me the best part of this small but distinctive scene. The run was the usual tried and tested formula that is now the hall mark of the German scene. A large marquee was the focal point for the entertainment a food van pumping out a steady supply of sausage, chips and coffee. The tented village sees circular camp fires springing up and the emphasis on this run like on many others is to chill out and relax. I watched as delegates from most of the big German clubs arrived. I think it would be fair to add at this point that the Easter week end in Germany is megga important for the family and the decision to come on the Easter Run is not one taken lightly! And as predicted at least half the riders would be thinning out on the next morning leaving the singlies and further traveled to soak up saturday night.
Back to friday night, the entertainment was an erotic show in celebration of the clubs eighteen years of hosting this run! The makeshift stage hade been blocked off by a security mesh and apparently some young ladies took their clothes off and did rude things to themselves during the night. Not that we saw any of this of course! The music was a mix of Northern Soul and the usual Scooterist Sounds but as this was the first run of the season it was both expected and welcomed. Saturday morning was spent trying not to look too ill and a run out to McDonalds followed by a trip to the local swimming baths for a shower made us feel (an smell) human again! Big thanks to Neil Evans for driving us and Simon Brunskill must get a special mention for joining us late on friday night straight from a family holiday! I was a little concerned at Steve Evans's swimming trunks, well more like swimming trousers! Knee length Bermuda trunks and he didn't even know we were going swimming? Most alarming thought was Ian Botham's leopard skin thong, I am still having nightmares! Timmy from the Harlequins and Christian Schneider were both on good form, Timmy didn't make it to his tent on saturday night and slept on a hay bale in sub zero temperatures. During the evening festivities, we had the usual handbags at twenty paces, it looked more like a second division rugby league team on scrumage training! No one was hurt and the night was not spoilt.
Saturday night was a definite
"survivors" affair with all Scooterists nursing sore heads and the evening took
some kick starting, this came from a well unexpected source. One of the young
ladies whom we had met during the Heide Heizer party decided to
entertain the whole Marquee with an impromptu pole dancing type strip!
Brilliannnnnnnnnnnnt, nice nips! At about half two in the morning most started to thin out
to their ice covered tents in preparation for a very long ride home. Baring in
mind the Easter Run is probably the most Northerly Rally and definitely the
coldest, the distances are on average are the longest we will cover for the
season.
Sunday morning comes but all too quickly and the well known sound of Scooters nudged into life, we woke to find the camp site shrinking and it was soon our turn to leave. Mentions go to Borgo and Marion and gang, great to see you. The Morlocks Scooter Gang, The Harlequins, and basically all the Clubs we love to drink beer with. We all look forward to the next German Scooter Run in Paderborn?
Big AFSC thank you to the Scytheman S.C. Germany for the photographs please visit their web site.