Hamm Rally - Germany 2007

[Diesel Dave]

Just a quickie reminder for everybody.

You have 8 free weekends left to finish off those projects and get a few proving miles under your wheels before the Hamm Rally on the 7-9 Sept.

So I've booked some time off work (Friday and Monday was all I could get), and been on to Stena Ferries for a ticket on one of their rusty hulks to cross the North Sea from Harwich to Holland.

As last year I'll be catching the overnight ferrys in both directions to maximise the small amount off time I can get off work although it will be a bit better than last year when I had to disembark from the ferry - ride 70 miles to work and then do a full days input as a wage slave on the Monday.

Here's hoping that the weather picks up a bit over the coming weeks as it's storming heavily in London today.

The list of things to do is a bit extensive on the bike front if I'm to make it on the new creation (named Rigsby after the uk TV character in Rising Damp) not least of which is sorting out the DVLA paperwork. Trying to retain the original manufacture date as 1928 is proving difficult.

If it fails to come together then old Sluggys gonna have to step in once again and 7Hp will have to suffice for carting an overweight aging biker and camping gear.

Go on - make the trip; you know you want to!

Dave

[oldbmw]

I hope to go there, Hope also to hook up with Stuart after he gets off the ferry.

[Stuart]

Yes, haven't forgotten OldBMW

[Stuart]

I booked our ferry tickets last night here http://www.transmancheferries.com/
and was surprised to see that the price had halved from years previous. Anything over a few days and the price was about £130 but now the return trip is £60 Newhaven to Dieppe That's more like it.
Will be getting the 7am boat to arrive at 12 French time on Wed 5th Sept.

[Diesel Dave]

Ok so it's just 2 weeks away to the Hamm Rally so I hope everybody's all prepared!!!!!

Apart from me that is.

I'm off to Hungary on Sunday for work and won't return 'till the following Sunday, then I have 4 days back at work before heading off for the Hamm rally on the Thursday night ferry to the Hook of Holland.

The sad news is that the new bike won't be ready in time so it's Sluggy the Diesel Enfield once again who needs to step in and privide transpost for me and associated camping gear. (If anyone has ever needed to scratchbuild from a 1928 frame and get the thing registered in the UK you have my respect).

So the evenings of the week after next will be full of preparing camping gear and swapping the engine oil for the occasion. Sluggy will still be in his dented and 'well used' appearance but I'll forgive him this considering his mileage these days.

The last 'modification' I've made is to add some bar end weights to cut down the vibes at full rpm and this seems to have worked, so it's full throttle all the way from the ferry port to Brauhoff Willshous. Last time it took 4.5 hours non stop so I'm hoping for the same this time.

I'm looking forward to seeing old friends again and sharing the excellent beer and grub on offer, the opportunity to share ideas and seeing the new entries into the diesel bike world.

For those members of the forum unable to attend, no doubt we shall bring back a story or two and lots of photo's to share with you all.

Here's hoping for a dry and happy journey, and perhaps the opportunity to be overtaken many times by the group of sportscars I saw last time. (this was 4 times in as many hours, I reakon they neede to refuel or stop for a comfort break avery 30 miles or so).

I'll be fueling up in the UK before departure and hope to make the return trip without the need for topping up, after all 500 miles or so should be a piece of cake for a 180 mpg bike with a 14 litre tank.

Hope to see some of you at the venue, if you see a blond, balding, big nosed Brit, with a faded blue Helly Hansen Baseball cap and a bottle of beer in his hand it's likely to be me so don't be shy and say hello. Extra tins of Spam have been ordered, excessive tea bags to be packed so there will always be a warm welcome at the stove.

I had hoped that the missus would be joining me this year as she can be a bit of a hoot at such gatherings but unfortunately this will not be the case, I'll be leaving her at home pineing for my return.

Regards
Dave

[Stuart]

Well, myself and my brother are almost packed. No last minute serious probs with the bikes (the starter did just go on my car tho and the exhaust fell on my nose almost breaking it -ouch ).
If all goes to plan we'll be camping in the centre of Mons Wednesday night (just off the ring road - municaple site) and push on to Hamm to arrive mid afternoon.

see you all there hopefully

[Diesel Dave]

Well I made it back safe & sound and it was a brilliant event despite
the occasional rainshower.

Lots of new creations to look at - everyone was especially taken with
the Enfield Punsun V2, as it has 2 more HP than the petrol 500 and was
fitted with the 5 speed gearbox it's performance was stunning.

Lots of 2 cylinder engines fitted to MZ's and Ural outfits, one towing
a caravan.

The owner of the venue reckons we had twice as may people this year.

For the outward leg I tramped along the Autobahn at a steady 47mph but the return was a back roads jaunt taking 9 hours and included an invite to a Dutch Royal Enfield Club event - amazing what happens when you get spotted chugging down the road.

I managed to get just under 150 to the gallon and used about 2mm off the dipstick oil wise for the whole 550 miles - oh yes and nothing fell off or broke although the head bearings seem to have slackened off a bit.

Stu and Jeff must still be heading back via Belgium and France so I would expect to hear from them after this weekend.

All the best
Dave

[oldbmw]

I parted company with jeff and stu Sunday morning in order to beat the incoming weather. They were on their way to friends house in Belgium to stay a few days ... Unfortunately my shift from beer to coffee on the Saturday night in an effort to have a clear head the sunday misfired. It meant I did not sleep saturday night so I headed out through Germany and Belgium towards Verdun in France through somr black clouds and a few light showers. I managed to find a french automated filling station that accepted my UK credit card . From there I continued south and west trying to get clear of the heavy weather that was forecast for Belgium on the monday. I stopped just west of Troyes on the old Rn to Orleans. The ride there along the Loire river on monday was really good once the sun had warmed everything up. the round trip was 2200 KM and I did 686KM on teh sunday and was really glad to stop at a charming BnB, with all the comforts of home
My first on the road failure in four years of my BMW occurred on teh monday, Speedo cable broke
Still I do not love the bike

[Stuart]

Well we made it back finally getting off the boat one day early on Friday at tea time. As Dave said, great rally with lots of interest, people and bikes + the TV crew
We stayed at Axels place for 3 nights and spent time exploring the area around Aarken on the bikes. The one night it rained we were there so no drying out of wet things to do
Only casualty was a snapped head stud broken by the vibration. The top was connected to the rear tank mount and It was this that snapped the top off it. Frank Just did a great temp repair which is still holding good. Thanks to Axel for taking me to his workshop. Great to find a workshop in Belgium stuffed full of Brit bikes and Jaguars. This guy loves his UK stuff, that is for sure.

[palace15]

Has anyone got the GPS co-ordinates of the Rally site in Hamm please? Thats assuming the bike as not vibrated the unit to bits by then!

[Diesel Dave]

Assuming it's at the usual location - Brauhoff Willshouse.

N 51 40 13
E 7 54 8

Dave

[palace15]

Many thanks Diesel Dave, much appreciated......

[palace15]

Assuming it's at the usual location - Brauhoff Willshouse.

N 51 40 13
E 7 54 8

Dave

According to the website it is at the same venue as last year

[oldbmw]

Assuming it's at the usual location - Brauhoff Willshouse.

N 51 40 13
E 7 54 8

Dave

According to the website it is at the same venue as last year

look here http://tinyurl.com/62fqyu