It’s been a few years since the Animal Bike Tour has made a solo visit to Newquay for a day of shows, having usually been here connected to an event. But with a local Animal store on the beach, a hunger for getting rad, and a passion for surfing, the ABT crew were stoked to pack up the Vito Sport vans and head to Fistral Beach to catch the last day of summer.

There was a thick fog looming in the air when we arrived on site early that Friday morning, but as the ramps and flags were erected, the sun began to bully its way through to supply us a perfect blue sky. The combination of sun and the desire to make the most of the last few days before going back to school meant the beach was carpeted with families, holidaymakers, locals and surfers. It could have so easily gone the other way had the weather not been so fine! But there was no time for Martyn and Blake to dwell on this as the first show became imminent – having spent only one night in their own beds after the 3 day journey back from Sweden, they were acting like puppies who’d just been picked up from kennels and couldn’t wait to get stuck back in. It was great to see them come back to the show with further motivation and energy. And as the music boomed, and the warm up started, people came up from the beach to line the show and see what the fuss was all about.

Martyn had moved a few things around for the first show, the ladder of doom was omitted in favour of a new gap jump and an amazing new line up on the Vito was were created!?! Blake also was firing off an arsenal of new tricks, from Double Can and No-Footer to X-up, to a One Handed Superman!

So needless to say the each show was as exciting as the last, and the smiles on peoples faces as they returned from the bonkers Animal store poster signing sessions spoke for themselves.

After the final show the energy continued as the sea, now just yards away, was calling. So with a world record pack down we were swiftly clad in Animal neoprene and the four of us were soon paddling out to catch some waves in the warm afternoon sun, Kodak Playsports strapped to our wrists, and excited grins plastered on our faces. The sun was setting as we caught our last waves in – a beautiful way to end to a great day of shows.

After the 0630 call for an ace sunrise surf session before breakfast, we headed north to Silverstone for Blake’s most hotly anticipated event of the season – TRAX – the ultimate performance car show to be held the following day.

Upon arrival at Silverstone that Saturday evening we set up the metal work of the show to the screams of tires fighting for traction as drivers warmed themselves up for the preceding days exhibitions. With these sounds echoing in our heads we caught a quick dinner and headed off for the safety of an early night.

Our B’n’B was situated on the main road directly opposite the entrance of the event, and as we sat down for breakfast the house vibrated with the deep rumblings emanating from the huge sports exhausts of the cars lining up to fill the dedicated club car areas. Blake could hardly swallow his Weetabix!

There was a long, three lane queue to enter the event, and not a single car surrounding was unmodified, but we looked pretty cool rolling on BRABUS rims behind tinted windows in the bright red Vito Sport X! It didn’t have the same earthshaking sound or impracticality as some of other vehicles in the line…but we still felt pretty cool!

We also felt very sorry for everyone who had obviously spent hours polishing their pride and joy’s before the dirty wet drive to the event. Luckily the Animal Bike Tour was around to brighten up everyone’s morning, and as the rain cascaded over waxed bonnets, and dripped from deeply flared wheel arches, the boys gave their all to break the mood and give everyone a warm ray of radical. And who can resist a smile and a cheer when freebies from Muc-Off were being dished out to help bring cars back up to winning spec whilst being treated to the sight of Martyn and Blake having fun trying to maintain traction….which funnily enough was the exact opposite of what some of the others at TRAX were trying to do, with regard to traction I mean!

The British Drift Championship Super Pro round was part of the days schedule and what a performance! Blake and I let out gasps and cheers, the like of which are normally reserved for only Martyn! It’s an incredible sight to behold as ridiculously supped up cars travel at 100mph completely sideways 400 meters before the corner begins!

Between shows we wandered off to check out some of the club cars that had been driven in by motor enthusiasts – it is amazing how much passion, time and savings goes into these machines! We ventured into the pits where there was a huge line up of vehicles, ranging from award winning showcase cars to the ‘tunnel of boom’, a tunnel entirely made from sub woofers – impressive, but you will need more to beat our shockproof Kodak Playsports!

But what had all gasping was the never before seen Project-X vehicle! It’s a Mercedes Vito Sport-X with modifications, ok so what’s new? Well…try £5,000 of huge ltd edition BRABUS rims and £25,000 worth of Pioneer stereo kit that uses 8 amps, 4 batteries, and a 300amp power supply to create 30,050 watts of sound. Absolute awesomenessssss – hopefully hear this alongside our show soon!?!

The standard Sport X has a range-topping turbo-charged 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, producing 224hp and 440Nm, reaching 60mph in just 8.3 seconds with a maximum speed of 122mph. This one has 800kg of stereo crammed in it so it is maybe a little slower…but it is pretty cool if you fancy waking up a small city!

The weather cleared as the day progressed, meaning each of the four shows brought bigger and better tricks, and as our last show neared those who had stuck it out pored over for the final chance to see our two wheel guys in action. This time they were treated to a dry rig show and Martyn and Blake delivering the next level of entertainment! And as the last Animal Bike tour t-shirt was won and the smell of burned rubber and tired clutches faded the day was done.

“It’s been a really cool day – I love fast cars and some of them here today are just amazing! I saw a beautiful Mustang 500, I nearly took it home for my wife! I wonder if Mercedes would consider giving me the ProjectX? My Hands Free would sound great up that loud…not much room in the back for bikes though I guess!!”
Martyn Ashton

“Wow! I can’t believe the level of speed, control and agility – combined with huge extents of bodywork and the un-paralleled levels of perfection we saw today….I was AMAZING!”
Blake Samson

Thank you to Fast Car magazine, a partner of MBUK at Future Publishing, for inviting us to this crazy event. If we get asked back in 2012 Blake will be rolling on a lowered Octane One and Martyn will get some hydraulics fitted to his Inspired!