Forty Two Rally

Firstly, if you haven't read, heard the radio series, seen the TV series or movie of "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy", then do so. NOW!

If you are wondering what that has to do with a rally - you haven't read/listened/seen it. In the story it is revealed that 42 is the ultimate answer to life, the universe and everything. Short of a few references to the 'Guide', there wasn't much difference between this and other rallies. The marshals wore armbands with Vs on them (for Vogon).

The food tent was called 'Milliways' (the restaurant at the end of the Universe) and the music tent was called 'Disaster Area' (the loudest band in the Universe).

That was it really. Standard rally hi-jinks, food and entertainment were to be had. The disco never got too loud, as it happens, as we were in the middle of a housing estate. A nice, relatively easy-going few days, not too far from Southampton.

This weekend was also the beginning of the UK's legalisation of CB Radio. On a system different from those awful 'Merican 'Good Buddies' of course. (They had unlimited power on AM, we were allowed a couple of watts on FM.) A couple of people had been up in that London queuing up at a 24 Hour post office in order to get the licence for these fearsome (apparently) devices that were quite possibly going to topple the government, or foment revolution in the lower classes, by enabling people to talk to each other over vast distances, (or, usually, a couple of houses away), without restriction. Or something. In today's world, this sounds a bit feeble, since nearly everybody carries at least one Internet-capable mobile phone and texts all their friends seemingly constantly.

- Phil (the Spill) Drackley


Start of quotation I can remember very little about most 1982 rallies. This one is different in that I can remember nothing at all about it, not even were it was held.

I presume its name came from a popular sci-fi tv programme at that time that concluded that the meaning of life was the number 42. End of quotation

- Dave Ranger

Start of quotation The 42 Rally was Airlie MC. We still exist, older now, still breathing. Old friends can touch base at airlie.bo@hotmail.co.uk.

I will post some photos when I can find the shoe box. End of quotation

- Bo