75th National Scatter rally (England)

[alpslapper]

I've being doing this for the last few years but last years was cancelled.

This year (as in next year that is) will be the 75th Anniversary.

A scatter rally is a rally where there is no fixed route to ride - riders plan their own route - and the objective is to visit as many controls as possible without exceeding the maximum mileage.

It's normally a 20 hour event.

This year there will be a Daytime Rally - ie you run your control visits over 12 hours.

It's on the 5-6th July 2008.

Moneys raised go to Mencap.

I'll be doing it.

Their website is here

[stanbloke]

I was entered for last years as well, rider 2. then they went and cancelled it . Bugger !!!.

This year I believe the finish point is 10 mins from my house, Yaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy. .

[alpslapper]

Got my application for this today

There's a few new catagories, including a sunrise rally, and theyve increased the minimum distances between checkpoints.

Max mileage still stays at 540 for the gold, special gold and platinum.

Theyve obviously listened to the riders feedback - lack of sufficient entries last year forced the cancellation as it meant some of the checkpoints would stay open through the night with possibly no riders comming through.

Hope theres a good turn out this year, specially as its their 75th anniversary.

[alpslapper]

Now entered for this.

Website here

I've also put it in the calender.

[Recycler]

See you on the road.

I'll be the bloke in the dark reading a map by fag-light.

[alpslapper]

Well, not a report as such, and no pics as I forgot the camera - but a good rally was had by Recycler and meself

We started at different ends of the country and didnt actually manage to meet up - even at the end - but we were in text contact to exchange critical rally information such as -

''hot biker chick in Corley - headed your way''



It was well run this year with a few changes to two years ago - and we both finished with enough points for a gold finish.

I managed to skirt round the worst of the weather and at the final control was parked up beside a gorgous rwb xrv.

A good mix of all sorts of bikes, including a few combos, and some fantastically ancient but well preserved british iron, being ridden by old boys younger than the age of their bike

There were less controls this year, and I have to say a lot of them had no or very limited facilities for riders - which was disappointing. Gildos in Wisbech as usual had a fantastic support set up - run by the women there and all donations going to the air ambulance - home made cakes, sandwiches, tea, coffee, cold drinks, visor wash etc etc - they outdo themselves every year

All in all a good rally - 20ish hours - good camaradere with the riders, and well organised and attended - something over 800 riders taking part this year.

[SteveLee]

I did this as well - really enjoyed it. We seemed to keep pace nicely with the bad weather all through the night!

Where were you parked? (my AT was in the top left corner of the enclosed bit of the car park).

Steve

[UKRob]

Originally Posted by alpslapper

. Gildos in Wisbech as usual had a fantastic support set up - run by the women there and all donations going to the air ambulance - home made cakes, sandwiches, tea, coffee, cold drinks, visor wash etc etc - they outdo themselves every year

.

Ha! My local shop that. Great crowd there. Did Adam Gildo ride along?

[Recycler]

Originally Posted by alpslapper

we were in text contact to exchange critical rally information such as -

''hot biker chick in Corley - headed your way''

What I didn't tell you was she was sat with 6 Hell's Angels and a pitbull.......... just thought it would be a marvelous joke to play on someone who's riding all night

Sorry we missed each other - maybe team XRV next year

This is the only photo I took - about 4.30am near the Wait for the Wagon checkpoint -



I left home in bad weather and went in and out of the rain throughout. Met a really nice old chap at Wisbech about 1am - he was on a lovely Norton Dominator in rust free but 'oily rag' condition. He and his pal had done the event for years and always go for a gold. Feeling knackered I thought I'd tag along and bimble to the next stage with him. He tore along at 70-80 on Lincolnshires country roads. Lincolnshire council must be leading the way on reducing their carbon bootprint 'cos they don't waste lightbulbs on lamp posts - there aren't any.

All in all it was over 900 miles door to door - virtually all on single carriageways and all I had was a UK atlas so got lost a couple of times looking for roads not on my map. I picked a route away from the cities. Had to kip on a picnic bench at Taunton services on the way home, 'til yet more rain woke me up, followed by a massive roast din-dins & 11 hours sleep that night

I will definately be doing this again. A couple of times in the night between checkpoints it felt a bit pointless - but then you meet so many riders (850 took part) and have a giggle.

[alpslapper]

Originally Posted by SteveLee

Where were you parked? (my AT was in the top left corner of the enclosed bit of the car park).Steve

I reckon it was your bike then I was beside. Looked around it for some xrv stickers but didnt see any but then it was chucking down so I mighta missed them. Lovely looking bike mate