NRR

National Road Rally 2021

Or National Monsoon Rally? helen hancock reports

Once again, the NRR committee managed to arrange a pandemiccompliant event that had well over 560 riders, plus plenty of pillions. The 2020 format of unattended controls and codes to be collected was used again, this time with a second day added to enable a longer weekend trip if preferred. The added day meant the return to a longer ride for those who wanted to push for a platinum award.

Day One started at 9am with the heaviest rain we had encountered for a while…then developed into monsoon levels! Some had a drier ride than others, who might have appreciated an outboard motor. Still everyone was safely finished by 10pm, some carrying on for the shorter Sunday ride as well.

No one wanted to be deterred by the horrendous weather, spirits were high and support for others out on the matrix was second to none. All riders followed their pre-planned ride around the 100-control matrix, collecting codes to eventually complete their chosen award.

There were many newbies, accompanied by more established riders. Thirty-three teams of three (bike clubs, mates, most with fabulous team names) rode for a coveted team certificate. Some did it for fun, some in fancy dress, some rode in remembrance of loved ones, some for charity. Some rode to better their award from previous years, while others rode because their friends told them to!

Some rode having no idea what they were doing, others (faced with the monsoon) had second thoughts and took a shorter backup route. But all had a great event and the social media pages pinged all day with photos and stories galore.

Above left:

scooters too Above: Bet you didn't know the Knievel twins rode an Africa Twin and a Varadero Left: Bikes, NRR hats...what else does a couple need? Below: Yes it rained, but were we downhearted?

To find out more about the National Road Rally, and the exciting new plans for 2022 go to www.nationalroadrally.co.uk or find us on the usual social media channels. Save the date for next year – July 2nd & 3rd 2022.

National Road Rally

nRR is one of the longest-lived motorcycle events in the country – ian Baxter knows all about it

What we now know as the National Road Rally started life in 1933 as the All England Rally, renamed the National Rally the following year and moving to Donington as a start point. Apart from a few breaks for world wars, fuel crises and cattle disease, it's been running annually ever since.

“The original idea was that it was a test of man and machine,” says Ian Baxter, who has ridden 25 of the rallies and has served on the committee for 12 years. “Modern bikes can just gobble up 600 miles but back then it was a real challenge. The manufacturers would put up awards for the best BSA, best Triumph etc.”

Winner of the solo category in 1934 was Mr KB Norris while one JH Colver bagged the best sidecar/three-wheeler award. Unfortunately, the programme doesn't record what they were riding, but they beat another 5-600 entrants to the top awards and would have visited a selection of 127 controls.

“It has seen a few changes over the years,” adds Ian. “It's now down to 540 miles with fewer controls but still has the platinum, gold, silver and bronze to go for, with special tests for the platinum. I've always thought it should stick to that format, which works well.” One thing that has changed is the move from manned controls – already in decline before Covid – to unmanned, where riders just need to take a picture of their bike next to the sign. And it looks like the overnight stages will be dropped, thanks to safety concerns.

Entrant numbers hit a high in the mid-1990s when 1400-1500 people would take part, but now it's back down to between 6-700, still a respectable number. Ian reckons 400 is the minimum to make it viable – although the NRR is all run by volunteers, there are still costs which have to be covered.

Still, the National Road Rally carries on into 2022 and in fact the reach of the committee has grown, now organising the Welsh and Scottish Rallies as well. The Welsh will be in May 2022, the NRR the first weekend in July and the Scottish in early September.

Top: Rallyists line up for the start, circa 1960 Above: FJ Tanner won a medal at the 1935 National Rally

Above: 1967, and stoke is the venue Left: 2016, and the National – now the National Road Rally – forges on