RALLY NEWS -- DECEMBER, 2016 

 

Hello All,

 

Merry Christmas everyone! As promised we have already sent out 70 information packs about the next year’s Historic motorcycle event to all who had asked for this information at the 2016 Irish rally and on other occasions.

 

If there is anyone out there who fancies coming to the “Rally with a Difference” in Latvia and has not received the Rally Entry Forms and Regulations yet, please get in touch with me.

 

As usually we have started planning the event and the route early, including the venue for a group photograph, which has become our trademark and tradition.

My son-in-law Maris Pilacis will be our Chief Organizer as he has many talents and a lot of youthful energy to see things through to high standards as has been the norm in all previous Kurland rallies.

 

The 2017 International Kurland Rally will go into history as the first Kurland Rally, which will not take place in Kurland or Kurzeme, but will take its participants to Vidzeme or Midlands in English parlance. Thus we should associate the Kurland Rally with a Rally around Latvia in a broader sense, each time exploring new ground, seeing new places of interest, sampling new traditional Latvian foods and beers from different breweries…The Latvia Tourism Guide says Latvia is best enjoyed slowly – so we will have 3 and ½  Rally days to enjoy Latvia which is among world’s greenest countries.

 

Health permitting, 2017 will be the year of motorcycle activity for me as I intend to do the London-Brighton Pioneer Run in March (my 5th) and the FIVA Rally in France in May, so my son Robert and I along with some other motorcycle friends from Latvia would be travelling in Europe and hopefully we will meet up with some of you en route or at some of the destinations as well.

 

Should any of you need assistance with your travel plans please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.

 

Yours on a motorcycle,

 

Juris Ramba

Entry Secretary

International Kurland Rally

 

 

RALLY NEWS – JUNE 2015

 

Hello All,
 
As we are approaching the point of no return for this year’s Kurland Rally, i.e. 15th June, I have to inform you that there have been some changes introduced to the rally itinerary. This has been done to concentrate more on the visit to Liepaja, our major open seaport city and its many attractions. The rally will start as planned on Thursday, 16th July with registration at the new Registration Desk after 16.00 hours.
 
We have reduced the event by one day and the Road Run will start and finish at different locations from the previously planned ones. To keep the surprise this information will only be available to genuine Kurland Rally participants.
 
My e-mail address has changed, it now is: ramoto1992@gmail.com
 
Ride safely,
 
Juris

 

 

 

RALLY NEWS -- DECEMBER 2014.

 

Hello All,

 

My capable and energetic son-in-law Maris has taken over the organization work of the Kurland Rallyfrom me. Those of you who were present at the 2013 Rally may remember the promise I made to my wife -- not  to organize this rally any more… 

So Maris is doing all the logistics work en route, meeting the hotel and catering people, laying out the Road Run Route, etc.

 

I will confine myself to the rally website, rally paperwork and will act as Rally Entry Secretary for the time being. I will remain as patron and consultant for the rally to ensure that it follows the standard that was maintained and streamlined during more than 10 years of organizing it.

 

For next year the dates are 16th — 19th July, 2015 and this time the Road Run route will explore the Baltic coastline from Jurkalne to Liepaja  http://www.liepaja-sez.lv/en/liepaja-port/history/  the open sea port in the Western part of Latvia. The event will be based on the old Kurland Rally traditions and format.

 

The rally Assembly Point and Registration Desk will be at the Lejastiezumi recreational resort near Renda http://viesunamiem.lv/lejastiezumi  120 kilometers from Riga –  it was used for overnight accommodation during the 2011 Kurland Rally.

 

Traditionally we will participate at the Kuldiga town festival and before striking the coastal road, our lunch stop will be at the Ivande manor http://www.pilis.lv/tulk/view.php?id=30 .  

 

The Road Run will be around 400 kilometers plus another 200 or less to get there and back to Riga, or much less if arriving/departing through Liepaja or Ventspils ferry ports.

 

There are some very interesting places to see in Liepaja, like the notorious Soviet Karaosta Prison hotel http://www.karosta.lv/en/2012/be-a-prisoner-for-a-day-at-karosta-prison-a-unique-hotel-in-latvia/, Peter the Great’s  house http://www.inyourpocket.com/latvia/liepaja/sightseeing/places-of-interest/Peter-the-Great-House_11663v , where he stayed before traveling to Western Europe and other places of interest. The background for the traditional group photograph this time will be the famous Northern breakwater of Liepaja http://www.celotajs.lv/en/e/ziemelumols?lang=en .

