Whit drums up support at Brands

THE usual “Saturday night at Brands” drunken revelry was kicked off last evening with a marathon gig by Jamie Whitham’s band the Po Boys.

Playing a two and a half hour set to a crowd of nearly 5000 the band’s famous drummer was obviously letting off a bit of steam after his brilliant qualifying session, which netted him his first pole position for five years.

The crowd, well oiled to say the least and in great spirits, were treated a range of classic hits from The Sex Pistols’ Anarchy in the UK and Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl to Green Day and even, in true Jimmy Hendrix style, God Save the Queen on electric guitars with more feedback than the front end on Hodgson’s 996.

In front of the band the crowd beer was flying in the air as bikers of all ages danced along and shouted their appreciation for both the band and any female members of the crowd who decided to flash their ” assets ” for some extra entertainment.

A firework display finished off the night with the crowds ooohing and aahing to every explosion. It was like an Amsterdam stag weekend.

Back at the campsite the party continued into the early hours with some slightly less professional firework displays and much more beer. MCN’s intrepid reporters stalked the grounds with an instant breathalyser to gauge just how much of a good time people had been having… and the thing was soon squealing louder than a stuck pig.

The prize for the most sozzled punter of the night goes to Guy Stanton from Bourton-on-the-Water, registering a very impressive 201 on the scale. The drink-drive limit is 40. Guy was too overcome with emotion to comment on his achievement.

Come the early hours people were already packing their tents away and the queues to get a seat on the bank overlooking the start/finish straight beginning at 6am. The queues for the showers, however, were not so big – it seems most people decided that a decent seat is more important than personal hygiene.