Vercingétorix Rally

The following report was published at the time in France in the specialized magazine Moto Revue. It provides an excellent insight both into what this first Vercingétorix Rally was like from the perspective of a participating motorcyclist, and into the mindset and philosophy of what the MC Dragons were at the time — the most famous ‘pirate’ club of that blessed era, the very beginning of the 1970s.

It stands as a perfect complement to the information in my article, and is therefore presented below, translated into English, while faithfully preserving the original prose of its author, word for word.

The great Belgian rally rider Jean Delain alongside Kiki Blanchot, founder and leader of the MC Dragons

For readers who would like to learn more about who Jean Delain was, I recommend discovering the man through another article here.

Jean-François Hélias

1st Vercingetorix Rally

There were four of us setting off on three motorcycles: Jean and Suzy Delain on a 250cc Kawasaki (Belgium), Guy Sichat on a 350cc Jawa, and myself on a 125 cc Honda (France).

A week after the Chamois Rally, the first international gathering organized by the MC Dragons took place: the Vercingetorix Rally.

We arrived on July 15th, and the welcome we received that afternoon was exceptionally warm. Lost in Clermont-Ferrand, we met a “Dragon” who guided us to the Moto-Club headquarters (Bar le Joker). There, we were introduced to the members present, including the president, Kiki Blanchot, who offered us an aperitif as a welcome drink.

After a restorative lunch, the vice-president, Philippe Herbin, invited us to stay in his still-unfurnished apartment, sparing us the cost of a campsite. Other motorcyclists arriving after us were welcomed just as warmly. We spent three very pleasant days in this way, waiting for the gathering to begin.

On Saturday, after registration — during which we received a beautiful medal dated in Roman numerals — we headed to the campsite at the foot of the Puy de Dôme, where a campfire was held that evening.

The following day, all the motorcyclists climbed to the summit of this Auvergne mountain to enjoy skewers of meat and merguez sausages grilled over glowing embers, accompanied by good local wine, all in a warm and friendly motorcycling atmosphere. After the meal, the prize-giving ceremony — during which our Belgian friends received splendid trophies — brought this wonderful day to a close.

We would like to emphasize the excellent organization of this first gathering. All the Dragons worked tirelessly each day to ensure its success: signposting, dispatch riders at the entrances to the city (our friends Daniel and Amy, riding a BMW from the MC Châtillonnais, experienced this firsthand), and much more.

Deeply moved by these young people whose passion for motorcycling knows no bounds, we only left two days after the event, somewhat saddened to part from such good friends.

The success of this gathering (560 participants) came despite the publication of a false cancellation notice in a motorcycling newspaper — likely the work of pranksters who were certainly not true motorcyclists, or at least not the kind one would wish to encounter at such an event.

In any case, from the bottom of our hearts, we extend our thanks and congratulations to the Dragons — and we look forward to seeing you next year for the second Vercingetorix Rally.

P.S.: A friend from Belgium who joined us on Sunday lost his helmet at the campsite. As he had to leave the following day, a “Dragon” whose motorcycle had broken down lent him his own helmet so he could return home (to Charleroi), asking only that it be returned on a future visit to Clermont-Ferrand. A gesture that speaks volumes about the spirit of the MC Dragons.

- Michel Poujart