| Off Yer Sprocket Rally 09 |
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OFF YER SPROCKET RALLY 09 - Pics Big thanks to Dawn!
Yes, it was the Off Yer Sprocket Rally, not the Reeferknot Rally as the wrist bands suggested.
At least the badges were the right ones.
Unfortunately the credit crunch appears to have hit us this year and numbers were lower than usual. With so many clubs putting events on these days (almost every week) people are having to pick and choose what they can afford to do. The rain only came in spits and spots (a technical term I’ve picked up from TV weather forecasters) so the marquee was more or less unused. Comments heard were “if there had been seating and tables, we would have used it more”.
At least the extra speakers came in handy as people were seen dancing on the veranda and enjoying the cooler outdoor fresh air.
Rally virgins were amongst us and people were happy to point them out all except one from the Cannibals MCC who’s chairman had told him to go round and introduce himself to everybody. “Hello, I’m Miles, I’m with the Cannibals and I’m a rally virgin.” The DJ made sure Miles met everybody as they entered the club and started to make plans with the Cannibals for more initiation rites.
The DJ stayed with last years themes with Punk for the first hour on the Friday, and rock cover versions for the first hour on the Saturday. Classic rock, modern rock and heavy metal mixed throughout both nights ensured there was something to please everybody on the weekend.
Friday night’s band was The BONEYARD DOGS with their fantastic sound who looked to be enjoying themselves every bit as much as the crowd. Two sets with an encore taking us to just past midnight with Ian playing til around 2a.m.
Saturday saw the silly games and you can guess who was the centre of attention for this…..yes, Miles along with three other rally virgins. Beautifully dressed in a short tight skirt and fancy bra with eye shadow and pony tails he was every jailbirds dream babe.
MAIDEN ENGLAND were supposed to be our Saturday night band……A couple of weeks previous our chairman had noticed an advert for a new singer on their website. He promptly phoned to be assured that all differences had been settled, not to worry and they would be attending. Then on Monday, five days before the event, he received a text….YES, A TEXT, to say they wouldn’t be coming.
Fortunately, Boneyard Dogs knew of a band willing to play and put us in touch with STEELFIELD. These guys rocked! What we didn’t find out until after their first set was they had never done a bike rally before and any nerves they had didn’t show. They started, ironically, with an Iron Maiden track and played the likes of Metallica and Megadeth. The singer announced a couple of their own tracks to the usual “oh no” and then stunned the crowd who became mesmerised with lots of mouths left gaping as they belted out a couple more. I have never seen a crowd so wrapped up in the band and lots of cards were sought after they had finished playing. What a debut. I’m certain we will see these guys at more events. Maiden England probably did us a favour.
Miles, our now well known rally virgin had lost his cut off and was asked to the stage to have it handed back. Gaz, the Cannibals chairman then presented it to him with his club patch sewn on to make it a memorable rally that Miles should remember for a long time.
We hope you all enjoyed yourselves and hope the numbers pick up again next year which will be our tenth anniversary since the reformed Accrington MCC (read our history page).
Ride safe, AMCC