FVMCC 37th Thistle Rally 2005

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Saturday mornin and its more of the same. Only this time the marquee is already built, the griddles fired up and the boilers are boilin for tee and coffee. Mary's always the one tae thank for draggin hersel oot a nice warm hotel bed and makin sure the campers have somethin for brekky.
More and more bikes arrive with bikers on them (obviously)
Folks arrive, folks go away for a wee tour, a wee visit tae the hostelries in Biggar for a change of scenery. It all goes on.
At three o'clock or was that half past Mark and Dave set up for the silly games. The usual disorganised chaos that raises a few laughs. Mark had decided it would be fun tae get absolutely pished and then organise the games. The welly chukin was well under way when I got there and Mark had everybody in fits of laughter. I dont think anyone was tryin tae win just tae see if they could land it on Marks heed (again :-)). I think there were winners but ah'll point oot that nobody took a pen and a bit of paper tae write doon names. I think Mick Travers won the welly for the men. He beat oor Hoss but as Hoss is club he canny win anyway. Angie Smith of the Michelin MCC won for the ladies after many frantic attempts by others tae beat her. Think she also beat most of the blokes.


Mark tries to prove he can still walk in a straight line. But cheating with the tugowar rope convinces no-one





The tug O war.
This did get confusing. Game for a laugh the Waysted MCC took up the challenge tae see if they could better last years gettin dragged aboot by the Ogri. The Quay Vipers MCC took them on in the first heat. There was a wee dispute as to the outcome so a rematch was ordered. It was a ploy by me as we challenge the eventual winners so wearing them doon first usualy works. The QuayVipers won again. Hard lines the Waysted MCC , eat more porridge for nextyear. There being no other challengers it was our turn to challenge the Quay Vipers. Our biggest fellas slid there way to defeat so the Vipers were announced Champions. After the medals were dished oot That Denny Mob stepped forward to pick up the rope. By this time the Vipers had done three hard pulls one after the other so the FVMCC took up the challenge. Even though we cheated with six bodies on to their five we were still defeated. That'll be the Denny mob were also crowned champions. Only at oor rally could you ever have ywo winners in a tug of war ????
Confused yet. I was but now it was time for a wee drinking competition. I've no idea what was going on there but it raised a few laughs. As I said before the comperes Mark & Davey forgot pen and paper so I think everybody won or lost. Its relative I suppose. As they say its not the winning, its the taking part that counts, and with most folks havin a right good laugh I think it was a success again. Hats off to Mark and Davey for disorganising the games and a big thanks to all participants, spectators and the like. (maybe next year we'll get it right)(then again).


After dinners and feeds and beer it was time for Trogg to get the folk warmed up in the hall with his disco. This was the warm up to our evenings live band APPARITION. We were indecisive as to what band to book and as usual left it late. After a few phone calls we were pointed in the direction of Apparition by Andy from Full Metal Racket. Apparition were a band we'd never heard of and everyone we spoke to had'nt heard of them either. Its a daunting thought booking your only band on a recommendation as we had no idea of what, how or even if they could play. As it turned out our worries were unfounded and Clark and the lads did us proud. Absolutely fantastic wi a wee bit of banter for the punters chucked. This was their first doo for bikers and hopefully wont be their last coz I'd like to see them whem I'm not to busy runnin a rally.

At half time when the band takes a break its time to dish oot the raffle prizes, most of which were donated by our local bike shops, Jim Allan MC's Falkirk and Pinnacle Autocentre Stirling, and award those deserved with our wee tokens of esteem.


First up for the awards was young Allistair Clowes (again). Allistairs gettin a wee bit long in the tooth to be youngest ralliest but his was the youngest name in the book. Carol did see a teeny wee person headin off on the back of a bike on Sunday mornin but as I say we can only go by the book.

Oldest ralliest was Ian Hay of the Mercury MCC. Ian turned up on a wee C90 and nearly got best bike as well.

Furthest travelled female was Mary Roberts from the Leicester Phoenix MCC. Mary came on her multi coloured GT750 and almost picked up the grot bike prize.

Furthets travelled Male was Mark Manby of the Ogri MCC. After coming from Germany last year and being beaten by three miles I think it was well deserved this year.

Eddie Fowles won the grot bike award for turning up on what we described as a big black jap thing probable a Suzi GSX. It was really the shiny silver star on his petrol tank that did it.

Best bike was Joan Leslie's cracking wee Triumph Hardtail. This was nowt to do with the fact that the club chairman has a soft spot for triumph hard tails. (biased!! me!! never) It was well deserved.

The biggest club this year was the Black Widows (again). There were many clubs there with big turnouts (a feat in February) but it was Lee Parker who stepped forward to receive the award and get his club name on the Stephen "Chuck" Jackson Memorial trophy.

A mention must go to That'll be The Denny Mob who were a close second, close on their heels were the Waysted MCC, the Quay Vipers MCC and the Clyde Valley MCC, then numeous others who had a good turn out. See Page 3 for a list of all the clubs.

Sorry for the lack of pics at this point but I was dishing out the trophies. There are plenty on the Bikers1 website

Awards done it was time to hand back over to Trogg for a wee while then Apparition did their second set. They also played on after their fixed set and kept the party going strong. Trogg as usual was left to hold fort until it was chuckin oot time again.
Back up tae the marquee where Carol and Dave Newman were being ably assisted by members of the Rampant Lion Rally club to feed the hungry hordes. I'd like to thank the RLRC for the help. Much appreciated. The party continues as usual but this being Saturday night we managed to slope off to our tent earlier. Think it was about half past four when we got to bed.

Sunday morning and it was time to pack up and go home.
Big thanks to all who attended. We hope you all enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed running it. Heres tae next year.

Credits.  
A massive thank you go to the following
   
Sponsorship   Pinnacle Autocentre Stirling
Sponsorship     Jim Allan Motorcycles Falkirk
Organised chaos Forth Valley Motorcycle Club
Friday First Band I D
Friday Second Band Flint
Rock Disco Trogg
Saturday Band  APPARITION
Badges Black Dragon Badges
Teeshirts Black Dragon Badges
Hotel     Tinto Country Hotel
All photographs Me, Andy and Neily
All rallyists for making   it such a great event


Go to page three for more pics, the debris and a whole list of attending clubs

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