Rally Report: Animal Antics
An ‘old skool’ alternative scooter rally with a modern twist!
Armthorpe Animals SC’s Rally delivered an ‘old skool’ alternative scooter rally with a modern twist!
The Armthorpe Animals SC’s, ‘Animal Antics 8’ Scooter Rally rocked the quiet and tranquil setting of the Hayfield Fishing and Shooting Lodge, Doncaster. A single-track road leads to the venue and gives a sense of being disconnected from the outside world, which adds to the enjoyment of the rally…
Early start
Early on Saturday morning the previous night’s arrivals who’d organised camping with the landlord of the Hayfield were getting themselves freshened up and ready for the day ahead. Also, some of them took advantage of the full English breakfast buffet being served in the pub. In the meantime, club members Mick Shore, Alex Matthews, Jonny Adams and Marie Shore were making final preparations to get the venue ready for the arrival of rally-goers. By mid-morning the buzz of scooters riding down the narrow road and emerging at the Hayfield was in full-flow. Some day-trippers chose to park their machines in the car park, while others chose to take up their positions in the campsite, which was conveniently located immediately next to the Hayfield, the main marquee and the hot food tent.
As more scooters arrived in the campsite I took the opportunity to chat with some of the rally-goers who were setting themselves up. Space was becoming a premium and I knew we were in for a great day. Having chatted in the campsite, I walked over to the car park where areas were now being taken up by scooters in lines two and three deep. The quality of the scooters both in the campsite and in the car park was tremendous. In the meantime, scooter tracks started playing from the PA system in the main marquee; the atmosphere was building. By lunchtime a healthy line-up of scooters entered into the custom show had built up along the area near to the main marquee, which offered rally-goers an opportunity have a look round the entries and check out the detail.
By now, the picnic benches and seating areas in front of the main marquee were fully occupied with friends chatting, exchanging stories and having a beer. In the background, while this was going on the custom show judges began to make their way round the entries, deliberating between themselves.
Afternoon Antics
At 3pm Jonny Adams took to the PA system and performed the role of MC. Jonny’s style with the crowd and his engagement with them got everyone going and added even more fun to the day. A short time later,
having captured the crowd’s full attention Jonny announced the custom show results and gave out the awards to the proud owners. When the custom show presentations had been completed it was time for the tattoo competition. This was won by local lass Jess, who beat off the competition including myself (eliminated in the first round) with her stunning ‘creepy clown’ tattoo completed by Art & Soul tattoo studio, Doncaster.
Trying not to dwell too much on my poor performance in the tattoo competition, I moved back round the campsite to share a beer or two with some of the rally-goers. In the meantime, the hot food tent was doing a roaring trade and keen custom show onlookers were engaging with the owners of the custom show entries. Everyone was in good spirits and we were all looking forward to the evening’s entertainment, which was now being set up in the main marquee.
Live wire
At 6pm the first live band, The Guttersluts, took to the stage – rocking the main marquee with a set of punk and new wave classics. The two front-men got the crowd going and exchanged healthy banter with some of the individuals in the audience.
At 7.30pm The Guttersluts closed and made way for the headline band, Epileptic Hillbillys. The Epileptic Hillbillys played a fantastic set of psychobilly tracks and took the atmosphere to the next level. The audience were bouncing and the area close to the stage developed into a ‘wreckin’ pit’.
Farewells
Saturday was bursting with fun and ‘antics’, and Sunday morning saw a set of well satisfied rally-goers grab a bite to eat, get a coffee and set off back on their journeys home.
Through the course of the day there were around 250 people over the gate. The campsite was packed full of rallygoers, tents and scooters, and if you couldn’t make it, the ‘Animal Antics 9’ Scooter Rally will definitely be one to consider for next year!
Words & Photographs: Stu Smith