Once again we headed to the island on the Thursday and Lee very kindly cleaned my scooter while I watered the plants. We took our usual route to Pompey avoiding dual carriageways wherever possible and were directed to the upper waiting area at the ferry port. This was perfect for getting photos of the scooter with the Spinnaker Tower, which I would be abseiling down in just over a week!
We ended up waiting quite a long time as the next ferry didn’t have an upper deck, but it gave us time to chat with the lads from Bullseye SC, including Simon who had a meaty Targa Twin engine sitting beneath an innocuous looking Series 2.
We eventually got on the ferry and had an uneventful trip across the Solent. Once we’d disembarked we rode through the middle of the island to Bembridge Airport and the Propellor Inn, our traditional wedding anniversary lunch venue. We sat outside and enjoyed a delicious meal in very peaceful surroundings.
Next stop was the green in Ryde, which seemed busier than last year, although nowhere near as busy as it gets on the weekend. It’s lovely just to sit and watch scooters arrive and leave, and soon we spotted Mr & Mrs Booga arrive, so we welcomed them and had a nice chat. Gina and Carl arrived too, but we only had time for a quick hello before it was time to check in at the hotel and freshen up.
Booty timed his arrival perfectly for when we were ready so we headed down the hill to Yelfs for a leisurely catch up.
Then it was back up to the Crown for the evening, where the DJs played a great mix of Northern and some classic 70s disco.
I enjoyed a boogie, and the dancefloor was full when we left to search for food. There was a young guy who was a brilliant dancer, spinning and dropping with ease, we were all mesmerised by him!
We ended up at the nearby kebab house for pizzas, which were lush, and then it was time for bed. We’d had a fantastic time but we were looking forward to the rally starting in earnest the next day.
Friday
Another sunny day and we started with a ride to Bembridge for breakfast. We visited Little Fox’s Café and had a scrummy start to the day – our food was absolutely delicious. Then we headed for Sandown airfield, filling up with petrol on the way. There were hundreds of scooters parked up, it seemed really busy compared to previous years. We bumped into Tori who was co-ordinating everything expertly, filling us in on a few changes around the site. They’d hired some traffic lights to try and manage the traffic going in various directions, which was working well and there were some posh flushing toilets – what a treat!
We had a wander around the stalls, which were buzzing with activity. From scooters being fixed to new scooters for sale, there was something for everything. A massive Royal Alloy stall dominated the entrance, but you could also buy a restoration project as well as parts and accessories galore.
Then I had a call from the BBC, with Radio Solent wanting to interview me about the rally. It only took a few minutes and we could get on with our plans, to go for a scenic ride around the island.
Navigator Keith led the way, first taking us through the middle of the island west, to Freshwater. Then we rode the Military Road, which hugs the south coast cliffs and beaches, for 10 or 11 miles. It was absolutely breathtaking scenery and so lovely to experience on two wheels. I’d clamped my Insta360 camera to Lee’s scooter so we kept overtaking him to try and get some good shots.
Military Road Gallery
We stopped off at Chale, where the Wight Mouse Inn provided our lunch venue. We sat in the pub garden and enjoyed our meal with views of the beach and cliffs in the background.
Then it was back on the scoots, with Keith and Dean going back to the campsite while Lee and I went to the green at Ryde. Ted had arrived by now, but thought he’d lost his glasses so was dragging Booty up and down Union Street to retrace his steps. He failed to find them so headed back to his hotel to see if they were there. As if by magic they appeared, stuffed into his boots! Such a relief…
This is my favourite shot, a rare one of me riding – as it’s usually me taking the photos! It was taken by Gaz Collins who takes photos all weekend in various locations. Do check out his Facebook page and see if you’re featured too!
We hung around on the green, had a quick drink in the King Lud and then rode back to the hotel to put our scooters away for the night. We then popped to The Crown where the Nuneaton gang were getting merry, including Parker, Lucy, Vard, Sam, along with Booty and Ted.
