2009 National Rally

JAWA CZ Owners Club National Rally 2009

I’ve never been to this type of show before so having the National Rally at Uttoxeter Classic Bike Show seemed right up my street. I certainly had an interesting weekend and covered 562 miles in all.

First impression? Clever organisation for starters!

For a show run by vintage Japanese bike enthusiasts, Pete Edwards and the gang certainly did well at promoting Jawa-CZ. The first thing all weekend pass holders saw on arrival was a caravan with Pete’s gammy leg thrust out of the door and a huge banner announcing the Jawa/CZ Owners Club (attached to the fence – not Pete’s leg). Once past security, folk were then confronted by another prominent Jawa-CZ sign on the corner of our rally plot. To cap it all, our club stand was positioned just inside the main doors of the largest indoor gallery. Well done to all those involved.

It was great to go round looking at the exhibits on Friday evening and take a few photographs without crowds of people getting in the shot as well as my thumb. Saturday had lots of atmosphere and the sun shone throughout the main show timetable. I hadn’t a clue what most of the auto jumble was for but still managed to buy a couple of bits that weren’t food related.

Another first, I think the 10:00am ride out started on time! I had a reflective waistcoat stretched over my chubby body so ride leader, Ian Bridges, asked me to ride at the rear so that he had a better chance of seeing if we were all together. That meant I had a good view of all the bikes snaking round lanes, up hill and down dale. It made me wish I had Carol with me to video from her pillion seat.

The Alton Towers car queue stretched for miles along narrow country roads. With hardly any oncoming traffic, having a bike was a definite advantage. Seeing our convoy stream past must have made a few car drivers wish they had come on two wheels. I expect our 4 German visitors enjoyed riding back on the “proper” side of the road for a few miles (kilometres).

Before our 20 minute refreshment break at an idyllic spot, called Wetton Mill, we passed through a long, tall, dark tunnel that also contained a few ramblers. Some were startled by the noise from at least 15 bikes in the tunnel with them and had fingers in their ears. By the time all the elderly strokers had passed through, they were trying to pinch their noses as well!

After the break we had to negotiate a river. Ian rode through the raging torrent rather than carry his bike across on his back so we all followed suit.  No one drowned – but then I am prone to slight exaggeration. The scenery was breathtaking, the riding fun, the weather perfect and the company…… interesting as usual.

After wandering round the showground I walked into Uttoxeter town centre and noticed that motorcycles do not get free parking. Having been caught out in the past, I can often be found squinting at the small print in car parks. Perhaps it is time for someone to invent a simple (cheap) way of securing parking tickets to a bike in the wind, rain and light-fingered environment.  Ideas anyone?

I didn’t stick around for the Sunday session but enjoyed the rally immensely. My grateful thanks to everyone who had a part in putting it on for us all.

Alan Thompson

P.S. I attach a photo of the showground’s mobile Police Station. They had brought in somebody for questioning. Whilst Police are used to bikers racing around with their number plates obscured, they wanted to know why Andy found it necessary to obscure his entire bike!

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© Chris Baddiley / JAWA CZ Owners Club of Great Britain and Ireland

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