Bulldog Bash 2001
Location: - Shakespeare County Raceway, Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire.
I'm a regular at the raceway but I've never been to the Bulldog before, due to how close it is to the Rock and Blues event. This year because of the rescheduling of the R&B there is enough of a gap for me to be able to afford both events.
Wow I've never been to a "rally" this BIG. We set off from Notts at about 6pm hoping and praying the weather would hold out. We took the wrong turn of the M42, J4 instead of 3a but lucky for us a nice chap on a Big Harley chop lead us into Stratford where we took the lead. Cheers bro we would have never found our way through the back roads. We couldn't believe what happened next, one bike then another and another fell in line behind until when we arrived at the Bash there were 50ish bikes rumbling along.
Here comes the moan...
Once we got in a succession of marshals waved us further and further away from the main area. We were not too impressed. We asked where the nearest water stand was ? The marshal didn't have a clue, it was a bloody long way from the tent. And toilets, there where hundreds in one area but none in the camping fields. Great for midnight dashes when the beer filters through!!!
The first evening was a case of finding our feet. The bands where on in a tent, a massive tent but no where near big enough for the hoards of revellers who struggled to catch a glimpse of the performers. We more sensible folk sat outside supping ale watching the big screen outside enjoying the warm summer night. I can't say how good the bands where because I didn't have a clue who was who. sorry guy's.
We awoke Saturday morning to the sound of a torrential down pour. Guess what the bladder gave out and I had to make the 1/4 mile dash to the sodding loo in the rain. On arrival back at the tent I realised by beloved 13 was wet. Damn it'll take days to polish it up.
Twelve o'clockish the rain stopped and everyone immerged. Check the guy below wow what a character.
We wandered around, there where loads of stalls in a maze of a shopping area. We bought several bargains as you tend to do at these events. Then we had a look at the custom show. The photo's below show the high standard of entrant and the diverse taste in the custom scene.
There was a number of quality trikes...
These paint jobs where something special...
I have to give this bike (Malice in wonderland) a special slot as I thought it was truly a work of art.
Saturday evening saw us watching mini moto and having a right laugh at the racers knocking each other off. I had thought I'd run the 13 up the drag strip but I couldn't be bothered with the huge que to run (maybe another time). The drag racing was entertaining with demo runs by the jet cars Fire force 1 and 2 and car racing etc. I didn't see much of this though because there was so much else going on. I even missed Gary Rothwell doing his stunt show. He of the wheelying a 13 and smashing the tail light Gary Rothwell.
What made the whole weekend for me was not the bands, racing, strippers or the being soaked and needing a pee miles from a loo it was the wrestling. Yep there was a display by a couple of pro wrestlers who hammed it up more than big daddy and king kong kurt. Then a number of the crowd where invited in and the last man in won some cash. This was wicked as it got down to the last 2, one guy got somewhat annoyed to say the least and the other played the crowd to his advantage really well. The result was after they both knackered each other out one guy handed the match to the other. Which I'm sure was not the plan as he was the organiser of the wrestling event. The winner a member of the Ogri Mcc lapped up the applause and took the money happily as I sure he realised neither man was going to win.
To me these events have two custom show's, the one we pay to see and the one that comes free in the camping field. I like both, but prefer the later as I see these bikes as tangible not a fairy tail out of my reach. Here are some of your bikes...
As you can see I only found two 13's other than mine. the green beasty was a turbo but I didn't get chance to talk to the guy about it. If you know the guy ask him to contact me. dread@z1300.co.uk.
Despite the couple of moan's I've had about the loo's the event was awesome with loads to do and see. If you've not been you must give it a try, it will blow you mind.
