Rallies

We bust a gut keeping the rally badges flowing on our regular Tuesdays, but you may have noticed that the new content didn't go on-line until late evening.

Nevertheless, we added 12 more A Rally Badges, and 26 more B Rally Badges.

The promised R Rally Badges didn't make the cut. You will have to make do with the 645 already on the page until we can reschedule work on that backlog.

At least Hans Veenendaal is keeping up his end, as always. Pressing on with events for 2027 has not prevented Hans from seeking out stragglers for the cold end of this year. Over the next couple of weeks there are a score of rallies, including a handful in the UK. The Rally Listing is easily found on our website; finding the actual campsites is up to you.

Race Badges

We also struggled to get 63 additional Race Badges onto the website on the allotted day, but with matchsticks holding our eyelids open we kept to plan — unless you live far east of Blighty, in which case they went on-line on Wednesday morning.

Any-road-up, there are now 1911 colourful, or dull and tarnished but treasured, badges in several alphabetic groups that reflect the names of many popular circuits.

Statistics

Like everything else recently, our September Statistics were a couple of days later than usual being posted. They hold few surprises; France, Germany and the Netherlands are back in the top foreign language visitors; rally list numbers show remarkable post-COVID consistency.

Most unexpected was that this News shot to the top of the visited pages, displacing the mobile and desktop Rally Listing that always occupy pole positions. Does this mean the rally season is closing? Hope not — you'll miss the best!

Virtual Club Night

The livin' Leicester Phoenix MCC hold their Blighty Summer Time meetings every Tuesday evening but at random locations, possibly to avoid settling their tabs. For us past members, our Virtual Club Night is every Wednesday at a consistent location. Home.

There is little likelihood that you will get lost and be unable to find us — unless you have returned to the condition when you need your address sewing into your underwear.

At 8pm (Leicester Time) on any Wednesday, click this link
--> meet.jit.si/VirtualClubNight <--
to be transported back to a 60s/70s club night, but without the jukebox drowning the chat.

Embers

There's never any website work done on Thursdays because Embers cycling is sacrosanct. In September, 14 Embers puffed and panted 1211 miles between them, supported by refreshments that would sustain a small third-world country.

As the days shorten our rides are not yet following suit; that will come soon enough. Our first October ride was a test of grit — or perhaps I should say mud that the rotters dragged me through.

We took consolation in the Stilton Cheese Inn. Somerby.

We will be seeking similar consolation on Thursday, 8 October after following the Worthington Cloud Trail until diverting to a suitable hostelry.

Ditto on Thursday, 15 October, this time from Market Harborough, all start times are 10am and we finish before dark!

A shrewd antique dealer from London was driving through the Somerset countryside when he stopped for petrol.

As he walked past a run-down cottage, he noticed a stray tabby cat drinking milk from a shallow saucer on the porch.

The dealer took one look at the saucer and nearly stopped breathing. It was genuine Ming dynasty porcelain, worth at least £25,000.

Determined to make the deal of his life, he knocked on the door.

An elderly man answered.

Good afternoon, sir. I couldn’t help noticing that lovely cat on your porch. My mother has been terribly lonely lately, and he looks just like a cat she had when she was young. Would you take £20 for him?

The old man scratched his beard.

Aye, guv. That sounds fair enough.

The dealer handed him £20 and picked up the cat.

After taking a couple of steps, he turned back casually.

Oh, by the way, would you mind throwing in that old saucer? The cat’s used to drinking from it, so it might help him settle in.

The old man chuckled.

Not on your life, guv. That’s my lucky saucer. I’ve sold thirty-four cats from this porch just this month alone.