8th, 9th, 10th and 11th of August: the Bulldog Bash! I wanted to visit Englands main motorcycle event last year but then the bike wasn't finished. | ||||
Short before The Big Crossing Jan and me dismantled all the electronics to make the 'England Switch': with it I can choose the preferable camera for the continent (left, that is) or for England (right, that is). It was quite a risk, but worth taking. | ||||
I went to England with Erwin Hofsté, whom I know from the parties of Hok 14 (see 'Trips 2000'). Here we pose in the rearview camera. | ||||
Erwin on the GL1000, built in '77. He could take far more luggage than me, which came in very useful ... | ||||
... as I had a troublesome accident at the start of the holiday: I spilled hot water over my left foot. On the left you see the crutches strapped on his bike. Click the picture for an impression of the burn. Warning: not for the fainthearted! |
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Shifting gear was quite painful of course. Erwin hit upon the idea of constructing a toe-heel shifting mechanism. We used a peg, five tireraps and some ducktape. It functioned all the way back. | ||||
Tenting at a farmhouse. The English are very hospitable: asking the way for a camp site will often lead to an invitation at their home. Quite the opposite to Holland :-( Behind Erwin you see a medieval church. |
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Arrived at the site (near Stratford upon Avon, south of Birmingham) I rode the CBX in a huge marquee. | ||||
Many bikes and trikes took part in the show, far too many to show them all. I'll give an impression though. On the left you see a six cilinder rat-trike. | ||||
A turbo V-Max with NOS. | ||||
And a Triumph SpeedTriple with sidecar hearse. This one is actually used at funerals. Check out www.motorcyclefunerals.com. | ||||
This trike seems to be from a Batman movie. A pity there's merely a Renault 5 engine in it. This machine deserves at least a Porsche or Chevy engine! | ||||
Same trike, as seen from my bike. | ||||
'Mega Monster' by Ian 'Sooty' Reynolds: a rear 230 Avon ... and a front 230 Avon as well! | ||||
This one had it all: a black, clean, mean machine. | ||||
The 'Waltz Hardcore Revtech' was owned bij Max Croot. Erwin and me got along with him very well. Many hours we spent together discussing (read: drinking). Max won 'Best Lowrider' and 'Best American'. Check out his website: www.mcroot.com. |
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The ultimate prize 'Best of Show' was won by Charlie from Scotland. His Harley has, besides enormous handlebars, bulletproof glass in the wheels in stead of spokes. A beautiful bike. | ||||
I myself didn't do bad at all at the Bash: here you see me receiving first prize 'Best Engineering'. This meaned a set Avon tyres, a Dynojet testrun and ... a NOS-kit for the CBX! | ||||
That wasn't all: I'm proud being 'Runner Up Best of Show', i.e. the second place all categories. Not bad for a Dutchman with a Japanese engine on a Hells Angels meeting, eh? The prize money £ 500 (= 775 Euro) was enough to finance my stay in England. |
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"... so these cameras do really function?" | ||||
Saturdaynight, after the prize giving ceremony, there was another party at the enormous beer tent; England was absolutely great! |