As is the norm now, with events on every weekend during rally season, Mersea Island was my fourth weekend away on the bounce.
It came after a rally/wedding in Tewkesbury, British Vespa Days in Bristol, and the spectacle that is the Isle of Wight over the August Bank Holiday.
Each event was different in its own way and goes a long way to underline that there is something for everyone. Personally, I’m still a National Rally advocate, so it is great when other things don’t actually clash!
This was the view from Iggy’s van window as he waited to set up the stall on Friday morning; thankfully, the weather soon cleared!
Early birds
Luckily, being fairly close mileage-wise and setting off at midday Friday, I was there within two hours to find that about half the capacity, 2000, was already there! So, with the tent up and a few supplies stocked from the local Co-op, it was time to start catching up with people and, obviously, the drinking.
The Darkside
As usual, it’s nice to spend time on the patio with DJ Jason Watson winding things up until about 6 pm, before things start up in other areas of the site. This is a good time check, as it’s generally early evening when the Darkside T-shirts become available, and I must say I was surprised this year’s Pink Floyd-inspired offering hasn’t been utilised before.
Never, ever has sawdust been put to better use than the floor of the main room at Mersea
Beer and sawdust
From this point on, there’s plenty of music to keep you entertained, so you can drift around to see what’s going on in the marquee (band-wise), the main hall, the mess hall, and the clubhouse (Darkside tent). To be honest, I missed physically seeing (but could hear) the first two bands on (Rookie Numbers and The Hyperjax) but did sporadically pop in to see headliners Skinny Lister (who include a scooter owner also called Scott).
By midnight, the Silent Disco gets into full swing and draws a massive queue to get in. At unsensible o’clock it’s time for bed.
Signing on
Saturday morning comes round far too quickly, and I’m glad of my blackout tent as the sun has decided to show its face again after a week or so hiatus. After the canteen breakfast it’s time to set up shop (well a clipboard and signing on sheet) for the BSRA Championship, on a corner of the VCB stall.
As Mersea isn’t a National (though it has been a handful of times), we decided earlier in the year to add it as a wild card, since the event is an LCGB & VCB signing-on point, so it seemed prudent to follow suit. Many Thanks to Mandy, Ken, Pam, and Howard of the VCB for their hospitality, and to Niamh for allowing us to do so.
Time for a wander
Feeling the need to stretch my legs, it’s always nice to wander around other parts of the site, like the stalls, where I had a chat with the SIP lads I’d met the weekend before. Next port of call was the custom show, for a relaxed look around, as after judging at the Isle of Wight and knowing what a difficult job it can be, there’s the knowledge that at least the decision-making is in someone else’s capable hands (hats off to Martin, Stuart, Terry and Adi). The number of entrants was slightly down from previous years, but it was nice to see Gary’s revamped Breaking Rocks back in the limelight and winning ways. Custom show results are attached elsewhere.
Plenty to see and do
Once all those I’d seen in attendance had signed on, I was able to put away the clipboard and associated sheet. This gave me time to go back to the patio area, where Jason Watson and Dave Lloyd work their usual magic, especially concerning the charity auction stuff and creating a party atmosphere, mixed in with some football team-related banter with those in the general area.
Elsewhere, the dyno was in full swing, with many scooters being thrashed throughout the day, and of course Mersea is also famous for its fun and games.
Italjet
A few of us then moved to the new Italjet Stall, where Iggy & Linsey (suitably corporate-attired) explained a few details about these new machines and let their wares speak for themselves, hopefully selling themselves as well. When they decided to call it a day, we helped dismantle the very heavy stall and load everything into their van; how they manage to do it with just the two of them doesn’t bear thinking about.
England belongs to Nick
We wanted to be back at the patio area at 6 pm for the day’s last record (there), as it was dedicated to Nick Reeves, when we raised our glasses (well, cans) to Cock Sparrer’s ‘England Belongs to Me’. RIP Nick.
The ladies proved they can crack walnuts between their thighs, whilst the blokes just roll over and fall off…
Buckaroo
The rest of the evening was spent very much in the same vein as Friday, generally chatting and wobbling about the bars and different music rooms.
Another item on the watch list was the Bucking Bronco, which has been missing for a few years and still provides a certain level of entertainment, especially as the night wears on and people get drunker, and thus braver.
Youngsters are on the rise at scooter rallies; if you’re young and into scooters, encourage your mates to come along!
Up and coming
Again, I mainly listened to the bands playing, Kev Iverson (who I’ve seen a few times and who does a blinding acoustic set), Pet Needs, and The Sneak Easies, rather than actually watching them. I missed the headline act was because I wanted to see Sophie Porter at 10 pm in the main hall, as it was her first time DJing at a recognised event. I’ve gotta say she smashed it, so fair play to her; as a youngster coming through the ranks, she definitely has a huge amount of enthusiasm (and banter) and is a massive credit to her Mum Julia. Shame she didn’t get her ice cream though, haha (but much love to the three nutters for endless laughs this year).
We’re by no means implying young Will is part of that ‘Scooter Trash’ heading, although his reverse-engineered MP3 will never catch on!
Scooter Trash
Sunday began with the constant noise of people packing up and heading home. A visit to the men’s toilet block gave me the only negative for the weekend, and that was the sight of missing toilet seats and broken-off cistern handles; all I can say is, despite how unacceptable that has always been, obviously in days of old the toilets would have also been set ablaze; nowadays it’s absolutely shocking! I just hope behaviour like this doesn’t go against the organisers too detrimentally. Enough said.
Arty Farty
The homeward journey was via a detour to Southend with newbie vandal – sorry, I mean street artist, Shaun – where, bizarrely, I saw around 100 scooters go past (who I assume must have been having a ride out). I spent a good couple of hours there admiring the artwork from the recent City Jam Street Art Festival before heading home at dentist o’clock (2:30 pm).
More to come
Well, what can I add? Mersea isn’t the longest continuously run scooter rally on the calendar for nothing, having been on since 1993 (except for the one in 2020, due to COVID), and I have consulted the (other) nerd that is Col to verify that fact. Yes, some may moan that it sells out quickly with its 2000-person limit, but let’s face it: there’s a reason for that; it’s a wonderful rally that gives you everything you could want and more. Some tickets do become available a week or so beforehand if you’re unfortunate enough to miss out initially, but as with most good things, you’d better be quick; tickets are always available for day-trippers and/or those needing to sign on for their respective championships. Fingers crossed there will be plenty more Merseas to come.
Words: Scott Medway S.C. and BSRA (apprentice) Championship Controller
Photos: Steve Clarke, Iggy
