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[SMLE]

Anyone doing the ACU National Rally this year, or has anyone done it before? Thinking of having a go myself this year. Chrising.

[Mark M]

This year it is July 7 - 8th 2018. I haven't done it but usually go to my local checkpoint (Jacks Hill Cafe on the A5 north of Towcester) to see riders check in. And get a cup of tea!

REgards, Mark

[Rattlebattle]

I did it in 1989 and 1991, getting golds both times. (Highest at the time was special gold, which involved a time trial at the final checkpoint. I didn’t attempt these as there was still a longish ride home). These days with satnav I would imagine that it would be a lot easier both to plan and to execute. Manned a check point a couple of times too. Interesting to see what bikes and three wheelers participants use. No great challenge on a 1200GS but impressive on a Honda 50.... There used to be two compulsory 1 hour stops IIRC. I remember being amazed by the antics of boy racers who used the roads at dawn; fruitful pickings for the boys in blue if they could only catch them...I used my new HD Sportster 883 (yes, I know) on the first one with a 5 litre can of petrol strapped to the rack. In the event I didn’t need it. The second one was done on a MG California III. The clutch on that was so heavy that I got a lump on my wrist the size of half a boiled egg. It was agony pulling the lever in so I used my whole hand to operate the lever to pull off and then did clutchless changes. Made it though, but I’d never again have a bike with such a heavy clutch, partly caused by the stupidly shaped handlebars, which I subsequently changed.

[SMLE]

Cheers for the replies folks. Several mebers of my local branch of the TOMCC have done it over the years, but for several reasons I've never bothered. However I think the gold class, or whatever it's called, would be a suitable challenge for Webley and myself, which would be 22 check points in a minimum of 500 miles and a maximum of 540 miles. I think it looks more complicated than it actually is, but if you don't make the class you're planning do, you get automatically get dropped to the next lower class, and so on. You are supposed to have at least a total of 45 min' break for every six hours of riding these days, but it's the actual procedure on the day that that I'm struggling to work out. Their website is avague and other places on the web don't cover the day's procedure in much detail. In regards to the planning, you don't have touse pratt nav's, which is good because, although I'm a pratt most of the time, I'd rather use maps. Chris.

[Rattlebattle]

Me too; you used to be able to go for bronze, silver or gold (or special gold) depending on how many miles you wanted to do, where you wanted to start, and hence how many checkpoints were needed. But whatever, there was always a compulsory final
checkpoint with catering facilities.

[ric]

Manned a checkpoint for several years and intended to do it myself this year but an unexpected change in both health and fitness means this years planned entry has been cancelled. Those who seemed to enjoy participating the most (in the overnight categories) were those who travelled in groups of 2 or 3. Best of luck whatever level you intend to participate at.

[SMLE]

Entry fee paid, rider number received. Chris.

[Alan R]

Hi Guys-------Mark M, I would have liked to join you at Jack's Hill but my Diary tells me I'm rostered for train driving on the saturday and assisting with organisation at Oswestry MES on the sunday.......Good luck, Chris and don't forget the helmet Cam !!

[SMLE]

The helmet camera has nearly been thrown of late. After two weeks of working excellently with the external mic' fitted, the camera, a GoPro Hero 5, has fallen to the common GoPro Hero 5 fault of no sound when using Quick Capture. Thus, the next few episodes will feature video with music only, which is a benefit as you won't be able to hear me for a while! Chris.