Next year you should go to.............Because.

[NickD]

Let's see if this works.....

Bike shows, rallies, race meets, etc.

One event per post, but multiple posts about the same event are ok, based on experience please.


The kind of people the event would appeal to.
What goes on.
Bands/ attractions from previous years.
Thing to look out for, or avoid.
Value for money, regarding entry/ beer/ food etc.
Dates if announced.
Hints and tips learned from previous years.
Contact number/ e-mail/ website.
Other stuff that I've not thought of.


Lets see if we can build a comprehensive events catalogue by springtime.
____________________
I was only doing what it said on my licence officer....
Tear along the dotted line!

[Rob W]

Good idea for a thread mate, pity I have nothing at all to contribute. Only bike thing I've been to is Ally Pally and that was years ago but seemed pretty good at the time.
____________________
TS50 > Senda 125 > ZXR400 > CB-1 > GSX-R1000 > Bandit 600 > ZXR750 H1 > GSX-R750 SRAD > '98 RR-W Fireblade > T595 Daytona > Hornet 900 > '04 Fireblade > GSX-S1000F (x2) > '23 XSR900

[stinkwheel]

THE DRAGON RALLY

The kind of people the event would appeal to.

Bikers with a sense of adventure who aren't afraid of roughing it and are confident in their and their bikes ability to make it to a gathering in adverse weather. Prove to yourself that you are an 'All weather' biker. The most hardcore rally you can do in the UK. If your bike is on the road for the Dragon, it is on the road for the year.

Everyone is made welcome, bikes range from pre-war BSAs to brand new Ducatis, all are "rid, not hid". Attendees are a universally friendly lot with interesting stories to tell if you get them talking. A lot of very colourful characters.

It is all about socialising and a sense of satisfaction in getting there despite the conditions.

What goes on.

Bonfire (usually), camping, kicking tyres, drinking, telling lies. Rain, sun, wind, hail, snow, fog, flooding.

Usually set in snowdonia within travelling distance of Betws-y-coed.

Bands/ attractions from previous years.

Cheesy folk band and marquee for a few years now. Not there last year due to adverse weather and flooding.

Cup of hot soup, a roll, whisky miniature, mars bar, snickers, rally badge and slate coaster depicting a Welsh Castle for everyone who turns up with a ticket.

Some recent ones had an indoor bar and toilet facilities, this was not the case last year after complaints that it was getting 'too soft'.

Thing to look out for, or avoid.

Flooding, snow, high winds hypothermia. Nazi welsh traffic coppers.

DO NOT pitch your tent on the flat green bits next to the river! Get it up on a slope/hillock even if it is stony and exposed.

Don't expect too much, you are camping in a field. They supply a portaloo, a bonfire (usually) and usually manage to arrange an access road...but not always. If you don't want to get your bike muddy, leave it off site.

Value for money, regarding entry/ beer/ food etc.

Entry 16 quid, cans on bar a quid or BYO. Big fire, singing optional.

Dates if announced.

Second weekend in February. Tickets are pre-book only. This gets you a reciept which you must present at a control point a short way from the rally site. Only by turning up at the control point, on a motorbike, with your reciept, will you get a ticket and directions to the rally itself. No Cars, at all, ever. Disabled are made welcome and come in a sidecar or on a trike. Not recommended for wheelchair users unless fitted with knobbly tyres/tank tracks.

Hints and tips learned from previous years.

Wear ALL your clothes, nothing is too rediculous to take in the lines of comfort. Do not expect a 60 quid millets tent to stay up in a force 9 gale with driven hailstones. You need a minimum of a 3/4 season sleeping bag and a good roll mat.

Contact number/ e-mail/ website.

https://www.conwymotorcycleclub.co.uk/

Other stuff that I've not thought of.

Last years site

There is usually a big night in Betws-y-coed the night before the rally, your last chance to be inside in the warm.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Luke_Retrofly]

HI
BULLDOG BASH OR R&B festival cause no fuckers went last year!!!!!

Luke

actually i prolly wont go to any due to track dayage (fingers crsossed)

Luke
____________________
Flounced - Long overdue
Fuck you bitch I'm in the top 10 list I can do the what the fuck I want!

[G]

A track day....
because:

The kind of people the event would appeal to.
A lot of people that rides bikes.

What goes on.
A lot of people riding bikes .

Bands/ attractions from previous years.
See below.

Thing to look out for, or avoid.
People crashing; yourself crashing

Value for money, regarding entry/ beer/ food etc.
Food is over priced, a cheap circuit offers good value for the expereince

Dates if announced.
www.biketrackdays.co.uk

Hints and tips learned from previous years.
Have fun.

Contact number/ e-mail/ website.
www.biketrackdays.co.uk

Other stuff that I've not thought of....
You'll most probably have a lot of fun.
You'll improve your riding.
You'll get a chance to use the advantages of a bike over a car without being 3cm away from a BMW X3.
You'll get a chance to ride without any vehicles coming towards you, drain covers and big run offs if you do get a bit over enthusiastic.
You'll get a chance to get to know how your bike works better.

[Tarmacsurfer]

I second Stinkwheels vote, the Dragon is a hell of a laugh.
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I'm immortal. Well, so far.

[jay12329]

Cadwell park/ Snetterton/ Croft/ Silverstone/ any other track that i missed this year.
Track days and lots of them! You get to put faces to online names, camp out in the middle of noware and ride you bike at insane speeds while scraping bits of clothing along the ground.
J

[8316]

hey, jay12329, you forgot brands, indy or gp. when BSB goes there, its class. and only 30mins from central london!
not only is the racing class, but just being there and riding with the thousands of bikes in amazing. me being the only learner rider there was quite cool as well among all the new litre bikes!
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Now own a Fireblade!! Speed Limits? Bah!

