Woohoo, a new venue! Ladram Bay has replaced Warmwell as South West Scooter Club’s end-of-season rally.
Located about 20 miles east of Exmouth on the South East Devon coast, to say the area is picturesque is doing it a great disservice. It’s beautiful, having stunning views of the Jurassic Coast with sandstone cliffs and stacks on the beach, it’s just… lovely.
The rally site (Ladram Bay Holiday Park) is brilliant, well kept and only a short walk to all the facilities (AKA the bar).
The Entertainments centre is on two floors, with the daytime restaurant/evening Northern Soul room on the first floor and the main room for the live bands below.
Our journey up from Portsmouth was uneventful, but now it’s about 140 miles – double the journey that was Warmwell. However, the weather was dry and bright so it was still a nice ride up. On arrival we checked into our caravan, the heating was on so we thawed out a little before having a look around. Sadly, as I was working for SWSC that evening I had to make do with diet cola whilst my mates did what scooterists do best, drink the bar dry (speaking to the staff when checking out, I was told we HAD drunk them dry with the site having to send out for more beer!).
I didn’t get to see much of Friday’s band, Reggaskas, but could hear them, and they played a great ska set with the dancefloor full.
Saturday morning came around far too early, but fortunately it didn’t bring the threatened foul weather with it, and it was another bright autumnal day.
The parts fair was well attended and the custom show, whilst not the biggest, was high quality. The rest of my day was spent playing on the beach!
Custom show winners:
Best of show: Rizla
Best Lambretta: Rizla
Best Vespa: C799 THC
Best Street Street racer: Rizla
Best engineered: 227 XVL
Best cutdown/chopper: OAL 795E
Best restoration: EVG 709H (SS90)
Best auto: WT19 GFG
Another shift worked for SWSC and I could finally let my hair down, well what there is of it that is! Off to the bar, and a number of pints later I watched the Rocker Covers who, after a couple of technical issues (they started their set, but had to go off for a few minutes, before returning and restarting) played a blistering rockabilly set and again had the dancefloor jumping. It’s at this point I started on the double vodka and cokes and things become distinctly hazy.
Hangry
I have to say the staff were lovely, they all seemed really keen to have us there, but if I’m pushed to criticise anything, it would be the chip shop opening times, closing at 9 really doesn’t work for a scooter rally, and they really missed a trick not having it open late, but as I say that is only a minor gripe.
As I mentioned earlier, the venue is perfect for a rally, a good size and the bars were well staffed with little wait for drinks (that would explain my hazy memories of Saturday night!).
So after a cracking Saturday night, I woke up on Sunday morning with legs like a newborn lamb and cotton wool for brains, confirming Saturday was great. I headed off for breakfast and a strong coffee. Feeling a little more human it was time to head off home, and once again the weather forecast was wrong, saying heavy rain on Sunday, but apart from a five-minute shower, we had another lovely bright ride home.
Ladram Bay is a great replacement for Warmell and I really hope we get to go again next year.
Words and pics: Booga
