As far as scooter rallies are concerned, I think we can all safely admit, we’ve never had it so good. There seems to be loads to choose from both home and abroad. Of course, following our own National Rally scene is always important. That said, there are gaps where no National is planned, one such gap was filled by Shaun Hodgkin and his merry crew who attended the well established Harlequins SC Summer Shindig Rally in the ‘free’ month between the Llandudno and Isle Of Wight Nationals. Shaun gives us the heads up on this little gem.

 

Lee

 

IMG_9892-800

 

Perfectly formed

 

Like most weekends throughout the summer we were faced with several rallies to choose from over the weekend of 4th to 6th August 2017. One thing that influences our choice of destination is supporting our mate’s events whenever possible and on this weekend the choice was simple for us, our good friend Uncle Duncle Patey and the Harlequins Scooter Club have been hosting their excellent rally at the Swaffham Rugby Club for several years now and so we headed to their small, but perfectly formed event.

 

The egg chasers make way The egg chasers make way

 

 

Egg chasers

 

This year was no exception other than the “small” part as word seems to be spreading. More tents and scooters were evident out on the pitch vacated by those fellows with funny shaped balls who’d made way for funny shaped scooterists.

 

 

IMG_9858-800

 

Duncan’s chopper

 

It was a pleasant, ride, zig zagging across country avoiding the rain clouds to Swaffham, arriving at the gate as the clouds converged above us. Greeted at the gate by the ever cheerful Harlequin crew, after the usual piss taking and chatting about Duncan getting his chopper out in the Fine Young Cannibal’s Good Thing video, his claim to fame. I handed over the miserly £10 for the whole weekends camping and entertainment, top value! A few more sheckles saw me holding a Paddy Smith rally patch and then I made my way out on the pitch to find the rest of the usual suspects, only for the rain to finally catch up with us! Putting a tent up in rain is never fun, so that could wait as there were more friends to be found at the Club House and JD to be drunk.

 

IMG_9871-800

 

Clubs aplenty

 

It was great to see clubs travelling in numbers from an ever increasing radius. Blue & Gold, Suffolk Smugglers, Medway, Maidstone Invicta, Colchester DVLC , Norwich Broadsmen, Bradford Discharge, Mysterons, Gravesend Sentinels and a few more. A special mention is needed for the 19 members of the Dirty Mills who braved the rain for most of their journey south, put up their tents in drizzle and then partied as the sun broke through and the alcohol flowed! It was also great to see Eimear & Ken over from the Emerald Isle.

 

Lunatic bike engined small frame Lunatic bike engined small frame

 

Rideout fail

 

After the ride out returned on Saturday morning having spent several hours trying to locate a hill in Norfolk… & failing, the custom show took place. There was a great mix of tasty scooters on show. With me being a sucker for some engineering, small frames and a monster quick engine my dribble was mostly being puddled next to the superb Dark Arc Engineering RG250 small frame monster. This has to be seen in the flesh to really appreciate the subtle and not so subtle details, not to mention the gorgeous sound of the twin!

 

IMG_9842 800

 

Custom show and fancy dress results

 

The Custom Show was judged by Martin Meuser taking a break from his part in organising the Mersea Island Rally. The results were;

 

  • Best of Show  – “300” F718 ATX
  • Best Lambretta – LVG 292B
  • Best Vespa – VCL 765R
  • Best Vintage – KSU 107
  • Best Auto – WUM 496
  • Best Mod Scooter – AEW 849A
  • Best Chop/Cutdown – BRX 491T
  • Best Streetracer/sleeper – TFF 782
  • Best Engineered – B753 JPB
  • Punter’s Choice – AEW 894A

 

Various other trophies were awarded including Best Fancy Dress, with the Blue & Gold SC taking it literally and sporting some mighty fancy dresses!

 

IMG_9839-800

 

Little cracker

 

With live bands on both nights, DJs, hot food and cold drinks on tap all weekend this rally has a great atmosphere and whilst it may be small in comparison to some rallies, like everything in life it’s what you make of it. The couple of hundred or so that attended this time, certainly made it another cracker!

If you’re at a loose end next year around August why not give it a try, and don’t forget to ask Duncan about his famous chopper!

 

Words/Pics: Shaun Hodgkin

 

Rallery by Shaun Hodgkin

Buying from SLUK Shop supports this site

 

As far as scooter rallies are concerned, I think we can all safely admit, we’ve never had it so good. There seems to be loads to choose from both home and abroad. Of course, following our own National Rally scene is always important. That said, there are gaps where no National is planned, one such gap was filled by Shaun Hodgkin and his merry crew who attended the well established Harlequins SC Summer Shindig Rally in the ‘free’ month between the Llandudno and Isle Of Wight Nationals. Shaun gives us the heads up on this little gem.

