We all crave new events, a new venue and destination to ride to. Riding to the unknown is far more exciting than being greeted by the same landlady you\’ve stayed with for 20 odd years. When that new event is put on by a group of Scooterists who already promote some very successful National Rallies and events you know it\’ll be pretty special. Booga takes a look at the SWSC Farmyard Party.
Some time ago I heard about a new rally that the South West Scooter Clubs were planning. Something a bit old school, back to basics – nothing big or fancy, just a good old fashioned, turn up, get drunk and have fun party. And that\’s how The Farmyard Party was born.
Fast forward to the Friday after Mersea and I\’m loading the scoot ready to go. The rally is near Weston-Super-Mare, so just over 100 miles for me, and a route I know quite well (though more of that later). The weather is looking quite threatening so waterproofs on, pack spares and off I go. I get a bit stuck at Salisbury, but nothing that a little filtering can\’t deal with and on I go, the sky is looking very angry, but still no rain.
At about quarter past Frome (a Somerset joke) the heavens open and now I know why I packed my extra waterproof coat, shame I can\’t see far enough ahead to see a layby, so I suffer until I finally find somewhere to pull over and prevent myself looking like a drowned cat.
Just follow your nose
The rain lasts about an hour, but finally gives way to some sun and I start to dry out a few miles short of my destination. Now about my destination, as I mentioned earlier I know the route to Weston reasonably well, but I\’ve never been to Banwell where the Farmyard Party is being held, and it soon becomes apparent I\’m lost. So I resort to stopping every five minutes to check my phone for the route, eventually, after stopping about five times I find the site – Court Farm, which is actually a working farm, but has branched out into an events venue, with a large barn converted into a bar and live music area. I pitch my tent and settle in.
There\’s a fair few already here before me, and as the evening progresses more arrive, though I think not as many as expected, probably due to the bad weather earlier.
Communication is key
I head up to the bar to catch Friday\’s band, The Communicators, a ska band that actually writes its own songs, it\’s nice to hear something a little different when seeing a ska band, and they didn\’t disappoint.
Health & Safety
Saturday morning found me at the burger van for breakfast (as always). I killed a couple of hours catching up with old friends before the start of the fun and games. They started with an old fashioned gymkhana, using real scooters, something you don\’t often see these days, and great fun to watch. Then the slow ride, which was worryingly close to the custom show (no scooters were harmed in the making of this rally).
All the time there\’s a steady stream of scooters coming in as now the weather is fabulous, it\’s warm and sunny, adding to the great atmosphere.
Saturday afternoon\’s band, Steve Wurzel and The Scrumpy Swillers, well what need I say? Hilarious, that\’s all. Their take on England Belongs To me, \’Scrumpy Belongs To Me\’ and then \’Always Look On The Bright Cider Life\’ were the highlights of a hysterical set.
Yard of snakebite
The fun and games resume, this time using manpower in the shape of a tug of war, followed by the yard of ale competition (actually snakebite) and finally the Mr & Mrs Greedy eating competition, all great to watch, though I\’m not so sure about participating in!
Ooh wallah wallah!
Next up, Palooka 5, my new favourite band! The only way to describe them is SURFS UP! They deliver a blistering set, whilst looking like extras from Apocalypse Now, I loved \’em.
Natty Daps take to the stage next, a ska band with soul undertones, definitely worth checking out.
Last, but never least the mighty King Kurt. Now I\’ve seen them a fair few times, but I have to say this was one of their best in a long time, completely on form, even coming down into the crowd, it was 110% King Kurt at their most hectic.
It rounded off a brilliant new rally perfectly, and I\’m glad I was a little part of it. All I can say is if you weren\’t there then you missed out big time. You will get another chance to visit The Farmyard though in 2021.
Words and photos: Booga
The SWSC present
Next up from those cider swilling South West Scooterists is Woolacombe, the penultimate National of 2019. Featuring plenty of top entertainment and the biggest Sunday night party of any rally. See you down there.
Booga\’s Farmyard Rallery
We pride ourselves on excellent customer service and quality parts – put your trust in SLUK
We all crave new events, a new venue and destination to ride to. Riding to the unknown is far more exciting than being greeted by the same landlady you’ve stayed with for 20 odd years. When that new event is put on by a group of Scooterists who already promote some very successful National Rallies and events you know it’ll be pretty special. Booga takes a look at the SWSC Farmyard Party.
