My missus Angie has a theory that being on holiday is actually the normal state of affairs, and all the time we spend working in between is merely a nescessary aberration so we can get things back to normal for a few days each year.

Maybe this explains while being at shows like the Bulldog Bash feels like coming home for so many bikers, that for a few days more than 25,000 of us can get into a normal world fuelled by bikes, beer and bands without having to deal with that strange parallel universe that includes Volvos, gas bills and speed cameras. As the standard of all the big UK events keeps ratcheting up, the Bulldog, possibly the top custom biking event in the country, just keeps getting better and better. Even for a seasoned individual like me (that's "old fart" to you) there's so much to see, do and enjoy that each year I end up scrubbing any ideas of following a weekend schedule and just let it happen. Which means I inevitably miss the odd great band or dragstrip demo, but find myself in unexpected places like the dance tent at 3am, grooving away to industrial techno music with a bunch of people who look like they should still be at school. And if that's not enough there's always another gin and tonic and the funfair to explore.

But the real focus of the Bulldog for me has to be the custom show, which this year took presentation to a new level in a huge marquee with elevated bike displays and cool lighting.  127 works of beauty and engineering took centre stage, and wandering in felt a little like entering Santa's Grotto. And the standard of the bikes and trikes was high enough to keep anyone gawping for hours. Our congratulations to Vic Jefford of Destiny Cycles, who netted "best in show" honours; his own bike coming a close second to customer Logie's Harley "Predator". Logie also took the trophy for best paint, and Vic's partner Lin bagged £350 prize money and the trophy for best chop for her white Harley "Miss Liberty". There were lots of mega-bucks Harleys to be sure, but as one of Europe's top custom bike shows it's entirely right and fitting that there should be.

But the Bulldog custom show is never sniffy about real world back yard engineering either, and examples of inspired workmanship and tight budget success stories were everywhere. As was evidence that these bikes had mostly gotten there under their own steam, like the outrageously springer forked 750 Honda and Army Ted's utterly daft twin tanked GSXR on the NCC stand. It was good to see the old survival 750 Honda that 'Odgie built during his BSH tenure too - still up, running and weird (rather like 'Odgie himself). The downside was the temperature inside the marquee, which was like a Turkish sauna during the long hours of hot sunshine (and how many times can you complain about that at a UK bike show?). My thanks to Annabelle Maxwell-Jones, celebrating the successful conclusion of her epic 2500 mile charity ride with a bottle of her own home brewed raspberry gin, a swig of which proved most refreshing in the oppressive heat.

Due to some strange warp in the laws of physics the beer/band marquee was much cooler and provided a welcome base to chill out between forays into the hot sun. Retiring inside for the odd lager meant I did get to catch some of the bands I would otherwise have missed, and oh boy am I glad I did. I was absolutely blown away by Never The Bride, playing a storming set to a half empty marquee at 4.30 on Saturday afternoon. I'd heard the name before but never seen them, and I have to tell you that this band are really worth catching. Starting with a cover version of Led Zeppelins "Going To California" seemed rather risky, but singer Nikki Lamborn and keyboardist Been Feeney pulled it off with style, and as the rest of the band made their way onto the the stage and plugged in the band morphed into a tight and punchy hard rock mode that provided the perfect backdrop for Lamborn's powerful vocals. This woman has one of the most powerful singing voices I've ever heard live, and her solo rendition of Janis Joplin's "Mercedes Benz" followed by a full band cover of "Piece Of My Heart" was absolutely stunning. Brilliant, more please.

The distant sounds of big jet engines on the strip finally drove us out into the sun again, just in time to catch the Fireforce jet cars going head to head. I've seen these guys a few times now but its always such an impressive show and is simply unmissable. The high scream of the engines, the massive sheets of flame, the clouds of white smoke billowing over the start line and Richard the dreadlocked mechanic orchestrating the cars as they bang on the afterburners and creep inch by inch to the start line, until finally the lights go green and the cars flash down the strip with a noise and fury that shakes the ground. This is drag racing at its maddest - very impressive but very brief (rather like sex with me).

And speaking of drag racing a special mention goes to Jerry Collier from Jade Racing, who broke the 2-stroke Drag Bike Speed World record with a run of 9.18 seconds at 143mph. Comiserations to Smax who snapped a blower belt on his top fuel drag car while attempting to break the Shakespeare County Raceway record. He still managed a 6 second run with a terminal of 282 mph. And let's not forget the huge numbers of ordinary bikers who took the opportunity to hurl their bikes up the dragstrip, the fastest ³Run What U Brung² competitor, L Parnell, recording an outstanding time of 9.28 seconds at 150 mph!! Track manager Dicko, and his team have asked that it be noted how impressed they where by the class and standard of riders and machines in this year¹s amateur races.

For the night-times entertainment we took our places with the rest of the leering crowds to unashamedly gawp at the "exotic dancers" who, despite being on wages looked to be having a really good time and kept the crowd well entertained. But the real late night heroes for me are the ordinary girls who volunteer to go up on that stage in front of a marquee full of baying bikers and gamely bare all for the wet tee shirt contest. To me that takes real courage; respect due fellas.

And what else? Well, there were great bands, the funfair, old friends, new friends, run-what-you-brung, rows of shops and stalls to browse, food, sunshine and girls and music. And endless bikes to look at of all types, models and styles. This is normal life folks, lets go back there as soon as we can.

Dr.Rod.

Take a click round the Bulldog 2003 galleries:

	Bands
	Bikes
	Custom Tent and Arty Nightime shots
	Exotic Dancers
	Run What You Brung Trophy Winners
	People
	More People
	Wall Of Death
	Wet Tee Shirt Contest