The season finale: Ladrum Bay Scooter Rally | RALLERY

It’s that time of year again. Time to head off to my last rally of the year. My target, Ladram Bay, the SWSC end-of-season scooter rally.

Five of us meet and head off for a leisurely ride up to Ladram Bay (apart from twenty-five miles on the M27). We have no problems (quite surprisingly as we’re all on 2-strokes). Just stopping for petrol and coffee twice before we drop into Sidmouth for a nice meal, as the caravan we’ve booked won’t be ready yet.

Jolliff owed Booga a pint or two after leading him on a merry dance…

Now this is where the fun starts, with Jolliff leading, we head out of Sidmouth with this very large imposing hill ahead of us. Our conversation went like this: Jolliff; ‘Ahead is the only way I know’ Me; ‘ahhh, it’ll be fine…’

Now if you’ve booked a caravan at Ladram Bay you’ll have seen the very explicit instructions saying “Don’t follow the sat nav directions as that will take you down very narrow windy tracks…” Yes, you’ve guessed it, we’re heading straight for those windy, wet, muddy tracks. Yep, that was fun, with flood water pouring down the sides of the roads, mud in the middle and about a foot of (for want of a better word) safe road in between. After what feels like an eternity we get on to the road into Ladram Bay, arrive, pick up our keys and settle into our home for the weekend.

Butterfly collective

I’ve got a short shift helping out on the gate, and I’m not feeling too great (no it’s not alcohol poisoning, I saved that for Saturday night), so really don’t get up to much, apart from catching Friday’s headline band, Butterfly Collective, they play a mix of ska and mod covers, as well as original songs. I haven’t seen them for a while so it was good to see them.

The weather Friday night is truly awful, with people, even though it’s only a short walk from most of the caravans, looking like drowned rats as they get to the venue, but that doesn’t seem to dampen their spirits.

Parts and custom show

Saturday arrives, and I’m still under the weather, but I get out, have breakfast, and pop down to the beach. It’s still grey and windy, but the rain has stopped, and the beach looks fantastic. Then off to the parts fair and custom show.

As I have another shift I miss the daytime bands, Double Barrel, and Palooka 5, but having seen them both previously I know they would have been great sets.

Best laid plans…

After my shift, I have a ‘little rest’ (read sleep), wake up feeling much better and head to the venue, I’m not going to have anything to drink though…

Half an hour later and I’m on my third double vodka and coke.

Shout out to the staff

Saturday night is fantastic, with a great atmosphere, with everyone having a great time. The main venue is bouncing, as is the upstairs soul room. At this point I need to give a big shout-out to the Ladram Bay staff, they were awesome, I hear a lot of complaints from various rallies, but the recurring moan is the wait at the bar. Not at Ladram Bay, they have it spot on, drink ordered by one member of staff, another goes and makes it whilst you’re paying, job done. Also, the staff are all great, friendly and cheerful, with one even remembering me from last year, I’m not 100% sure what I did that was so memorable, and I possibly don’t want to!

The Corsairs

Time for Saturday’s headline band, The Corsairs. One word, brilliant. A psychobilly band with punk power, and always playing to the audience, they’re a band you HAVE to see.

Saturday ends (drunkenly), so it’s off to bed before our Sunday ride home from an excellent rally.

Words and photos: Booga