Dai Ransom's MEMORIES OF 2003
First
memory of 2003 was going to the Northern Pearl in Hamburg. There were several
reasons:
1. Unloaded my scooters in the car park which was snow bound and had to get them
up a very dodgy
ramp. A long haired geezer and his mate who both spoke English asked me if i
wanted a hand. I was very pleased of their support only to find out later it was
Sticky and his mate (ex Green Jacket).
2. Staying at Nico's Hotel where all the
AFSC boys had congregated, Simon, Borgo,
Bricky,
Mick Holt, Mick Fulbrook, Nico, Ecky and of course Nutty. Me and Elaine didn't
go to the Nighter cos of a Bra being too tight (you had to be there!!)
3. Was seeing Simon's GP225 Scoot stealing the whole show after its restoration
by Borgo.
Second Memory was of Antwerp in early march for two reasons:
1.
Was meeting big Tom and watching Simon do an impression of a "windmill" at the
Nighter against some insignificant Belgian bloke.
2. Getting a copy of March's Scootering where for the first time I had read
support to the troops who were going off to the Gulf 3 days later. Big thanks to
Sticky. He had also written that the likelihood of us making HiH in July was not
to be??
My next scootering memory was meeting up with
Simon Brunskill and Jimmy Foley in
Iraq. We had limited Scootering mags that we passed around to keep the faith and
pledge that we
would all make HiH. This Op was also
memorable when i spotted a Landrover at Bahsra Airport covered in Scootering
stickers, only to find out it was me old mate Nuttys who fed and watered me from
time to time. Cheers mate.
Next
up was Filthy and Sly at Marl in June. Andy and Harry had come from Leicester as
well as the
usual suspects. Had to be there cos i was gagging to be at a rally.
The High point was the AFSC
Karaoke doing 'Billy Jean' priceless absolutely priceless.
Next up was the Harlekins rally in
Borchen where the ever present Steve Evans, Christian Schneider (top bloke) were
flying the flag for the AFSC.
It is always the week before HiH. Spoilt by the amount of coppers that turned
up!!
Soon
it was Thursday night and me and Elaine were speeding towards the Dutch border
to provide a bit of G4 for the Speed Demons at HiH. Arrived late but was met by
Nutty who was already blathered, but with him was Sticky who said 'welcome back'
and we both knew what he meant. Got minging.
But the main memory was on Friday
afternoon when scooter clubs were arriving thick and fast, all with
that look on their face that said ' I should have been in Quadrophenia'. About 6
o'clock a pack of 30 scooters rolled in and in the middle was Jimmy the Blade,
Simon B, Johnny Wymark, Ian Botham all looking the part. My only regret was not
getting a Foto, Brilliant!! We had arrived! The
AFSC was in full force with Bricky, Borgo, Marion,
Ecky, Steve Evans, Andy and Harry, Mick Holt and Simon, Nutty and Craig, Big
Tom, Kerry Webster but to name a few, this was going to be special.
On
Saturday morning the ride out was turning to Rat S**t so i displayed my own
powers of Leadership and led the run out towards Borculo, not a clue where I was
going!
Given the responsibility of security on the main door to the Nighter the lads
soon got into the mood of stopping people bringing in their own booze. This soon
got boring so we started refusing entry to people with Doc Martens, short hair,
checked shirts, a real blast!!! At the Nighter Mick Holt found a new friend who
kept looking over to us and mouthing the words 'Help Me!!!! Only the
AFSC could have got away with
it.
Its worth noting that Johnny Wymark had ridden from Hohne with a barely healed
leg operation such
was the determination to be at Main Land Europe's biggest rally.
Sold my LI to the Blade and was gutted but also happy it was he who had it. Roll
on 2004