Rally News – December 2009.  

 As I am typing this Kolka, our 2007 Kurland Rally destination, is literally deep under snow! Such snow has not been experienced in this region for the last 40 or so years. Average snow depth is currently 1 metre and it has reached 2 and 3 metres near houses meaning that people could not even open the doors in the morning! This has meant that vital food supplies and electricity was cut off from the households for a few days. Yet the optimistic Kolka people were seen to take this more as fun than a catastrophe!

 So this winter is cold and white in Latvia with subzero temperatures at night reaching – 20 deg. Centigrade and in the daytime staying around 10 degrees. This year’s Kurland Rally impressions will have settled down in the minds of this year’s participants, like dust on a windless day on some of Kurland’s roads after a motorcycle passes down the road.

Yet the oldest ever participant of this event – Neilsen Frederic Webster from the UK has written a rally report, which has been added  with kind permission of the author in the 2009 Results and Rally Reports section of this website. I hope you will all enjoy reading it! 

Here is Wishing You All a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

Ride safely,

 Juris    

Rally News – July 2009. 

Hi All, 

The rally preparations are all under control and we are going to have a really memorable event with plenty to see and experience and also I have made sure there will be some interesting surprises in stock for you all! Therefore I have to announce that we have reached the point of no return – your Entry Fee has been paid up front for the hotels, the restaurants, T-shirts have been ordered, various music performers have been booked, rally souvenir awards have been ordered... 

The time is approaching when every participant of the 2009 Kurland Rally will be packing his tools, tyre levers, spare tyre tubes, chain links, cables, favourite grade of oil and 40 other items that a gentleman is supposed to take on a long journey with his motorcycle… You may of course leave most everything at home, or forward with your machine by a carrier, only please do remember to take your passport, your valid driver’s licence, your vehicle documents and your 3^rd party insurance policy with you as well as some money in cash or credit card. Latvian Lat is the official currency in Latvia, but you can exchange your Euros or Pounds Sterling currencies in money vending booths almost everywhere. 

Petrol in Latvia may be cheaper than anywhere else in Europe, but single grade oil is only available at certain outlets. There will be a 50 SAE emergency oil supply can in one of the vans, but please consider this issue carefully as we cannot supply everyone with oil! There will be a first aid kit, an air compressor, a brazing torch, tyre levers and some other basic tools with us in the back-up van. No one will be allowed to make major repairs on his motorcycle at the roadside! The technical back-up truck will collect broken down motorcycles and will deliver them to the next big stop. Everyone will be supposed to be at the table for the meals at certain times, so please respect the comfort of your comrades as you would expect to be respected yourself. 

Our Welcome Dinner at Hotel Milzkalns is at 20.00 hours sharp on 16^th July 2009. Please do not be late! The Reception for the Kurland Rally participants will be there after 16.00 hours.

 The weather now over here is very hot, + 28.5 degrees Centigrade and hopefully it will stay like that for the rest of the month. Have a safe journey to the Kurland Rally, 

 Juris Ramba

 Mobile phone + 371 29255601 

Rally News – May, 2009  

Dear All,

 I am pleased to note that despite the worldwide crisis we have a good selection of interesting machines from 10 countries represented. Please see the Entry List on this website. I am especially satisfied to count nearly 20 pre -1939 machines on the list, a fact that means that people have started trusting this event.

I can also add that the majority of the route will consist of asphalt roads with only a few access roads being white dusty ones. I had intended to post photos of the participant’s machines on the rally website, but since I have not got all the photos in digital form and some are yet to arrive, I decided to only post the Provisional List of entries. 

This is the last call for those who have been considering taking part in the 2009 Kurland Rally, but have delayed sending in their Entry and Accommodation Forms. We still have a few vacant hotel rooms, so another 4 or 5 machines and riders could be accommodated in style. I have kept the reservation on those extra rooms for latecomers, just in case. As you may remember the need for an early Entry Deadline was caused by the requirement to pay a deposit to the hotels in advance.

 Tent accommodation does not seem popular this year, judging by the lack of interest in this form of accommodation. Maybe that is because the majority of participants are of ripe middle-age or family people.

