York Rally

[Canardly]

Rumour has it that this event will be up and running again next year. Is this correct?

[Efrogwr]

I've seen the rumour, too… I hope it comes true.

[rachel t]

The rumour is true, we have a new website which has more information www.yorkrally.org. A new committee has been formed and we are actively pulling together plans, the event will a focus of being a cyclists get together.

The York Rally date has been booked for the weekend of 20/21 June 2015. York Rally will need to raise funds. This is being achieved in two ways.

1 - The Friends of York Rally subscription scheme where there is an annual membership of £5, the membership form is to be found on the website, we should hopefully have online payment set up in the next few weeks.

2 - The York Rally Grande Classic Sportive. 35, 100 or 140 km from Wigginton, north of York on Sunday 21st September 2014. The latter two follow a similar route to the York Rally's Ron Kit Sportives. The 35km is a short route appropriate for families

Details will be available on www.yorkrally.org

If you have any ideas for the rally please let us know

forgot to add there is also a facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/yorkrally for those who do facebook

[PH]

Brilliant, absolutely bloody brilliant, good luck to all those involved, I hope it gets the support it deserves.
Could I suggest you ask Member Groups to become friends as well as individuals?  I'd be happy to propose this to mine.

[Canardly]

Well I hope the peeps at York are successful find lots of support and manage to capture the collective buzz of cyclists coming together. I certainly miss the Rally. Mildenhall is a great example of a fabulous vibe which hopefully  will be recreated at York.

[Jethro]

I have been to the York Rally in the past a few times, but was always saddened with the lack of grass-track events in comparison to the Mildenhall Rally.  If a club as small as the Mildenhall CC can put on such a magnificent weekend as they do, TBH it does concern me that with so many members, the CTC cant do something equally as good if not better.

The only downside to the Mildenhall event (for me) is lack of accommodation (I dont do camping anymore!) and this is certainly not a problem in York.

Well done though for resurrecting the York Rally which I will follow with interest

[rachel t]

The new event is independent of the CTC.
In regards to grass track, the gentleman who previously run it has had to step aside due to ill health & unfortunately despite best efforts nobody has come forwards to offer to run it. We had also had issues with falling numbers of entries which has meant that it has not provided a great draw & buzz that it had previously has, but saying that we are hoping to bring grass track back in 2015.

[jogler]

We attended for many years.
The decline to termination began before the absence of grass track racing which accelerated the demise of the event.


IMO it's a shame on CTC that they would not directly support this event but expended lots&lots of resources on a change of status that was not popular with the membership.

In it's final format the biggest attraction of the Rally was as a social event to see many velo-friends;some of whom were only seen in the flesh annually at the Knavesmire.

I hope the new endeavour meets with sufficient success to re-establish an annual gathering.

It may be worth considering inviting other cycling organisations to attend as a formal meeting in their own schedule....
The Fell Club?
The Tandem Club?

edited to add the "inviting" for grammatical correctness

[jogler]

1 - The Friends of York Rally subscription scheme where there is an annual membership of £5, the membership form is to be found on the website, we should hopefully have online payment set up in the next few weeks.

Please add to this thread when o/l payment is available.
tia

[Kim]

It may be worth considering other cycling organisations to attend as a formal meeting in their own schedule....
The Fell Club?
The Tandem Club?

YACF? 


Seriously, though, that's an excellent idea, and the benefits could go both ways.

[mzjo]

No hope of getting the FFCT to support it officially if the CTC are not officially involved but a mailing to the regional leagues, (probably at president level would be correct but I can check on that) would normally be forwarded to the clubs. There are undoubtedly french cycletourists who would be interested. (TCF also). If you think it appropriate I can do the research for the e-mail addresses (or if you prefer, wait for the second edition before going publicly foreign).

I always had ambitions to take the club to York, never having been myself. Looks like things will be against it for a few years yet but the hope lives on!

[rachel t]

Just to let everybody know online payment for membership of the friends is now available via the website www.yorkrally.org

[clarion]

Thanks Rachel.

Just one suggestion to improve on what went before: No clown!  Many kids are scared of clowns, especially those with autism or other special needs.  The clown who used to be at the Rally was really intrusive and spoiled the event for one of my lads.

[Kim]

Clown bikes, OTOH, are to be encouraged

[clarion]

Of course!

