Modern Day Board Trackers

A group a German motorcycle enthusiasts have been working hard to preserve the sport of board track racing.  Up until this year, the group has raced on paved or concrete tracks, but finally they found a wooden bicycle board track in Hannover, Germany to use for this year's annual race.  This is actually very appropriate as bicycle velodromes were one of the first tracks used for early motorcycle races.

The racers ride motorcycles from the top three brands which you would have seen on board tracks in the 1920's; Harley-Davidson, Indian and Excelsior Super X.  Most appear to be fully restored, albeit with a host of reproduction parts.  Staying true to the sport, the riders do not use any modern safety equipment, but dress in the garb of a 1920's racer.  It does look like many of the motorcycles are fitted with rear brakes and perhaps some way to control the throttle.  Surprisingly, these features would not have been found on the original racers, which ran wide open without any brake systems.  I think with the amount of time and money invested in these motorcycles, adding brakes was a good idea.

The pictures and video that follow do a great job of capturing this event.  One of the motorcycles is outfitted with multiple video cameras, giving you a racer's view of the track.  Unfortunately, this probably the closest that most people will ever get to a board track race, unless you plan on visiting Germany next summer.  There is a teaser at the end of the video saying that they might be back again to race in 2013, so start checking Expedia for cheap flights to Europe...  

Suzuki GSX-R 1100 "KIJ" by KMP

Foto: Facebook (KMP)
via Racing Café

une belle soirée et une douce nuit !!

from La-vie-sexy-en-noir-et-blanc

Centennial Rally

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.

more info HERE

CAMBRIAN RALLY 2012 - SPECIAL TEST 1