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Iinauguration Sunday 19th July 2009 |
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From enrolled Englishman to full XV Custom Club member Sunday the 19th of July marked an extremely important day for the XV Custom Club, for the group of Veneto bikers, but also for me as a biker and as a person. It was the day of the inauguration of a new section. Another step forward in the history of the Club. For the little band from the Veneto and for the entire club, the 19th of July was the day of the inauguration of the Veneto section. From that day the Veneto and all the friends accompanying it, the full members and the enrolled members, had the right to call themselves the “XV Veneto Section”. For me it was a significant step because it was the moment of passing from a “normal” biker to a full member of the XV Custom Club denomination of controlled origin! The God of bikers had arranged beautiful weather for our inauguration. Sunshine and a clear blue sky. The Veneto group arrived early for the event, but with a beer in hand and enjoying the sun, we waited for the arrival of our friends from all corners of Italy. With joy we heard the first exhaust rumbles in the distance. They came from Lombardy, Tuscany, Emilia Romagna, Lazio, and Marche to celebrate with us at the Mont Blanc brewery. Everybody was welcomed with a dazzling smile, a “biker” handshake and a big hug. One by one everybody arrived and at the end there were almost fifty of us. Our host (Gianfra to his friends) had supplied us with two barrels of good beer, which immediately started to flow. Let the party begin! Sat under the pergola of the brewery we chatted, telling stories about travels and adventure “on the road”. We chatted about the road and as usual, about the enormous octopus from Puglia. The one that Matteo always says he caught, but none of us have actually seen. I didn’t know that the octopuses in Puglia are like the one from the film “Pirates of the Caribbean”, the one which ate Johnny Depp!! Talking about enormous beasts, what a barbecue! Sorry. What a grill! On the leaflet for the event it said “lunch with grilled beef, pork and chicken” etc, but we could never have imagined the quantity of meat! Our Gianfra cooked course after course after course. To say we overate would be an understatement. The only person, who had the determination to eat non-stop, was the famous Puglian octopus hunter! And after we had eaten well, and I assure you, drunk well, the speeches began! First of all was our President Stefano who officially inaugurated the XV Veneto section. What joy! I’m not sure, but in my opinion Mirco had tears in his eyes. However it was a very emotional moment, so he can be excused. As Mirco said, we are not only bikers, we are not only friends, we are a family. And now this family had a new child, called the “XV Custom Club Veneto Section”. At that point the other regions and sections presented beautiful gifts to the newborn Veneto Section to adorn or “Club House”. At the end of this important occasion, there were also three nominations for full membership, with the relative stamp of approval on the “bottom cheek”. Hermes, from the Lombardy Section, Giuliano and yours truly from the Veneto section. I was “done” first, and I have to say that I was very honoured to show the “ugly side” of the English! By Noel “The English Man” |