 

From Liepaja we will ride through some less known and less inhabited roads to Jelgava town for overnight accommodation at hotel Jelgava. On the last day of the event we will visit the Rundale palace httSaldusp://www.latvia.travel/en/sight/rundale-palace-and-museum which has been finally fully restored. The Prize presentation will be held at the Bauska castle  http://www.bauskaspils.lv/en/castle-and-museum which now has a beautifully renovated yard and entrance to the palace. It looks totally different from what it was last year during  the FIVA rally. 

 

As we will be travelling along some less inhabited areas there will be a few stretches of unpaved roads – just like most of them were in Kurland area before the last war.

 

The Entry Deadline will be 15th April, 2015 and the number of participating motorcycles will be limited to 45. Machine eligibility is 30 years, but the older pre-1945 motorcycles will have a preference.

 

More details will be published on this website as usually.

 

If you have any questions you are welcome to e-mail me any time.

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Juris

Rally News – August 2013

Hi All,

 


The FIVA Motorcycle Rally in Latvia is now history and hopefully it will justify  its name as a

 

„Rally with a Difference”.

 

To draw a line we need to publish the Results of Prizegiving, as follows: 

 

1.       Furthest Travelled Participant on a Motorcycle: Juergen Woldert with a 1964 BMW R60/2 + Steib S 250 sidecar – 1754 kilometres from Hanau, Germany.

 

2.       Oldest Participant of the Rally: Willi Hof (76 years) from Germany.

 

3.       Youngest Participant of the Rally: Kaspars Mezinieks (32 years) from Latvia.

 

4.       Miss FIVA World Motorcycle Rally Latvia – a silver „Namejs” ring:  Perly Hofstad from Norway.

 

5.       Newcomer’s Prize for a Debut with a Recently Restored Motorcycle: Urmas Teearu with a 1931 Indian 101 from Estonia.

 

6.       Best Preserved Motorcycle at the Rally: Rolf Beppler  with a 1926 Zuendapp Einheitsmodell from Germany.

 

7.       Best Military Motorcycle at the Rally:  Hermann Matula with a 1941 BMW R 75 from Germany

 

8.       Finnish „ Auto Moto Retro”  Magazine Travelling Prize for Technically Most Interesting Motorcycle:  Pat Gill with a 1930 Matchless Silver Hawk from the UK.

 

9.       RAMOTO Travelling Prize for the Best Overall Result in Reliability Road Trial: Torbjorn Nilsson with  a 1920 Husqvarna Model 150 from Sweden.

 

10.   Consolation  Award for the Worst Technical Hard Luck Story at the Rally: Miloš Petrik with a 1929 Ariel Mod „F” from Czech Republic.

 

11.   All country teams received special team prizes – ceramic plates with FIVA rally logo individually handcrafted by a Kurland Pottery Artist Linda Kunstmane.

 

12.   Each participant received an individually handcrafted  ceramic mug with a FIVA rally logo.

  

 

 On behalf of the organizers let me thank you for attending the FIVA Motorcycle Rally in Latvia and thank you for your cooperation and patience.

Yours sincerely,

  

Juris Ramba

FIVA World Motorcycle Rally in Latvia – 2013

Organizer

 

 

 

Rally News – July 2013.

Rally News – July 2013.  

 

Hello All, 

It is just a few days before we will all meet at our Rally Registration Desk  at the Bikernieki Racing Circuit Entrance and  enjoy 4 days of riding through the beautiful  country of Latvia in good company and hopefully in glorious weather.

The small team of organizers all in new bibs, specially made for the occasion, are all set up to take the challenge of this international rally.

Those who intend to travel direct to the first night hotel SPA ARKADIA at Apsuciems and avoid the city afternoon traffic , please note that it is recommended to arrive there after 6 p.m.  The address of this hotel/SPA is: Apsuciems, Engures pagasts, Tukuma rajons, LV-3116. Phone + 371 29132765. 

The Technical Scrutineers and  the Registration Desk Operators  will have arrived there from Riga  by that time.

Everyone should be ready for  concert and welcome dinner at 8 p.m.

Have a safe journey to the rally,

Your FIVA rally organizer,

  

Juris

+37129255601

 

Rally News – June 2013, Part III.

