FLANDERS CHOPPER BASH PT.2

February 22, 2018

FLANDERS CHOPPER BASH PT.2

I felt surprisingly fresh when I woke up in my bunk after the previous nights antics and was wide awake and ready to go after what could mildly be classed as a warm shower! Slowly everyone else in the dorm started to rise and get ready along with the bodies sleeping in the hallway! Once we had loaded up the bikes we headed into Bruges quickly one last time to grab some breakfast before the short ride to the Chopper Bash.

I was looking forward to riding on mass to the show ground, but alas, by the time we returned from getting food the majority of the bikes outside Charlie Rockets had already left! We still had a good number of people to ride with, which in hindsight was probably for the best. A quick stop to grab some fuel saw us catch up with some of the earlier crowd that had left, already looking a bit puzzled at which way to get out of Bruges and to the site, but they was no hanging around for us, they were off again! After getting split up a few times, we all finally made it onto the main road and made a speedy dash to the main event, I’m happy at cruising around 60/65 but this was a full throttle race to get the party started!!

I hadn’t made it to the Chopper Bash last year, so this was my first time at the new venue, hidden behind a small bar at the entrance and some strange looking church, the new venue was obviously much bigger with far more camping available! We pitched up our tents, had a quick wander down the road to a local shop to pick up some beers and supplies then headed back to the venue to get the party started!!

At this point my memory gets a little hazy, due to the time lapsed since these events took place and the amount of alcohol consumed that weekend!! The sea of choppers was ever present with a mind-blowing selection of vintage Harleys, Triumphs and other makes to keep you looking all weekend. We got on the beers quickly and caught an insane set from Oh! Gunquit in the main marquee, combining elements of 60/70’s garage, ska and punk with the lead singers outfit leaving little to the imagination!! The rest of the day was pretty much more of the same, drinking, catching up with old friends, meeting new ones and drooling over choppers I wish I had! The evening kicked off with the Picture Books filling the marquee and whipping everyone into a frenzy with their unique sound and stage presence! The last thing I remember is fanboying out a little with Josh Kurpius and probably talking absolute bollocks with him!!

Saturday was mostly spent sat outside the pub just by the entrance nursing a moderate hangover, I don’t actually remember waking up and getting there, but after a couple hair of the dogs I was back in action and snapping away, with a promise to take it a bit easier today (famous last words!) I managed to stay pretty sober to catch the prize giving and grab a few shots of the winners who most are listed below, before the rest of the day started to get a bit fuzzy again!

Best Knuckle – Paul Savigar (Pacoima Motorcycles), UK

Best of Show – Peter Torslanda, Sweden

Best Panhead – Philippe Lalemant, France

Best Early Shovel – Marcus Elionsson, Sweden

Best Sportster – Mauro Hache, Belgium

Best Brit Bike – Victor Junge, Germany

Flying Choppers Pic – Joris Theijbers, Belgium

Josh Kurpius Pick – Paul Savigar, UK

I should have really taken a note of what their actual bikes were, but hey I’m a photographer not a journalist! But yeah maybe next year take a note pad!! So what else can I remember from the Saturday night, not much to be honest except a killer set from Swedish band Honeymoon Disease, followed by some late night dancing to cheesy music, then passing out in my tent at 1am if not later!!

Sunday was home time or maybe it was Monday (I really can’t remember!), so we quickly packed up the tents and loaded our bikes ready for the ride back to Brighton. We managed to tag along with a big group of friends riding back at the same time, which proved another highlight of the weekend! There’s something almost primeval about riding in a big pack, which is completely different to riding by yourself! Taking turns riding at the front, the back and in the middle all provide different feelings, for me it was a great chance to get some cool riding pics of whoever I could keep next to long enough not to bale! We got to the ferry with no incidents, everyone else had continued on to get the tunnel, but I personally enjoy the break you get on the ferry, time to relax, grab some food and a coffee before the last leg of the journey. We managed to get all the way to Hastings before the heavens decided to open, so had another 30 or so mile to go in a downpour! Even with my waterproofs on, by the time I get back to the garage I was soaked to the skin, even though I was still smiling from the journey back and from an epic week away!!