Matlock

Vmax Chat goes to Bassetts Pole June 26th 2002

We met at our usual place, The Clock Inn on the A45 in Solihull, and rode to The Bassetts Pole pub on the A38
just outside Sutton Coldfield.
Actually we were meant to be going elsewhere, but on arrival at our original destination, (an impromptu bikers
night on an abandoned industrial estate), we found that it had been closed down by the police after only a
couple of weeks due to the fact that yet again a small number of idiots had ruined it for the masses by racing
cars and bikes up and down the road, causing chaos and helping bikers everywhere retain that sought after
"rebel without a clue, no brain, meat head, death to non bikers" image that we could all live without. Anyway
off we went to Bassetts Pole instead.

We arrived, parked up the bikes and went for a wander round. They have a barbeque going if you want
something to eat without ordering a pub meal, but be warned it can take quite a while to get served for a drink
as the place is very popular. Get there early if you're thirsty!! There is a Triumph dealership just next door
too, which stays open late on these Tuesday evenings so that people can have a look round.

As you can see, it was packed!! There were at least 2000 people there when we arrived and more kept
arriving all the time. This is just one side of the pub. There is more parking, (equally packed), at the back of
the pub too. People seem to come from all over the Midlands and this event has really taken off in the last
few years. Next door but one is a McDonalds if you haven't the strength to fight your way through the
crowds to the barbeque at the back of the pub.

There were all manner of bikes there, classics, customs, streetfighters, plastic crotch rockets and quite a
few maxes too. In previous years there has been quite a heavy police presence here, but this year it seems
to be much more relaxed, with less stunts being performed on the main road and so hence less police, but there
were still some police there. The ride there and back is only a short one for us as we're quite local, but the
roads all around are good ones and they run through fields and trees rather than factories and houses, so the
ride is a pleasant one. So if you are anywhere near this place on a Tuesday night, any time during the summer,
it'll be worth you dropping in.