Juley's first bit;
The build up to Cornbury Park was a strange one compared to all the previous events that I have put on. It all fitted together quite smoothly and there were worryingly very few problems to start with. 
Lord Rotherwick preferred us to use the back garden this time instead of the front and this posed no real problem although my first site visit was something of a struggle, I had to try and gage the layout of the rally while fighting my way through chest high grass. After a further two visits when the grass had been cut, the plan came together
Cornbury Park is very interesting and it is a beautiful site with its gardens, trees, and herds of Roe Deer. It is a credit to Lord Rotherwick who in his spare time is restoring it to its former glory as it has suffered some tragic neglect in times past. It has been a commercial farm where everything was laid to crops. It was even used as a munitions dump during the war (I didn't tell Rick because he would have spent all weekend stamping on the ground to see if he could make an explosion). Also the journey through time has seen the estate in riches and in poverty. Finally, it has someone in charge that appreciates its potential and beauty.
With the weather forecast on our side and everything in place for a good weekend there was only the waiting to see what would happen (ask any event organiser and they'll tell you that this is the worst bit). 
The weather apparently was the best they had had at Cornbury all year and the support that we had was tremendous from all who attended. For those of you who couldn't attend you missed a cracking event, and it holds a lot more promise for the future. 
The Friday afternoon /evening I came over a 'bit strange' (more so than usual) I had a blood pressure problem and had to be taken off site to be checked out. The lads did wonders pulling together as they did. It can't be easy taking over someone else's work, but Rick and the crew did a grand job. 
By Saturday I was well on the way to recovering but struggled through fighting the heat and the effects of Fridays 'funny turn'. I must admit the rally does seem a little vague and the aftermath feeling you usually get isn't there. By all accounts everyone had a wonderful time. 

Rick's bit;
As Juley was 'non compos mentis' throughout a goodly part of the event, I will attempt to fill in the blanks.
Friday evening got off to a fine start with the campsite becoming ever busier. The marquee began to take on a party atmosphere by about 7.30 in the very capable hands of super DJ Russ Page. Up till this point most people had been standing up due to a total lack of chairs and tables, then a friend of Beemer's arrived with a large van packed to the gills with benches and tables. After a manic ten minutes of sweating and swearing by an all too small number of marshals there was seating for all. The first live band of the evening were the Chevrons, who settled into a very nice set and seemed to be enjoying it as much as the audience. By 10.30 the marquee was packed and The Mick Rutherford Band took to the stage and with their typical laid back style began to make it one of those magical rally evenings. I decided to crawl to bed about 3.30 am and Russ Page was still playing requests for a dozen or so die-hards. 
Saturday began with breakfast in the sunshine and a bottle of beer with Pizza Bob from Pioneer Pizza. Cornbury Park is a lovely site and in the quiet part of the morning it is a symphony of bird-song. All too soon the birdsong is replaced with burping, farting, and the groans of the undead as people emerge from tents. Most head straight for the bog to take part in the age-old tradition of lying to themselves with phrases like "I'm never, ever, drinking again" or "It must have been something I ate".
For some inexplicable reason I could not find my hangover, I'm sure I had one, I always have one, but this morning I could not find hide nor hair of it. So I settled back to revel in everybody else's misery in the company of an extremely laid back chap called John. As we sat there puffing philosophically on our pipes I asked John what he thought of the site. 'Green' he said thoughtfully 'Very green'. I couldn't help but notice that this would also be a fitting description of the contents of his pipe. A short while later my reverie was broken by Jim Meredith who stumped across the field and said 'Bloody birds! How can anybody sleep with all that racket!" I couldn't help thinking that the three of us had just proved that everybody has their own particular way of enjoying a rally.
This year the rally had attracted a reasonable array of trade stands and Juley had managed to form them into a fairly circular arena with the marquee on one side and the campsite on the other. This focussed things nicely for the bike/trike show in the centre. The judging this year was done by members of Reading MAG who had also supplied much of the first aid cover. Lord Rotherwick, a very amiable chap who seemed to be rather impressed with the whole event, presented the trophies. 
Throughout the afternoon Russ Page had been compering the 'Battle of the bands' in the marquee where The Freewheelers, Chopper, and Dufos, were giving it their all. As the judges retired to debate their selections we were treated to music and comedy from Charlie (a very funny man and a complete piss-head).
Fugitive from Liverpool who had brought along a guest guitarist who had played many NABD events from his days with Engine kicked off the evening party in fine style. Fugitive did an excellent job of getting everybody dancing and bouncing around.
Topping the bill were The Hogz, and they were nothing less than tremendous. Despite one of their members having suffered a personal tragedy the previous day, and despite some major problems with the PA system delaying their set by half an hour they took the place by storm. A real class act.
It would be unfair not to mention the Jessie James PA crew, who managed to get over a major equipment problem with the minimum of fuss, and enabled the party to continue (oh it's so nice working with professionals). The party went on well into Sunday morning and a damn good time was had by all.

And finally, Juley again;
My thanks go to Lord Rotherwick who did us proud giving the trophies and his little visits to the site with his whole family. Thanks are also due to Greg Dawe (Beemer) and his gang, Graham & Heather Bull and Carrot. The Marshals and the 'NABD Crew' for all their hard work in helping to make it happen, the Blue Watch at Slade Fire Station and M.A.D. Dave for his help on the Sunday, and finally to all who turned up and made it such a good rally.
All the main problems arose afterwards when the NABD van had to go off site and the caravan got a puncture in both the spare and the road tyres. Well, it had to happen somewhere.

Juley (and Rick)