Introduction: The International Six Days Enduro
In August 1913 a remarkable motorcycle event was inaugurated in Carlisle, Cumberland, England. It was originally known as the International Six Days Reliability Trial; very soon after this the word ‘reliability’ was dropped from the title. Later, in 1980, the name was changed again to the familiar International Six Days Enduro.
This 1913 event launched the off road scene that we enjoy today.
The riders in the first event, there was one hundred and sixty one of them, faced a formidable test. They covered a thousand mile course of tracks and unmade roads on machines that were very primitive by today’s standards. The manufacturers of the time were very keen as ‘reliability’ sold bikes, for this reason fifty- nine makes were represented. There were some complaints about the severity of the roads, in particular the steepness of some of the hills.
Despite this more than one hundred riders made it to the finish. Apart from the war years the event has been run ever since in countries all around the world. The original concept is still adhered to and many of the original rules are still applied.
It would be truthful to say that the International Six Days Enduro has contributed greatly to the development of motorcycles in general and has definitely been influential in the design of the modern off-road motorcycle.
The competition has always been contested by national teams with separate classes for club teams. Within this contest an individual is rewarded by a gold, silver and bronze medal award structure which has led to the event being referred to as the ‘Olympics of Motorcycling’.
The hundredth year anniversary deserves to be recognised in England where it originated.
Use the form below to register your interest for the Centennial Rally or the International Ride.
The Centennial Rally for 2013
A four day forestry rally which starts in Carlisle city centre will be held in August 2013. The entry will be open to riders of adventure, trail, sports and classic enduro bikes. The six hundred mile course will reflect the severity of the 1913 event through a series of special tests.
This will be the most important event in the off road rally calendar in 2013.
Carlisle City Council having realised the historic importance of the event have made available a city centre start area which faces the eleventh century castle. In parallel to this event a commemorative ride will take place on the 18th, the same day as the first day of the first event.
The International Ride
The ride which to be made by one hundred riders will mainly be by riders of historic bikes and riders with an interesting ISDE history. They will follow the same route as the old timers, which now has sealed surfaces and will appeal to those riders who do not wish to contest the main rally. Lunch will be at Keswick where the 1913 first day’s riders dined. On the Saturday evening there will be a social gathering with a buffet meal in a city centre hotel where friendships can be renewed and new ones forged.
1913 - Day One Route
More than a rally this will be a Festival of the International Six Days Enduro.
