There is a hint of green on the hedgerows and a dusting of yellow flowers on the fields of canola rape seed. It is time to swap our saffron riding jackets for orange that is less attractive to the myriad flying bugs that will soon be swarming.

Ben
ben@honsec.co.uk

Rallies

When reporting past rallies, we are sometimes able to begin with the first in a series so that you can appreciate the history of many great events. Jean-Francois Helias likes to look even further back and explain the thoughts and plans that gave rise to the germ of an idea for legendary rallies. With his encouragement and enthusiasm as a fuse, and Dave Richmond as the fire-cracker, we were able to track down the article in The Motor Cycle December 1961, written by John Ebbrell, that recorded the Dragon Conception.

The Dragon Rally is the entry to rallying for many motorcyclists and its pages are among the most read on LPMCC.net. We owe the promotion and popularisation of the rally to Harry Louis, editor of The Motor Cycle at that time. The article, which we have transcribed, explains the groundwork put in by John Ebbrell and the Conway and District MCC. We may be able to look back even further. If you have access to archived copies of The Motor Cycle at the end of 1961, please look for discussions on the letter pages from George Wilson and D R Shackles that may show how the idea took shape.

In the meantime, Francois, who is always up for the challenge, will look back even further for the moment the spark of the idea lighted upon Harry Louis.

Coming soon is Francois' account of the beginnings of another venerable rally. Closer to home, can any member of the LPMCC at the start of the 80s recall the decisions and plans that led to our Big End Rally? Spill the beans.

Hans Veenendaal has his sights firmly set on the future of rallies with his Rally Listing now at 1360 for the spring, summer and autumn of this year. With this year's Elefantentreffen and Dragon rally behind us, many of the events can still be considered a challenge if you choose somewhere at the opposite end of the continent. Be sure to make proper arrangements with the organisers because you would not want to travel thousands of miles to find the weekend or location was changed.


Cloth Badges

Just eight of the 46 Cloth Badges added last week were for rallies (or treffen). Most are patches for clubs you may never have heard of and some may no longer exist. But at the time they were worn with great pride and loyalty by members revelling in the camaraderie of motorcycle club life. Something we all appreciate.

All these patches were provided from Francois' collection. We still have over 2000 to add to the 1600 already on our pages. I wish I'd never agreed to include cloth badges on our badge pages!

Club Night

The livin' Leicester Phoenix MCC members are a shiftless gang of villains. They have changed their regular club meetings and, to shake off anyone trying to track them down, now meet alternately at the Railway Inn in Ratby and the Bulls Head on the road between Leicester and Earl Shilton ("halfway house" on the way to Mallory Park). Next Tuesday (26 March) is the former. To keep up with their toing and froing, check our Calendar which should keep you in step until May, when they begin their summer nomadic lifestyle in earnest.

At the end of the day, if they ain't at one place, you will find them at'other.


Skype Night

Next Skype Night is on at our usual time ie 8pm GMT. All participants should be back in line after next week, having all switched to daylight saving time (or back from it, in the antipodes) It doesn't matter where in the world the vagaries of circumstances have flung you; join us free on Skype.


Embers

On the subject of pubs: Ten Embers heroes toiled to a new hostelry on their thirsty ride solely to bring you a review. For the first time we visited the Pig In Muck at Claybrooke Magna. Although our reviews are about their food, we also recommend the beer from their own brewery. One or two of us sampled that.

Next we will probably sample some more ale halfway round the ride that starts from Shepshed. But not before knocking on John Beccles' door to ask for his back membership fees and subs.


Foz Spot

John asked his wife, Mary, what she wanted to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary.

"Would you like a new mink coat?" he asked.

"Not really," said Mary.

"Well, how about a new Mercedes sports car?" said John.

"No," she responded.

"What about a new holiday home in the country?" he suggested.

She again rejected his offer with a, "No thanks."

Frustrated he finally asked, "Well, what would you like for your anniversary?"

"John, I'd like a divorce," answered Mary.

John thought for a moment and replied, "Sorry dear, I wasn't planning on spending that much."