 While working on the rally route planning, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that there have been important major developments taking place along the trodden paths of the previous Kurland rallies and the past participants will be able to compare and appreciate some new surfacing on the streets of Kuldiga as well as the recently renovated historical bridge…

 In the meantime, while planning a 30-minute stop at a 15^th century castle ruins we are now going to spend an hour at a fully rebuilt and renovated castle, which has risen like a foenix from the ashes at the same venue and, which has been opened to the public from the beginning of May, 2009!

 This is it for the moment. 

Ride safely, 

Juris

Rally News – February, 2009. 

Hi All, 

Time is flying fast and we are already well into the year 2009.  This winter has been rich in snow over here in Latvia and that means that the coming summer will be hot and sunny… The Rally Entry and Accommodation forms as well as enquiries keep coming in at a rate of at least 2 per week which is a good sign so early in the year. May I kindly request the prospective participants to read and fill in all the required information on the forms, otherwise it takes a lot of my time to write back to each participant and request the missing T-shirt sizes or other relevant information. Please do not be shy to write a few sentences about your machine and yourself for the use of the commentator. It will at the end of the day also help the locals and the participants to find out some interesting facts about the machines and the riders and will help to create the right rally atmosphere and foster camaraderie. Please help me to make this rally a memorable one! Preparations for the 2009 rally are well underway and all the hotels and meals have been pre-booked and arranged for. Work is progressing on other arrangements too.  For example permission was granted already before Christmas to take a group photo in front of one of the most beautiful palaces in Latvia. Hotel “Skanste” – the place to book if you are coming  to Riga early or staying after the rally have announced that their prices are now based on “first come, first served principles and early bookings get even greater discounts. Please remember that the rally Entry Deadline is 15^th April – dictated by the need to make advance payment to the hotels en route by the end of April to secure accommodation without problems. Unlike the previous years when almost everything happened in the courtyard of Slokenbek, we will now have accommodation in 3 hotels and 9 meals in even more places and that is requiring more advance planning and early notice.   A regular Kurland Rally participant and Matchless guru, Pat Gill from Enfield, UK has told me that he is considering taking his Mercedes-Benz sprinter van with a box body with loading ramp to Latvia for the Kurland Rally. He can easily accommodate 6 or more solo motorcycles in this van. It is even wide enough to take a wide sidecar outfit. This could be a good option for those who have older machines, but are reluctant to ride them all the way to the rally. Also those who cannot afford an extended holiday could ship their motorcycle with Pat, and themselves fly to Riga. Please consider this option and contact Pat for details, his e-mail address is Matchlesspat@aol.com Phone: (work) 020 8804 2002,  (mobile) 07970551360.Two motorcyclists have expressed their interest already and at least 3 more would be needed to justify the expenses. Please tell me about your plans and itineraries early as I can then put you in touch with other travellers from your country so that you can enjoy good company on the ferries or maybe join each other on the road. Travelling in a group, for example, through Poland would be recommended as it is much safer, especially if you have to leave your vehicle unattended when shopping for petrol, meals, etc. As a regular participant to rallies in Latvia since 1990 Neilsen Frederick Webster from the UK once told me “travelling to the rally is half of the fun!” Payment of the Rally Fees is possible by using a proper VISA or Mastercard credit card or by direct bank to bank money transfer. Our bank regretfully cannot authorise payments made in absence of the purchaser from VISA Electron, or any other debit cards. This is all my news for the moment.  Almost forgot -- I am now adding articles and making all the changes to this rally website myself -- I am learning all the time!

Ride safely,  

Rally News – December 2009.

Hi all,

The next Kurland Rally is going to be a challenge -- a challenge to organize and a challenge to participate in it! Why? Because there are more castles, palaces and manor houses in Kurland than it would be possible to visit conveniently and at ease during those 3 riding days of the rally.

Medieval castles on the silhouette of present-day Latvia .

With this I mean to say that a certain degree of discipline, determination, stamina and skill will be required from the participants as well as the organizers to make things happen on time. This rally is certainly not for the faint hearted! Yet I am sure its value for money spent will be good!

