11th, 12th and 13th of August Erwin and me went to visit the Bulldog Bash, as we did three years ago. With more than 20,000 visitors it's Britains main motorcycle event.
We were in a good mood; we mostly are.
Erwin rode his recently modified GL1000: apehanger, and decent black.
Yep. A nice job.
We both had the courage (...) to swap bikes once. It's very strange seeing someone else riding yours. But it was nice not sitting on a steel plate for a while.
The Custom Show, like the rest of the event, was perfect organized by the Hells Angels and directed by Blue. It took place in a big marquee.
My bike got quite some attention, as did its specs sheet.
"A what? A screen? What for?"
Some beautiful and many extreme machines on show, like this V-Max with Avon 330 rear tyre.
Talking of Avon: I tried to collect my promised prize from 2002, a set of Avon tyres. But as Avon is no longer a sponsor they'll never fullfill their promise; I think that sucks.
Trikes are very popular in Britain, far more than in Holland. This one, called 'Mantis', was extremely detailed.
My favorite was this small bike, based on a 380cc diesel cement mixer with a 4-speed BSA gearbox. Simple, straightforward, innovative, clean.
Destiny Cycles took all the main prizes again with two extreme choppers. Not my kind of bikes, but stylish, brutal and perfect engineered.

I found out the Custom Show had left a main principle: riding your bike to the show. I understand the dilemma of the organisation: they won't get the quality they now have without the 'trailer bikes'. But I think it really is a wrong choice.
These two ladies attracted attention because of their nondescript way of dressing. They turned out to be Hare Krishna nuns. We had a long talk with them, but they weren't able to convert or convince us.
Outside the marquee there was this fine Bulldog Bash tradition called 'Run What You Brun'. On the dragstrip from the Shakespeare Country Raceway everthing on two, three or four wheels could have a go on the quarter mile dragstrip. Like this mean Busa.
Bikes, trikes, topfuels, rocketcars and the prettiest of them all: the hotrods.
My next bike will be based on a V8 engine, so these dragsters had my special attention. Most of them, like this one, used bigblocks with superchargers. Sooner or later by V8-bike will be on the strip as well.
My good friend Max Croot (on the left) entered the ring with his snowmobile (!). A 1000cc twostroke 3 cylinder Polaris engine with NOS; no less than 335bhp the belt puts on the tarmac. Very spectacular and the first one in Britain.
On his right you see Mick: the team's fulltime Chief Beer Tester and parttime mechanic.
Max's runs weren't as succesfull as the ones of his opponent (and friend) Thomas Pettersson. But well, dragracing is all about testing, adjusting, testing and adjusting. And drinking, afterwards.
Those rocketcars really were impressive.
No need mentioning this.
And then ... then it started raining; what's new?
Remember reading my high expectations on Zoop Seal? Well, after a bit of rain the lower triple tree oxidated immediately. I will write them a serious mail...
Like three years ago we met the energetic and humoristic Reverend Paul Sinclair and his charming wife Marian with their motorcycle hearse. They have a 200mph Hayabusa version as well; check out his site.
At the camp site we met Paul (aka Deirdre). On his right you see Max. His favourite phrase: "Wanna Stella?".
Behind Paul you see a glimpse of Steve, Max's Chief Mechanic.
Paul came on his GL650 Silverwing. He transformed the (boring!) original into a great ratbike.
The Bash is famous for its bands. This year Therapy performed on the main stage. As did Terrorvision who gave the audience a great show.
Heavy techno and a good lightshow entertained the crowd in the Dance tent.
Paul gave one of his friends an interesting paintjob with blue hairspray.
He was the star of the Dance tent.
Next morning, well, things looked a bit different. Our blue alien wasn't able to ride with us to Streetfighter Sunday at the Ace Cafe in London.
Read my report here.