Camel Trophy 1989 - Amazon

The tenth anniversary of an event that had by now more than earned its enviable international reputation had to be celebrated accordingly. So, in true Camel Trophy style it returned to its "roots" in 1989, once more making its way into the deep forest and unbelievable trails that are the Amazon jungle. The difference this time was that the timing was deliberately chosen to coincide with the height of the rainy season.

Locals said the selected route from Alta Floresta to Manaus could not be done, not in the wet season (they even ran a "book" giving frightening odds against the event's success). Not by anything that didn’t produce in excess of 500 horse power. Not by anything without balloon wheels 8 feet in diameter or metre wide tracks. What they didn’t know about was the camaraderie, team spirit and resolve of a Camel Trophy convoy!

This, the tenth event in the series, followed the infamous BR 163 "highway" from Alta Floresta to its junction with Transamazonica Highway. Then after 50 kilometres or so heading east on the Big “T”, swung north on the penultimate section of the BR 163 to Santarem. From there by barge to Itapiranga on the northern bank of the Amazon, before finishing in Manaus.



This event has entered the annals of Camel Trophy history as the toughest ever. The dusty tracks of the Transamazonica Highway do not present too many difficulties during the dry season when they are frequented by giant Brazilian trucks, but in the rainy season conditions are very different. The soft powdery dust takes on the appearance and consistency of potters clay, Duropox, to the locals. It is impossible to stand up on, like a lopsided skating rink to drive on, and bottomless! However the giant trucks are still there – stranded and wallowing, mid-road, for up to five months until the next dry season enables them to break free.



Day and night, the teams from fourteen different countries tirelessly battled with the nightmarish muddy road. So nightmarish, in fact, that for several days the convoy barely managed to proceed more than two or three kilometres. One day in particular achieved the unbelievable distance of 800 metres in a full 24 hour period and even then only with the help of a huge winch adorned tractor. The feelings of the teams, when they finally glimpsed the Amazon River near the end of their journey is something not easily forgotten.

At the end of this memorable adventure, often regarded by enthusiasts as one of the "best" ever, the Belgian team of Frank de Witte and Peter Denys were awarded the Team Spirit Award, while the United Kingdom, represented by brothers Bob and Joe Ives, won the Camel Trophy.

Team Vehicles: Land Rover One Ten
Support Vehicles: Land Rover One Ten
Distance: 1,410 km by road and 500 km by barge
Number of Teams: 14



Participating Countries:

Argentina - Osvaldo Chapitel & Daniel Gonzales Dellacha
Belgium - Peter Denys & Frank Dewitte - Team Spirit Award
Brazil - Ricardo Simonson & Alfonso Celso-Baldrati
Canary Islands - Jesus Lesmes & Federico Quintilla
France - Bernard Duc & Yvan Dorier
Germany - Kornel Gartner & Alexander Peterson
Holland - Raoul Jacobs & Gerard Blankestijn
Italy - Paolo Siccardi & Marco Rossignoli
Japan - Yukiyasu Uda & Niroyuki Kiku Chi
Spain - Bruno Montalvo & Fernando Murube
Switzerland - Dieter Meier & Georges Lacava
Turkey - Yusuf Avimelek & Cem Nomer
United Kingdom - Bob Ives & Joe Ives - Camel Trophy Award
Yugoslavia - Franjo Bozic & Robert Kaska

Born Free

MALLE MILE 2017 REPORT: A JOLLY GOOD SHOW

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In Europe, barely a weekend goes by without some form of motorcycle racing. If you want to test yourself and your bike, you can choose from flat track or drag racing, enter a build-off competition, or join a custom-oriented ride-out.

Over the past few years, the limelight has been stolen by Wheels & Waves, DirtQuake and Glemseck. But what if you live in the UK, and want to sate your thirst for an adrenalin kick or entertainment fix?

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The two young gents behind the motorcycle luggage brand Malle London, Robert Nightingale and Johnny Cazzola, spotted a niche—and a gap in the calendar. Three years ago, they decided to put on a quintessentially British moto-inspired garden party, and The Malle Mile was born.

Judging by Instagram feeds these days, people all over the world are making the most of their motorcycles, every waking hour. So why does the scene need a plummy shindig at some salmon-trousered chap’s stately home in the countryside? Well, it’s simple—participation.

