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Only the Irish...
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The Irish Rally
Mike Jackson
05/01/2006
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The rally’s reputation grew, gathering entries
from the Continent, the United States, and Japan. Ultimately, enrollment
was capped at 170, but by 1990, the event had become so popular that newcomers
had to wait a couple of years; nobody minded, for they knew the delay was
worthwhile. An eclectic selection of machinery is spread across four classes:
pre-1914, pre-1930, pre-1947, and pre-1961, as well as divisions for both two-
and three-wheelers. A handful of single-speed belt-drive riders are the heroes,
inasmuch as the steeper slopes often require either pedal assistance, or running
beside. Upon reaching the summit, the problem then morphs into slowing the beast
on equally sharp descents.
 Trevor Hunt’s 1932 BSA three-wheeler cools off at the Healy Pass summit. (Click image to enlarge)
A number of challenging mountain crossings are
deliberately included. The Healy Pass is a glorious cocktail of hairpins and
cambers, virtually traffic-free, where higher-spirited riders can pretend they
are “‘Canonball” Baker, Dick Mann, or Kenny Roberts, depending on the era in
which they enjoyed their formative years. Other favorite road sections are The
Rings. In this part of the world, Rings are highways that follow the coastline
around a peninsula, laced with cliff drops, spindly bridges, and scenery to die
for. Given southwest Ireland’s geography, the Rings require concentration and
can take two hours to traverse. In 2004, on the spectacular Ring of Beara, I was
in convoy with Drino Miller and Bud Ekins in their 1955 Panther 120 sidecar and
Dave and Sylvia Bickers in their 1958 BSA Gold Star sidecar. At the halfway
coffee stop, we could not help but concur that Highway 1’s Big Sur has worthy
competition. Dave Bickers, two-time European MX champion in the ’60s, is yet
another former racer totally hooked on the Irish; this was his fifth.
 MX Champion Dave Bickers. (Click image to enlarge)
The
average day’s route is 150 miles, at a not-so-easy 24 mph. Road surfaces are
blacktop all the way, though narrow and bumpy across moors and through forests.
A first time competitor from the United States was caught short one time when he
misunderstood a Dublin rider’s description of the opening day’s route. He was
assured it contained “miles and miles of divided highway.” When he
traversed the route, the American was utterly perplexed by so many roads less
than nine feet wide. He duly confronted the Dubliner at lunch break, grumbling
that these roads could barely accept two bikes, side by side, and if cars came
the other way, it necessitated stopping—not to mention the road’s center, which
was either a permanent grass strip or a ridge of granite chippings. “Ah, yes,”
came the reply, “that’s what we mean, you see, by a divided highway!”
The logistics of the en-route catering are impressive, whereby the Club daily
reserves 300 nourishing feasts for riders and crews, and as well as for their
own personnel, at the best of the tourist inns dotted along busier highways. Due
to staggered starting intervals, meals need to be served on a rolling basis,
midday through midafternoon. Potentially chaotic, the agenda works like
clockwork. In a nice tribute to the rally’s founder, riders pay for refreshments
with vouchers called “Morrissey Currency,” and Jim’s daughter Barbara is a
component and glamorous part of the present-day team. Very few entrants ride
only once, thanks to magical routes and truly interesting stops. Combined with
the ongoing fellowship, these factors are the magnet that prompts constant
revisits—even from the fellow who got hopelessly lost in 1999, and innocently
asked an ostensibly helpful Kerry-man in a Killarney hostelry for directions to
the lunchtime checkpoint. Yes, he still returns each year, despite having been
advised, “Now, if I were you, I wouldn’t be startin’ from here!”
The 40th
Assembly will run—Tuesday through Friday—in the third week of August 2006.
Here’s hoping to see ye there....
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