 

If you have not made any reservations at hotel SKANSTE in Riga before and arrive early to the rally and are wondering where to leave your trailer or van in the vicinity of the Bikernieki Road Racing Circuit where the Registration Desk will be on 18th July, then  the  guarded parking lot at Eizensteina Street 2, Riga, LV-1079 can be your choice -- their website and map is here: http://celu-satiksmes-drosibas-direkcija-as-bikernieku-sporta-baze-aut.landingpage.zl.lv/ .   They charge 1.50 Euros for 24 hours for a vehicle which  is very reasonable, compared to the rest of Europe. 

For accommodation you can try a  hotel at a walking distance – 5 minutes    at Bikernieku street 121, Riga, Mezciems,  it seems to be the only hotel close to the rally registration desk. http://www.bi121.lv/map.php is their website. You can e-mail and ask yourself.

There are money wending machines in the vicinity of the Bikernieki Racing Circuit where you can draw money from your credit cards in case you are not going to the city. These are at S.Eizenšteina 29( at the "RIMI - Mezciems" supermarket ) and on Bikernieku street 160.

 

See you there!

Juris 

 
RALLY NEWS- June 2013 – PART II.

Hello All,

I have been approached by some of our rally participants to suggest a plan what to see in Latvia before or after the rally if/when people come and want to stay longer.

We have included some of the main attractions of Latvia in our rally route, but since we have to travel a long distance between these places of interest you will only be able to catch a glimpse of the planned  places and most probably you will want to return to some places like Rundale palace to spend more time there as I suggested before in the earlier  Rally News. (Has anybody actually been reading those?)  Maybe after you have been there (the Rundale Palace) for a couple of hours you can make a decision wether to come back or not after the rally or on some other occasion.

 

I would suggest the following plan:

Before the rally

Visit Old Riga http://www.rigaweekend.com/tours/old-riga-excursion.html?gclid=CMTfypfQiLgCFfKXcAod_VMAiQ, Art Nouveau street – Albert street http://www.latvia.travel/en/art-nouveau-riga, Doms cathedral http://www.doms.lv/index/?lang=eng – you can pop in at 12.oo hours to listen to Concerto Piccolo any day of the week before or after the rally – it is a 20 minute concert, or visit the Cathedral on 17th July at 19 hours for a proper concert. You can choose any other occasion or suitable concert as you like.

Lido Krasta restaurant http://www.lido.lv/eng/about_us/ is really worth a visit as it is one of our gastronomic national wonders that will suit all tastes. The place is convenient and friendly for motorcyclists, by the way.

After the rally

 

Monday 22 nd July – spend a day at the Ethnographic Open Air Museum on the outskirts of Riga.  http://www.brivdabasmuzejs.lv/attachments/147_LEBM_280911_Eng_rudens.pdf

 

Tuesday 23rd July – visit Jurmala (Majori, Dzintari) spend some time on the beach. http://www.latvia.travel/en/jurmala-1

 

Wednesday 24th July – visit Sigulda (Turaida castle and park, Gutmana cave, Krimulda, etc) http://www.rigalatvia.net/docs/sigulda_driving_free_self_directed_tour.pdf -- this could be best done on your motorcycles as the countryside is fantastic and not far from Riga – about 25 km– just see the guide on the website.

 

Thursday 25th July - Visit the town of Cesis 100 kilometres from Riga (medaeval castle and town) http://www.tourism.cesis.lv/en/start-page/  

 

These are just a few suggestions – you can do your homework and make up your mind what you want to see. The mentioned beautiful places are very characteristic and specific for Latvia as a Baltic state and they are unique to this country and region. Also I have arranged the places of interest in an order with the longer distance places further away from the rally, so that you do not overstress yourselves....

Please ride safely,

Sincerely,
Juris
Mobile phone +371 29255601

 

Rally News – June 2013

 

Dear All, 

Midsummer night festival Ligo in Latvia is over and this is a sure sign that we have passed the point of no return for our FIVA World Motorcycle Rally in Latvia for 2013. Hotels, food, T-shirts, prizes, etc. have been ordered and paid for and we are now looking forward to meet you -- our participants at the rally in July. The rally insurance has also been provided for – by ERGO company. 

