New Ulm

What can you say about a rally that celebrated it's 20th Anniversary
this weekend? It draws some of the more interesting and exotic 2
wheeled vehicles from all over, continues to be a laid back, enjoyable
event, grows year over year and past attendees return to with great
anticipation. That's the British Motocycle Owners Association Brit/Euro
rally in New Ulm.

Once again the New Ulm Fireman's Park served as campsite and
headquarters. Drawing individuals, club members from the Hooligans 59,
Ton Up and Austin Roadrunners (who themselves have a great rally coming
up) and businesses such as BMW of Ft. Worth, British-USA from S.
Houston, Boxers by Bob, Road Toys Powdercoating from Deanville and many
others, this event virtually guarantees a door prize for every attendee.
These aren't cheap door prizes either; nice custom screened shirts,
maintainence manuals and Battery Tenders, pins, patches, lubes and more
and no shortage of them. Sponsor support is deep and appreciated by all.

The field events were the highlight of Saturday afternoon, with the Cold
Start Races, Slow Race, Ride the Plank and DIrt Drags, Ring Toss and
ClothesPin Race drawing the crowds jibes and humor. These events are
interesting skill tests at most any rally. To see these events run on
bikes from the 1930s thru the '60s and 1970s vintage is something else.
Vendors from businesses and individuals were set up dealing in hard to
find parts and the occassional rust bucket dreaming of better days
behind and coming again in restoration.

What was there? Triumphs from all three periods of manufacture,
singles, twins, triples, dirt trackers, customs, racers. BSA, Ariel,
Vincent, Zundapp, Ducati, Moto Guzzi, Puch, and more, many in gorgeous
museum restoration, many more in beautful street riding condition and
ridden in to the rally. The bike show this morning was something else.
Each year there is a surprise and this year was no different. A few
years ago it was the battle of the Black Shadows, as no less than 6
Vincents vied for honors. Then there was the year there were the Ariel
4 Squares, 4 together at once; you are lucky to see one at a show. Two
years ago a BMW military WW2 issue with sidecar, machine gun and live
ammunition dared anyone to deny it.

This year? Norton was left off the list above, not because there
weren't examples of the bikes, but because the sleeper surprise this
year was in fact a Norton, one I had never seen before and others likely
have not seen in person either. There in all it's glory and serious
rarity was a 1988 twin rotor/wankel engine Norton Classic. There are
only 3 known examples of this bike in the entire USA, only one in
running condition, and that one was in New Ulm this weekend in the
Concourse judging category. Privately owned, the odds of seeing this
rolling artwork are small except in magazine pictures, and to be able to
study it up close and personal was a real treat.

Anyway, the rides were great, the games were run, the weather was
gorgeous and the bikes spectacular. Fireworks were shot, water bombs
were lobbed between clubs, cocktails served (inside joke, sorry) and the
usual good humor was in force. The locals love the event, the N.U.V.F.D.
fired up the BBQ to feed the crowd Saturday night, the Sheriff was there
briefly trading jokes with the guys sellings rally paraphenalia, and no
problems, just good vibes all around. (Dogs on Hawgs could learn
something here). One of the vendors I was talking to who makes the
rounds of all the major state rallies said this was his favorite rally
because these people were all about the bikes. Folks who came in from
out of state saw pals from over the years, and planned again for the
future. If you missed the BMOC New Ulm rally this year, make a note
for next year, it's always the weekend after Mothers Day, so you always
have an excuse to get out of the house and go.