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
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
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
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.
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
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