To those who forgot to mention in their rally Entry Forms about acompanying vehicles I can say that 24-hour parking lots around Riga are cheap, compared with the rest of Europe. You can leave a car/trailer at a guarded parking lot for 24 hours for Euro 1.5 and these parking facilities are also available near the Bikernieki Racing Circuit –  where our Rally registration desks will be situated on Thursday, 18th July --just in case. Most participants will be leaving their accompanying vehicles at hotel SKANSTE in Riga which is our pre- and post rally base. According to Rally regulations no following vehicles will be permitted at the rally throughout its duration.There will be 2 technical assistance trucks (one of them like a yellow airplane!),  vans for carrying participants’ bags – (one large bag per participant please!) and a passenger bus for those who may have problems with their machines or other problems preventing them to ride in the rally.

Despite the late spring, the weather in Latvia so far has been wonderful motorcycle wise. We have had the warmest midsummer night since 1960ies and the weather  forcast for July looks good. Yet please remember that the rally participants will be required to ride in full motocycling gear regardless of weather as required by the rally Regulations. T-shirts, short pants, sandals and bare hands will not be allowed.

We have reviewed with interest the UK’s First Choice results which gives answers to the question What is the most beautiful country in the world? The majority have voted for Latvia and this is no surprise! http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/blog/what-is-the-most-beautiful-country-in-the-world-update/  check  this site yourself!

 

 

Here is the Preliminary List of our FIVA World Motorcycle Rally Latvia 2013 Participants as organized in Riding Groups.

 

                FIVA WORLD RALLY LATVIA PARTICIPANTS 2013. PRELIMINARY LIST.

No

RIDER’S NAME

COUN-TRY

M/C MAKE

MODEL

YEAR

1.

JURIS RAMBA

LV

REX/JAP

DE LUXE 7 HP

1913

2.

TORBJORN NILSSON

S

HUSQVARNA

MODEL  150

1920

3.

INGRID LONNQVIST

S

BMW

R 66

1938

4.

ARNT GRO

N

INDIAN

CHIEF + SIDECAR

1923

5.

MARIAN BRŽAN

SLO

BSA

500 SV

1938

6.

JUHANI RUPONEN

FIN

HARLEY-DAVIDSON

28 B

1928

7.

ROLF BEPPLER

D

ZUENDAPP

EINHEITSMODELL 

1936

8.

ERHARD THRAMER

D

ZUENDAPP

KS-601

1954

9.

WILLY HOF

D

BMW

R 51/2

1950

10.

ENRICO CONCAS

I

ISOMOTO

GT

1955

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.

VIESTURS ALBERINGS

LV

AJS

K3

1928

12.

LES HOBBS

GB

SUNBEAM

MODEL  9

1929

13.

JAN TAUBEL

CZ

ARIEL

MODEL F

1929

14.

MILOŠ PETRIK

CZ

ARIEL

MODEL F

1929

15.

PAT GILL

GB

MATCHLESS

SILVER HAWK

1930

16.

JOHN SPALDING

GB

JAMES

A3 SPORTS

1933

17.

TONY HENDERSON

GB

AJS

MODEL   16M

1946

18.

MARCEL SCHOEN

NL

NORTON

INTER MODEL 30

1934

19.

MIKE PETERS

GB

BSA

WD M 20

1945

 

 

 

 

 

 

20.

SIMO NIEMINEN

FIN

RUDGE

SILVER VASE SPECIAL

1933

21.

MARZIO GHIDONI

I

MOTO GUZZI

SPORT 15

1932

22.

MAURO BOZZOLINI

I

MOTO GUZZI

GTV

1947

23.

BENITO BATTILANI

I

SERTUM

BICILINDRICA

1936

24.

MARIA ROSA GUERRA

I

NIMBUS

SPECIAL

1939

25.

HARIJS KRŪZKOPS

LV

BMW

R 12

1938

26.

RUDOLF TSCHUMPER

CH

BSA

YB 33

1947

27.

UELI SCHMID

CH

BMW

R 67/3

1955

28.

WILLI HŪRLIMANN

CH

MOTOSACHOCHE

720A

1936

29.

PETER EGLOFF

CH

HENDERSON

KJ

1929

 

 

 

 

 

 

30.

PENTTI SELJAMO

FIN

RUDGE

SPECIAL

1936

31.

BRUCE LINSDAY

USA

HARLEY-DAVIDSON

E-61 KNUCKLEHEAD

1937

32.

RICHARD   BECKER

D

ZUENDAPP

KS-600

1938

33.