They does things differently in the West Country they do
Some time ago I heard about a new rally that the South West Scooter Clubs were planning. Something a bit old school, back to basics – nothing big or fancy, just a good old fashioned, turn up, get drunk and have fun party. And that’s how The Farmyard Party was born.
Fast forward to the Friday after Mersea and I’m loading the scoot ready to go. The rally is near Weston-Super-Mare, so just over 100 miles for me, and a route I know quite well (though more of that later). The weather is looking quite threatening so waterproofs on, pack spares and off I go. I get a bit stuck at Salisbury, but nothing that a little filtering can’t deal with and on I go, the sky is looking very angry, but still no rain.
At about quarter past Frome (a Somerset joke) the heavens open and now I know why I packed my extra waterproof coat, shame I can’t see far enough ahead to see a layby, so I suffer until I finally find somewhere to pull over and prevent myself looking like a drowned cat.
Just follow your nose
The rain lasts about an hour, but finally gives way to some sun and I start to dry out a few miles short of my destination. Now about my destination, as I mentioned earlier I know the route to Weston reasonably well, but I’ve never been to Banwell where the Farmyard Party is being held, and it soon becomes apparent I’m lost. So I resort to stopping every five minutes to check my phone for the route, eventually, after stopping about five times I find the site – Court Farm, which is actually a working farm, but has branched out into an events venue, with a large barn converted into a bar and live music area. I pitch my tent and settle in.
There’s a fair few already here before me, and as the evening progresses more arrive, though I think not as many as expected, probably due to the bad weather earlier.
Communication is key
I head up to the bar to catch Friday’s band, The Communicators, a ska band that actually writes its own songs, it’s nice to hear something a little different when seeing a ska band, and they didn’t disappoint.
Health & Safety
Saturday morning found me at the burger van for breakfast (as always). I killed a couple of hours catching up with old friends before the start of the fun and games. They started with an old fashioned gymkhana, using real scooters, something you don’t often see these days, and great fun to watch. Then the slow ride, which was worryingly close to the custom show (no scooters were harmed in the making of this rally).
All the time there’s a steady stream of scooters coming in as now the weather is fabulous, it’s warm and sunny, adding to the great atmosphere.
Saturday afternoon’s band, Steve Wurzel and The Scrumpy Swillers, well what need I say? Hilarious, that’s all. Their take on England Belongs To me, ‘Scrumpy Belongs To Me’ and then ‘Always Look On The Bright Cider Life’ were the highlights of a hysterical set.
Yard of snakebite
The fun and games resume, this time using manpower in the shape of a tug of war, followed by the yard of ale competition (actually snakebite) and finally the Mr & Mrs Greedy eating competition, all great to watch, though I’m not so sure about participating in!
Ooh wallah wallah!
Next up, Palooka 5, my new favourite band! The only way to describe them is SURFS UP! They deliver a blistering set, whilst looking like extras from Apocalypse Now, I loved ’em.
Natty Daps take to the stage next, a ska band with soul undertones, definitely worth checking out.
Last, but never least the mighty King Kurt. Now I’ve seen them a fair few times, but I have to say this was one of their best in a long time, completely on form, even coming down into the crowd, it was 110% King Kurt at their most hectic.
It rounded off a brilliant new rally perfectly, and I’m glad I was a little part of it. All I can say is if you weren’t there then you missed out big time. You will get another chance to visit The Farmyard though in 2021.
Words and photos: Booga
The SWSC present
Next up from those cider swilling South West Scooterists is Woolacombe, the penultimate National of 2019. Featuring plenty of top entertainment and the biggest Sunday night party of any rally. See you down there.
Booga’s Farmyard Rallery
We pride ourselves on excellent customer service and quality parts – put your trust in SLUK
-
SLUK Bullet screen | Scomadi TT
£115.00 – £120.00 -
Tyre repair and inflation kit – Air Pro
£33.00 -
Scootronics 120 watt Wassel type DC voltage regulator – Vespa/Lambretta
£23.00 -
Readspeed Red Devil five plate clutch – Lambretta
£274.99 -
Readspeed Red Devil six plate clutch – Lambretta
£299.99 -
ScooterNova – Issue 15 | MAGAZINE
£5.00
