The image of motorcyclists in the minds of many older people may be rather terrifying. It stirs folk legend of ferocious battles between Mods and Rockers, of Hell's Angels, and bikers defiant of the laws and conventions of normal society. And to tell you the truth, anyone with such prejudices who wandered down to the Rugby Union field on Bleach Green last Saturday might have looked round and muttered, "I told you so!" For there were guys and chicks in leathers outrageously tattooed on all visible and not quite visible parts of their bodies.
Some people just never grow up! There was Shane (photo right) for example, all the way from Manchester, fifty years old and still dressed like a hoodlum, coming to one of his favourite rallies. He likes the small ones best, and the Egremont Iron Ore Rally is one of his favourites, for the good company, the beer and the bands. Under the tattoos he is all warmth and friendship, but not too old to feel that life is fun, and he was just part of the fantastic atmosphere that was building up as more bikes arrived on that lovely Saturday afternoon.
This year is the 10th anniversary of the event first started as a bit of a get together for club members of the West Coast Motorcycle Club (WCMCC), explained organiser, Grant Hollis. On that first year about 40 people turned up. From then on it has grown in numbers and as we arrived more than 290 had already booked in. It has gained support chiefly by word of mouth, but through the rally website, developed and maintained by Grant, the news can spread even further, with visitors now coming from the South Coast, London, Ireland and the North of Scotland. It attracts motorcyclists dedicated, as the Club is, to the responsible use of the road.
There was no shortage of local enthusiasts. Organiser, Grant Hollis, introduced me to Barry Wells, Packy Dorgan, Malcolm Lynn and Sean Eldon, who got his first bike, a Yamaha 50, at seventeen, and who now sports a Suzuki 1000. He showed me powerful trikes, and Brian Delamere's fantastic Ural sidecar, (below) which he uses to carry camping equipment and beer to rallies. It is more leisurely than the trikes and he did not fancy riding it back to its home in Russia. Visitors enjoy the live music, the competitions, where they can show their customised and restored machines winning trophies for the best in their class, and a much sought after "Overall best in show". The trade stands that show their wares, this year include a Tattoo and Piercing parlour so that visitors can have an everlasting token of their visit to Egremont.
"It will have been a good rally," says Grant, "if everyone goes home safe, having enjoyed their time in Egremont, where they are always made welcome in the local pubs and shops in the town. Following each year's event, once all the bills are paid and a little put aside to make next that little bit better, the Iron Ore Rally organisers pick a local, topical charity to share in the events success. All in all everyone's happy."