CHRISTIAN BECKER

D

ZUENDAPP

KS-600

1938

34.

ESKO JĀRVINEN

FIN

BMW

R 12

1938

35.

KASPARS MEŽINIEKS

LV

SUNBEAM

LION B 29

1938

36.

JAN STREZYNSKI

CH

BMW

R 71

1939

37.

REINHARD MADER

D

NSU

OSL 601

1939

38.

HERMANN MATULA

D

BMW

R75

1941

 

 

 

 

 

 

39.

URMAS TEEARU

EST

INDIAN

SCOUT 101

1931

40.

AIVO MŪNDEL

EST

BMW

R 66

1939

41.

PETJA GROM

SLO

NORTON

MODEL 18

1939

42.

PERLY HOFSTAD

N

VIKTORIA

SN 350

1940

43.

ARVE N. HOFSTAD

N

BSA

B 33

1952

44.

ARVE HOEL

N

BMW

R67/2

1952

45.

JOSTEIN ALSETH

N

BMW

R50

1956

46.

BERNARD ØYANGEN

N

BMW

R 90 S

1976

 

 

 

 

 

 

47.

WERNER WEGMANN

CH

MOTOSACHOCHE

426 JUBILLEE

1933

48.

HEINZ FUST

CH

HONDA

CB 450

1967

49.

PAUL ELSENER

CH

HONDA

KO 750 FOUR

1971

50.

BELA GABANYI

CH

MOTO GUZZI

NUOVO FALCONE

1953

51.

RENE JUCHLI

CH

HONDA

CB 450 SUPER SPORT

1968

52.

ERNST STRAUB

CH

TRIUMPH

BONEVILLE T120

1964

53.

MĀRIS BEDRE

LV

BMW

R 35

1950

54.

OLLI KOPONEN

FIN

ARIEL

VA 500

1935

 

 

 

 

 

 

55.

MILOŠ VINCIK

CZ

JAWA

11-250

1953

56.

ZDENEK KADEČKA

CZ

JAWA

11-250

1953

57.

PETR NAVRATIL

CZ

JAWA

350 OHV

1940

58.

VACLAV CHURAVY

CZ

JAWA

01-500 OHC + SIDECAR

1955

59.

JOHN CHRYSTAL

GB

ARIEL

NH 350

1954

60.

JUERGEN WOLDERT

D

BMW

R 60/2 + STEIB S 250

1964

61.

PALMINO POLI

I

MOTO GUZZI

GALLETTO

1952

62.

SEVERINO PIERETTI

I

DUCATI

750 SPORT

1974

 

 

 

 

 

 

63.

RENZO BATTISTONI

I

MOTO GUZZI

SPORT 15

1934

64.

DANIELE GAZZONI

I

MOTO GUZZI

FALCONE CORRAZIERI

1959

65.

NORMUNDS EGLĪTIS

LV

IMZ

M 72

1958

66.

KURT AMREIN

CH

NORTON

DOMINATOR  99

1960

67.

HANS BERNET

CH

MOTO GUZZI

V7 GT 850

1973

68.

ROMAN CLESLE

CH

MOTO GUZZI

NUOVO FALCONE

1973

69.

WALTER SCHŌNHOLZER

CH

MOTO GUZZI

V7 SPECIAL

1970

70.

ERNST WIRTH

CH

MOTO GUZZI

 VT CALIFORNIA II

1983

 

 

 

 

 

 

71.

ANDREW STEERS

GB

TRIUMPH

TIGER 100

1956

72.

PAUL BRUSCHAN

GB

BSA

GOLD FLASH

1958

73.

PETE GAGAN

CDN

VELOCETTE

VIPER CLUBMAN

1968

74.

SIMON HOLT

CDN

NORTON

JUBILLEE

1960

75.

TAKIS  M. PANAGIOTIS

GR

BSA

LIGHTNING A65

1969

76.

RISTO SALO

FIN

HONDA

CB 450

1973

77.

VELI TIRKKONEN

FIN

BMW

R100RS

1977

78.

KEIJO KIURU

FIN

HONDA

CX 500

1979

79.

ILKKA ERONEN

FIN

HUSQVARNA

MILITARY 250

1969

Please do not leave your riding gloves at home! Also it would help if you could take

 your Driver’s Licence, Insurance and Motorcycle paperwork with you!

See you all there,

Your Rally organizer,

Juris

 

               www.ramoto.lv