182 Bike Show
So, in the best plans of planning my days out, I used t’internet to look for things
around which may also interest. Thus, on the first Sunday of August, I looked at
my options, decided against one in Hampshire because of other events on and major
roadworks, but the 182 show in Whitstable sounded nice, and there were some windmills
I had not seen nearby. Also the latest of the infamous summer storms was not due
to hit that area until later that afternoon. Wow that does sound organised for me
doesn’t it.
So, what do I know about Whitstable apart from Oysters? (nasty slimy things, thankfully
no “R” in month so shouldn’t be around) well the day before had been the Carnival
all themed-on Dr Who as Peter Cushing once lived in the town, so safe in the knowledge
I was not to be exterminated off I went camera in hand.
With several other local events on in Kent there was still a good turn out for the
Rejects Brotherhood 182 show of local and not so local clubs. Always good to catch
up with a few folk I haven’t seen for over a year as well.
Even though the organisers were having to persuade people to enter the bike show
there were enough bikes to judge, and rosettes were soon popping up on handlebars.
This made the adjacent bike park as cool as the show, and my favourite of the day
a hard-up framed bandit sadly never made the show, as the owner having only just
completed it was having too much fun riding it.
I’m glad I wasn’t judging the trikes, as there was a varied collection from gothic
to metallic. I also had a soft spot for the El Pistolero chopper, but sadly that
left when clouds went over and the wind picked up, thankfully though the predicted
storm missed us all and others stayed.
The event was raising money for Homes for Heroes and Kent MS Therapy Centre, and
with a huge raffle, all funds from the £3 entry and a charity auction over £3000
was raised, impressive. There was a cracking band called “devils dancefloor” (a flogging
molly song) who played a fab set of Pogues and rocking sea shanties type songs. And
with the BBQ and onsite café open it was a very relaxed affair; I was also pleased
to see an ice cream van.
After the first set there was the prize giving, I do recall the high piped triumph
won the classic, the XJR the streetfighter and the local chopper club won a couple
too. Then a mega raffle which after a false start got off well. The Auction included
a custom painted skateboard with a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne which went for several
hundred pounds.
As the band carried on there was a slow departure as groups headed off, so I thought
now was the time to leave and find the windmills I had thought of. Well, it didn’t
quite go to plan, as directions went out the window with the amount of road closures
and I failed miserably, doing some fabulous loops back to the same road closures,
and eventually finding myself almost at Dover. But at least I knew my way home from
there, follow the big sign which says London and turn left off M25.