[mrchips]

North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix

Why go?

You get to sit feet away from bikes racing at speeds up to 200mph.
____________________
Northern Irish? www.nibikers.com

[JonB]

Moto GP at Donnington Park.

Why? Cause I will be there and hopefully the atmosphere will be great!
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Fallen Angel]

The kind of people the event would appeal to.
Anyone with an open mind and a willingness to meet new people and drink LOADS of alcomohol!!!

What goes on.
Drinking, eating, dancing, beer, fancy dress and a rideout if anyone's sober enough, oh, and an invasion of the local pubs!!!

Bands/ attractions from previous years.
Can't remember who played last year, but it was an excellent vibe and everyone got up to "shake their thang"

Thing to look out for, or avoid.
Camping just below the hill next to the swingpark. Perhaps some queues for the ferry on the way over.

Value for money, regarding entry/ beer/ food etc.
Tickets were £15 from what I remember and that included a badge, which I forgot to collect last year!!!

Beer was £1 per can in the beer tent and the food onsite was excellent, full breakfast for £2.50 if I remember right from memory!! Also, this wee cafe was situated inside the scout hall, so if the weather's as crap as it was last year, there's somewhere to go for a wee heat!!

Free tea and coffee and a jar for donations!

Everyone tended to head down to the local pubs or on a short bus-ride into town - and the locals seemed to love it!

Dates if announced.
Last weekend in August - don't know about next year's dates.

Hints and tips learned from previous years.
Tickets can sell out quickly and wrap up warm, it might be August, but it is Scotland, so if the weather's crap, it's crap and it was really bad last year.

Contact number/ e-mail/ website.
https://www.theyshould.com/framecoming_events.htm
This is the site for this year, but I can't find anything for this year!

Other stuff that I've not thought of.
The bikes are stored off-site about 50 metres from the campsite in a secure boat-yard!
____________________
I have an asshole tolerance level of -10
www.cliqueyclanmcc.co.uk
www.bebo.com/fallenangelfran

[Demonic69]

[divuk83]

Straightliners

The kind of people the event would appeal to.
Everyone, easy to get into and its great fun. Lets you find out how quick your bike really is and helps you find out the real top speed. Would be great to get some of these my RS does 130mph monkeys there to make them see sense! Some venues will let you race on provisional licenses. (not Santa Pod though).
What goes on.
Standing quarter mile sprinting and at some events flyers that are 1.25 mile max speed runs.
Thing to look out for, or avoid.
York Race way is worth avoiding until they get the place re-surfaced! Its also one of the most expensive places to race.
Value for money, regarding entry/ beer/ food etc.
Costs about 30 to sign on and a fiver to get in at most places.
Dates if announced.
Next years have not been annonced yet.
Hints and tips learned from previous years.
Get there early if you want to get loads of runs in. Its quietest at the begining of the day.
Contact number/ e-mail/ website.
https://www.straightliners.co.uk/

[Lone-Wolf]

[NickD]

The Bulldog Bash.
Shakespeare County Raceway, Long Marston, Warks.


The kind of people the event would appeal to...........

Anyone who likes speed, power, noise, and beer. Bikers, petrolheads, fans of live music, the mad, the curious, etc.

What goes on............

Drag strip action including jet cars and bikes, topfuellers, funny cars, jet cars/ bikes, the outlaw anglias etc. Car and bike stunt shows, Run what you brung ( about a tenner for registration/ scrutineering, then as many runs down the strip as you want). Bands on 2 stages in heavy rotation all weekend, dance tent, custom bike show, custom car show, Wall of Death, fairground, hippy market, autojumble, tattooists, wrestling, very rude strippers, mental novelty acts (naked sword swallowers etc). and tons of other mad stuff.

Bands/ attractions from previous years..........

Bands are mostly rock/ metal. Over the past few years They've had stuff like Biohazzard, Fun Lovin Criminals (many times), Therapy, The Wildhearts (lots), The Almighty, Queen Adreena, The Alabama 3, .........That kind of thing.......


........As for the dance tent, this year they had Lisa Lashes on the Friday night, and Lab4 and Proteus on the Saturday.

Things to look out for, or avoid............

There's often, quite a few mobile cameras between Stratford and Long Marston, so take it steady for the last few miles before the site.


Value for money, regarding entry/ beer/ food etc...........

The earlier you book the cheaper it is, but this year it was £45 on the gate (£35 before the first pre- book date), and I've always found it worth the money. Beer is pretty expensive, so I usually take a bottle of whiskey to help me along, they're pretty reasonable about it (despite the 'no alcohol to be brought on site' signs), as long as it's not in a glass bottle (20000 pairs of tyres and glass is a bad combination). Food is usually reasonable as far as price and quality is concerned, and there is a list of what you should pay for particular items in the back of the program, this stops people geting ripped off by dodgy vendors, There are usually about 20- 30 different food places so there's plenty of choice.

Dates if announced............

Thur 11th- Sun 14th of August 2005.

Contact number/ e-mail/ website..,..........

https://www.bulldogbash.com/ (at the moment it's just the remnants of last years site, but it's usually starts getting updated from around april)

Other stuff that I've not thought of...........

Can't think of anything at the moment.
____________________
I was only doing what it said on my licence officer....
Tear along the dotted line!