From Thursday 23rd July midday ....to Sunday 26th July (morning) 2009

What can I say that has not been said?

Well this for a start...

You should all know by now that the International was organised exclusively by Jon (Snowey) and Mandy Talbot, there was a team around them obviously, the core of that team was Bob (T Pee) and Jen(New Boots) Doughty, Paul (Bulldog) & Julie (Xmas Tree) Rouse, and Ian (Hooey) and Jo (Giggles) Povey. These guys have lived and breathed the event and it has dominated their lives for a very long time.

Many others have interjected some contribution or another over the last 12 months, and many more worked all week to build the event and still more over the weekend to staff it all, I am not going to list names and identify contributions because you would need Chronics time machine to be able to find time to read them all, but I thank you all.

Brief moments were created like the Viking parade, promises made whilst drunk last September were kept! (BTW please do NOT publish any photographs of that particular ride round on Vixen at 3:45pm on Friday afternoon, but as I was in front driving her I would appreciate one being privately emailed to me for Vixens album of course!!!!) Other moments were spontaneous, like Skippers triumphant return from the hospital and taking the stage just as by chance a very appropriate song was being sung, again Vixen was involved but this time at the request of the Swedish members.... well that bike has always been a tart!

These moments Spontaneous, Daring, and Planned (in the secret craft workshops of Thanet Island) though most will never understand the reasons but the memory will become legend...

We popped into the site Tuesday night, and could see that a good work crew was already assembling, when we went to help on Wednesday Lisa and I were surplus to requirements as all the teams knew their jobs and cheerfully got on with them, so it was back to Bristol to await our house guests from Sweden and Holland and keep them off the motorway so they could begin to see the beauty of Wales. Same A40 route that many took and I personally believe huge thanks go to that road as it put the good mood and smile on so many faces at the start of the weekend that carried on through.

Then a blinding rally that probably has never been equalled in the UK and probably never will be there were all the usual hassles like the gas heater for the showers that couldn’t cope and had to be fixed Friday morning, toilets getting shut down whilst frantic calls to repairmen were made (the fact repair men were available was down to detailed planning!), A ride out that despite an accident impressed so many that some went back
Saturday others went on Sunday on route to other destinations! Picture shows on a huge screen, fabulous response to the Friday evening announcement of next year’s rally, in Germany (same weekend next year, more details to follow) and the following 2 in Belgium 2011 and Norway 2012 (keep some holiday for that one! I have not been but have heard so many great stories of riding in Norway I think coming straight home after would be a bad thing!!)

Having Phoebe (our granddaughter) drop in Saturday meant we had 3 generations of family there, and she much appreciated the balloons, toy lions and VRA patch she stole from various people by pointing and looking cute.... well she is an apprentice woman! And added to the sunshine and good humour of all around us made Saturday a fantastic day, the sun did mean that when Badges tried to get the silly games under way and sell tea and cakes we realised that many of the bikes were gone and people were hard to find.... funny how so many turned up when Spock and I took our turns in the stocks for wet sponges and buckets of water! Ruined my speech for Saturday night, wiped out several address and Email cards I had collected, ruined some of the groats we had spent so long printing and cutting up, (go on tell me you didn’t keep one as a souvenir) but hey all in a good cause.

I had to rush off on the Sunday before the full breakdown as we ended up doing an ambulance run to Harwich for an injured visitor who couldn’t ride but had to get to the ferry, and on route drop another visitor whose bike didn’t survive at Heathrow, which added a little chaos and drama to the end of our weekend but was a pleasure to do as it was helping out family members who were far from home.... finally got home at 4:30 Monday morning and fell into bed exhausted but happy! And knowing for a fact that there are many who were more exhausted than me, but I hope they are all as happy too.

Sad parts were knowing all along that Jon and Mandy my partners in crimes against the liver, wing man on so many rides and very close personal friends through 10 years where my life has been restructured and rebuilt, did this as a farewell gift before moving on to start a new life as itinerant ex-pats in a faraway place where the sky is blue not grey! Even sadder to know that Bob and Jen are also leaving the club having converted me to the light side, followed me and Jon so they could pick up bits of his carb as we travelled all over the country, and made so many rides and events let alone house parties so special, they have move to the dark side and traded down to a Harley.... plus of course you should all know by now that this was Hooey and Giggles last year in the VRA so 6 of the 8 key organisers are leaving us as club members.... who have given so much to so many and still wanted to go out with the most work ever put into one event. Just want to say you may leave the country and the VRA but you can never leave our hearts and minds, you are and always will be friends of the highest order.
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Cheers
Chief

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: arrival before midday may mean you have to wait until we are ready to admit you.

Dwindling Ticket Supplies !!!!

Being as we live in the worst country in the universe regarding litigation and compliance to stupid laws ect we are bound by numbers and time lines, to this end we have to announce a cut off date for ticket sales and numbers attending

The cut off date for full ticket sales is the first week of June i.e. 7th June

Apart from the red tape crap we also have to get relatively accurate numbers to the caterer and booze suppliers as numbers this high necessitate pre orders being placed

So those of you saving pennies in a jar get counting up and send in your money and those of you hanging on to your dosh till the last minute get a bloody move on, if we hit the number limit for the licence you wont get in , thereby missing the best party this year

Snowy2mercs

 

At last, it is the UK’s turn to host the International VRA rally, but, it’s not just an International it’s also a celebration of ten years of the UK’s being so we are going to throw the mother of all parties , but, that’s not all! It is also the 10th celebration of several other countries VRA Chapters in 2009 so come one and all and be part of one of the biggest birthday parties you’ve ever been to.

All our fellow VRA members from all over the globe are invited and a further invite goes out to other Vulcan specific clubs.

Apart from alcohol and the odd afternoon treat between meals and of course the obligatory burger van food late at night, everything else is included in the ticket price,....... of £70.00

Camping /top of the range showers/plentiful toilets / all food (see food and drink section) entertainment (see events section) tea and coffee and soft drinks

Kawasaki UK will be there with the new range of Vulcans and all will be available for test rides

To get you guys to open your wallets the first 250 tickets sold will also get a specially commissioned cloth patch included in their welcome pack which, already includes a tee shirt a special celebration mug (you will need this for your free tea and coffee) and a metal year bar amongst other items.