Press Release

By Juris Ramba

It is not a big secret that there was no Kurland rally in year 2008. However after having had a year’s rest from the organizer’s duties, the organizer’s mind has been hatching another rally idea and I would like to share it with our faithful participants of the past rallies as well as with possible future entrants. Yes it is about organizing in year 2009 a Kurland Rally – this time a Reliability Road Trial or in other words a 3–day marathon, visiting 10% or a good dozen of castles, palaces and manor houses of Latvia, mostly those situated in the historic Kurland region. The dates would be 16th – 19t July, 2009. Please reserve this date in your diaries!

For almost 400 years the present territory of Latvia was part of the feudal states of the Livonian order of crusaders as well as archbishops of Riga and Kurland. During the period from 1185 to 1562 German feudal lords erected more than 100 castles in the territory of the present day Latvia and fewer – in the territory of the present day Estonia. Exact number of these castles is not known, as many of them perished in the first years after construction, some were wooden, and have not survived till nowadays. It is assumed, that in the territory of Latvia 128 castles have been built, but this number may change in the future, based on the findings of historical research in this area.

Old castles and palaces go together with old motorcycles and if we can add nice countryside, beautiful nature and quiet Kurland towns into this formula we can have a near perfect rally. Weather-wise mid-July has always been hot and sunny with an occasional shower (preferably) at night.

Lessons have been learned and now decisions are being made to completely avoid the busy streets of Riga, so each participant with his vehicle will have to find his way to the rally venue on his own. Maps will be provided on the rally website www.kurlandround.lv of course. Timed Road Run will be replaced by a Reliability Trial – after all this is an International event and our international visitors are more eager to see the country and places of interest rather than compete against each other. For the same reason and for a few other rather bureaucratic reasons there will not be a Hill Climb in this rally. We will instead concentrate on riding and visiting those castles and palaces. 3 nights will be spent at different hotels and in nearly 3 full days we will be clocking about 450 kilometres. So please prepare your machines properly! Special vans will take care of any extra bags and clothes of the participants and there will be back-up technical assistance vans, just in case. A new place has been set for making a group photograph …To hold the intrigue and surprise the participants the actual names of the castles and palaces on the road run route will only be announced shortly before the event!

The machine eligibility date is 1978, pre-war machines will receive special attention. For the benefit of all concerned the event will again have to be limited to a maximum of 50 machines or so and this is also necessary to enable us to secure accommodation at the destination points en route and to maintain a good standard of the rally.

Negotiations already have been started with the hotels and we should be booking accommodation early next year hence the Entry Deadline for this Rally will have to be 15th April, 2009.

Rally Regulations, Entry and Accommodation Forms can be requested by e-mail ramoto@apollo.lv or by writing to Juris Ramba, Rally Organizer, Lapu 10, OGRE, LV-5001, LATVIA, Tel/Fax (+371) 65071334

Bridge across the river Venta

Road Run Finishing Area, Kuldiga

Switzerland of Kurland

The Rathhouse

Venta's Rumba