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An excellent entry of 136 riders has been received for the 2011 DJ Rally for classic motorcycles to be staged over March 11/12 from Durban to Johannesburg.
Clerk of the Course and chairman of the Classic Motorcycle Club, Pierre Cronje, had hoped for at least 150 on the Durban start line but the entry is still one of the best in recent years. There were 124 in 2010 and 117 for the 40th commemorative event.
All the motorcycles have to have been made before 1937 so they would have been eligible for the last road race between Durban and Johannesburg back in 1936. The first race was staged in 1913 but in 1936 the authorities decreed that racing on public roads was too dangerous so this year’s rally marks the 98th year since the first race was staged.
CHANGED FORMAT
In 1969 the late Dick Osborne, himself an avid motorcyclist, persuaded a group of fellow-enthusiasts to organise a commemorative DJ rally using the roads that made up the route of the original race. The first DJ commemorative rally took place in 1970 and has been staged every year since then except for 1974 when the authorities refused permission due to the fuel shortage
The format of the event has changed from a “first past the winning post” road race to a competitive regularity rally where riders have to try to ride as close as possible to set average speeds. Their performances are monitored by hidden marshals placed along the route who take the time as each competitor passes a check point.
Cronje and his organising team have been hard at work for several months already planning this premier event on the local classic motorcycle calendar
OLDEST DATES FROM 1909
“The route for this year’s commemorative rally will be similar to the one used last year, with the start in Hillcrest and the finish at the James Hall Transport Museum in La Rochelle, Johannesburg,” explained Cronje. “On the first day the riders will cover 350km from Durban to the traditional overnight stop in Newcastle and on the Saturday they will cover a further 320km on the way to the finish.
“The oldest motorcycle entered is a 1909 500cc Humber Pedalcycle to be ridden by Hans Coertse. Stuart Anderson will ride a similar 1911 Humber, making it two machines in the field that are 100 years old (see picture).
“There will be a blend of youth and experience, as entrants include 89-year-old Stewart Cunninghame and local Superbike racing star Clinton Pienaar who rode a 1000cc Honda at 2010's Isle of Man TT races.
“Pienaar, also the editor of Superbike magazine, will ride an Ariel Red Hunter on his first DJ Rally where he will be up against the editor of Bike SA, Simon Fourie, who will again ride his 1935 BMW R12 750 and is a regular entrant on the DJ.
“Cunninghame will have the competition number 100 on his 1930 Norton International as we were unable to allocate No. 89 to signify his age,” explained Cronje. “Stewart Cunninghame’s son, Allan, will be riding in the DJ for the first time. He will be mounted on a 1935 Velocette 350.”
FAMILIES AFFAIR
Another family group entered in the 2011 event is father Gerald Hollis (1935 Sunbeam 95L), son Adrian and passenger Jackie Turnbull (1935 Sunbeam Lion sidecar combination), daughter Valerie Corlett (1928 BSA Flat Tank) and son-in- law Mark Corlett (1936 BSA Q7).
The three Pitchford brothers, Harold (1926 AJS 350), David (1936 BSA 250) and Ralph of Dakar Rally fame (1926 Triumph 500) are all entered again.
The second oldest rider, Peter Dahl, who is also 89, will have Poekie Darlow in the sidecar of his 1922 Royal Enfield combination as his regular passenger; his wife Laura, died in 2010.
This year, for the first time, the Classic Motorcycle Club has more entries than the Vintage Motorcycle Club with 34 and 33 competitors respectively. This long-running event is run under the auspices of the Vintage and Veteran Club of SA.
For more information see the website www.djrun.co.za which contains the full entry list or call Pierre Cronje on 072-513-9432.
Clerk of the Course and chairman of the Classic Motorcycle Club, Pierre Cronje, had hoped for at least 150 on the Durban start line but the entry is still one of the best in recent years. There were 124 in 2010 and 117 for the 40th commemorative event.
All the motorcycles have to have been made before 1937 so they would have been eligible for the last road race between Durban and Johannesburg back in 1936. The first race was staged in 1913 but in 1936 the authorities decreed that racing on public roads was too dangerous so this year’s rally marks the 98th year since the first race was staged.
CHANGED FORMAT
In 1969 the late Dick Osborne, himself an avid motorcyclist, persuaded a group of fellow-enthusiasts to organise a commemorative DJ rally using the roads that made up the route of the original race. The first DJ commemorative rally took place in 1970 and has been staged every year since then except for 1974 when the authorities refused permission due to the fuel shortage
The format of the event has changed from a “first past the winning post” road race to a competitive regularity rally where riders have to try to ride as close as possible to set average speeds. Their performances are monitored by hidden marshals placed along the route who take the time as each competitor passes a check point.
Cronje and his organising team have been hard at work for several months already planning this premier event on the local classic motorcycle calendar
OLDEST DATES FROM 1909
“The route for this year’s commemorative rally will be similar to the one used last year, with the start in Hillcrest and the finish at the James Hall Transport Museum in La Rochelle, Johannesburg,” explained Cronje. “On the first day the riders will cover 350km from Durban to the traditional overnight stop in Newcastle and on the Saturday they will cover a further 320km on the way to the finish.
“The oldest motorcycle entered is a 1909 500cc Humber Pedalcycle to be ridden by Hans Coertse. Stuart Anderson will ride a similar 1911 Humber, making it two machines in the field that are 100 years old (see picture).
“There will be a blend of youth and experience, as entrants include 89-year-old Stewart Cunninghame and local Superbike racing star Clinton Pienaar who rode a 1000cc Honda at 2010's Isle of Man TT races.
“Pienaar, also the editor of Superbike magazine, will ride an Ariel Red Hunter on his first DJ Rally where he will be up against the editor of Bike SA, Simon Fourie, who will again ride his 1935 BMW R12 750 and is a regular entrant on the DJ.
“Cunninghame will have the competition number 100 on his 1930 Norton International as we were unable to allocate No. 89 to signify his age,” explained Cronje. “Stewart Cunninghame’s son, Allan, will be riding in the DJ for the first time. He will be mounted on a 1935 Velocette 350.”
FAMILIES AFFAIR
Another family group entered in the 2011 event is father Gerald Hollis (1935 Sunbeam 95L), son Adrian and passenger Jackie Turnbull (1935 Sunbeam Lion sidecar combination), daughter Valerie Corlett (1928 BSA Flat Tank) and son-in- law Mark Corlett (1936 BSA Q7).
The three Pitchford brothers, Harold (1926 AJS 350), David (1936 BSA 250) and Ralph of Dakar Rally fame (1926 Triumph 500) are all entered again.
The second oldest rider, Peter Dahl, who is also 89, will have Poekie Darlow in the sidecar of his 1922 Royal Enfield combination as his regular passenger; his wife Laura, died in 2010.
This year, for the first time, the Classic Motorcycle Club has more entries than the Vintage Motorcycle Club with 34 and 33 competitors respectively. This long-running event is run under the auspices of the Vintage and Veteran Club of SA.
For more information see the website www.djrun.co.za which contains the full entry list or call Pierre Cronje on 072-513-9432.
