Dragon rally
Encyclopedia
The Dragon Rally is a motorcycle camping rally
held annually in North Wales
since 1962, making it one of the UK's longest running bike events. In the 1960s the attendance at the Dragon sometimes topped 3,000 riders"Dragon Plus" article in Motor Cycle, 13th February 1964, p195, more recently the figure ranges from 1,500 to 2,000 depending on the weather and location. The rally is famed for its toughness and spartan facilities."So you're going to the Dragon?" article in Motor Cycle, 22nd February 1962, pp230-231 Riders often have to endure miserable riding conditions to attend the rally and, once on site, they are expected to camp without regard to the weather conditions. It is an event held in veneration by large numbers of motorcyclists as a test of stamina and endurance because (in the first two decades at least) it was common to have to endure snow and ice to ride there. The Dragon is often grouped with the German Elefantentreffen
(Elephant Rally) and Norwegian Krystall Rally.
Each rally attendee is presented with an enamel pin badge (a different design each year) and usually a slate coaster (although there was no coaster in 2008). The rally is usually held on the second weekend of February.
In the early 1960s the British motorcycle press carried reports of the Elefantentreffen (Elephant Rally), held each winter in Germany, a rally famed for the hardships involved in attending. This prompted several British bike journalists to ask if a British winter rally could be a success.
The 23 November 1961 issue of The Motor Cycle
carried an article by George Wilson in which he asked, "Can such a dream be realised in this country - a rally for super enthusiasts only, and so organised that by its very nature, only super enthusiasts would want to join in?... But above all it must be held in the dead of winter when only men who are men would be interested and the softies would stay away"
The article brought a flood of replies and soon another journalist, John Ebrell, was sent to North Wales to seek a camping site, with a view to publishing an article that would draw out potential organisers. By a lucky coincidence, as he was scouting around North Wales, a letter arrived at the magazine from Lawrence Irving of the Conwy Club, offering to organise the rally.
The Conwy and District Motorcycle Club has run the rally ever since.
The first rally in 1962 was held at Bryn Bras Castle
and over 2,000 riders attended."Magnificent! The only word for Conway club's great rally" article in The Motor Cycle
, 1st March 1962, pp261-263 In 1963 and 1964, the rally was held at Gwrych Castle
before moving, in 1965, to an ex-RAF camp at Glyn Padarn. Since 1969, the rally has been held at a variety of sites, perhaps the most popular being a riverside field at Capel Curig
.
Recent locations -
Motorcycle rally
A motorcycle rally is a gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts. Rallies can be large or small, and one-time or recurring. Some rallies are ride-in events, whereas some like the Iron Butt Rally involve days of riding and an actual gathering only at the end of the ride.-North America:Notable annual...
held annually in North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
since 1962, making it one of the UK's longest running bike events. In the 1960s the attendance at the Dragon sometimes topped 3,000 riders"Dragon Plus" article in Motor Cycle, 13th February 1964, p195, more recently the figure ranges from 1,500 to 2,000 depending on the weather and location. The rally is famed for its toughness and spartan facilities."So you're going to the Dragon?" article in Motor Cycle, 22nd February 1962, pp230-231 Riders often have to endure miserable riding conditions to attend the rally and, once on site, they are expected to camp without regard to the weather conditions. It is an event held in veneration by large numbers of motorcyclists as a test of stamina and endurance because (in the first two decades at least) it was common to have to endure snow and ice to ride there. The Dragon is often grouped with the German Elefantentreffen
Elephant Rally
The Elephant Rally, or Elefantentreffen, is a winter motorcycle rally, which takes place on the first weekend in February or on the last weekend in January annually in a valley between the towns of Thurmansbang and Solla in the Bavarian Forest in Germany...
(Elephant Rally) and Norwegian Krystall Rally.
Each rally attendee is presented with an enamel pin badge (a different design each year) and usually a slate coaster (although there was no coaster in 2008). The rally is usually held on the second weekend of February.
History
In the early 1960s the British motorcycle press carried reports of the Elefantentreffen (Elephant Rally), held each winter in Germany, a rally famed for the hardships involved in attending. This prompted several British bike journalists to ask if a British winter rally could be a success.
