The Boogaloo
By Chris Cooper AUS
The Boogaloo Invitational 2017
You know that certain type of excitement, the one which is buried deep down in your stomach. The type that keeps you awake late at night. This was the scenario leading up to the now 2 1/2 day Boogaloo Invitational.
Meeting up with fellow club brothers Friday morning, smiles all round, and the normal Scoundrel banter, we eagerly loaded Jimmy’s truck with his bitchin Trump and all the supplies we needed to Boogie for 2 1/2 days. The Scoundrels CBC organised a cruise that was open to anyone who wanted to take the scenic route to the Hot Rod Capital of Australia. With a line up 30 plus Customs, Hot Rods and Scoots, we peeled out of the Calder Park service station like a swarm of Hornets for a 3 hour drive through some of Victoria’s most beautiful countryside. As we bombed down into the smokey old town of Castlemaine the excitement was almost unbearable. The convoy slinked through the town centre, eager smiles growing bigger by the minute as we approached the hallowed grounds of the Castlemaine Pony Club for the anticipated 3pm opening.
From here on in, 2 1/2 days have merged together booze fuelled nights turned mornings and an abundance of Australia’s very best Hot Rods, Customs and Choppers. The atmosphere Des and Tesha have created really can’t be explained. Think of the biggest backyard party you have been to. Throw in the best 2 and 4 wheeled freedom machines your country has to offer, the most humbled brothers and sisters, camping with Blinky Bill and Skippy, the tastiest brisket burgers and all the moonshine and Bloody Mary’s you can drink. That's just touching the surface.
The Boogaloo Invitational 2017 saw Piero, Weesner and Max Schaaf skip across the pond to Boogie with some Drop Bears. Max jumped on the Boogaloo Rendezvous 2 day’s prior. Organised by Matt Machine of The Machine Files, it is a two day ride with a camp out in the stunning Snowy Mountains. Piero guest Dj’d and filmed the entire weekend (keep your eyes peeled for The Boogaloo Invitational Movie on Motornation.tv) and Keith brought over his trademark dreamlike art work and hauled ass on the Boogaloo monkey bike.
One new addition to the show this year was the Dirty Dozen Art Show, which showcased some of Australia’s best Low Brow artists displaying artworks inspired by the Boog. A welcomed addition that added more “Fuck Yeah” to the weekend. Peoples choice award went to the very deserving Evan “dropmoot” Daines.
The Boogaloo Invitational is a grass roots, back to basics Traditional Hot Rod, Custom & Bike show. This year, even though slightly bigger than last, was no different. Max was quoted saying it reminded him of the early days of BilletProof. From all the vendors, Dj’s, Boogaloo vision filmmakers, volunteers, every aspect of this show involves people who dedicate their lives to the “Fuck Yeah”.
For an idea that started off as a Mad Fabricators film premier one freezing cold night in the beer garden of their local pub, it has manifested into one of the best static car shows in Australia! Sticking to what they believe in, Tesha and Des don’t want the show to become bigger. Instead they keep refining their ideas and channel their love and energy into creating that unexplainable atmosphere we have all grown to love.
