AMSTERDAM-CHELMSFORD
1985 (??) By "Tina".
A
couple of Bopcats on their way to England to see the Bel-Airs play
and visit the Banger races. Gonzo had the idea to open some international
trading ,swapping!! his Opel Admiral for a guitar. We knew people
in England act strange sometimes, but this sounded to us, even to
weird for the English until we realized that he was dead serious.
When we arrived in Chelmsford the change was made quickly and after
that there were only happy faces and a toast was made to finish the
deal (it didn't finish with one toast, but that was the intention
anyway) Tom Huele, Herbie and me (Ron G.) drove with Michel Kolk in
his '56 Chevy Belair and found a place to sleep with Crazy Kev. He
had something like, ok this is the kitchen, the freezer's full and
here you can sleep and I don't care what you do for the rest, I have
to fix my stockcar for the race on Sunday so …., help yourself! After
dumping our things (condoms, comb, toothbrush and a pair of knickers)
on the bed we went back to find the rest of the guys who were sleeping
with Rod and Lynn.
In
front of the house there already was a lot of beer being consumed
and there was also some food. We went to a nearby town (were a pack
of tobacco of 20 gr costed just as much as 250gram packs in Holland
- True Dutchman :-)) to see the Bel Airs do their show. After a great
performance of the band and full with English beer (and still not
drunk) back to get some sleep, luckily Michel was driving. The next
day half of the team went to Southend on sea to a fifties fair and
the other half stayed home with a wooden head from the night before.
That night someone organized a beach party (wherever that may be)
and the drinking started all over again. In the beginning some fast
drinking because the sun went under and it was getting colder. The
campfire grew bigger and bigger and drew the attention of some true
Germans (swastika's and all) who wanted to join in. After some hateful
remarks from our side, suddenly one of them flew trough the campfire.
He heated up so fast in there that he went near the surf to cool off,
where he actually landed in too (little push was all it took) The
other one left in a hurry with holes in his coat where the swastika's
were a moment ago. When the alcohol level grew higher and it was getting
colder everybody sought some shelter in the dunes, some of us in there
coats, the others close against there women, soon the erotic feelings
got the upper hand and there was some "handshaking between the legs"
going on.
Gonzo
had so much to drink that looking gave some problems and he had to
feel who he was lying next to, when he felt a face much like Jan van
Leeuwen there was some panic, but when he looked better it was his
own José. After sleeping of much of the alcohol everybody woke up
because of the cold and we decided to leave, Michel - still to drunk
- pushed the car key's in Ron's hand and said "you drive". After a
couple of miles we came across a ….., milkman!! Because beer makes
thirsty, especially after some sleep, we jumped out of the car and
walked up to the milkman. The man had the fright of his life because
of our appearances, after a night on the beach, he thought he was
being robbed. After making clear to the man that we really wanted
to pay, the sale started. When the bottle's were empty, our belly's
full (and the milkman's wallet as well) we drove further and the laughing
milkman - half sold out - home. That afternoon we went to the Gladiators
for the Banger-races a village further. Rod, Kev and the guys were
standing smiling beside their finished cars. After a couple of races
marc G. said he wanted to have a go at it. The boys agreed because
they wanted to have some fun as well, so the next race Marc raced
around the track where he was being lapped by Leon van L. who had
borrowed Kev's car. For our little group the afternoon couldn't go
better, to bad there's no video tape from it. After all of this we
had a quiet trip home with a little tiresome swear when somebody would
realize they had to get back to work the next day. Gonzo still enjoys
his guitar and we enjoy the memories.
Ron
"Tina Trucker" Gerritsma.