We were joined by Keith and Dean and went on a mini pub crawl to Coburgs and then the Marine. It was so busy though so we went next door to the Codfather for some food, in my case a kids’ fish and chips which was the perfect size! Then back to the Lud before heading back to The Crown for a final boogie, where Carla and her pals were dancing with the talented youngsters. It was time for bed so we left the girls and went back to the hotel, keen to save our energy for Saturday’s fun!
Saturday
We headed to Wetherspoons for breakfast and actually it was really nice! I had fruit and yogurt while the boys had a cooked breakfast, and queued up for half an hour for coffee as one of the machines was broken. There don’t seem to be many ‘nice’ places in Ryde for breakfast so do let me know if there’s somewhere I need to try.
Then we jumped on the scooters and headed for the green, where Ted was waiting, having been up bright and early with seemingly no after effects from the previous night’s beers. Keith and Dean soon joined us and Reuban made a surprise appearance!
Dean nipped up the road to a mate’s skateboard shop, Wight Trash, to pick up some t-shirts and stickers. I thought they were cool so immediately put one on my toolbox!
Lee and Ted were like twins in their Cov tops and orange scooters! Just as we were leaving, lovely Danni pulled up so I stopped for a very quick catch-up and photo. If you’re on Instagram then do follow her account – she’s from a family of smallframe riders and loves the IOW rally as much as we do!
We wanted to have another scenic ride so headed through the middle of the island and over Brading down, to the Culver Haven Inn which is one of the highest spots where you can see for miles around. We stopped for photos and then were greeted by some Channel Island scooterists who were there based on the recommendation in my Isle of Wight rally guide! I should be on commission… 😉
After a nice lunch we set off for the campsite where the custom show was in full flow. I had a quick mooch around the stalls before heading into the marquee to take a few photos.
It was crowded for the trophy presentations and I couldn’t see much so we headed off back to Ryde to catch up with Booty and Ted in the Simeon Arms.
We were following the footie via Flash Scores which kept buzzing as Coventry were having a goal-fest against QPR. We played ‘guess the scorer’ for the 6th goal and both seemed to mention most of the team before they finally said ‘Torp’. For some reason, despite scoring 3 goals in 3 games he wasn’t near the top of their list!
Pompey did well to draw at West Brom and the scummers lost at home so it was a pretty good day all round!
We then popped back to the hotel to freshen up and change before heading back out to watch the Arsenal game at the Lud. It was boiling in the pub so Ted and I went outside to play ‘which was the best album’. We went through some classic albums track by track, and in the first round I beat him with my choice of Setting Sons vs his choice of Sound Affects. I lost the second, when we compared the first two Housemartins albums (fair play, as London 0 Hull 4 is an absolute classic).
QPR fan Grant Poe was passing so we couldn’t resist a quick footie chat; he’d posted something on Facebook earlier about looking forward to the match but soon lived to regret his words!
Then Lee and I got the bus to the rally site to see the rest of our lot and see The Corsairs play. They were brilliant! Although we’ve seen them loads of times before, they really know how to get the crowd going, and tonight was no different. I managed to catch up with Sandra and Donna from the A5s, which was nice as we’d not seen them much over the weekend. It’s always the way isn’t it, with so many people at this rally, you miss out on so many chats. You’ll pass someone and think ‘I’ll see them later for a proper chat’ but then forget!
We sadly couldn’t stay for Dad Manners as we are old and boring, and need our sleep 😂 So caught the bus back to Ryde and headed for bed.
Custom Show Results
First Time Entrant sponsored by Colchester DVLC:
Blue Lines (T5)
Mod/Accessories : the Ian Higgins (Tubby) Memorial Trophy sponsored by Stockport Crusaders SC
You Really Got Me (SS180)
Vintage Lambretta pre 1965 sponsored by Diary Of A Detour (ME!!)
