Regions and clubs
The Lion Rally
Bands, Beer and Scary birds!
It’s been 23 years since the first Lion Rally, a small and extremely muddy event. Since then we’ve grown, shrunk, and moved site twice.
Last year we decided to have an outdoor stage so that people could sit around the bar and natter to their mates, but the rain came down and the few brave souls huddled by the stage shivered while the rest crowded into the marquee.
So this year we decided to split the marquee – one covered area over the stage and mosh pit/dance floor, and the covered bar area with seating and tables. Kinda like a big, long marquee but with a gap in the middle. And…it worked a treat! The dancers boogied to the music, the drinkers sat at the tables chatting to their mates, and everyone was protected from the sun when they wanted to be. Oh yes, the sun. Remember the
sun? Well, it made its annual appearance at the Lion Rally this year, and people sat around and roasted happily.
The bar at the Lion Rally has been building a reputation for its wide range of real ales and local ciders, this year we had at least 10 different ones and they drank the lot. Rebellion Brewery of Marlow have been providing our
ales for over 10 years and this year they even brewed a special Rally Ale just for us – three barrels of it only just lasted until Saturday afternoon, so I think we might get that one again! The MAG-affiliated Berkshire
Triumph Owners club organised a run out on Saturday morning, which proved popular and enjoyable. Happy shoppers spent their pennies at a wide range of stalls while the bike show and silly games kept people amused on Saturday afternoon, as did the rodeo bull on which impromptu competitions started between friends as to who could stay on longest.
The scary birds of prey sat around looking menacing, perched on arms for photos, and were flown by their handlers. I hope the escapee has returned by now.
In what was possibly a first for a MAG rally, Biker FM broadcast a live set from site. It was they who suggested Danni G as our opening act on Saturday evening, and she turned out to be a cracker.
As the shadows lengthened the
arena and bar filled up though the warm evening allowed people to sit outside chatting and enjoying the music, and the crowd of dancers in front of the
MAG needs more members.
In our uncertain climate we have te reduce our dependance on event income. Think of one person you reckon you can join up right now. Imagine their name in this space ...................................... Now email them/phone them/talk to them and ask them to go to:
www.mag-uk.org and join on line now.
The ROAD 67 stage grew.
When the bands finished, Gabe’s disco fired up in the bar. I was going to call time a little early on Saturday night, but the bar was still crammed with happy dancing people and I hadn’t the heart. As the absolute deadline, that is the one written on the licence, in blood, drew near the generator took matters into its own hands and shut down. The lights went out, the music stopped, and everyone wandered back to their tents, mostly successfully.
Sunday dawned far too soon, with more of that sunshine, and as people packed up I conducted my own completely unscientific opinion poll. This showed that the changes we've made have worked. Everyone I spoke to had a great time, and the Lion has its roar back. See you next year, grrrrrr!
And finally: The Lion Rally is
organised by a group of volunteers from Reading MAG, but we get help from lots of people. Rather than start listing people and risk missing someone out, I’ll just say a big thank-you to you all, we couldn’t do it without you.
And finally after 23 years of the Lion Rally, as far as I know, there are three people who have worked at every single event. So to Pat and Zoo, as well as your humble scribe; thanks for all the hard work over the years, we must be mad ! Dangerous Dave Reading MAG
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84