2001 and onto Knoebels, here resides possibly the best set of scooters in the world. Pete, Lyndon, Martin and myself had the time of our lives on what can only be described as the most insane set of Flyers known to mankind. We were bouncing the tubs at every point possible, top, bottom, middle, you name it we were snapping at it. One of our friends who was watching this approached us afterwards and exclaimed “Since when did you take up F*&^$”£ Tree Surgery?” From this obscure comment came the team nickname “The Flying Tree Surgeons” and was immediately followed by the idea of having a display team set up as a bit of a laugh.
We came back from the USA and started putting ideas together. What do we call the team? How do we select members? Why are we doing this? :-)
So it started with a team name and to get this we looked at the most famous
aerobatic team in the world “The Red Arrows.” So we started throwing
colours around Yellow, Green, Orange etc. but you also need an appropriate emblem.
So a colour and an emblem...
“The Yellow Perils?” NO.
“The Green Gannets?” NO.
“The Blue Buzzards?” YES.
That’s it that’s the one. So what about members? Well friends and
family come to mind, may as well keep it amongst a group of people that like
each other! Finally, the reason for doing it? “Well it’s a laugh
innit?”
So 2003 saw the debut of “The Blue Buzzards” at Southport Pleasureland and since then team members have been all over the UK looking for new scooters to ride as well as back out to the USA in 2004 and in particular Knoebels.
And what of 2004? Possibly the best year so far for the team having been asked to open a brand new set of Flying Scooters at Oakwood Leisure Park in Wales. It was an honour to be asked by Paddy McNamara, the park owner, to officially open the brand new ride on behalf of the park and one that I know all the team will be very proud of. We’ve also had the pleasure of welcoming several new team members to the lower ranks this year and as you can see the website is now also up and running.
At the end of the day we do this for a laugh, it’s a bit of fun that helps keep a group of friends together and enables us to have excuses to meet up and say hello at various places across the globe.
Group Captain
Jason “Juggler” Wakeling
3rd September 2004