The decision has been made to start early – on Thursday afternoon which is our assembly date and not on Friday as traditionally. It will be a challenge to participants and their machines because of the untraditionally long distance, (95% of it will be on asphalted roads) those 9 Rally Meals to consume, a dozen of castles to inspect, memorize and take photos of and of course the beautiful Kurland countryside, flora and fauna and large amounts of really fresh air to breeze…

Machine eligibility for this rally is 30 years, not 25. Thus motorcycles manufactured up to 1978 please! In case the rally will not be overbooked we will allow some younger machines, the riders of which will receive all the benefits of participants, except they will not be awarded Rally Prizes – only Souvenir Awards.

The planning stage of the 2009 Kurland Rally is drawing to a close and I must say that the statistics of the rally, such as the number of meals, accommodation places, coffee break places and lunch break places, number of music bands, etc., due to the changed format of this rally have greatly increased. As we are going to start early every day of the rally and spend 3 nights in different locations and lose our energy through riding actively, the run will be un-timed throughout the whole distance with the reliability element of the road trial as such being one concern and reaching the destinations for hot meals on time being the only other concern! There will not be route cards – only maps with identified route and you will be travelling safely with travelling marshals in reflective bibs, taking care of your security and timing for the meals and destinations. Your extra bags will be carried in vans that will take them to the next lunch or accommodation location for your convenience. We are planning to have at least 2 vans for bags and 1 back up van for those most unlikely break downs. There are certain identified addresses of restorers en route who can help with welding and machining work if required. Anyway, needless to say -- please prepare your machines thoroughly!

Yes, security wise your machines will be locked up in garages where possible or they will be guarded during your overnight stay at the hotels.

Please do not be surprised if the Rally Entry and Accommodation Fees for the 2009 Kurland Rally will appear to be expensive, compared to previous years. They will include and reflect longer stay at better quality hotels, food, beer, music, guarded vehicle parking, pre-paid visits to castles and palaces, special souvenir awards, rally numbers, T-shirts and more. After all it is a longer event as usual.

This unique rally will again be organized and based solely on Entry and Accommodation Fees, with no sponsorship as such. As on the 5 previous rallies yours truly will be the main organizer of the rally -- as Managing Director of the RAMOTO Ltd., which will be the main responsible organizing body with some members of the Vintage Motorcycle Section of the Antique Automobile Club of Latvia helping.

When leaving your home country for going to Latvia , please remember to take your vehicle registration documents with you as well as your passport or travel document, driver's licence and your third party insurance!

Please take note of my mobile phone number + 371 29255601 . You can always call or SMS me if there is an emergency while you are in Latvia or if you have any questions that need immediate answers.

There are several car ferry routes operating from European ports to Latvia , such as Travemunde – Liepaja , Stockholm – Riga , Lubeck – Riga , Karlshamn – Ventspils, etc. and there is also an option to travel to Klaipeda in Lithuania or Tallinn in Estonia and take the overland route to Tukums. Tukums is 60 kilometres from Riga , 140 kilometres from Ventspils and 160 kilometres from Liepaja .

The rally assembly point and reception will be at hotel “Milzkalns”, Tukums region, Smardes pagasts "Dizkalni", Latvia , LV-3148. Please see the plan below. It is easy to find as the new location is very close to Slokenbek – our old rally base.

It is suggested that if you bring your motorcycle on a trailer or in a van – leave it at the Riga Motormuseum or at Hotel Skanste in Riga and ride those 60 km to Tukums on your motorcycle. We can arrange picking up your extra bags from Riga and also our marshals will be available to accompany you to Tukums on their modern machines. This is in your best interests because the rally will finish on Sunday afternoon near Bauska which is 80 kilometres from Riga and 140 kilometres from Tukums in the opposite direction.

