Der Blackout Ride 2021 - ein Petrolhead-Trip zu den Wildays

The Blackout Ride 2021 - a petrolhead trip to the Wildays


"If on the first evening one of the participants whispers to you with shining eyes that he now knows why we call our rides Blackout Ride, then you know that everything was done correctly."

Bad at Bold Blackout Ride 2021 in the Dolomites

Already in 2018 our very first blackout ride led to the Wildays in Emilia-Romagna, near Parma. A still very manageable event, but organized with heart and soul by our friends from Anvil Motociclette. In the meantime, the location has been changed and is in Salsomaggiore Terme, on a spacious and soon too small motocross area. But this year was a lot different anyway...

Bad an Bold Blackout Ride 2021 Start in Unterrain

Start of the bath at Bold Blackout Ride 2021 in our showroom

Start of the Bad on Bold Blackout Ride 2021

Our tour started Thursday morning at our farm. Eleven mixed people, friends and customers, between 30 and over 50 years old. With eight motorcycles, a manageable group. Our old yellow Chevy van, driven by our house and court photographer Jörg and accompanied by his son Maximilian as cameraman, once again did a brave job as a pack mule.

Bad an Bold Blackout Ride 2021 with the Triumph Thruxton

Bad an Bold Blackout Ride 2021

We started at 10 a.m. under a cloudy sky. Over the Chiemsee, over to Austria. First lunch break together at the Staller Sattel and wait for the next pass lock. And just in time for crossing the border to Italy, the heavy rain started. Well, then all the Dolomite passes in the group when it rains. Something new.

Bad at Bold Blackout Ride 2021 in the rain

Bad at Bold Blackout Ride 2021 in the wet passes

Bad at Bold Blackout Ride 2021 in the rain

But it doesn't matter whether it's the R NineT, K100, Triumph Thruxton, newer GS or our old blue and white lady, they all put up a good fight even at a brisk pace and 400 daily kilometers. Even the Triumph Rocket 3R with its 240 tires was not deterred by aquaplaning and raced like an icebreaker at speed on one pass after the other. Names sonorous for motorcyclists such as Stelvio, Furkelpass, Gardena Pass, Pordoji, Ronda di Stella could hardly be read in the rain. The advantage, however, was that apart from us, hardly anyone else was on the road.

Bad an Bold Blackout Ride 2021 with the new limited edition Triumph Rocket 3R

Bad at Bold Blackout Ride 2021 in the Dolomites

The next morning promised dry weather, even here and there sunshine. Off on the bikes and through the south-west ending Dolomites and indescribable valleys and small passes. And then rain again. Back in the plastic bags and on, it didn't help, the schedule was tough.

 

Eating full while bathing at Bold Blackout Ride 2021

Bad at Bold Blackout Ride 2021 in the Dolomites

Lunch break at Monte Bodone, which was later also considered to be a massive assault. The Italians just know how to serve up a menu. But since the only way after Monte Baldo was to take the autobahn to Fidenza, the kilos we gained didn't really have such a heavy impact.

Bad at Bold Blackout Ride 2021 in the Dolomites

Dreamy landscapes while swimming at the Bold Blackout Ride 2021 in the Dolomites

Always smiling while bathing at Bold Blackout Ride 2021

The Burghotel Tabiano Castello , with the excellent dinner (yes, food again) and the hospitality of the Viennese hotel manager Petra, quickly made up for the rain and motorway journey.

Castle Hotel Tabiano Castello

The way to the castle hotel Tabiano Castello

Relax in the castle hotel Tabiano Castello

The next morning a short trip to Reggio Emilia to our Classic Motorcycle Partner Ruote da Sogno. Arrived in motorcycle heaven. But two hours is simply too short for over 700 motorcycles. Two weeks would probably have been better.

Visit to oldtimer dealer Ruote da Sogno

Visit to oldtimer dealer Ruote da Sogno

Visit to oldtimer dealer Ruote da Sogno

Visit to oldtimer dealer Ruote da Sogno

Then in the afternoon to the event area of ​​the Wildays. Impressive how the Italians always manage to create such a chilled feel-good atmosphere. Besides food trucks, bars, many motorcycle brands that also offered test rides, we also met our friend Arnaldo from Holy Freedom who ran a small stand there. The highlight, however, were the motocross riders, who didn't give anything away during the race.

Welcome to the Wildays 2021

Our friend Benzina at the Wildays 2021

Motocross racing at the Wildays 2021

The Wildays site 2021

Our Rocket 3R driver Franz booked an acrobatics flight over the Wildays. 30 minutes of loops and rolls in a 1954 single engine 22,000cc machine. Respect. His grin has probably not disappeared today.

Acrobatic flight over the Wildays

Acrobatic flight over the Wildays

Acrobatic flight over the Wildays

The way back through the western Dolomites, last night at Alpenresort Al Foss and then through the Passeier Valley and the Jaufen Pass was no less spectacular and brought everyone (except for our drone) back home safely after five days.

The squad of the Bad and Bold Blackout Ride 2021

Blackout? But something like that. After just a few hours, everyday life, stress and everything negative were completely gone. As is usually the case with motorcycling. But here with a group dynamic and intensity that can be drawn on for a very long time.

We are already looking forward to the next Blackout Ride with you!

Many thanks to Yassin for driving ahead and to Franz for driving away and thanks to Jörg and Maximilian for the photos.