South West Scooter Clubs: Ladram Bay 25 | RALLERY

After a very hectic rally season, it’s time for my final jaunt of 2025.

It’s Thursday night, and I’ve actually packed everything and am ready for the ride to Ladram Bay on Friday.

Practice makes perfect. This time, I’ve got my wallet (forgot it for Woolacombe), my charger lead (forgot it for Llandudno), and everything else needed for a fun weekend on the East Devon coast.

I also have my waterproofs ready, as the weather forecast for Friday can best be described as ‘unpleasant’.

Friday arrives, and as promised by my nemesis, Carol Kirkwood (weather forecaster and obvious hater of nice weather), it’s foul, heavy rain, windy, definitely not the nice autumnal weather that can make this ride so nice.

Perfect conditions

Meeting up with Dave, my riding buddy, it’s off up the M27, A31 and then mostly the A35 in torrential rain. It’s also windy, and the greasy roads are covered in leaves. It’s not fun, but it’s good to know a nice, warm caravan is waiting for you rather than putting up a tent in the pouring rain!

We cross paths with another bedraggled group from Pompey at Bere Regis and push on. All is well until, about 20 miles from Ladram, Dave pulls up next to me to tell me my headlight’s out. Full beam it is… for about 100 yards, then pop, I now have no headlight, it’s dull, grey and wet, and I’m leading, yay!

Fortunately, I’m not wiped out by oncoming traffic and arrive, wet, at Ladram Bay. Quickly booked in, we head straight to the caravan and start to dry out. It’s definitely better than a tent.

Time to grab some food, the chippy’s closed, but the restaurant is doing sit-in and takeaway, so it’s all good, and I do like the food there.

No bar for me though as I’ve got a shift for SWSC in the evening.

SWSC’s Stuart Lanning is used to fighting off the ladies and watching out for the paparazzi, whilst Andy can often be seen flying around the venues…

Thanks to the organisers

It’s easy to forget all the organisation and hard work that goes on in the background to put an event on. SWSC put on some great rallies and should get a pat on the back for it.

Playing catch up

Anyway, shift finished, and it’s time to catch up with everyone, while also catching up with alcohol. I’m proud to say I’m successful on both counts. Friday’s band, The Embezzlers, put on a great and varied set, much to the delight of the crowd.

The night draws to a close (after more food), so it’s back to the caravan for a good night’s sleep, to be ready for the next day.

Lightbulb moment

Saturday morning, it’s off to breakfast and a wander round the parts fair. I pick up a new regulator and bulb from Disco Dave (who says it’s just pork pie hats at parts fairs?), fit them to the scooter, and hey presto, I have lights!

It’s becoming a bit of a tradition to have a walk along the bay at Ladrum; it’s picturesque and bracing all in one, so off to the beach it is.

Marquis Drive

Once done, it’s back for a wander around the small but perfectly formed custom show, then back to the caravan. John, our number three in the caravan, arrives, and then for me it’s another stint on the gate.

I missed the daytime bands, but I’m back in plenty of time for the evening band. In fact, I’ve got so much time that I manage to get very pleasantly drunk (nice). Saturday evening’s band is Marquis Drive, a regular on the rally circuit, and always popular; they kick out a blistering set, then it’s time for bed.