Dublin Motorcycle Touring Club FIM Rally Estonia '05

The 60th FIM Rally will be held in Tartu, Estonia from 21st July to 24th July 2005. Closing date for entries was 30th March 2005, but usually late entries are accepted. The trip allows options to explore the eastern Baltic States, maybe to travel to Russia, either St Petersburg or Kaliningrad (Konigsburg, E Prussia), to follow in the footsteps of Joey Dunlop.

The circuit and the crash site is about 5km from Tallinn city center, Kloostrimetsa road - look for map www.regio.ee if interested.

Estonia is a long ride. Riders can travel overland through Germany, Poland, Lithuania & Latvia; or use the many over-night ferries from Germany & Sweden to various ports in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Rally participants need to be in Tartu on Wednesday afternoon as the rally starts Thursday morning 21th July and ends Saturday night/Sunday morning.

I have added Baltic Sea Ferries to the Ferries page for those keen to explore ferry schedules & costs. Entry fee to the Rally programme is €160-. The Rally Centre is on the site of Tartu Fairs Centre, which lies 2 km east of Tartu city centre, and offers in total 3,950 sq m indoor space for eating and entertainment, and 6 hectares of outdoor space for campers.

The Rally & Camping site open on 18th July. Fee of €10- pp pn with breakfast. The prices of hotels vary from €20-40 per person per night and the 100-bed hostel is expected to be €20- pp pn. Currency in the Estonian Kroon, and 1 Euro = 15 EEK (Estonian Kroons).

The official road distance from Dublin is 2763; from Holyhead 2751; from Stranraer 2951; from Cardiff 2,526. Calculate your direct road distance in kilometres from your home to the Irish ferry port you use or to Dublin. Sea ferry distances don't count.

Route Map

Tartu Town

See more on the official FIM Rally Estonia Page

Tartu (pop 101,246) lies 185 kilometers south-east of Tallinn and with an area of 38.8 square kilometers, is the second largest city of Estonia. The history of Tartu dates back to 600 AD when the local people erected a fortress on a river crossing. Today Tartu is a city of education. In addition to Tartu University, founded in 1632, Tartu has a total of 16 colleges and many museums. Folk art exhibitions, concerts and youth festivals have given Tartu a cosmopolitan feel, thus making it an interesting place for FIM-Rally 2005

All foreigners traveling to or through Russia must have a passport and visa covering the duration of their stay in the country. The visa is required for both entry and departure. Visas can be obtained from the Russian Consulate in your home country. Applications require an offical invitation from a Russian company or individual, also available from agents like Real Russia (whom I use). It can be done same day if you have supporting documents.

Road Border Crossing Procedure from Finland to Russia and Russia to Estonia as at July 2004.

Links: Road Travel Around the Eastern Baltic States

"The only checkpoint without queue is on Curonian Spit, the motorway Klaipeda - Kaliningrad. What is more, this trip through nature-reserved zone is very pleasant. "

Insurance of Third Party Liability became obligatory in Russia in July 2003. Available at the border or in advance from:
IngoNord's voluntary TPL insurance is an additional insurance, which covers you for the cost of any claims for damage you may do to another person, vehicle or property. The liability limit is 1 million euro for every claim. The insurance is only valid in the Russian Federation.
The minimum insurance period is 15 days. The premium is 35 eur for a car. The maximum insurance period is 1 year.

Carole Nash Insurance do a Travel Insurance Policy. Look it up. If you buy it mention Dublin Motorcycle Touring Club.

Overland Travel in Road travel in Russia 2004 Tips

Horizons Unlimited have a great motorcycle travel website which answers a lot of questions.

The Riders Rally starts 6 days after the FIM ends and some riders will want to go directly home, see Ferries. I will take a longer break visiting St Petersburg and Kaliningrad by motorcycle. Leaving Ireland alone on 9th July and sailing from Harwich DFDS on Sunday 10th to Esberg. Riding across Denmark to Karlshamn in southern Sweden to catch a DFDS night ferry on Tuesday 12th to Klaipeda in Lithuania. Look around Latvia, visit Tallinn, visit Joey Dunlop's crash site. Join Linda on Friday & ride to SPb for 4 nights; then to Tartu for the FIM Rally (4 nights). Leaving the rally on Sunday morning to Riga (Sunday night) and Kaliningrad (Mon & Tue nights). Ride and follow the coast through Poland & Germany with DFDS ferry back to Harwich. All these ferry routes fill up pretty fast and if you book now, look at other routes!

Apply for a visa through your national embassy. An double-entry 30-day visa (2005) from the Russian Embassy in Dublin to enter St Petersburg and Kaliningrad costs from €80+ per person, with another €40 for supporting documents. In a hurry, it can be done for €100 same day if you have supporting documents. Allow at least 15 days to process if you're not sure. Applications should be made as early as your itinerary is decided.

I have no problem with leading, advising or helping individuals or groups travelling out or return via Tartu. All the information is on the .net regarding routes & tariffs and you can book it on-line. Revert to me if interested in coming along. -dave@dmtconline.info or (+353) (0)1 492 0937.