feature - Round Britain Rally 2014

feature

Round Britain Rally 2014

Over the coming months you may notice a steady flow of motorbike riders in Station Road and in particular outside the newly painted Old Fire Engine shed.

For many enthusiastic motorcyclists – some with sidecars, and drivers of three wheeled vehicles such as the ReliantRobin – the Round Britain Rally (RBR) 2014 has begun.

The RBR is a touring and photographic event, exploring the countryside by travelling along less frequented lanes and back roads, and visiting interesting landmarks around Britain.

The competition began on 1st April, after entrants had received a list of up to 100 landmarks and instructions. There is at least one landmark in every county in England, Wales and Scotland and in the larger towns and cities there may be two or more. For Cambridgeshire, Melbourn and its Fire Engine building in Station Road was chosen.

Each landmark is given a number of points, which is determined upon its location and degree of accessibility. A landmark in the Highlands of Scotland is likely to be greater than one in the South. Depending on how competitive the riders are, they may travel an average of 250 miles a day, taking in three or four of their chosen landmarks.

In past competitions, clues have ranged from the more obvious, well-known spots such as The Memorial stone to Lawrence of Arabia, near Bovington, the R101 Airship Monument in Cardington or the White Horse near Alfriston, to the lesser-known or more difficult to access, which includes the Millennium Cairn in Durness or the McDonald tower near Dingwall.

By 1st November the competitors must have photographed themselves, their vehicle and their RBR entry form against the backdrop of their chosen landmarks, which are then submitted to the organiser for marking.

The original Round Britain Rally started in the 1970s and during its years of operation enjoyed a good membership. Castles, lighthouses, windmills, ancient monuments, follies and of course, the fine old remote pubs and inns were used as landmarks. Many were off the beaten track with some taking in the odd stretch of bumpy lanes. It ceased in the 1980s, but was revived in 1993.

No doubt, the competition in the 70’s and the early 80’s was as much about understanding and navigating by maps as it was about reading the signs along the wayside. Today the situation is obviously different – the ability to access information from the internet, before they begin, the GPS strapped to the vehicle and the obligatory mobile device, makes for an entirely different type of competition. But still, it does sound like great fun – except perhaps for travelling in the Reliant Robin! Peter Simmonett

One of the competitors outside the Fire Engine shed. Photograph by David Atkins.