You may still be eating a final mice pie whilst staring a wintery landscape, but the rally season will soon be here. This week, we give our rundown of the 2026 rally venues and make suggestions for getting your scooter ready for the rally season.
April 3-6 Scarborough, North Yorkshire
We love Scarborough, it’s not only the Scooterboy’s spiritual home, it’s also our ‘local’ event. Based at the iconic Spa complex, its custom show is THE place for builders to unveil the projects they’ve been working on all winter. The town itself is the perfect size for a national rally, there’s enough accommodation to go around but it still maintains a compact feel; perfect for catching up with friends old and new after the winter break.
Top tip, luggage racks: Whether your 2026 plans include the Nationals, a trip further afield or just a spot of gentle touring you’ll need somewhere to carry your kit. It matters not if you’re riding a classic or modern Vespa, we’ve a full range of racks that’ll transport your gear in style.
May 1-4 Tenby, South Wales
Is there a more beautiful location for a picture of your scoot than the pastel coloured backdrop of Tenby harbour? We’re struggling to think of one. Throw in a chance to ride the stunning Pembrokeshire coastline and the package adds up to a rally that offers as much for the rider as the party goer. However, this is a small town so if you’re planning a BnB, it’s better to book early…
Top tip: tyres
It’d be a shame to make a trip but not exploit the journey’s full potential due to worn, or unsuitable tyres so why not upgrade your rubber now? We offer a wide choice of tyres and tubes from stock and of course an in-house fitting service.
May 23-24 Kelso, Scotland
Traditionally, the Spring Bank Holiday weekend sees a National north of the border and 2026 is no exception. Ask anyone who’s made the trip to Kelso and they’ll confirm it's one of the most welcoming rallies on the calendar. With a home crowd that likes to party, a custom show that attracts some entries which wouldn’t normally venture southwards and scenery that comes straight out of a tourist board brochure it.s a journey that’s well worth making the effort for. Once again, Kelso is a small town so accommodation can be limited but the good news is that the on-sire camping is amongst the best on offer anywhere in the calendar.
Top tip: Cables:
There are few things more frustrating than a broken cable, and we can almost guarantee that if one’s going to fail, it’ll be at the most inconvenient moment possible. We’d suggest getting ahead of the curve and replacing any worn, or old, cables now. After all, it’s a much more pleasant task in the garage with a brew than at the side of the road in the rain. Whether you need a full set, or just an inner we’ve a full range of cables in stock and ready to dispatch.
June 19-21 Ardingley, Sussex
There ain’t no party like a Big 7 party! After losing their long established venue at Hop Farm in Kent, Big 7 SC has bounced back and found an even better site at the Ardingley Showground. This is predominantly a camping rally, but with so much entertainment on offer no one really wants to be too far from the action in any event!
Top tip: Oil:
One of the most neglected aspects of scooter maintenance is the simple oil change and we see plenty of machines in our workshops whose owners could have saved a fortune if they’d just kept up with this cheap and easy servicing task. Classic or modern, fluids or filters we’ve everything in stock so you can get this task out of the way and relax.
July 17-19 Weymouth, Dorset
After a gap of several years, Weymouth made a welcome return to the Nationals’ calendar back in 2022. It’s a location that could be best described as ‘small but perfectly formed’. With a beautiful harbour that’s surrounded by bars and eateries this is the south-west at its most picturesque. Whilst some rallies offer full-on frolics, Weymouth encourages rallygoers to take things a little more slowly. Perfect for pootling around on your classic Vespa!
Top tip: Spark plugs.
If you’ve run the same plug for a while, now’s the time to swap it out in preparation for the new season. Even if you’re happy with your current sparkulator, no serious rider should venture too far without a spare or two in their toolbox. Once again, classic or modern, we’ve a full range of plugs to suit all engine types and we guarantee all our stock is genuine; counterfeits abound so don’t risk your ride to save a few pence.
August 28-31 Isle of Wight
It’s the largest rally in the Nationals calendar and if you can only make one event, this one is a no brainer. Although the island as a whole surrenders itself to the event, the main action can only be found at the Nationals site which is now well established at Sandown airport. If you’ve never been, the scale is impossible to convey; the ride out is of epic proportions and it’s for good reason that the word ‘international’ is banded about in connection with the event, you’ll see scooters bearing registration plates from across Europe and encounter accents from much further afield! This should be on every scooterist’s bucket list, but be warned attendance is highly addictive!
Top tip: Drive-belt
If your weapon of choice is a modern auto, reliability is almost guaranteed. In our experience, if something’s going to let you down it’ll be your drive-belt or rollers. Just as with cables, there’s no reason to discover your belt is worn out after it snaps. Our advice is to take note of the recommended service intervals and replace it just shy of the suggested limits. If you’re travelling further afield, carrying a spare belt is also a worthwhile investment. We carry a comprehensive selection of OEM and after market belts, together with some neat performance upgrades that’ll make your motor sing!
September 25-28 Woolacombe, Devon
When we say there’s no rally quite like Wooly, we really mean it! Firstly, it’s the only ‘park’ based venue in the Nationals’ calendar, and whilst on-site chalets sell out quickly there’s plenty of accommodation within easy striking distance of all the fun; because fun is what this rally’s all about. The South West Scooter Clubs team knows exactly how to please scooterists in search of a good time. Fw rallies have such things as magicians, tattooists and even a mariachi band on their CV, but Woolly boasts all that and more. If your calendar allows it, try to hang around for the Sunday night party; it's a spectacle like no other. If you prefer a quieter backdrop to your weekend, once the custom show and trade fair is over, there are plenty of coastal roads and quaint fishing villages to explore.
Top tip: Clothing
One thing that’s guaranteed this rally season is a mixture of weather. Whilst we all hope for a summer that resembles the Mediterranean, sadly we’ll all get wet at some point. Fortunately, we’ve a full range of helmets and clothing in stock that’ll cope with all eventualities without breaking your bank account.
October 23-25 Llandudno, North Wales.
Since parting company with the popular resort of Bridlington some years ago, the end of season rally struggled to find its home. However, In Llandudno it’s found a natural habitat. A venue, and town, that’s large enough to cope with the assembled hoards of Scooterists who want to bring the season to a close in style; and that includes a legendary custom show. Sadly, fine weather can’t be guaranteed at this time of year but a fun filled programme of entertainment is!
Top tip: Tools
Whether it’s at home in the workshop or out on the road, having the correct tool to hand makes any task so much easier. With decades of experience behind us, we believe that our tool selection has been honed to represent the best combination of quality, affordability and practicality on offer anywhere. Of course, if you prefer someone else to wield the spanners on your behalf, our workshop can undertake anything you may require from routine servicing to full engine rebuilds. However, if you are planning on booking in your ride for attention we’d advise making an appointment soon as spots are filling up rapidly. Bookings can be made by calling us on: 01226 203377.
Wherever 2026 is going to take you, remember Ron Daley’s are always at your side!
Additional images: www.scootering.com and Alan Moxon-Waddell