As in the previous years early arrivals and those participants who would like to stay in Riga after the Rally are advised to make a hotel reservation at the SKANSTE hotel which is conveniently located in Riga. It has a parking lot for vehicles and is friendly to motorcyclists. The website of the hotel is http://www.hotelskanste.lv/ and their e-mail address is: HOTEL@HOTELSKANSTE.LV Fax: (+371) 67519921 , Phone: (+371) 67519922 . Please remember to mention the magic phrase KURALAND RALLY and you will be immediately entitled for a considerable discount!

Due to the number of hotels, guest houses and restaurants involved, the rally Entry Deadline is 15 th April, 2009. The hotels en route require 50% down payment by the end of April and they mean it!

Ride safely.

Juris Ramba

Rally organizer

Very Important Rally News - May 2007 Dear All, It usually happens that good things come to an end. After 5 years of creating, building and then struggling to maintain the Round Kurland Rally to a high standard, most of the time practically alone, I have decided that this will be the event’s final year. “Isn’t there anyone else in the whole AAK club, who could take over and carry on?”, I can hear you ask. To sum it up it seems that our club as such is not yet ready for a proper international rally and there is no one to properly carry on the work I have started, which is a sad thing. The country is small and too few true enthusiasts have remained faithful to the vintage motorcycle movement... Also, as a small event it has most of the time been a gamble and a struggle to make ends meet by the end of the rally. The current rising inflation rates do not help us at all, and inviting outside sponsors would conflict with the concept of freedom in a way. My initial aim was to create a worthwhile event “in the middle of nowhere” by luring people from far and wide, away from the asphalted modern cities and modern civilisation and into the beautiful untouched Kurland countryside; the sandy beaches of the Baltic sea, unique flora and fauna, historical old towns and buildings, creating the right atmosphere, spirit and background for a Vintage event. I chose the Slokenbek estate as an ideal base for the rally. Now my energy is drying up and I have to concentrate on my own health, family matters, house finishing, business expansion and of course my own collection of motorcycles. As this 2007 Round Kurland Rally will be a special event with some memorable highlights I thought it would be proper to quit at the right time. I thought you all would want to know. The rally website - www.kurlandround.lv - will continue to display the highlight photographs of the event and some of the more important information as well. I would like to thank all those who trusted me over the years and supported the Round Kurland Rally and I look forward to meeting you again at this year’s event, and other events around Europe. Thank you for your enthusiasm! Yours in motorcycling, Juris
	Rally News - April 2007 My son Robert and I are back from a 2-week trip to the UK, where we took part in the Pioneer Run. We reached the start line at Epsom Downs all right, started the machine with the crank handle and took the start. The first mishap was gas blow-by on the primer cock - the spring had sagged and it was blowing by with consequent compression loss in the front cylinder. It later transpired that the plugs were too cool and the rear one was soon fouled. After swapping the plugs it started to go like hell and I descended Reigate Hill with no problem. At the bottom of the hill my map reader and pusher Robert remained with Pat on a 1929 Matchless model X as we decided that it would be easier to master the hill on my own, so the sidecar was empty for the ascending run. Further down the road I missed a turn and was drawn onto a motorway in the wrong direction: the M25 and M23! I did about 15 miles at speed on the motorway until it ended and I ran out of fuel. Then I could not start the bike (it has a crank handle and you have no choice but to crank it by hand!), my mobile phone battery went flat and I had to call it a day. Pat's friend with a van picked me up after 2 hours and I could at least take photos of other participants at Madeira drive, Brighton... I had worked 14 and 16 hours a day for the previous 2 weeks to get the machine finished -- the sidecar springs I only got from the heat treatment 4 days before going to the ferry. The winter was very severe and I could take the machine to the road only 2 days before having to go to the ferry, therefore I had too little time on the road to sort everything out. I mainly had 3 problems: sticking throttle slide at about 1/3 open -- providing lots of adrenalin when going around corners(!), wrong ignition timing in front cylinder (expensive autojumble magneto - 50 degree, but not quite