The Irish National Rally
Classic motorcycles on the Emerald Isle
May/June 2006
By Phillip Tooth
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Rally riders stop at Billing's Bend to take in the scenery halfway up Healy Pass
Photo by Phillip Tooth
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Broken frame? Buckled wheel? Snapped spokes? They’re all part of the Irish National Rally. But that doesn’t stop riders from coming back year after year. Once they’ve had a taste of the Irish, they won’t miss this annual dose of bouncing along narrow, rain-soaked roads while dodging sheep and potholes for all the beer in County Cork.
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The Irish National Rally has been bringing classic bike fans to the Emerald Isle for 39 years. Each day of the four-day event covers about 140 miles, taking in spectacular scenery along the rocky Atlantic coastline and through the dramatic mountains of County Cork and County Kerry. That might not seem far to ride a bike in a day, but remember, these are Irish roads — most of them have grass growing down the middle.
Ride the Irish and you’ll meet people like Ian Thompson, who has ridden every single rally on his 1936 Norton 500cc International. And then there’s American stunt rider Bud Ekins, who is always excellent entertainment, telling tales of Hollywood daring-do. Or former European motocross champion Dave Bickers, who rode the last Rally on a BSA Gold Star outfit. Besides Ireland and the UK, riders come from Germany, Sweden, France, Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada, the U.S. and even Japan.
Enjoying the view
Ireland isn’t called the “Emerald Isle” for nothing. The landscape is covered in a carpet of green thanks to more rain in a month than most European countries see in a year. The natives take it in stride: Even when I’ve had water running down my neck after hours of riding in the rain, I’ve been welcomed by a local Irishman cheerily proclaiming, “To be sure, it’s another fine morning!”
But it doesn’t always rain in Ireland. Warm air from the Gulf Stream keeps the climate mild, and exotic, sub-tropical plants line the roadside along the west coast. When the sun shines the views are spectacular, and you can sit outside a pub and relax while you listen to some squeezebox music.
The National is a timed trial, where competitors choose to average 20 or 24mph for each day’s run. One way to average 24mph between checkpoints is to maintain a steady speed up hill and down valley — but that’s boring. It’s much more fun to take it easy at one of the pub stops and enjoy a glass of Guinness or Murphy’s stout, or just pull over and enjoy the view — and then go hell for leather for the next 20 miles. That’s what most riders do!
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