We stopped reading the Press after we left York, but PH vs Mike Usher was always an entertaining correspondence flow. Utter shite mostly but entertaining shite.
All those criticising should remember that the Rally is (was? ) run by volunteers on the committee. If you haven't been able to offer your time or body for some helpful task over the weekend , don't be be so surprised to see the Rally end up the way it has.
CTC HQ were happy for it to go on as a CTC event and provided secretarial support , but were not willing to underwrite it in any way, except taking space for selling and recruiting. Most years the Rally made a profit and CTC wanted a share mainly by asking that the secretarial support was paid for. The committee declined ,CTC HQ withdrew and the disconnect between reality and York Rally set in.
As I have said on the other thread, some of the blame lies with the racecourse management. Even when the floods of autumn 2000 turned the Knavesmire into a lake , they refused to accept that there was a drainage problem. Only when they started losing racing days , did they address that problem and only in selected areas.
The toilets are rubbish and a large number of stay aways would be those who didn't fancy spending 2 days wondering if it was safe to go for a pee and brush their teeth.
Traders as well got fed up with everyone looking for cheap bargains. OK a tyre is a tyre ,but why should a trader divert shop staff to a show when they could take a profit at home without all the fuss of shifting tonnes of gear to York. If you want a meet the people exercise then there are now better bike shows than York.
So if anything is to come out of this we need to identify why folks went to the Rally and what they will miss.
Time for a poll ?
Was it the chance of a bargain
seeing new bikes or gear
meeting friends,
opportunity to visit York (the city)
the surrounding countryside,
touring or audax rides,
just an excuse to get away from home.
I am sure some one can do this better than me .Please.