so), rear hub clutch maladjustment, resulting in belt falling off the pulleys and sometimes snapping. I will now be considering getting a solid belt with a connecting link (as per original catalogue) instead of the link Brammer type belt as obtained from Willem Pol. I have left the bike with Pat as my son and I will be flying back on 23rd May to catch the ferry boat to the IOM and we also intend to do the Banbury run on 17th June. These little things will have to be sorted in a couple of days before going across, so I have to prepare everything for a quick job. I must admit I am a novice on those veteran big twins, hub gear and belts. Anyway the engine seems to be running well even despite wrong timing - the rest I should be able to sort out. I should be bringing the bike back for the Round Kurland Rally in late June. Talking of the Round Kurland Rally - I received a message from Neilsen Frederick Webster: he has had an operation in his other eye and is hoping to do the Kurland rally again this year if his eye is OK. I think everybody will join in wishing Neilsen a speedy recovery! The rally base at Slokenbek has been revamped with just another newly refurbished hall for banqueting - we will be using it for our welcome dinner on 13th July. A good portion of the yard in front of this newly refurbished hall has been covered in cobblestone, enhancing the looks and keeping dust at bay. This year the theme of the Rally will be: World's forgotten languages and cultures - the Livs' language and the culture of Kurland. You can read more about our plans elsewhere on this website. Please note that this year the official Entry Deadline is 15th May as a lot of things have to be done in good time for a bigger number of visitors. Please note also that my mobile number has been changed - it now is: + 371 29255601
	Please ride safely, Juris   Click the thumbnails to download full-sized photographs
	Rally News - January 2007 As I write these lines winter has finally set in over Latvia with some frost and at least 5 inches of snow. The weather so far had been so unusually mild for this time of the year that even the hibernating bears did not fall asleep, a lot of birds have stayed in Latvia for the winter and people were picking mushrooms in the forests last week - in mid-January??? This mild weather has of course facilitated work on this year's Kurland rally - the whole route was travelled before the roads became snowbound… Time really flies and the Round Kurland Rally for Historic Motorcycles in Latvia will be in its 5th year this summer. The rally concept has been gradually and painstakingly developed and improved each year and it has finally established itself as the best event in its category in the Baltic States. This is manifested by the constantly growing number of foreign participants, some of them coming back every year, and the increasing degree of satisfaction with the rally format and the value for money spent. None of the other vintage vehicle events in the Baltic States in the last 5 years have offered such physically exhaustive, culturally saturated and atmosphere friendly event which is designed entirely for the fun of riding old motorcycles in good company on the background of the best landscape of Western Latvia - Kurland. This reminds me of our rally group photograph as taken for the first time in 2006. Like many other things traditional, it will also become a trademark of our rally with a changing background for each and every rally. I could not find a better Christmas Greetings Card than this 1st group photo and suddenly my good friend Ed Youngblood, Past President of the American Motorcyclist's Association for 17 years, asked me if he could use it in his website WWW.MOTOHISTORY.NET with solstice greetings to motorcycle enthusiasts all over the world! It is the spirit and common interest in things motorcycle that unites us all, despite our religious and cultural beliefs - such was Ed's message… This year the Road Run route will be something special - it will take us along the coastal road to the Cape of Kolka where the spirit of Livs is still alive…Once powerful and daring seafarers and fishermen, these tribesmen were the ancestors of the Latvians. The Livs language is more akin to the Estonian and Finnish-Urdu language group than the Latvian language which belongs to the Indo-European language branch, with Lithuanian and Old Prussian the only two other relating languages. It is said that there are only about 300 current speakers of the Livs language in Latvia today… Anyway this phenomenon of the disappearing by assimilation of an ethnic culture and language will be our theme in 2007. I am pleased to note that another big hall is being refurbished at the Slokenbek estate and it is promised that it will be ready for this summer. The estate has changed hands recently and the new owners are investing heavily in restoration of the old buildings. This may also be the reason why we have not yet been provided with hotel prices for 2007. Finally may I add that we have tried hard to keep the Rally Entry Fees from rising for the last few years, but the inflation in Latvia, like everywhere else, is rising and if we want to retain the initial Rally Concept of being independent of any sponsor's whims, we have had to substantially raise the Entry Fees to cover the costs. It is still a small Rally and that is its beauty…
