The Bulldog Bash 2010 Review

I recently had the privilege of going to The Bulldog Bash 2010 at Shakespeare County Raceway in Warwickshire. I went on the Friday, stayed over and came home on the Saturday. This is the first opportunity I’ve had to go to this event and was keen to experience it. Bikers, beer, music and tents right next to a drag strip – a biker’s dream!

The first obstacle I had to get over was how I was meant to get a pillion and camping gear, including tent strapped securely to the Busa, for the 400 odd round mile trip I would have to do.

A quick phone call later and I managed to obtain exactly what I needed….. a Renntec sports rack, small enough to not detract too much from the bike’s looks but just big enough for me to securely strap down all the camping stuff (in a big camping backpack), leaving the pillion seat free for my passenger. Thanks for agreeing to come with me Joe! (to be fair he agreed to the trip after I said ‘beer’ without knowing what he was letting himself in for!)

Early Friday morning we set off for the ‘bash’. Most of the journey (as usual) was on the motorway but it is the quickest and most direct way to get to most places! I am always surprised by the way the Hayabusa doesn’t baulk when loaded up with luggage and pillion. It just happily gets on with it. Often the only time I notice any change in behaviour is under braking, not quite as strong as when I’m solo, but to be expected none the less!

Throughout the journey I noticed plenty of other bikes appearing, all with loads of luggage, tents etc and I thought hmm wonder where they’re going!

A few hours later we approached the venue and I instantly noticed the heavy police presence; lots of police bikes, cars and camera vans parked up in quite a few lay-bys which apparently has always been the case and is to be expected given it’s reputation. Driving into the event we were given our wristbands and directed to a nearby field which was to be our accommodation for the night and I thought lets hope it doesn’t rain!

Driving the Hayabusa through the field was the first time I have taken it off road and it is not really where it’s at its happiest. Still, parked up surrounded by loads of other bikes and tents it did at least look like a proper bike event, even though I did have to put the wheelie bins labelled ‘last chance to leave your drugs and weapons’ to the back of my mind!

Tent up and a quick change of clothes (just as it started raining!) we headed into the fenced off area that was the entrance to all the attractions. The Bulldog Bash had a lot going on. Two main ‘big’ tents, one housing the custom bike show and the other housing the main music stage, a large outdoor stage, rodeo bulls (one was a scantily clad woman on all fours instead of a bull!) quad biking, ‘adult’ tent (that I quickly walked past) a significant sized fun fair and a lot of stalls selling everything from T-shirts and bike clothes to massages and tattoo’s (no I didn’t get one!).

There was also a respectable food ‘court’, Kawasaki wheelie machine, cash machines and a mobile bar (a truck with the side down full of Hells Angels, giving out Cider and taking money). It was also good to see a ‘Help for Heroes’ presence where donations could be made to the charity and that’s before you even talk about the drag strip!

We hit the custom bike show tent first, which was home to some really amazing machines, a large portion of which seemed to be completely fabricated from scratch (it was heavily biased towards cruiser style bikes). There were choppers, bobbers, low riders, performance nakeds and bikes fitted with Shelby V8’s, and that’s the 1^st five bikes we came across! There were a few American cars as well but none got as much attention as the bikes! I was please to see that Charlie Boorman’s new bobber was on display and I had the chance to see it up close and in the flesh – not much chance of me seeing something like that on the road!

Rest of the day was spent walking about the site, taking in all the bikes, biking merchandise and the vast array of bikers strolling around doing the same. All this under the watchful eye of the 4×4 ‘security’ vehicles which were of course being driven by Hells Angels which actually made you feel safe, no one will want to start trouble and have to answer to some of those guys!

As the night drew on everyone went from the funfair to the main tent where they had some really good bands playing, helped by the fact there was also a large bar there! It was a proper set up with spectacular lighting, sound and large TV screens so you could check out the action if you were toward the back of the stage. Not only is it a bike show but it is a proper festival too!

Straight past the Adult tent to the food court for a bit of dinner before heading back to our tent (through the muddy field, it hadn’t stopped raining since we got there!). I was thankful to see the Hayabusa was still standing and hadn’t sunk into the mud!

The following day was spent looking at the bikes in the custom tent and milling around all the stalls, not to mention being amused by the state of some of the people out and about. It looked like most hadn’t been to bed!– I bet the food court made a killing on bacon baps that morning!

As it had been raining all through the night and the following morning we eventually decided it was time to head home. With everything packed away and strapped to the bike it suddenly dawned on me that I had to get the Busa out of the treacherously slippery quagmire that we were standing in…. 1^st gear, release the clutch, minimal throttle and the rear tyre spins sideways – I do not want to be dropping this!

I eventually got the bike out of the field using patience, determination some superb clutch control and numerous quite extreme expletives! I didn’t drop it though. I had never been so grateful for tarmac when I finally got the bike on the road. Drive a Hayabusa out of a muddy field whilst it is raining and loaded up with camping gear? Never again!

I really enjoyed the experience overall and it certainly looked like everyone else did too! It was perfectly run and managed, there was security presence, adequate facilities and enough entertainment to keep everyone busy from families with young children to biker gangs out for a good time. Well done to the Hells Angels and all those involved for persevering and hosting a fantastic bike event!

Will I go next year? Definitely (but I will be taking a KTM!)