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Race Dog
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2006
- Messages
- 3,555
- Reaction score
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- Location
- Gauteng 1150ADV
- Bike
- BMW R1150GS Adventure
This years DJ run takes place 7 and 8 March 2008, stating from Pinetown and ending at the James Hall Museum.
For those not familiar with the event, below is some info on it:
The 2008 Durban - JHB Commemorative Motorcycle Run
The first motorcycle race between Durban and Johannesburg was held in 1913. To cater for all sizes of machines, it was a handicap race with the little bikes leaving Durban as much as 5 hours ahead of the scratch man.
The following extract was taken from the programme for the 1927 event and probably captures the aura, excitement and interest in the race over the previous 15 years:
â??The romance of half a hundred speedmen pounding hot engines over the rugged 400 miles separating the coast from South Africaâ??s greatest metropolis has gripped the imagination of sportsmen all the world over. The Durban-Johannesburg motorcycle race has come to rank as one of the Empireâ??s classic events; local enthusiasts go mad over it, the race is â??splashedâ? in the South African press and the English periodicals wax enthusiastic. The race was born in 1913 when Captain HN Lloyd organised it and the winner is awarded the famous Schlesinger Vase, a silver trophy costing 125 pounds.â?
The history and the experiences of South Africaâ??s greatest motor cycle racers taking part in the race are well documented and could fill several books on the courage, disasters, excitement, determination and spirit of the entrants as well as the bikes they rode. Sadly, the last event was held in 1936 after which the authorities stepped in and banned racing on public roads due to the higher speeds and increased volumes of traffic.
In 1969, the late Dick Osborne, himself an avid motorcyclist, persuaded a group of enthusiasts to help him organize a commemorative D-J run, using the roads that the original race covered and most importantly, using motorcycles that were old enough to have participated in the last D-J race. This eligibility limit meant that the bikes had to have been manufactured before 31 December, 1936.
The format of the run would be a competitive rally running to varying set speeds and participantâ??s performance would be monitored by hidden marshals placed along the route. The run would be over 2 days (as was the original race), with an overnight stop in Newcastle. The original Schlesinger Vase, still in existence, would be awarded to the winner.
The first commemorative run was in 1970 and it has taken place every year since then except for 1974 when the authorities refused permission due to the petrol shortage.
The event is acknowledged as the premier vintage motorcycle rally in South Africa and has International status and is run under the auspices of MSA (Motor Sport SA) and AMU (African Motorcycle Union). It attracts huge interest amongst all veteran, vintage and classic motor car and motor cycle enthusiasts. Entries are limited to 150 by the authorities and for many years there were waiting lists to enter the event.
-----------
The various clubs have appealed to fellow motorcyclists to come out and support the riders either along the route or at the finish.
There is an opportunity to see some awesome bikes in action, some examples :thumleft:
- 1909 Humber Pedal cycle
- 1922 Royal Enfield
- 1926 Truimph P
- 1930 Ariel
- 1936 Rudge
- 1936 Panther (Bmad) ;D
- 1936 Sunbeam (AfricanSky) ;D
plus another 102 bikes
Below is the route outline if you would like to support the boys and girls
See you on the road
For those not familiar with the event, below is some info on it:
The 2008 Durban - JHB Commemorative Motorcycle Run
The first motorcycle race between Durban and Johannesburg was held in 1913. To cater for all sizes of machines, it was a handicap race with the little bikes leaving Durban as much as 5 hours ahead of the scratch man.
The following extract was taken from the programme for the 1927 event and probably captures the aura, excitement and interest in the race over the previous 15 years:
â??The romance of half a hundred speedmen pounding hot engines over the rugged 400 miles separating the coast from South Africaâ??s greatest metropolis has gripped the imagination of sportsmen all the world over. The Durban-Johannesburg motorcycle race has come to rank as one of the Empireâ??s classic events; local enthusiasts go mad over it, the race is â??splashedâ? in the South African press and the English periodicals wax enthusiastic. The race was born in 1913 when Captain HN Lloyd organised it and the winner is awarded the famous Schlesinger Vase, a silver trophy costing 125 pounds.â?
The history and the experiences of South Africaâ??s greatest motor cycle racers taking part in the race are well documented and could fill several books on the courage, disasters, excitement, determination and spirit of the entrants as well as the bikes they rode. Sadly, the last event was held in 1936 after which the authorities stepped in and banned racing on public roads due to the higher speeds and increased volumes of traffic.
In 1969, the late Dick Osborne, himself an avid motorcyclist, persuaded a group of enthusiasts to help him organize a commemorative D-J run, using the roads that the original race covered and most importantly, using motorcycles that were old enough to have participated in the last D-J race. This eligibility limit meant that the bikes had to have been manufactured before 31 December, 1936.
The format of the run would be a competitive rally running to varying set speeds and participantâ??s performance would be monitored by hidden marshals placed along the route. The run would be over 2 days (as was the original race), with an overnight stop in Newcastle. The original Schlesinger Vase, still in existence, would be awarded to the winner.
The first commemorative run was in 1970 and it has taken place every year since then except for 1974 when the authorities refused permission due to the petrol shortage.
The event is acknowledged as the premier vintage motorcycle rally in South Africa and has International status and is run under the auspices of MSA (Motor Sport SA) and AMU (African Motorcycle Union). It attracts huge interest amongst all veteran, vintage and classic motor car and motor cycle enthusiasts. Entries are limited to 150 by the authorities and for many years there were waiting lists to enter the event.
-----------
The various clubs have appealed to fellow motorcyclists to come out and support the riders either along the route or at the finish.
There is an opportunity to see some awesome bikes in action, some examples :thumleft:
- 1909 Humber Pedal cycle
- 1922 Royal Enfield
- 1926 Truimph P
- 1930 Ariel
- 1936 Rudge
- 1936 Panther (Bmad) ;D
- 1936 Sunbeam (AfricanSky) ;D
plus another 102 bikes
Below is the route outline if you would like to support the boys and girls
See you on the road
