It’s now the second year that we've attended the Dirt Bike Show. This time Jo and I trundled all the way up to Stoneleigh Park near Coventry. For those of you who don’t know, Stoneleigh Park is also the home of the National Agricultural Centre and therefore, it is almost befitting that it should host the Dirt Bike Show.
As per last years event, the show is split into three exhibitors’ halls and, for the thrill seekers, the live action stunting show was hosted in an adjacent set of enclosed barns, with a central arena set up in the middle benched by two spectators’ stands.
Parking for those of you get there early enough is under cover and it is only a short walk to the exhibition centre itself. When you get though the pay area itself, and through to the external concourse, you are greeted by the sight of a support truck for the Paris to Dakar rally and Team Kawasaki Moto X support lorry and bikes.
Through the main doors and you pass a well stocked and reasonably priced food hall and can either enter hall 1 off to your left or hall 2 straight on. Given that Jo and I are given to treading the path less travelled we opted for starting at hall 2.
The show is incredibly well laid out, and as we entered hall 2 we were met by the big Jap 4 all showing off their dirt bike ranges, as were KTM, Gas Gas and Artic Cats. BMW had a showing in Hall 1 as did Aprilla, Bultaco, Mini Bike Pro and innumerable specialist dealers all eager to help you custom build your off road bike.
Hall 2 also hosted the stage area and for those serious about Moto Cross and Trailing, retailers of large American style RV’s and Race support vehicles were in attendance. Last year, the over whelming feeling you got of the show was one of vibrant colours, this year that has not diminished and the full loud spectrum of colours were available for everything dirt bike, from the baggy clothing to go over your body armour to the ‘Bling’ anodised large rear sprockets and multi coloured silicone hoses.
The show hosted a good number of dealers ready to do excellent deals on kit, mainly from the season just gone. But a few were displaying the delights they would have on offer for next year. It would be easy to get carried away here and the exhibitors were all very accommodating and were happy to answer all of our queries on Bikes and Kit, but you could easily find yourself spending a small fortune here on what was on offer.
A large proportion of the industries specialists clothing manufacturers such as Alpinestars, Arai, Berik, Forma, Fox, Maxxis, No Fear and UFO were in all attendance. For times when you are not out log jumping there were stalls from Grin Factor and On Fire.
It is clear that a lot of exhibitors had put a lot of thought into their displays; of particular worthy mention were the Suzuki and Honda displays. Honda for their ‘Thunderdome’ like show piece (complete with disco ball), which was a little bit cramped and Suzuki for the relaxed way their bikes seemed to be on show. A few of the others stands had clearly been tampered with and one of the mannequins had been placed in a funny pose and looked as if he was getting far too excited with what was on display!
Only one insurer seemed to be making a showing this year and Carole Nash were there to be quizzed for advice on both quotes and cover.
There were also specialist-engineering firms there, to replace that awkward part that you might have bent on a log or alike. There was also a firm selling some reasonably priced tools there, or if you needed some new bits for the garage or workshop. If its dirt bike related and it can be got, you would get it there. Some firms would only be able to mail you the stuff on, but at least at the show, you could see and feel for yourself what product they would be posting on.
There were a few very special bikes on display such as Charley Boorman’s bike form the Paris to Dakar rally and some nicely restored BSA’s, these alone made the trip worth it. Whilst mooching around, we came across an interloper in the midst of all these dirt bikes in the shape of a Triumph Tiger 1050.
The show this year was incredibly well supported with the organisers being able to boast of 90% of tickets being sold some six months before the event opening. That however, does not mean it was crowded, the venue is more than large enough to cope, and if you wanted to wait, you would have no trouble with trying out any of the bikes on show for size.
Jo and I were quite interested in the live show, entry to which was subject to a small additional charge but well worth it. The top British Trials competitor and Isle of Man Ambassador for sport, returned to perform for the first time in three years. Gary Taylor was back for his second year in succession, with his breath taking mini-bike free-stylers, the back-flip really had to be seen to be believed!
Team Extreme also catered for the show. If you look through the galleries at the obstacles they were riding over you would think they couldn’t do it. But, they made it look easy clambering up and down huge steps and slopes with consummate ease. The team itself is headed up by two of Europe’s top young riders in Martin Crosswaite and Dan Clark.
The show that was put on was awesome, and whilst we watched the live show there were at least two quite nasty offs, one on the rabbit’s teeth, where a rider and bike went down between the teeth and one on the big steps. Each time the rider got up and brushed it off as if nothing had happened, and one even pinching his team mate’s bike to carry on with a time trial challenge.
After the heart stopping display by the stunt team, we had a final last look round the exhibitor’s stalls. Even if you are not into dirt bikes there is something for everyone here, and a lot of the mainstream manufacturers of after market parts such as Venhill were in attendance and if you spoke quietly to them would indeed answer any questions about sports bikes.
I must confess, that in spite of the fact that I first started riding bikes when I was young in the local woods, dirt bike riding in its many and varied guises has held little attraction for me. My over whelming feeling would be one of ‘what’s’ this riding around deliberately looking for mud to slide on’ all about.
This show however has re-awakened that fascination and tempted me back. Was it enough to make me give up the sports bike and leathers? Not quite but then as the weather worsens the allure of a dirt bike grows ever stronger.
This truly is a well organised event and if even plastic body armour, aertex type jumpers, open faced helmets and goggles are not your type of thing then there is still plenty to see and drool over. If next years show is akin to this years, then it most definitely worth a visit.
Related Linkswww.dirtbikeshow.co.uk Related GalleriesThe Dirt Bike Show, 2006
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