It was the day before the The Palmarium Scooter Rally at Vinca in the South of France, and the forest fires that had ravaged the region were only a few Kilometres away from the town. People were asking and wondering if it would have to be cancelled. Thankfully 500 firemen and planes dropping water scooped out of the lakes managed to put out the fire at the last minute and Stephane Lahoz the Palmarium president declared it was all go go go for the Palmarium 2016!
We arrived in the little village of Vinca (30 or so km from Perpignan) on the Friday evening and there was still a smell of smoke in the air. As others settled themselves in at the campsite, we went straight to the village hall where the Palmarium were installing their impressive mobile bar and lugging barrel after barrel of beer into the venue. All the way through the afternoon scooter after scooter was arriving and we went off to get ready for the welcoming evening party.
The party was in the Vinca village hall and raged on until the early morning with a soundtrack of Northern soul, Ska and various scooterist classics, and now the scene was properly set for the big day the next day, with hangovers in place!
Saturday morning after breakfast, everyone met in the picturesque town square to show off their scoots in the sunshine and various late arrivals were still rolling up whilst others were putting into place the last few final tweaks before the run. It needs to be said the Palmarium run is not a little 20-minute pose around town, but a proper affair which will test scoot and rider.
Last year was along the cliffs at the coast but this year was a trip high into the mountains, with some of the most beautiful scenery anyone could imagine. Higher and higher we climbed, our clutches suffering all the way but there were only a few punctures etc. and everyone made it to the top. On the way down however my friend’s scooter decided it had had its fill, and despite the usual queue of mechanics and opinions we had to call the Palmarium rescue truck which they had had the foresight to have available…
Eventually we made it back down once again to the town square just in time for the amazing meal of Paella cooked in huge pots by the Palmarium scooter club chef, (yes they have one!) Fred Campos, to his own secret recipe. We all ate heartily and then it was off to the lake (like a beach with bars etc) to relax in the sun the rest of the afternoon. That wasn’t it though, because just when we thought we had seen it all it was off to the local winery for a ‘wine tasting’ and (not so) small eats.. It was at this point the casualties began to pile up.
Saturday night it was back to the village hall for another rave up similar to the Friday night, with some great Northern Soul DJs from France and Spain but with added pzazz as many of us had had a chance to get a headstart at the winery. We danced, laughed and drank until I can’t remember what time o’clock, in a rare display of intelligence I ended up pushing my scooter so as not to disturb the residents all over the village trying to relocate my lodgings….
Sunday morning people were crawling about and the furthest travelled were loading up their scoots for the long trek back while the rest of us helped clear up and prepared for the second (less gruelling) run, a pleasant spin along the coast in the sun, finishing at the Barcelona Boxing club, which is not a real boxing club but a nightclub owned by one of the scooter club members in Perpignan.
I have attended three Palmarium runs now, and plenty of others in the UK dating back to the 80’s and I can tell you there is no other run like this one, the folks are so friendly, and the family atmosphere (people bring their kids even) coupled with the most amazing runs into the beautiful surrounding countryside makes it really special, not to mention the bar and food which is all provided and served by the Palmarium scooter club themselves which creates a truly different atmosphere. Long may it last; I’m ready for whatever they come up with for next year!
Words and photos: Jeff The Fish
It was the day before the The Palmarium Scooter Rally at Vinca in the South of France, and the forest fires that had ravaged the region were only a few Kilometres away from the town. People were asking and wondering if it would have to be cancelled. Thankfully 500 firemen and planes dropping water scooped out of the lakes managed to put out the fire at the last minute and Stephane Lahoz the Palmarium president declared it was all go go go for the Palmarium 2016!
We arrived in the little village of Vinca (30 or so km from Perpignan) on the Friday evening and there was still a smell of smoke in the air. As others settled themselves in at the campsite, we went straight to the village hall where the Palmarium were installing their impressive mobile bar and lugging barrel after barrel of beer into the venue. All the way through the afternoon scooter after scooter was arriving and we went off to get ready for the welcoming evening party.
The party was in the Vinca village hall and raged on until the early morning with a soundtrack of Northern soul, Ska and various scooterist classics, and now the scene was properly set for the big day the next day, with hangovers in place!
Saturday morning after breakfast, everyone met in the picturesque town square to show off their scoots in the sunshine and various late arrivals were still rolling up whilst others were putting into place the last few final tweaks before the run. It needs to be said the Palmarium run is not a little 20-minute pose around town, but a proper affair which will test scoot and rider.
Last year was along the cliffs at the coast but this year was a trip high into the mountains, with some of the most beautiful scenery anyone could imagine. Higher and higher we climbed, our clutches suffering all the way but there were only a few punctures etc. and everyone made it to the top. On the way down however my friend’s scooter decided it had had its fill, and despite the usual queue of mechanics and opinions we had to call the Palmarium rescue truck which they had had the foresight to have available…
Eventually we made it back down once again to the town square just in time for the amazing meal of Paella cooked in huge pots by the Palmarium scooter club chef, (yes they have one!) Fred Campos, to his own secret recipe. We all ate heartily and then it was off to the lake (like a beach with bars etc) to relax in the sun the rest of the afternoon. That wasn’t it though, because just when we thought we had seen it all it was off to the local winery for a ‘wine tasting’ and (not so) small eats.. It was at this point the casualties began to pile up.
Saturday night it was back to the village hall for another rave up similar to the Friday night, with some great Northern Soul DJs from France and Spain but with added pzazz as many of us had had a chance to get a headstart at the winery. We danced, laughed and drank until I can’t remember what time o’clock, in a rare display of intelligence I ended up pushing my scooter so as not to disturb the residents all over the village trying to relocate my lodgings….
Sunday morning people were crawling about and the furthest travelled were loading up their scoots for the long trek back while the rest of us helped clear up and prepared for the second (less gruelling) run, a pleasant spin along the coast in the sun, finishing at the Barcelona Boxing club, which is not a real boxing club but a nightclub owned by one of the scooter club members in Perpignan.
I have attended three Palmarium runs now, and plenty of others in the UK dating back to the 80’s and I can tell you there is no other run like this one, the folks are so friendly, and the family atmosphere (people bring their kids even) coupled with the most amazing runs into the beautiful surrounding countryside makes it really special, not to mention the bar and food which is all provided and served by the Palmarium scooter club themselves which creates a truly different atmosphere. Long may it last; I’m ready for whatever they come up with for next year!
Words and photos: Jeff The Fish
