It’s Friday and I’m off to another rally, as it’s fairly local (80 miles) I’m heading straight there from work. 4.30 I’m off, 6.30 and I’m pulling up to the gate (after my usual missed roundabout).
With the weather beautiful (though I’ve been told I was lucky, with some coming up earlier getting wet) and for once the A34 being nice to me, it’s a nice easy ride.
The man behind Oddballs, Vince Wooloff
What’s normal?
This rally is far from the norm, I’ve arrived at Oddballs, a mad, anything-goes rally in Abingdon. It’s organised by Vince Wooloff, with all the profits going to Teenage Cancer Trust. Now I’m probably going to embarrass Vince here, but he puts his whole heart and soul into this rally, and it shows. Everything from the food vendors to the bands runs perfectly, it really is brilliant.
I see dead people
Every year has a theme, this year is no different, there’s a ‘zombie’ theme, and there are plenty about, though I’m not 100% sure it’s all fancy dress.
As I arrived a little late, it was straight to the food vendors, so much like a hippo I charge straight in. Tummy filled I head to the bar, now actually stopping to chat to friends!
Everybody in the place
The rally actually starts on the Thursday, so I’ve missed the silent disco, and the first of Friday’s bands, but I’m catching up rapidly, as there’s a lot of bands to see. Riff Raff (a band, not the rallygoers!!), Deadbeat Apostles, Heavy Sol (a rally favourite), followed by Friday’s headline band, Jilted Generation, a, no, sorry, THE Prodigy tribute band, and they’re fantastic, the lights, the sound, the only thing missing is the ecstasy…
Friday night draws to a close, so back to the tent for another night under the stars.
2-stroke heaven
Saturday morning arrives early, as often it does when camping, so it’s breakfast and more catching up.
The custom show is well attended, with around forty scooters being entered, as well as motorbikes in their own category. Speaking of motorbikes, or at least their engines, the custom show has an amazing display of RD 350 engined Lambrettas, and one Vespa. After the custom show they all start up in clouds of 2-stroke smoke, heaven.
Teenage Cancer Trust
Next, it’s ice cream time, then food, then drink, then… sleep, yep, I snuck back to my tent for a snooze.
I return bright and breezy to catch some of the fun and games before setting up for another evening of bands. But before that I catch the Lambretta Choppers Club, a longtime supporter of Oddballs, handing over a cheque to the Teenage Cancer Trust for £1,300, well done!
The bands again come thick and fast, kicking off, aptly enough, with The Teenage Zombies, 2 Tone All Ska’s, The Mccurdy Brothers, with a Blues/Hillbilly sound. Garage/Psychobilly band Kings of Hong Kong are up next, followed, last, but not least, by Sex Pissed Dolls, oh and they’re brilliant. With an energy and power many bands just aspire to, their set is, as you can imagine full of punk standards, but so much more, Gordon is a moron anyone?
Anyway, it’s tent time, after another brilliant Oddballs rally. Next year’s it’s the tenth anniversary, Vince, I can’t wait to see what you’ve got up your sleeve for that.
Words and photos: Booga