The 23 November 1961 issue of The Motor Cycle
The Motor Cycle (magazine)
The Motor Cycle was one of the first British magazines about motorcycles. Launched in 1903, its blue cover led to it being called "The Blue 'un" to help distinguish it from its rival publication Motor Cycling but the cover eventually became multi-coloured...
carried an article by George Wilson in which he asked, "Can such a dream be realised in this country - a rally for super enthusiasts only, and so organised that by its very nature, only super enthusiasts would want to join in?... But above all it must be held in the dead of winter when only men who are men would be interested and the softies would stay away"
The article brought a flood of replies and soon another journalist, John Ebrell, was sent to North Wales to seek a camping site, with a view to publishing an article that would draw out potential organisers. By a lucky coincidence, as he was scouting around North Wales, a letter arrived at the magazine from Lawrence Irving of the Conwy Club, offering to organise the rally.
The Conwy and District Motorcycle Club has run the rally ever since.
The first rally in 1962 was held at Bryn Bras Castle
Bryn Bras Castle
Bryn Bras Castle is a Grade II* Listed Building, located on the old road between Llanrug and Llanberis known locally as the Clegir road, in Caernarfon, Gwynedd....
and over 2,000 riders attended."Magnificent! The only word for Conway club's great rally" article in The Motor Cycle
The Motor Cycle (magazine)
The Motor Cycle was one of the first British magazines about motorcycles. Launched in 1903, its blue cover led to it being called "The Blue 'un" to help distinguish it from its rival publication Motor Cycling but the cover eventually became multi-coloured...
, 1st March 1962, pp261-263 In 1963 and 1964, the rally was held at Gwrych Castle
Gwrych Castle
Gwrych Castle is a Grade I listed 19th century country house near Abergele in Conwy county borough, North Wales.-History:Gwrych Castle was erected between 1819 and 1825 at the behest of Lloyd Hesketh Bamford-Hesketh, grandfather of Winifred Cochrane, Countess of Dundonald. From 1894 until 1924,...
before moving, in 1965, to an ex-RAF camp at Glyn Padarn. Since 1969, the rally has been held at a variety of sites, perhaps the most popular being a riverside field at Capel Curig
Capel Curig
Capel Curig is a village and community in Conwy County Borough, in Wales. It lies in the heart of Snowdonia, on the River Llugwy, and has a population of 226...
.
Recent locations -
- 2003 - CaernarfonCaernarfonCaernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
airfield - 2004 - Capel CurigCapel CurigCapel Curig is a village and community in Conwy County Borough, in Wales. It lies in the heart of Snowdonia, on the River Llugwy, and has a population of 226...
- 2005 - hill farm
- 2006 - AngleseyAngleseyAnglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
- 2007 - AngleseyAngleseyAnglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
- 2008 - BeddgelertBeddgelertBeddgelert, or in older English spelling often Bedgellert, is a village and community in the Snowdonia area of Gwynedd, Wales. It is reputed to be named after the legendary hound Gelert. Population 617.- History:...
- 2009 - Ty Croes, AngleseyAngleseyAnglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
- 2010 - Rowen, in the Conwy Valley
- 2011 - Capel CurigCapel CurigCapel Curig is a village and community in Conwy County Borough, in Wales. It lies in the heart of Snowdonia, on the River Llugwy, and has a population of 226...
Further reading
- http://www.lpmcc.net/rallies/rally_drag62.htmDragon Rally articles from The Motor CycleThe Motor Cycle (magazine)The Motor Cycle was one of the first British magazines about motorcycles. Launched in 1903, its blue cover led to it being called "The Blue 'un" to help distinguish it from its rival publication Motor Cycling but the cover eventually became multi-coloured...
22 Feb 1962 and 22 March 1962] - http://www.lpmcc.net/rallies/rally_drag64.htmDragon Rally article from The Motor CycleThe Motor Cycle (magazine)The Motor Cycle was one of the first British magazines about motorcycles. Launched in 1903, its blue cover led to it being called "The Blue 'un" to help distinguish it from its rival publication Motor Cycling but the cover eventually became multi-coloured...
9 Feb 1964]
External links
- Conwy and District Motorcycle Club – organisers of the rally
- Collection of Dragon Rally stories and images - DEAD LINK