 

Lee

 

Harlequins SC Summer Shindig Rally 2017 | RALLERY

 

Perfectly formed

 

Like most weekends throughout the summer we were faced with several rallies to choose from over the weekend of 4th to 6th August 2017. One thing that influences our choice of destination is supporting our mate’s events whenever possible and on this weekend the choice was simple for us, our good friend Uncle Duncle Patey and the Harlequins Scooter Club have been hosting their excellent rally at the Swaffham Rugby Club for several years now and so we headed to their small, but perfectly formed event.

 

The egg chasers make way
The egg chasers make way

 

 

Egg chasers

 

This year was no exception other than the “small” part as word seems to be spreading. More tents and scooters were evident out on the pitch vacated by those fellows with funny shaped balls who’d made way for funny shaped scooterists.

 

 

Harlequins SC Summer Shindig Rally 2017 | RALLERY

 

Duncan’s chopper

 

It was a pleasant, ride, zig zagging across country avoiding the rain clouds to Swaffham, arriving at the gate as the clouds converged above us. Greeted at the gate by the ever cheerful Harlequin crew, after the usual piss taking and chatting about Duncan getting his chopper out in the Fine Young Cannibal’s Good Thing video, his claim to fame. I handed over the miserly £10 for the whole weekends camping and entertainment, top value! A few more sheckles saw me holding a Paddy Smith rally patch and then I made my way out on the pitch to find the rest of the usual suspects, only for the rain to finally catch up with us! Putting a tent up in rain is never fun, so that could wait as there were more friends to be found at the Club House and JD to be drunk.

 

Harlequins SC Summer Shindig Rally 2017 | RALLERY

 

Clubs aplenty

 

It was great to see clubs travelling in numbers from an ever increasing radius. Blue & Gold, Suffolk Smugglers, Medway, Maidstone Invicta, Colchester DVLC , Norwich Broadsmen, Bradford Discharge, Mysterons, Gravesend Sentinels and a few more. A special mention is needed for the 19 members of the Dirty Mills who braved the rain for most of their journey south, put up their tents in drizzle and then partied as the sun broke through and the alcohol flowed! It was also great to see Eimear & Ken over from the Emerald Isle.

 

Lunatic bike engined small frame
Lunatic bike engined small frame

 

Rideout fail

 

After the ride out returned on Saturday morning having spent several hours trying to locate a hill in Norfolk… & failing, the custom show took place. There was a great mix of tasty scooters on show. With me being a sucker for some engineering, small frames and a monster quick engine my dribble was mostly being puddled next to the superb Dark Arc Engineering RG250 small frame monster. This has to be seen in the flesh to really appreciate the subtle and not so subtle details, not to mention the gorgeous sound of the twin!

 

Harlequins SC Summer Shindig Rally 2017 | RALLERY

 

Custom show and fancy dress results

 

The Custom Show was judged by Martin Meuser taking a break from his part in organising the Mersea Island Rally. The results were;

 

  • Best of Show  – “300” F718 ATX
  • Best Lambretta – LVG 292B
  • Best Vespa – VCL 765R
  • Best Vintage – KSU 107
  • Best Auto – WUM 496
  • Best Mod Scooter – AEW 849A
  • Best Chop/Cutdown – BRX 491T
  • Best Streetracer/sleeper – TFF 782
  • Best Engineered – B753 JPB
  • Punter’s Choice – AEW 894A

 

Various other trophies were awarded including Best Fancy Dress, with the Blue & Gold SC taking it literally and sporting some mighty fancy dresses!

 

Harlequins SC Summer Shindig Rally 2017 | RALLERY

 

Little cracker

 

With live bands on both nights, DJs, hot food and cold drinks on tap all weekend this rally has a great atmosphere and whilst it may be small in comparison to some rallies, like everything in life it’s what you make of it. The couple of hundred or so that attended this time, certainly made it another cracker!

If you’re at a loose end next year around August why not give it a try, and don’t forget to ask Duncan about his famous chopper!

 

Words/Pics: Shaun Hodgkin

 

Rallery by Shaun Hodgkin

IMG_9832-800
IMG_9834-800
IMG_9835-800
IMG_9836-800
IMG_9837-800
IMG_9838-800
IMG_9839-800
IMG_9840-800
IMG_9841-800
IMG_9842-800
IMG_9843-800
IMG_9845-800
IMG_9846-800
IMG_9847-800
IMG_9848-800
IMG_9849-800
IMG_9850-800
IMG_9852-800
IMG_9853-800
IMG_9854-800
IMG_9855-800
IMG_9857-800
IMG_9858-800
IMG_9859-800
IMG_9860-800
IMG_9861-800
IMG_9862-800
IMG_9863-800
IMG_9864-800
IMG_9865-800
IMG_9866-800
IMG_9867-800
IMG_9868-800
IMG_9870-800
IMG_9871-800
IMG_9874-800
IMG_9875-800
IMG_9876-800
IMG_9880-800
IMG_9885-800
IMG_9886-800
IMG_9888-800
IMG_9889-800
IMG_9890-800
IMG_9892-800
IMG_9900-800

Buying from SLUK Shop supports this site