International Scooter Rally

As the August Bank Holiday weekend beckoned it brought with it the familiar sound of chugging engines and clusters of colourful characters accompanied as ever by their faithful two-wheelers.

A deluge of scooter enthusiasts crammed onto the ferries and made their way to Ryde to be part of the world’s largest scooter event. The friendly scooterists have been coming to the Isle of Wight every August for over a decade with the rally increasing in size and popularity annually. This year approximately 5,000 scooter fanatics travelled from across Europe with some journeying from as far afield as Malaysia to enjoy a bumper weekend of entertainment, ride-outs and revelry.

Ryde’s massive ride-out

As always, Ryde’s Union Street and Esplanade formed the central hub for the vast majority of activities and throughout the four-day gathering the Victorian town was bustling with an air of energy and excitement. The bright sunny weather ensured that pubs and cafes were favorably full with local shops enjoying a surge in customers.

The highlight of the weekend was of course the mass ride-out which traditionally sees thousands of scooterists depart the car park intervening Planet Ice arena and LA Bowl on Sunday afternoon spurred on by a surge of support from an assembly of well-wishers and curious on-lookers.

Love it or hate it, if you’re in the vicinity of Ryde on the afternoon of the ride-out you cannot help but be seduced by the sheer size of the rally and the energy that radiates from it. The slightly chaotic start combined with the roar of so many engines, the smoke-filled air and the infectious disposition of the riders all adds up to a truly captivating experience.

Crowds two or three rows deep lined the pavements, central reservation, roundabout and the balcony surrounding the LA Bowl pavilion to wave the mile-long parade of scooters off on their journey, which terminated at the Sandown and Shanklin Rugby Club. Here the scooters were given a well-deserved chance to cool down whilst their owners enjoyed refreshments and a barbeque.

An awesome sight to behold

Another popular feature of the International Scooter Rally is the Custom Show which takes place Saturday daytime. Staged at the Planet Ice Arena, it is said to be the best display of customerised scooters in Europe. Whether you were an experienced scooterist, a would-be owner or just an admirer, this year’s custom show provided a fascinating insight into the infinite possibilities available to those fortunate enough to possess a creative flair and the time and money to invest into transforming their vintage scooter into a modern-day marvel.

The show welcomed a multitude of classes for a multitude of tastes and ideas spanning decades of Scooter Culture and for the first time members of the public were asked take on the role of the judges by voting for their favourite ’exhibit’ in the aptly named ‘Punter’s Choice’ category. Trophies were awarded at the end of the day by representative from VFM who are the primary organisers of the four-day scootering event.

For those unable to attend the Custom Show, a multitude of gleaming bikes with lights and mirrors a-plenty were lined-up for all to see throughout the course of the weekend along the Esplanade. From Lambretta’s to Harley-Davidson’s, Vespa’s to Honda’s and Piaggio’s, some may not have been as elaborately attired as the models that made it into the Custom Show, but all were meticulously maintained by their adoring owners.

The buzz of endless entertainment coupled with the hum of shiney, smooth scooters

Smallbrook stadium played host to an extensive trade fair otherwise known as the ‘Dealer’s Village’ situated next to the official camp-site along Ashey Road. Selling all manner of merchandise, scooter parts and rally memorabilia, this outlet was also open to the general public to come and peruse on both Saturday and Sunday daytime.

In the evening the organisers ensured that a good time was had by all by staging a range of lively entertainment. As the main social venue, the Planet Ice Arena boasted an extended line-up this year to include two rooms. The 'Soul Zone' provided an eclectic mix of Northern and Blue Eyed Soul intertwined with popular sixties classics whilst the main arena featured music from the very best Scooter Rally DJ's in the UK, who performed through the night until 3am.

The Balcony Nightclub on Ryde Esplanade played host the traditional end of rally party on Sunday evening which this year also coincided VFM’s 25th anniversary; making it a double celebration!

As a new initiative for this year, the free ‘Lazy Afternoon' festival was staged from midday through to 9:30pm on Ryde's Western Gardens and featured classic Motown, R&B and Mod-inspired British beats from a variety of talened local bands, plus a family friendly beer tent and food stalls. With so much to do and the promise of fine weather year-on-year, it's no wonder Ryde is fast becoming the UK's premier scooter resort!

Back to the Top