Friday Night Fever. 

Missed the ten to eight bus so got Mandy to drop me off in town.(Buses are few and far between up here)My first port of call was the Three Tuns where I met up with Manfred, Catweasle,Kelly and Paul (Yes that's right,Paul from Motorcycle Services York 01904 629926).After a couple of pints we walked the 5 minute trek to the Roman Bath where we settled down for an evening of good ol' hospitality and some decent music.The band playing were called FULL-TILT and I've got to say,were pretty impressive.3 guitarists and a drummer,mix 'em all together
with some 60's and 70's covers and you've got a recipe for a good,foot-stompin' night of fun.Now there aint a lot of "biker" venues in York but last Friday had a rally atmosphere.The Roman Bath is a friendly smallish pub with a great atmosphere and bands every Friday and Sunday.If you are ever in York,pay 'em a visit and say Tiny sent you.If you'd like to find out more about the band FULL-TILT you can visit them on www.FULL-TILT.org 07814941127

When Boredom Sets In
As some of you are aware,I am off sick from work with angina.Apart from rallys and writing for RBS life had become very tedious.Tired of getting under my wifes feet I decided to go out and find myself some mischief to get up to. I found it in the shape of a battered and bruised GPZ 550.Now some of you might not know this but I have a passion,a very profound passion for rat bikes and trikes.So after parting with £80 I took the bike away from its very bemused ex-owner and carted it down to my mates bike shop in York.(That's right,my mate Paul who owns Motorcycle Services York-01904 629926)After playing with it for a couple of hours and
adding a new coil so It would at least start I then threw away silly things like back mudguard, side-panels, seat, back-end of the frame,chainguard, rear footrests etc and added an old single chop seat,catseye rear light
and a few other bits I could steal from under the eagle eye of Paul as he watched me take over his workshop. I've now added new chain and sprockets,battery,fork seals,small (very)rear indicators and a bucket of black,hammered finish Hammerite.All that's left for me to do is rear brake pads and an MOT.I will show you a piccy of it next week.It looks low,mean and err.....different.Well that kept me busy for a day,what shall I do next?

                                                   FARMYARD PARTY 2002

I've been looking forward to this one.Last year it was moved to the Pickering Showground (Because of the foot and mouth) and I didn't get to go because I was in Spain otherwise engaged.I sneaked up there on Thursday evening with a few members of York MAG to put my tent up and get things sorted before the weekends activities.Being the nice,kind and generous man that I am,I even put Pauls tent up as well.That's right...........Paul from Motorcycle Sevices,York,01904-629926.(I dont get paid for doing this......honest.) Everything done I went home for a hot bath and an early night.The next afternoon we left Pauls shop and headed out to my house to wait for some others.So there we were,Paul.Sam,Dad,Chester- Paul,Beth,Piglet,Elaine,Chris,Chips and not forgetting yours truly winding our way through the sleepy little villages of North Yorkshire up to Helmsley and Party Time!
My first port of call was the 100% Biker tent,as a forum member we had been invited in for "drinky-poos" by Pat the editor.(that's if she hadn't drunk all the vodka by then)By the way Pat.Thanks for Mandy and my wedding anniversary present.She was chuffed to bits.After exchanging pleasantries with the riff-raff from 100% we met up in the Blues tent and so started a weekend of drunkeness,noise and lots n' lots of fun.Plenty of different stalls to pick from including Bucklemania (Hi Mike) and a tatooist so good (Dragon Art) that I had to have another added to my arm.The atmosphere was terrific,I dont think that I saw anyone without a silly,inane grin on their face all the time I was there.The weather really behaved itself for once,so much so that I got a burnt head.Being a double-hard Southerner I just poured another beer and got on with it.(What's 3rd. degree burns anyway?)
Saturday was spent milling around,buying,drinking,watching the trials bikes(I wonder if they'd let me try that on my 1100?),drinking,watching a stunt rider(mad geezer) and having the occasional drop of alcohol.By the time Saturday evening arrived we were raring to go and looking forward to the main band of the night,Badness.They were a bit of Madness and Bad Manners rolled into one really enjoyable spliff of nutty sounds that made everyone dance like demented (but happy)orang-utans.Even I had a go.The night was finished off with a firework display (ooh.....aaah....)and then it was back to the blues tent for a night cap.
I have been a regular to the Farmyard for a few years now but I've got to say that this years one was the best so far,there was a great assortment of different bikes and trikes on show.I particularly liked the little old Simpson scooter rode over here from Germany at a heady 30MPH by a very patient man named Enrik.Apparently he turned up at this rally a few years ago on a pushbike.Where else could you meet people like that apart from in our way of life.Makes you proud to be a biker or triker.I think the pictures say the rest so until the next one (Which will be the NCC's Northern Exposure) I bid you all a fond farewell and hey,be careful out there !Farmyard Pics  Farmyard Pics

N.C.C.Northern X-Posure 

First of all an apology,I had taken about 40 photos at this event but by the time we got home the batteries had gone in my digi-cam so you'll just have to take my word for it about the standard of the bikes over the weekend.
Having previously been on the receiving end of the National Chopper Clubs hospitality I was looking forward to this field "do".I packed Mandys trike(The Spirit),threw Mandy and billy on the back and set off on the perilous journey to Diamond Acres.5 minutes and 3 miles later found us in a field putting up tents in the blazing hot sun.Half an hour and about 4 cans later we stepped back to admire our weekend retreat.It was looking good,There was Martin,Wendy and Craig in their trailer tent,then our frame tent with picnic table,chairs and an umbrella(why not?),next was Catweazles little 'un and beside him was Neil and Cath.With all our "mod cons"we wouldn't have looked out of place on a continental campsite.
Satisfied with our temporary abodes I slipped away to have a hunt about.There was not a lot of stalls but the few there covered everyone's needs."Bikers Mum"was there catering for all the sweet toothed folk and the burger bar was clean,cheap and churned out one of the best curries I've had in a long time.
I was drawn to the beer tent by "Smoke on the Water"blaring out.The band was very good and did some excellent covers which had everyone tapping something or another.The disco was as good as the band and I could tell by everyone's faces that they were all enjoying themselves.A bit worse for wear I went to my bed in the early hours of Saturday morning a very happy man indeed.That was until my son kicked me in the cobblers 3 times in his sleep.So with tears in my eyes I finally nodded off next to my two and a half year old boy and a giggling wife.
Next day there was an excited buzz going around the field."Men and Motors"were on site filming.My mate Catweazle went head to head with Jim(who had a very very tasty XS 650 chop named Fuck the World)in a quiz and lost dismally.Even I managed to get in on the act and you'll be able to see it in 3 weeks time on Men and Motors.The rest of Saturday was spent lazing about,sipping ice cold beer and soaking up the glorious sunshine.Paul turned up early evening(That's right,Paul from Motorcycle Services(York)01904 471294)and added his tent to our "estate".My good friend Diesel from NCC London and Bad 2 the Bone fame turned up and the partying began.The band was a punk band and they managed to keep everyone going all night.I cant really remember a lot about Saturday night but I know I had a good time because I'm suffering as I write this.
On the whole it was a very enjoyable,relaxed weekend.Seeming this was only the second "open"rally that the Jorvic and Pennines NCC had hosted I've got to say that they played a blinder.My thanks go out to Terry,Black Paul,Ade and all the other members that worked bloody hard to ensure that everyone had a fucking good time!

Northern X photos