The scooter events are arriving thick and fast at the minute. A four-day gap between two large-scale National rallies (Kelso and Big 7) is a quick turnaround by anybody’s standards.

But, dare I say, things are starting to feel almost normal again in the world of scooter riding, and my recent visit to the Big 7 rally left me with happy and strange feelings of Déjà vu.

The Big 7 rally at the Hop Farm near Paddock Wood in Kent has run for a number of years now and must rank as one of the largest inland scooter rallies in the UK. Its location in the South East of England means it always attracts a few French, German and other European scooterists that head over through the tunnel and ferry routes. It also seems to attract a number of younger riders, which is very encouraging amongst a sea of ageing attendees.

It was a busy start from Friday morning onwards with people queuing up before the entrance gates even opened.
The site has great facilities, including a pub, café, restaurant and a food court, selling slightly more upmarket food than your average rally. All this is enclosed in fields more than big enough to accommodate the largest of scooter rallies.

Big 7’s Mark always brings the sunshine with him…

Mid-week, before the rally, I had contacted the rally organiser Mark with a tongue-in-cheek request for him to book good weather for the weekend (as I had done at the previous 2019 rally as well). A “consider it done” reply from him was the same on both occasions. And so, when I found myself at a shop near the campsite early on Friday, nearly all the beer had been sold and bags of ice (to keep it cool) were long gone, just like the previous rallies – it explained my feelings of Déjà vu.

The Beat goes on

The weekend entertainment line-up was an impressive one with multiple DJs, and more than eight hours of live music across the two nights of the weekend, played out by seven different live bands. I can’t think of a musical taste or genre that wasn’t catered for.

Friday night’s acts were Senior Class, The Vinyls and The Beat, backed up with DJs playing reggae, Darkside dance, and school disco. Legends ‘The Beat’ packed the main marquee to full capacity – a very promising start to their full UK tour.

A great start to the rally weekend, although the onsite pub completely sold out of food, come on scooterists, isn’t eating cheating?

My camping neighbours were a lively and welcoming bunch, that certainly know how to enjoy a rally, thanks go to The Mysterons S.C.

Saturday was the start of another very warm day. A full lineup of dealers stalls, (again selling old and new) preparations were made for a custom show jam-packed with entries, and an impressive number of riders setting off into the sunshine on the organised ride out.

Based in the middle of the campsite were dozens of pre-erected tepee-type glamping tents, for those wanting more space, comfort and the convenience of not having to carry loads of camping gear to and from the rally.

The music across the campsite was regularly drowned out to the sounds of scooters being thrashed on the dyno. Jon Gilbert of JG Scooters in Grantham had brought their mobile Dyno and had literally dozens of scooters on it across the day. Jon, a Lambretta die-hard, gives out some great technical advice, and was very impressed by the horsepower of three Vespas in particular; an orange smallframe making high 30s, a green cut-down Cosa making 40 plus, and a street sleeper PX 200 powered by a BFA 305cc engine that made 56 bhp. It became the overall winner of the SLUK-sponsored trophy for the Dyno shootout (a scooter previously shown on a SLUK video from Mersea Island).

Best attended scooter club and furthest travelled individual riders were given trophies and acknowledgement in with the custom show presentations.

Custom show results

Best Lambretta: Midnight Oil (OIL 4237)
Best Vespa: Silver Rally 200 (CR 854 VN)
Best Chopper: Illusion 2 (FMP 39 J)
Best Mod Scooter: Lambretta TV 175 S2 (875 XUB)
Best Street Racer: Vespa PX Cutdown (UKL 698 X)
Best Ridden Classic: Vespa Sprint (WGU 495 F)
Best Auto Scooter: Vespa GTS (AJ 58 NBX)
Best Rat Scooter: Lambretta Series 2 (433 YUJ)
Best in Show: Breaking Rocks (JOE 101 R)

Booga’s abstract view of the custom show can be seen in the Rallery below…
As Saturday afternoon wore on so did the sunshine. Drunken scooterists turned redder and more lobster-like by the hour. Yet, more musical diversity was served up through the evening by the previous night’s DJs and live bands including, Springtide Cavalry, The Signatures, and Ska’per.
Another superb day at a back-to-basics style scooter rally – all incorporated on one site.

Winning formula

This rally doesn’t have a secret formula, it just acts on what the visiting riders ask for each year. A rally that started as a smallish club rally has become many people’s favourite National. It’s also worth pointing out that over the years the Big 7 Scooter Club has been able to donate in excess of £25,000 to charity, thanks to the support shown by the vast number of scooterists attending each year.

Absent friends

Notable absentees from this year’s rally were a large number of scooterists from the Midlands and surrounding areas, that were attending fellow scooterists’ funerals, which is incredibly sad, and becoming far more regular as the years roll by. Saying goodbye to people that were way more than just club mates, but loyal lifelong friends.

Below you can flick through Col’s Rallery of Big 7 images
Below you can find Booga’s rallery of images

In memory of Tik Tester

The Big 7 National Scooter Rally 2022 was hosted in loving memory of well-known scooterist and (ex-Big 7 club member) Matthew Tik Tester (that’s on of his scooters pictured in the Rallery above).

Tik died in absolutely tragic circumstances in April 2021, and the outpouring of love shown by scooterists right across the country ever since shows just the kind of man he was.

All of this year’s Big 7 rally merchandise, T-shirts and patches etc. proudly sport Tik’s name and one of his most recognisable scooters. R.I.P fellow scooterist.

The scooter scene has sadly lost some very good people over the years, we can all take some comfort knowing that wherever we ride, near or far, they will always travel with us, “In our hearts and minds”

Words and additional photos: Col
Photos: Booga

Get a pic

If you riding into Big 7 you’ll most likely have been captured by the talented photographer, Carl from Get a Pic. You can see a few of his candid images in the gallery above but if you want to see the full selection and buy one to hang above the mantlepiece you need to visit his website here.

Carl will also be capturing all the riders at Cleethorpes this coming weekend so make sure you’re looking your best!