	Ride safely, Juris Ramba Rally organizer +371 29255601   Click the thumbnails to download full-sized photographs
	Have a safe journey! I have prepared 2 maps with directions for those who will be riding on their own to Slokenbeck or to the Riga Motormuseum. Please click on the buttons below to see a larger version of each:
	2007
	To get to Slokenbeck, which is situated at Milzkalne near the town of Tukums, you have to take the Riga - Ventspils road, A10 (E 22). You can see on the map the village of Smarde on the right hand side of the A10 after about 60 kilometres. When you approach Smarde you will see a brown signpost -- Slokenbeck 14 km on your right, if coming from Riga. Turn right at that signpost and follow the signs to Milzkalne and Slokenbeck all on asphalt road. Should participants have any problems, technical, mechanical, accommodation before or after the rally, etc., please do not hesitate to get in touch with the organizer, Juris, mobile Phone No.29255601. For technical and back-up van assistance during the rally please call Andris on 29806801. Early arrivals wishing to have lunch are advised to visit the LIDO "Windmill" self serve restaurant on the Krasta street - a distinctive huge log building, made like a windmill on A6 (E22) which is parallel to the river Daugava in the direction of Daugavpils. The place is very democratic and motorcycles can be parked at the guard's house under the watchful eye of the gate guards. The choice of food is enormous and the place is affordable, clean and tidy. A visit there is an experience in itself and a must when you visit Riga! Ride safely, Juris Ramba ramoto@apollo.lv
	For those who are coming to Latvia for the first time, here is a short list of major events in Latvian history: LATVIAN HISTORY 1561 Latvian territory partitioned: Kurland (Courland), south of the Daugava became an autonomous duchy under the suzerainty of the Polish crown. Livonia, north of the Daugava was incorporated into Poland under the name Inflanty. 1581 Riga incorporated into Poland. 1621 Riga taken by Sweden. 1629 Vidzeme ceded to Sweden, Latgale remained under Polish rule. 1710 Riga taken by Russia under Peter the Great during the Great Northern War. 1772 Latgale annexed by Russia at the first partition of Poland. 1795 Kurland annexed by Russia at the third partition of Poland. The whole Latvian nation was by this step now subject to Russia. 1905 The idea of an independent Latvian state was openly put forward during the Russian Revolution. 1914 World War I. March, 1917 After the Russian Revolution the Latvian National Political Conference asked for complete political autonomy. Sept. 3, 1917 Riga taken by the German army Nov., 1917 After the Bolshevik coup in Petrograd, a Latvian assembly was convened at Valka. March, 1918 Latvia was ceded to Germany under the treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Nov. 18, 1918 Latvian independence proclaimed after the collapse of Germany. Jan. 3, 1919 Russian army took Riga as Russians claim treaty of Brest-Litovsk was null and void. Ulmanis government moved to Liepaja where it was protected by a British cruiser and six destroyers. Feb. 3. 1918 German army arrives at Liepaja with the aim of driving out the Reds and creating a German-controlled Baltic State. May 22, 1919 Riga taken by German forces. June, 1919 German forces defeated by Estonian and Latvian forces. July, 1919 Ulmanis government returned to Riga. Oct. 8, 1919 German forces take Riga Suburbs South of the river. Nov. 10, 1919 German forces retreat to East Prussia. Aug. 11, 1920 Russia renounces all claims to Latvian Territory. June 16, 1940 Latvia invaded by the Red army and government replaced. 35,000 Latvians were deported to Russia. July, 1941 Russians attacked by German forces. Oct. 1944 Latvia retaken by Russian army. 65,000 Latvians fled to Germany and Sweden. In subsequent years, 175,000 were deported to Russia. July, 2003 The inaugural ROUND KURLAND RALLY took place.
	Not many people know that... Despite its long history of domination by foreign countries, Latvia - or more specifically, Kurland - can claim its own status of Former Colonial Power. If you're going to do it, then doing it Somewhere Warm seems to be a good idea: in this case Tobago - see below. (Photos kindly supplied by Dave Pittuck)