F.N.O.M.C.C. Rally
Sunday 24 May 1964 - Beaulieu Motorcycle Museum
I have already briefly presented what the Federation of National and One Make Motorcycle Clubs (F.N.O.M.C.C) was in the introduction to a previous report on the Woburn rally.
To summarize this federation in a few words, let us recall that the F.N.O.M.C.C was initially founded in 1960; and that it was at the origin of the very first Woburn rally in 1965; in the process, the F.N.O.M.C.C was renamed the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF).
Pin badge and machine badge produced at the very beginning of the 60s by the F.N.O.M.C.C for its members
What is much less well known about the F.N.O.M.C.C is that between 1960 (the year of its foundation) and 1965 (the year of the very first Woburn Rally), this federation organized in 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964 an annual rally taking place each year at the Beaulieu Motorcycle Museum; an event open to all although mainly intended for its members.
We will talk today about the 1964 meeting, the 4th of the name, which was held on Sunday 24 May 1964.
Luckily, I was able to get my hands on the program of 16 pages, printed especially for this meeting.
Federation of National and One-Make Motor Cycle Clubs
4th ANNUAL RALLY AT THE BEAULIEU Motor Museum
Sunday 24th May 1964
Programme 1/- [one shilling]
Cover of the program; hats off to the illustrator for his lively drawing which will undoubtedly 'speak' so well to the rallyists that you are or have been...
A mosaic of events over one day
This document, a precious mine of diverse information, confirms how effective our elders were in setting up such organizations, offering its participants a myriad of activities.
These are listed in their entirety on the scan below (touch it to see it all).
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
10.00 am Industries Association Exhibition of 1964 machine opens.
10.30 am Beaulieu Abbey, Museum, Palace, House and Garden open.
12.30 pm Concours entries close.
1 - 2 pm LUNCH INTERVAL
2.00 pm "Miss Federation" Contest.
2.30 pm Gymkhana.
Potato Race
Real Wheelbarrow Race (non—motorcycle)
Slow Race
Greasv Plank
Four—legged Race (non—motorcycle)
Interspersed with Tug of War heats.
(The above Programme will be cut or lengthened according to the time available.)
4.15 pm Parachute Regiment Free Fall Display.
4.30 pm Tug of War Final
4.45 pm RAFFLE DRAW AND PRRSENTATION OF AWARDS AND BY LADY MONTAGU
SIGN ON FOR RACES AND THE TUG OF WAR AT THE TABLE ON FELD IMMEDIATELY YOU ARRIVE AT BEAULIEU
From 10:00 in the morning until almost 17:00, the rallyists did not have time to get bored with such a menu of activities
Motorcycle exhibition at the rally
One of the highlights of this rally not to be missed was certainly the exhibition of motorcycles and scooters, under the aegis of the British Cycle & Motor Cycle Industries Association Ltd.
The major brands of British industry were represented, coming to promote their current models. The list below details the exhibitors as well as the various models presented to the public.
The BRITISH CYCLE & MOTOR CYCLE INDUSTIES ASSOCIATION LTD
invites you to visit the
EXHIBITION OF MODERN MOTOR CYCLES, SCOOTERS AND SIDECARS
Machines on show will include examples from the foLlowing firms:
B.S.A. — Beagle, Bantam and A50 Star (500cc)
Ariel — Leader, 200cc Arrow and Pixie
Triumph — Tiger Cub, Thunderbird and Bonnevile 120
Enfield — 250cc Continental, 250cc Turbo Twin and 750cc Interceptor
Veloce — 350cc Viper "Special", 500cc Venom Sports and a 500cc Venom Clubman Veeline
Watsonian — Palma and Monza Sidecars
James — 150 cc Scooter, M15 Cadet, Cotswold Scrambler
Francie Barnett — 87 Falcon, 89 Cruiser Twin and 91 Sports Crusader Twin
A.M.C. — 3 Matchless, 3 A.J.S. and 3 Norton machines
Honda — Honda 50 C1OO, a C200 model and a production raeer
Kerry's — Kerry Capitano 2 speed, 3 speed and Grand Prix
Greeves — Model 24YX1 "Challenger" Scrambler, Model 24RAS "Silverstone" Racer, 25 DD "Essex" Twin Roadster
Representatives fron the factories be present to "talk shop" with their clubmen friends.
Note at the bottom of the list the least known of all: Kerry’s. Appearing on the motorised market in July 1960, these mopeds were manufactured in Italy and imported into the UK. Kerry stickers were simply applied to the petrol tank and a 'Kerry' plaque molded onto the clutch housing of their Minarelli engine
Miss Federation
Stop racking your brains wondering about the origin of Miss Federation. The BMF is not its initiator. It only continued the tradition established in the early 60s by its older sister the F.N.O.M.C.C.
Proof of this is below with this scan of the May 1964 rally program, announcing this contest.
LADIES! COME BE MISS FEDERATION
The "MISS FEDERATION" contest will be held on the Gymkhana Field at 2pm sharp. All those wishing to take part - and we hope there will be many - are asked to line up on the field at that time with their own, their husband's or boy friends's machine (along with the male concerned as well,
of course, in the latter instances!) The judges will then appear and the Contest will commence.
It is expected that those endering will be asked to do one or two laos of the field so they, or their menfolk, should be ready to move off when the signal is given. The Winner and two runners-up will do a LAP OF HONOUR after the contest has been decided.
There will be an attractive PRIZE for MISS FEDERATION and two consolation gifts. There will be no signing on, so just come along at 2.00 ready for an event which always attracts a great deal of interest and enthusiasm.
GYMKHANA
To entertain you during the afternoon we have laid on a programme of field events under the control of the Brassington twins, Bob and Phil, Arial Owners). Some of the events involve the use of motorcycles, but the events have been specially chosen so as not to damage you or your machine. By 2.30pm, when the GYMKHANA starts, all machines entered in the preliminary concours should have been seen by the Judges and will be free to enter. HOWEVER, THOSE MACHINES CARRYING A RED ROSETTE WILL BE IN THE CONCOURS FINAL, AND RIDERS MAY WISH TO LEAVE THEM AT THE CONCOURS PARKING AREA.
A signing on table will be clearly visible on the Rally field. You are asked to enter for the events of your choice directly you arrive at Beaulieu. There are no entry fees. There will be no finals, but a prize, or prizes will be presented immediately after each heat. Don't forget that wives and girlfriends can participate. So remember to sign on - and then keep yourself in readiness for the events of your choice. We want to keep everything going with a swing, thus adding to everyone's enjoyment. For a list of events, see pages 2 and 3.
Clubs: don't forget to organize your Tug-of-War team!
YOUR ANNOUNCER THIS AFTERNOON IS MIKE AVEL OF THE TRIUMPH OWNERS TAPE RECORDING SUB-COMMITTEE
How to fall twice? Easy. After falling in love with Miss Federation, the participant could then fall off her machine during the gymkhana
I unfortunately have no photos of this 1964 rally to share with you; and I doubt that any reader can help to resolve this lack of photographic documentation that would allow us to get a more precise idea of the atmosphere of the event.
Only one solution, dear readers: do as I often do, use your own imagination to recreate scenes from this rally in your head...
- Jean-Francois Helias
