I’m probably not going to do the Leicester Phoenix Scooter Clubs annual club rally the justice it deserves here, because I didn’t attend the rally for the full weekend. However, I saw enough of it to make me want to support it again, and would recommend it to any others that may not have been before.
I don’t attend an awful lot of club rallies. I usually prefer to spend my time and money attending large scale National type rallies. But, I’m the first to admit I completely get why many Scooterists prefer low key localised events with a more intimate vibe. Although to be fair, The Phoenix Nights rally isn’t that low key at all, and it is plain to see from the start that the Leicester Phoenix SC don’t do things by half.
40th anniversary
This year’s rally – the 14th one, coincides with and celebrates the club’s 40th anniversary. But my reason for visiting the rally was quite a simple one – this was event number three in the B.S.R.A Riding Championship – a club rally added to the calendar of eight National Rallies as a bonus event and aimed at attracting a few more riders to a rally they might not normally attend.
The event was based at the Rugby Club of the Leicestershire town of Hinckley. This was the third scooter rally in the space of four weekends for some of us, so my plan was to day trip down from Scarborough for the rally. Arriving early on Saturday morning the campsite was already in full swing with a field full of tents, and a vast array of dealers stalls stood in front of a very good sized clubhouse building.
The LPSC club members were out in force marshalling the event and giving out helpful friendly advice in their brightly coloured club hoodies. But, judging by the ‘morning after’ look on some of their faces, it looked like they had all enjoyed Friday night’s DJ’s and headlining band “Nicholson” just a bit too much! The rally-goers were apparently treated to a very good set of Indie, Britpop and 60s covers.
Rugby and Football club venues lend themselves very well to hosting scooter rallies, and the Hinckley one is no exception. With good clean facilities, with a well-stocked bar, where food was served throughout the day. Outside food vendors stalls kept everyone fed too. A fairly good sized scooter ‘ride out’ arrived back on site just in time for the custom show. One of the judges was the legendary Norrie Kerr.
Thanks to the main sponsor
The fact that the rallies main sponsor was the mighty Midland Scooter Centre goes to show that the Phoenix bunch are a well thought of and respected scooter club. 14 trophies up for grabs and donations to Prostate Cancer UK backs up again the comment that this club doesn’t do things in half measures.
Fun and games
Silly games, frolics and football had all been laid on for those brave or daft enough to give it a go. Although I somehow seemed to miss the spacehopper racing, although that sounded like a recipe for disaster on a rally to me! A few hours in the company of like-minded Scooterists passed by in what felt like a few short minutes, and as evening fell, the previous nights DJ started to set up on the decks for another night’s warm-up before the headline act, The Beat 45’s. A superb authentic 60s tribute band.
Pleasant abuse
Sadly for me, it was time for me to say my goodbyes and head for home. Riding across the campsite, I was waved off with a volley of obscene abuse and unpleasant gestures from drunken scooterists I had shared the day with. In a different walk of life, acts like this would be hurtful, but within the world of scooters, it is often the norm, and I bounce off it. The LPSC club members manning the entry and exit gate to the rally thanked me for my support and gave me clear instructions; “Next years rally is 8th and 9th May 2020, stay for longer next time mate, and by the way have a safe ride home.”
Cruising home up a strangely quiet M1 motorway on what felt like a warm summer’s evening, my head was buzzing with just two thoughts. Firstly, I’m privileged to know and knock about with some very good people, and secondly, why on earth have I not attended Phoenix Nights rally before? My next year’s rally diary has just gained another date for sure…
Cheers Leicester Phoenix Scooter Club
Ride safe SLUKers Col
Rallery by Col
Scooter shopping made easy
I’m probably not going to do the Leicester Phoenix Scooter Clubs annual club rally the justice it deserves here, because I didn’t attend the rally for the full weekend. However, I saw enough of it to make me want to support it again, and would recommend it to any others that may not have been before.
I don’t attend an awful lot of club rallies. I usually prefer to spend my time and money attending large scale National type rallies. But, I’m the first to admit I completely get why many Scooterists prefer low key localised events with a more intimate vibe. Although to be fair, The Phoenix Nights rally isn’t that low key at all, and it is plain to see from the start that the Leicester Phoenix SC don’t do things by half.
40th anniversary
This year’s rally – the 14th one, coincides with and celebrates the club’s 40th anniversary. But my reason for visiting the rally was quite a simple one – this was event number three in the B.S.R.A Riding Championship – a club rally added to the calendar of eight National Rallies as a bonus event and aimed at attracting a few more riders to a rally they might not normally attend.
The event was based at the Rugby Club of the Leicestershire town of Hinckley. This was the third scooter rally in the space of four weekends for some of us, so my plan was to day trip down from Scarborough for the rally. Arriving early on Saturday morning the campsite was already in full swing with a field full of tents, and a vast array of dealers stalls stood in front of a very good sized clubhouse building.
The LPSC club members were out in force marshalling the event and giving out helpful friendly advice in their brightly coloured club hoodies. But, judging by the ‘morning after’ look on some of their faces, it looked like they had all enjoyed Friday night’s DJ’s and headlining band “Nicholson” just a bit too much! The rally-goers were apparently treated to a very good set of Indie, Britpop and 60s covers.
Rugby and Football club venues lend themselves very well to hosting scooter rallies, and the Hinckley one is no exception. With good clean facilities, with a well-stocked bar, where food was served throughout the day. Outside food vendors stalls kept everyone fed too. A fairly good sized scooter ‘ride out’ arrived back on site just in time for the custom show. One of the judges was the legendary Norrie Kerr.
Thanks to the main sponsor
The fact that the rallies main sponsor was the mighty Midland Scooter Centre goes to show that the Phoenix bunch are a well thought of and respected scooter club. 14 trophies up for grabs and donations to Prostate Cancer UK backs up again the comment that this club doesn’t do things in half measures.
Fun and games
Silly games, frolics and football had all been laid on for those brave or daft enough to give it a go. Although I somehow seemed to miss the spacehopper racing, although that sounded like a recipe for disaster on a rally to me! A few hours in the company of like-minded Scooterists passed by in what felt like a few short minutes, and as evening fell, the previous nights DJ started to set up on the decks for another night’s warm-up before the headline act, The Beat 45’s. A superb authentic 60s tribute band.
Pleasant abuse
Sadly for me, it was time for me to say my goodbyes and head for home. Riding across the campsite, I was waved off with a volley of obscene abuse and unpleasant gestures from drunken scooterists I had shared the day with. In a different walk of life, acts like this would be hurtful, but within the world of scooters, it is often the norm, and I bounce off it. The LPSC club members manning the entry and exit gate to the rally thanked me for my support and gave me clear instructions; “Next years rally is 8th and 9th May 2020, stay for longer next time mate, and by the way have a safe ride home.”
Cruising home up a strangely quiet M1 motorway on what felt like a warm summer’s evening, my head was buzzing with just two thoughts. Firstly, I’m privileged to know and knock about with some very good people, and secondly, why on earth have I not attended Phoenix Nights rally before? My next year’s rally diary has just gained another date for sure…
Cheers Leicester Phoenix Scooter Club
Ride safe SLUKers Col
Rallery by Col
Scooter shopping made easy
