It’s 8 am, and my alarm is going off; it’s time to get up and head for Dawlish. One problem, I’ve had three hours sleep after a particularly late finish at work. Ah, I’ll be fine!
Off I trot, M27, A31 through the New Forest and then on to the A35 up through Dorset and Devon, next the A30 and the A379 to Dawlish. The ride is fantastic, picturesque, and, apart from a few roadworks, problem-free. The weather is perfect, bright, sunny, though just a little chilly.
Now completely forgetting my lack of sleep, I’m buzzing for the rally, helped by seeing scoots at various garages on the way.
Very Tropical
John, my riding buddy, catches up with me en route (literally, he found me sitting in one of the roadworks!) and we continue our glorious ride. We arrive at Dawlish, after a well-needed coffee stop, at about 1.30. John goes off to catch up with our other buddies, as I’ve got a shift on the gate at 2.
The gate shift is busy, and everyone is in a great mood, with the fabulous weather being the topic of most people’s conversation. Shift finished and it’s straight to the chip shop (no surprise there) and then to the bar, again no great surprise.
SkaBBA
I do love a pre-season rally, it’s a great way to catch up with people that I haven’t seen since November, and there are loads of people to catch up with (although I had seen a lot at MadMoselle in February).
Catching up done, it’s time to catch Friday’s band SkaBBA, they’re a great mashup covers band. As the name suggests, they play ABBA songs to a ska beat and keep the dancefloor bouncing.
Finally, the day catches up with me, and I head back to the caravan for a well-earned bit of shut-eye.
Another scorcher
Saturday morning, and the weather is as glorious as Friday, it’s that sort of warm sunny day that just puts a smile on your face.
It’s breakfast in the venue, then a wander round the parts fair before checking out the outdoors custom show, with the number of scooters being shown, SWSC may soon have to place them elsewhere! It’s a good selection, some haven’t been shown before, as well as some regular show scoots.
A Dirty Business
After that, duty calls, and it’s another shift on the gate. My first two hours are spent mostly sitting around and catching the rays; it’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it. Finally, after a hard day (honest boss), I finish my shift and once again head straight to the chip shop and then the bar (God I’m so predictable).
The Tornados
More chatting, and then it’s time to catch Saturday’s band, The Tornados, now primarily made up of members of Heavy Sol with connections to the original band. They play a selection of Motown and Northern Soul standards, and fittingly, they close a great weekend.
Nailed it
Sunday morning and it’s home time, again in the sunshine, woohoo! I just hope that when we reach the end of the season, we don’t look back and say that was the one sunny rally of the year!
This is the third Dawlish rally, it’s going from strength to strength, busier each year and always a good vibe. SWSC have absolutely nailed it.
Words and photos: Booga
