Leek Life May/June 2014 | Page 14

SCOOTER-FEST Get youR motoR RunninG At thiS yeAR’S SCooteR-FeSt his year marks the 10th anniversary of North Staffs Jesters Scooter Club’s popular ‘ScooterFest’ and as usual Leek will be at the heart of all the action, with the town playing host to the event. Engines will be revving for the festivities, which take place on Sunday 18th May where it is hoped the success of previous years will be enjoyed again. It all started for the Jesters in 2004 when the club was invited to join in with the town’s annual Carnival, this worked extremely well, and after being approached by a well-respected councillor, it was agreed that 2005 would present a full weekend of fun to include an entire day dedicated to all things ‘scootering’. This was too good an opportunity to miss, and so began lots of hard work putting the Jesters well and truly on the map. The event was named ‘Scooter-Fest’ and after many meetings with local dignitaries, businesses and club members it was suggested, and hoped, that the event could become an annual event, and so ‘Scooter-Fest 1’ took place in Leek on Sunday 22nd May. As predicted ‘Scooter-Fest 1’ was a total success with an estimated 400 plus scooterists motoring to Leek from all over the country. And so by popular demand ‘Scooter-Fest 2’ was staged the following year, thus cementing the event firmly as an annual fixture in the town’s diary and with the T 14 Leek Life May/June 2014 support of the Carnival Committee, Leek Town Council, and many willing local businesses. Since that time ‘Scooter-Fest’ has grown in stature and notability to become an event in its own right, taking over the Silk Street car park area, in the centre of town along with the indoor trestle market and encompassing three local pubs making the ideal venue to stage thirty plus indoor and outdoor stalls of everything scooter related. These exhibitors, stallholders and enthusiasts journey from all over the country, selling items from scooter parts and accessories to vintage and modern clothing, records, CD’s and a whole host of scootering memorabilia. Add to this a ridden custom show with one off specially made trophies, a stage with live music, hog roast and now over 2000 scooters spilling out into the Market Place and along the top of the pedestrianized area of Derby Street and you have one amazing spectacle and a great event with a truly buzzing atmosphere! To top it all the majority of the event is mostly free of charge to enjoy. No entrance fee, no charge to the part’s fair, no charge to enter scooters into the custom show and no charge to watch the band. All the Jesters ask is that everyone attending buy a £1 raffle ticket (and/or make a donation), by way of enabling them to continue to put on the event. For more information contact Steph on 07817 429616, check out the Jesters facebook page or google ‘Scooter-Fest’.