Pennine Rally
April 1968 - Low Bradley, North Yorkshire
Very little is known about this second gathering in April 1968, which most likely took place in the same location as the previous year—out in the open countryside, on the edge of the village of Low Bradley.
A small village near Skipton, its name “Bradley” comes from the Old English brādlēah, meaning “broad wood” or “clearing,” an apt description for the quiet rural setting in which these riders assembled.
Members of the Denholme & District MCC during the “Swinging Sixties.”
Unfortunately, there is not much more I can share about this event. My archives hold almost nothing relating to it, save for two striking black-and-white photographs taken during the rally.
The first image captures a fleeting pause, as Triumphs are neatly aligned for the photograph. A memorable group shot of devoted riders, rallymen through and through, with their machines on the rally grounds.
Pennine 1968 — A line of Triumphs and the men who ride them.
This final photograph, taken in the campsite and no less splendid—provided one can truly appreciate British motorcycles of that era—reveals a classic vertical twin.
With the owner’s leg obscuring the view of the carburettors, we may never know whether it carries a single monobloc (Tiger) or a pair (Daytona).
Where is GCP 98E today? It is still in use!
One thing, however, is certain: the final letter “E” on the registration plate GCP 98E—an invaluable clue—places this machine firmly in the year 1967.
- Jean-Francois Helias