It was the night before Kelso Scotland’s National Scooter Rally and all was well! The series 1 already fuelled, the tyres hard and the tool box full with 2 stroke (no tools though). The wife’s car packed as her scooter is still gubbed a phone call to Hector to confirm our 11am meeting in Stirling and its time for the feet up and some food for thought.

The weather has been brilliant all week so it would obviously continue into the morning for a glorious run down to the borders town for our “Shameless themed rally” still not sure about that name as only we Scots could contemplate portraying ourselves as drug taking alcoholics, an argument for another day perhaps.

Off to bed for a wee sleep up bright and early looks out the window looking for that glorious sun I was talking about how deflated was I it was raining. Undeterred out with the waterproofs a promise to myself to watch for those slippy roads full of dirt and off we go.

Arriving at Costa’s coffee nice and early a quick cuppa and the rest of the lads arrive and we’re off. As we have young Kyle in tow its no motorways but the scenic route for us. With the first pick up at the Dutch Inn going through Skinflats to meet Marti and Big Ian.

We set off out the back of Stirling first 5 miles completed safely then wee Aky nearly comes off on a sharp bend as his rear tyre goes flat I am thinking good start to the day. However the rain is off not to be seen again the whole weekend. Tyre changed nae bother but is the spare hard? No it isn’t so it was a nursing session to the next petrol station for some air.

Safe and sound we’re riding through the country villages time for a refuel at Broxburn and a sausage role just too take the edge off the hunger emergency repairs to Hector and Ian’s gear cables which have stretched stopping at all the red lights on the way not 1 green light so far.

Still on our merry way again another refuel at Fordel and away we go made it arriving at the back of 3. I am lucky Alleena is already there tent up and BBQ lit she feeds the whole crew and we crack open a few tins ready for a good night with good mates.

Comments on how busy it was for a Friday was being made at every turn and in general most thought it was the busiest Friday Kelso had seen. Time for dinner so it’s a wander up to the hall chicken curry and chips £4 superb value, no camp site rip off’s and only £2.50 a pint even better.

Time for some tunes and the DJ’s are in excellent form playing a superb mix of music, from some northern soul classics with a bit of mod, Ska and I am sure I even heard some SLF blasting out the speakers.

The main event fast approaching and The Jam DRC take the stage and play a 23 song set with tremendous energy and enthusiasm. The Birmingham based band started with Modern World, finished with Town Called Malice and even threw in a couple of not so well known songs such as Little Boy Soldiers and Different Now. My own personal opinion was that this was an excellent Jam tribute that would be a credit at any rally well done boys.

Back to the music and the floor is filled with feet doing the soft shoe shuffle a great night around 1 me and the wife off to bed for a well earned rest, chips and curry sauce as a bedtime snack!!! The camp site is relatively quiet so a good night’s sleep was had. We were woken early on Saturday by the sound of a lovers tiff and the immortal line from some bloke to his girl “yer nothing but a dirty slapper” guess she forgot the way back to her tent and found a caring bloke to share with.

So Friday over and Saturday begins up bright and early but the showers are freezing no matter a quick wash and teeth scrub at least we had showers and clean toilets. Off to breakfast again a bargain at £4. The site was already beginning to buzz with more and more scooterists arriving and plenty of dealers itching to take your hard earned cash.

The rodeo bull and the bungee football was also getting set up so there was plenty to do on the site and with the Scottish Cup Final on telly in town everybody had something to occupy their time.

Inside the main hall the dealers were doing a roaring trade as the bikes started coming in for the custom show, some absolutely stunning machines. The only down side was that too many of them had only seen a road from the inside of a van. It is supposed to be a ridden custom show!!

Out side the games were under way with people falling off the rodeo and the bungee football in full flight. Most importantly the scooter gymkhana was getting set up and our own Neil Bernard watching with interest. Neil loves this event and was gutted only to finish 2nd last year he was determined to make up for it this year, which he duly did. Well done Neil. Also well done to Geoff Carmen and Susan, although still not sure who is to blame about the half yard of ale??

The custom show was under way and a quick word with LCS vice chairman Billy Hardie who was one of the judges confirmed how hard it would be to pick a winner.

With the judging over it was time for me to take my stint on the gate and car park as stewarding which was an excellent 3 hours as loads of punters were making their way back from the town. Most had a little drinkypoo with them which they were only too glad to share with any one with a steward’s jacket on superb. Although I think Wrighty from the Animals and Alleena did better, they even got ice cream!

7 o’clock shift over a quick wash and brush up and back up the hall where again the DJ’s were already spinning some top tunes everybody waiting for the arrival of Neville Staple and sure enough around 10pm he hits the stage with Gangsters. The hall was rocking and bouncing and the ex-Specials man did not disappoint especially when he announced and confirmed rumours of a Specials reunion. A set lasting just over an hour went down a storm.

Back to the Dj’s to finish the night off in style then back to the tent for another wee sleep before the journey up the road in the morning which was upon us before we knew it.

Breakfast over and tents packed up ready to hit the road off we go 100 yards covered and the clutch cable on my series 1 goes snap lucky some of the guys have a spare and on we go minus the petrol cap for my lammie which I left cause I thought I was holding everyone up!!! If you find please return to me no reward just my thanks.

With a strong head wind we are making slow progress and a couple of miles before our first scheduled stop and a refuel, Hector ran out of petrol, must have been the wind.

With a rider dispatched for a petrol can and the fuel to go in it we are freezing at the side of the road for 20 minutes. However we are soon away and home safe and sound with no further incidents.

All in all a superb rally organised by the Scottish Number 1’s Committee well done guys and Kelso seems to be getting bigger and better every year, long may it continue