Rally Report: OddBalls

Nostalgia is even better than it used to be. Certainly, if the content of some social media sites is to be believed. Those proverbial rose-tinted specs are working flat out.

For those that prefer to get on their scooters and actually ride them, OddBalls rally provides a real-life nostalgia trip in the real world.

The 80s scooterboy era is arguably more popular now than it actually was back in the 80s! For those who prefer to get on their scooters and actually ride them (instead of spending countless hours chained to a keyboard, pouring over grainy images, reminiscing and pontificating), the Oddballs rally provides a real-life nostalgia trip in the real world. Reminiscent of a typical scooter rally from the scooterboy years, it embraces most of the good parts but few, if any, of the not so salubrious elements of those heady days, plus a more contemporary twist adding emphasis to the fun factor. Over its five-year existence, Oddballs hasn't just grown, it’s exploded in both size and stature. At this year's Oddballs rally, I'd estimate there were more than 2000 scooterists along with a small number of friendly bikers in attendance. Host venue, Abingdon Rugby Club, is easily accessible from the A34, one of the UK’s main transport arteries.

In the clubhouse there are proper showers and facilities, along with a well-stocked bar, supplemented by a cash-only beer tent operating when the live acts are performing inside the wristband-only access, official entertainment arena. 1980s psychobilly outfit The Highliners were the Saturday night headliners, ably supported by King Hammond, with Oddballs faves The Corsairs topping the bill on Friday night.

Theme for this year’s Friday after (live) show party was Studio 54, and rally-goers were invited to dress the part in 70s fancy dress. Needless to say there were plenty of subscribers. At every Oddballs so far there has been an overall theme, this year being the Wild West, with a fancy dress competition on the Saturday afternoon. There were plenty of takers on site sporting cowboy outfits, with frontier pioneers, hillbillies, Tex -Mex amigos and native American-inspired attire.

Breakfast served in the clubhouse in the mornings was supplemented by plenty of food stalls on site offering a huge range of food. A trader village offered all manner of clothing (new and vintage) and scooter spares, with all kind of goodies to tempt rally-goers, Both sides of the area were set aside to host Saturday's custom show, which attracted a vast, varied and vintage range of machines, and had just about everything to appeal to every taste. Full-blown customs glistened in the sun with rusteration creations, all manner of radically engineered steeds, chops, cut-downs and bike-engined scoots sitting alongside bog-standard classics, modstyled as well as the weird and the wonderful, all lined up together with awards given for the winner in each of the categories.

Typifying the fun factor that Oddballs is about, this year 'runners-up' were notified similarly, with an amusing ‘Almost a winner, look what you could have won' signsign, inspired by television's Bullseye programme. As always, a leisurely stroll around the vast camping area revealed as many interesting scooters that hadn’t been entered in the show. It was good to see some previous Scootering featured machines in evidence at Oddballs, too.

At previous Oddballs there have been chilli (eating) challenges. Moving up a gear this year was the aptly titled Stinky Fish challenge!

There are few rules at Oddballs... No fires, BBQs are fine, but not on the grass (it's a rugby club, after all), and you’re welcome to bring your own beer/alcohol on site, but (obviously) not into the entertainment arena. Basically, leave any negative vibes at the gate, come on in and

have a good time. Participate and/or spectate as much or as little as suits.

If chilling with mates, talking scooters and putting the world to rights, with a few 24 packs appeals, or partying hard all day and night is your preference, take your pick. For those with the party animal tendency, Oddballs is a home from home.

It was created by Vince Wooloff as a fundraiser for charity, specifically, (but not exclusively) the Teenage Cancer Trust, in memory of Vince's pal, Ron Morgan. To date an impressive £30k has been raised, with another sizeable donation to be added after this year’s event. As well as money from admission fees, a Gatch-painted P-Range, with parts donated by Beedspeed, built by volunteer scooterists, was up for raffle. Other fundraising happenings on site, to add to the total, included organiser Vince having his beard shaved off. Three Words Tattoo Atelier generously donated takings of £400. There were a couple of unconnected scooterist stag and hen parties, who had chosen to mark their end of freedom, Oddballs style.

Due to the volunteer stewards and marshals being required on site, there was no ride out this year, not that it was missed. However, it will be back next year with a local club marshalling and planning the route. The spirit of 80s scooter rallies are alive and thriving at Oddballs, which must be one of, if not the best, regional rally in the UK. It’s fun, as well as a fundraiser, and it’s as full on or as laid back and chilled as suits the individual. It’s everything and more that makes a great gathering. See you there next year for more of the same.