[jogler]

Thanks Rachel.

Just one suggestion to improve on what went before: No clown!  Many kids are scared of clowns, especially those with autism or other special needs.  The clown who used to be at the Rally was really intrusive and spoiled the event for one of my lads.

My g.d was frightened of clowns when younger & in early adolescence remains uncomfortable with them.
She certainly avoided the Rally one like the plague.

edited to correct grammatical error

[Kim]

I think for my generation (and presumably those younger) clowns are more associated with Stephen King type stories than actual fun.  It always seems slightly incongruous that people think they're good entertainment for small kids.  You can do perfectly good slapstick without the scary makeup.

[rachel t]

Press release issued yesterday by our publicity officer


PRESS RELEASE:

Ride Yorkshire for the Rally!

Legacy and history combine in this spectacular Yorkshire ride to support the revival of the York Rally. 70 years of cycling heritage will be reborn in York, one year after the Tour’s incredible visit.

In July 1945, heady with post-war excitement, a gathering of cycling enthusiasts from clubs across the North of England made a momentous decision: to hold a rally “in or near York”. The title of the event was to be “The Grand All-Yorkshire Cyclists Rally”.

So on a Sunday in September 1945 the very first Rally was held on York’s Knavesmire, a sociable gathering of the northern cycling associations which soon developed into the main annual meeting-point for cyclists across the UK and beyond. The event was repeated for 68 years, as the CTC York Rally, and more recently as the York Cycle Show, until its temporary demise in 2013.

70 years on, today’s cyclists are not prepared to let the Rally die.

A group of volunteers has formed to revive the Rally for 2015. The 2015 Rally will build on the fantastic legacy of the Tour de France 2014, whose second stage started right at the Rally’s traditional venue, York Racecourse on the Knavesmire in York.

The York Rally 2015 will take place on the 20-21st June on the Knavesmire, and annually thereafter, continuing the tradition of fellowship and the joy of cycling embodied by the post-war founders. The new committee will also bring fresh ideas to keep the Rally sustainable for the decades to come.

The new Rally is still taking shape but it will aim to attract cyclists and potential cyclists old and new, and it will be a wonderful opportunity for those new to cycling to share in the unparalleled depth of cycling experience among the Rally regulars.

Cycling clubs, associations, online cycling forums and social media groups from across Yorkshire and the UK are warmly invited to attend, and to take full advantage of the almost unlimited space available on the Knavesmire to showcase their activities, and to come together with their members in a ‘Grand All-Welcome’ cycling meeting. Cycle trade exhibitors will also be made welcome.

Ride the York Rally Grande Classic Sportive

To support the re-launch of the event, the organisers are staging the York Rally Grande Classic Sportive in September through spectacular North York Moors scenery. There is a choice of rides:
•the 36 km ride is mostly flat, and is perfect for families or perhaps for anyone inspired by the Tour looking for a challenge on their new bike! The ride will be well-signed with marshals. There will be feeding stations en route and free rider recovery will be on hand.
•The 100 km ride is a serious challenge, taking in significant climbing and amazing Yorkshire views. Again feeding stations and a tea stop will be provided, as is recovery if needed.
•The 140 km ride is worthy of champions! The famous Rosedale Chimney is an even more challenging climb than anything the Tour attempted, with a fearsome gradient but an exhilarating view over the moors at the summit.

All proceeds from the event will be used towards staging the York Rally. Entries are open now on the British Cycling website:
https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/114853/York-Rally-Grande-Classic

Full details can also be found at the new York Rally website: www.yorkrally.org where supporters of the event are also invited to participate in the re-launch by becoming a ‘Friend of the York Rally’. All are welcome with ideas or to volunteer to help: details are on the website.

•Press/Publicity: Peter Eland. email: publicity@yorkrally.org

[rachel t]

quick update, if people haven't seen campsite bookings have now opened, you can book camping by visiting the website www.yorkrally.org & either download the booking form & send it to the campsite co-ordinator or by using the online booking facility.

Also the AGM is on the 29th November at your bike shed, mickelgate, York starting at 10am everybody is most welcome to attend

[Jayjay]

Booked - thanks for the update Rachel.

[Butterfly]

We've booked a lightweight pitch We've put YACF as the club so if anyone wants to camp as a group, they can do the same.