As seen issue 468 of Back Street Heroes

While I am quite good at organising my days to maximise bike stuff, I like to keep some flexibility, so while my original plan was to get up early and head west to the big Calne meet. However, on Friday I realise there was no way an early start was going to happen, as I had been given a list of tasks by my muvva, and one does not simply walk away from “the list”.

So Kent was the next option and two events, I got to one, after finding so many dead ends in Sittingbourne, whoever is responsible for signage in the town should be wacked firmly with the blunt end of a stop go board. But big blue SUYR signs helped to find event.

And I was so glad I found the Medusa MC show, more of why later. I have been one way or other to almost all of these soirees in various locations, but I really liked this location, and the more I stayed the more I felt it may have found a new spiritual home at the Queens Regiment Riders Association (QRRA) clubhouse. The QRRA volunteering their clubhouse for the events as the ladies of Medusa were desperately trying to find a venue.

With camping available (which included free breakfast) for a change, and lots of loos, already some folks were seriously getting into chill out mode, some sneaking in the night before. It was almost a mini rally rather than a 1-day show.

Down a dusty track more and more bikes and trikes appeared, reminiscent of an old western movie with cavalry coming over the hill. Though the hill also brought its own parking challenges as all were surprised at the turn out. I think any of previous venues would have been swamped long before this field filled up too much.

With bikes of all age and makes it was a sight to behold, one of the most studied and talked about was parked near to me. Toms amazing ford engine bike, with a slip gear. A lockdown project it was fabulous and deservedly won best engineering of the day.

There were as ever a few stalls, (and importantly an ice cream van) and a first at a show for me, a dunk tank where you could try and dunk the girls from Medusa MC, while although I was there when Scary was on the wobbly chair, it was far too big a risk to try and dunk her. The fact I cannot aim a ball for love nor money also meant she was safe. There was definitely some cheating going on no one cared and smiles all around.

The afternoons band The Dan Thomas trio were excellent and played an interesting mix, including happily for me some Stevie ray Vaughn, with a great sense of humour, I’m no music critique but would happily book them for an event.

The whole ethos of “show us your ride” has always been any bike can win, it does not need to be a show bike just one that has ridden in. Chris’s amazing AJS V twin was an easy and worth winner of Classic, one of two vintage flat tank bikes he squandered his pension pot on. Best small bike went to the young lady with a BSA Bantam who couldn’t stop smiling all day and this infectious smile affected everyone in the best way. Best Streetfighter was the blue bandit, best paint and visitors’ choice the green bandit chop, best rat one of reject brotherhood, best standard a tidy Yamaha TRX..

The biggest shock was as I was settling in to take photos of winners, they called my name, and I was presented with the Kevin Humphries trophy for hardest ridden, and generally being me. I am still amazed that I received it, but a huge thank you to the ladies who decided I deserved it.

You know when a show is good, as no one rushed away once presentations had finished. The club then relaxed in an evening party. I much later than planned headed back through Sittingbourne again, and cursed street designers. But so happy that “the list” had changed plans.

So, while billed as a back to basics show, which it definitely was, it was fairly unique in having a rally vibe to it as well, though the afternoon shows and meet was always the biggest event. Have the Medusa MC found their spiritual home for this show, maybe but watch this space.