Finally, at the third attempt, we got to head down to Teignmouth (actually Shaldon) for the South West Scooter Club’s excellent Teignmouth Rally.

After a long winter hibernation, it was time to blow the dust off your helmet (stop sniggering at the back!). This was a lot of people’s first rally of the year and a great way to kick off the season. Fingers crossed that we actually get a full calendar of rallies to choose from this year.

The holiday park that hosts the rally hadn’t changed much during our enforced break, so I quickly found our usual chalet after a chilly 220-mile ride, where I met up with the Usual Suspects. I’d had to race down from Northamptonshire on my own after work got in the way. I also had a little detour via Exeter to see some street art recently created by a friend.

Next stop was the reception to buy a wristband for the weekend and the fun and frolics could commence. The SWSC crew always organise excellent rallies with a relaxed, party vibe and after the shitstorm that we’ve all endured, it was just what we needed.
In typical Scooterist fashion, the alcohol was very soon flowing freely as friends old and new were catching up, with some having not ventured out to a rally for two years. The layout of the park really works well for a rally with the on-site pub and restaurant area becoming the soul room and then the main room offering loads of space to dance to the DJs and live bands or to chat with your mates.
Friday night saw Double J and the Rock’n’Roll Swindle provide the live music and on Saturday lunchtime Double Barrel played for those that had decided not to head into Shaldon for the traditional pub crawl. The Modules provided the live entertainment on Saturday night. The bands and DJs kept the floor bouncing all weekend.
Friday night was a proper party night with a lot of people catching up for lost time and feeling fragile the next morning. Those that did clear their heads and ventured down to the custom show and dealers stalls were greeted by some bright weather meaning the custom scooters on show gleamed in the sunlight. It was great to see a few scooters that quite rightly took trophies in the show which had been ridden over by a group of French lads who partied hard all weekend. It was great to see them as we’ve not been able to catch up with them over there for a couple of years. I’m sure we’ll be seeing them a lot more this year, tres bon!

Saturday night was a little quieter as some chose to party in their chalets or maybe we’re getting older and more sensible ahead of riding home on Sunday? … Who am I trying to kid. Sunday morning and a bit of breakfast in the restaurant set us up for another chilly ride back uphill to home.

Thanks to Andy, Stuart and all at SWSC for another great rally, it was a perfect preparation for the first National Rally. Ride safe and see you at Whitby.

Words and photos: Shaun Hodgkin

Check out the rest of the rally photos in the gallery below.

Shaun’s Teignmouth Rallery