Red Devil
Custom Lambretta sponsored by Arthur Daley’s Scooter Lock Up
Pure Acid
Restored Lambretta sponsored by Essex Scooterists
SX150
Best Ridden Scooter sponsored by Blazing Glory SC, the Dave Gould Memorial Trophy
GP225
Street Racer Lambretta sponsored by K2 Customs
Rule Britannia
Best Mural, Paddy Smith & Bill Mac Memorial Trophy
Purple Rain
Vinyl Graphics sponsored by Lambretta Art
Sufferer
Best Auto sponsored by Olympic Smartspeed 66
Vagabond
Engraving sponsored by Photography UK
Past & Present
Individual Display sponsored by Royal Alloy
Venom and Carnage
Champion of Champions : Jonnie Bolland Memorial Trophy
Rule Britannia
Cutdown sponsored by Top Dead Centre Apparel
LI265 Special
Original Scooter sponsored by Dobin Scooter Clinic
Survivor (P200E)
Vintage Vespa Pre 1972 sponsored by Photography UK
Genevieve
Custom Vespa sponsored by L&M Signs
Sheer Genius
Restored Vespa sponsored by Medway SC
P200E
Best Chop sponsored by UK Lambretta Choppers
Meat Is Murder
Best Oddity sponsored by Mansfield Monsters SC, Rachel Bradshaw Memorial Trophy
El Hacha
Street Racer Vespa sponsored by SIP
Rothmans Racing
Vespa P Range, Wigan Tim Memorial Trophy
Taste Of Ireland
Paintwork sponsored by VFM
Leave ‘Em Laughing
Best Hybrid sponsored by TASSO
24 Hour Party People
Best Engineering sponsored by Olympic SC, Steve Bywater Memorial Trophy
Gilera Runner
Club Display sponsored by Burton Brewers SC
Foresters SC
Best Plating sponsored by Crusader Promotions
Creepy
Exhibitors’ Choice sponsored by Lexham Insurance
LI Series 1
Punters’ Choice sponsored by SLUK
LI Series 1
Best Of Show sponsored by ScooterNova
Jeff (50 Special)
Sunday
Sadly it was Sunday all too soon! Back to Spoons for breakie, then we packed up and rode down the hill to the green for the last time. TJ Mason pulled up with his wife riding pillion and two sons on classic GPs, so I insisted on a photo. It turned out to be his 60th birthday and they were off for a celebratory ride and lunch on the other side of the island.
It didn’t seem to be very busy, but had started to fill up when we left for the Pavilion to gather for the rideout, which was heaving. The weather was perfect, so it wasn’t surprising that the crowds had gathered to watch, and it was almost gridlocked when cars and vans tried to exit the car park. Scooters were parked 4 abreast on the road, as well as on the verges and as far as the eye could see in all directions.
Worzel Gummidge and Aunt Sally were there, dressed in their finery and posing for photos.
I also met a lovely guy from Yorkshire who has an incredible collection of scooters, including this beauty which was painted by Dave Dickinson – there’s an incredible attention to detail, including the late Queen walking with Paddington Bear.
Just before 1pm everyone donned their helmets and started their engines, ready for the off. As usual it took forever to exit the car park, despite us being relatively near the front. There seemed to be more onlookers than ever, and they had spilled onto the road which made it even slower to get moving. But eventually my clutch was celebrating some respite as I went through the gears to muster some speed as we weaved our way through the outskirts of Ryde. I paused in Seaview to take some photos, and it was great how many riders waved at me so I was able to get some decent shots. I could have stayed there all day but we needed to get to the ferry so we hopped back on the scoots and rode to Fishbourne, where we just missed a crossing.
So we hung around, trying to find shade as the sun beat down, and more scooters joined us, including our neighbours Marcus and Karen – who fell into the category of going to most of the same places as us but not seeing them all weekend!
We boarded smoothly and made our way back to Pompey, overlooking Victorious as thousands crowded onto Southsea Common. And that was it – back to the mainland, weekend over for another year.
Our weekend
It had been brilliant, a lovely mix of riding across the island, spending time and having a laugh with our lovely friends and meeting new people. Thanks to the VFM crew who work their absolute socks off to put it on – it’s such a mammoth effort which most people don’t appreciate. Thanks also to everyone who said hello – it was nice to put faces to names!
Gallery
fabulous wite up and photos
Thanks!
Always a good read, keep up the good work.
Cheers Neil