Isle of Wight Scooter Rally 2011
By: Web Editor
Twenty-five years ago I was also at the Isle of Wight scooter rally. The 1986 edition ended in a riot with a burning beer tent, exploding gas bottles, ransacked dealer stalls and the emergency services declaring the site a no-go area for several hours after being pelted with missiles. Apart from consumption of some liberated alcohol – for which I’d probably get six months inside, going on the sentencing following the recent riots – I took no part in it. I was too busy trying to get my end away, in vain I might add. The events on the IoW changed everything on the scooter scene. Scooterists were now persona non grata. The riots brought about the era of the NRC/ NSRA identity cards and members-only rally entertainment. That might have been the medicine we needed at the time, but it never tasted good.
Your Shout
The Ice Rink on Saturday seemed the ideal place to meet scooterists based all over the island as they descended on the custom show to peruse the fine display of scooters inside. First up I bumped into a group of German scooterists who were attending their first British rally; Mattias, Michael, Stefan, Fabien and Jenny.
So first of all, where are you from?
Jenny: Hamburg and Lubeck in Germany.
Have you been to the Isle of Wight before?
Yes, I was here 1996 and 1997 with my school!
How long have you been riding scooters?
It’s different for us all. Mattias has been riding for 12 years, Michael and Stefan maybe six years, I do not ride alone as I do not have a full licence, and Fabien is only 12 years old so he must ride on the back!
How does the Isle of Wight rally compare to scooter rallies in Germany?
Well it is much bigger here of course, with many more people.
What do you like about this rally so far?
There are so many different scooters here. And also the people are always encouraging and inviting you to take part. The people here are so relaxed and funny too. We have an event in Lubeck every year with the scooters and it has a bit of a standoffish attitude – don’t touch or take photos, you know? But here it is very friendly.
What did you do last night?
We had a barbecue on the campsite, it is difficult of course with Fabien being only 12, but we had a good time.
Thanks folks, enjoy the rest of the rally.
Andy
VFM* Isle of Wight Custom Show Winners
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