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It's funny how things grow and change over the years.
Remember the days when a 750 was considered a 'big'
bike? When chops were skinny? When Harleys were rare
and the only 'protective clothing' a Biker wore was
a black leather jacket? Then the Government of the day
decided that they knew what was best for us and introduced
the helmet law and Bikers got angry. Bikers began to
unite against oppressive legislative proposals and demos
sprang up all over the country. East York’s MAG
organised a demo which met in Dunswell, rode into Hull
then back to the campsite for a few beers and a natter
around a campfire. Eventually, the campsite was moved
to a farm and the demo moved to Scarborough, which was
closer. It was the birth of the Farmyard Party.
As demos became less effective and the need for well
researched political lobbying was recognised by the
biking community, it became obvious that the motor in
the Motorcycle Action Group needed fuel in the form
of funding. Political lobbying is only effective if
it is backed up by research and legal argument and these
things cost money, even more so today as we're fighting
not only on our home turf but also across the water
in Brussels.
And so the Farmyard Party has evolved over time from
a demo with camping into MAG's biggest contributor to
the fighting fund. To the casual observer, it may seem
that the donation from the party must run to hundreds
of thousands of pounds, after all, it's run by volunteers
and we charged £23 entrance fee for each of the
8,500 partygoers who attended this year's event. But
does the casual observer know what the Party costs to
produce? Sitting here looking at the ever-increasing
pile of bills mounting up, I jotted down just a few
facts and figures, some of which I thought you may find
interesting if you attended this years event...
The
main stage and its sound system cost us over £3.00
per customer for the weekend (and that's not counting
the three smaller stages, bands or DJs).
You generated over 32 tonnes of rubbish (mainly paper
cups and plates).
We hired in over 100 portable toilets, which you kindly
filled with 9,500 gallons of widdle and poo (thanks).
The loos and bins were serviced by 14 contractors who
worked rotating 8-hour shifts, sleeping in a port cabin.
The 15 bands that performed for you all needed sound
and lighting technicians.
We gave out over 10,000 bin-bags. You filled them.
There were 18 hired-in marquees on the site.
The site rent cost us over the price of a new Harley
fat boy.
We used 28 gallons of biodegradable paint to mark out
the roads and firebreaks.
You camped in the shape of the Union Jack flag, and
you didn't even know it! (www.farmyardparty.com to view
the aerial shots).
9 DJ's played background music for you whilst you chatted
between bands.
There were 6 professional dancers in the dance tent
(I spent hours auditioning them, the things I do for
MAG).
We had a full medical emergency team and ambulances
on stand by, 24 hours a day.
There were 168 fire extinguishers scattered over the
site. (And we had to pay for the eight refills thanks)
The herds of cattle and flocks of sheep were relocated
from the site 3 weeks before the event, so you didn't
have to camp on their mess.
The grass on the entire site was cut on the Tuesday
before the event.
We hired Helmsley Square from the council, so you could
park your bikes for free and go for a pint.
There were 14 generator units running 24 hours a day.
Lets not forget that we gave MAG members on site just
under £20,000 back to spend on beer.
Over 150 marshals paid for their tickets and then worked
for free to make sure you were all looked after.
Then the Government took 17.5% of every penny we earned,
and then will tax MAG on the donation. This is just
a small amount of the expenditure and its just for fun,
the full accounts would fill this magazine.
If the Farmyard Party was still a demo with camping,
you'd easily spend the profit per person donated on
petrol to make your political opinion known, and that's
the profit target we aim for at the Farmyard Party.
Two and a half pints from everyone who Parties as a
donation to the fighting fund, and that's before MAG
pays its tax. We believe that MAG put on the best value
for money rallies in the country.
Thanks for your support.
Yorkshire MAG.
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