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Sure, you can do track days, or join an amateur race series. But that all comes with added seriousness, and the effort/cost-to-fun ratio quickly falls out of balance. The Mile is a chance to ride to an event and watch a select few have a laugh. You stick a number on your headlight and let rip, head-to-head, against your mates. The winner is the one with the biggest smile, or the tallest tale of near-glory.

Three years ago, just a few hundred folk pitched up at Kevington Hall (just south of London in Orpington) for the first edition of The Mile. They spent a summer’s day tearing up the lawn aboard homebuilt customs, classics and slightly inappropriate machines in the grounds of an impressive country pile.

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The formula has clearly worked: race places at The Malle Mile now sell out within hours. Social media and word-of-mouth have worked their magic, and attendance has rocketed. The schedule now includes a twisty hill climb, a mini-bike obstacle course, camping and a legendary after party in a secret room in the bowels of the mansion. It all makes for a belting weekend.

For 2017 Robert, Johnny and their bespoke-overall-sporting crew upped the ante. They added a Friday evening cinema night, extra camping, boxing and a Motopolo tournament. Plus a classic bike display, and a bigger and better party.

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The feel and setting was similar to the early days of Goodwood events, in the late 1990s: an eclectic mix of vehicles and attention-to-detail, a festival of petrolhead nirvana creating an illusory escape from the real world.

Saturday’s hill climb revealed a course slightly modified from the previous year, with tighter turns to curb the enthusiasm of the near-200 competitors. But that message was lost in the post: racing was close, though remaining gentlemanly. Riders must start with a left hand on their helmet; heats can be won and lost by those with the quickest reactions to pull the clutch in and select the correct gear.

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There were clearly some motocross racers amongst the seemingly amateur bunch, as some of the riding was mighty impressive and a pleasure to behold. Particularly from a previous world champ of 87 years who, when helmeted, could have been mistaken for someone a quarter of his age.

He not only became one of the people to beat but the choice man to be beaten by. But perhaps the most impressive was motorcycle valeter Freddy Trott, who rodeo’d a road-legal and fat-tired Triumph Bonneville up the course with so much skill it looked like he was on the latest 250cc ‘crosser, not a near-250-kilo pig.

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The afternoon’s drag racing ran to a similar format, with pairings decided by presumed mechanical equality. Again, reaction times and traction were the ultimate deciding factor. One guy on a knobbly-shod Aprilia Tuono not only made a great noise on open pipes, but also shot a roost of lawn high into the blue summer sky.

And what do Brits do after racing and before a party? Boxing of course. A championship-size ring was set up, and after a demonstration between two tough-jawed pros, the ring was opened up to onlookers. Anyone who reckoned they could manage a single three-minute round was invited to have a go.

As for the party…well, you had to be there.

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On Sunday, the sprint race and the Motopolo tournament took place under a glorious summer sun. The Motopolo ball was of course truly artisanal, crafted from a special hide by one of the Malle luggage makers, and ideal for punting around—provided you were riding something light and nimble.

The sprint heats were followed by a knockout stage: this was quite a task to organize, considering the volume of eager riders. But slowly the potential champs and wannabe heroes were filtered out, leaving those with knobby tires and/or the reactions of a gunslinger.

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The clever money was on a multi-cylinder steed taking the win. But it was a Zaeta piloted by Lee Kirkpatrick of Krazy Horse Customs that took the top spot. Lee’s prize? A lap of honor bearing the Malle flag, and a hand-beaten aluminum trophy from deBolex Engineering. Both fine things, but for Lee, it was all about hanging out with his pals, making new ones, and simply having a laugh. Just the tonic for today’s serious and testing world.

Perhaps watching racing is becoming a bit old hat, and it’s the taking part that counts?

Malle London | Words by Ross Sharp of The Bike Shed | Images © Mihail Jershov of MJ Studio | MJ Studio Facebook

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Dust & Motorcycle stories, Chapter II

On the tracks of the famous Gauchos and Dakar's dust road with the beautiful Royal Enfield Classic 500. A great motorcycle adventure by Mono 500...Chapter2

Dust & Motorcycle stories, Chapter II from Mono 500 - Riding Experiences - on Vimeo.