The FIM Touring events are a good introduction to continental touring. The 67th FIM Rally is held from Thurs 19th to Saturday 21st July 2012 in Poland. The Rally is the most important gathering on the 2012 FIM. The first FIM Rally was organised in Berlin in 1936 and this event has been held every year since except for the years between 1940 and 1949.
These events are usually run for motorcyclists by motorcyclists, who are mostly volunteers. They follow a set pattern of 3 days/4 nights beginning with earlier optional days (usually from Mon or Tues night and ending Friday or Saturday) with entertainment, local tours, food and camping/accommodation. Great to network with motorcyclists from up to 30 nationalities. Part of the fun is the ride to and from the venue. It is held once a year in a different country so that the host country can introduce its culture to the participants through local folklore performances, regional food and guided tours.
The Polish event starts on 19th July but participants will arrive on previous days to set up camp, find their hotel and start to chill. On the first day, participants ride together in club nation/teams to an Arrival Control where registration forms are handed over in order to officially register all the participants for the final classifications and for them to receive a FIM Meritum award form. As each nation passes, their national anthem is played. After the official presentation the participants will have some time to see the Old Town and Wyspa Mlynska and in the evening will have a meal together and after that an official opening of the event and party with concert will take place in Myslecinek.
On the second day 20.7, a coach trip to Torun is organised. In the evening the Interclub prizes are going to awarded, then another concert.
On the third day 21.7, there will be some free time early in the morning, and then everyone can prepare to the Parade of Nations. This is when the participants decorate their bikes with national flags and streamers and follow a pre-arranged route. The first rider of each "national team" carries a board displaying the name of the country and everybody waves or hoots to communicate with the local people who line the streets to watch. It's another opportunity for people of Bydgoszcz to get to know out participants. The final evening is the Gala evening and Prize-Giving Ceremony where, after dinner, the FIM Rally Challenges are awarded and the "the Torch of Honour" is ceremoniously handed over from the current Rally Director to the Director of the following year's Rally. Riders depart after breakfast on 22.7.
Forms: Rules Entry Form Accommodation & Optional Tours
Its always good if 3 or 4 club members traveling to the rally can arrange an agreed route to the rally with common dates, ferry crossings, roads and overnights, either hotel or camping. The Rider Rally starts on 3rd August back in Ireland but we've time for a few days holiday in Poland or Germany on the way home. Speak or email Dave Gibson (dave(at)dmtc.ie) if you are interested.
http://www.fim-rally2012.comFIM Motocamp - transport by own motorcycle, camping in own tent, no B&B, food included in fee, rally hall on site (keep costs down), participation 400-600 -
2012 Date: 06-08 June Venue: Tessenderlo, Belgium Organiser: FMB http://www.fim-motocamp2012.comFIM RendezVous Meritum 14-16.07.12 Jelgava LaMSF - This event is restricted to participants who have attended more than 5 FIM Rallies and venues are within two days ride of the FIM Rally. Jelgava is a small city in Latvia, 41 kms sw of Riga http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jelgava
Other less formal FIM touring events are here http://www.fim-live.com/en/fim/fim-organisation/touring-and-leisure/international-calendar/ and many national online calendars
For a long time (since 1980) Dave Gibson of DMTC Ltd has collected from Irish participants the entry forms and money (Cheque's f/o DMTC Ltd) on behalf of the MCUI; collated, checked and posted entries to the MCUI Hon Secretary to verify; transferred the fees to the organisers' bank; returned copy forms to each participant; and often handled queries between organisers and Irish participants. MCUI (or MotorCycling Ireland) do not maintain permanent office staff and are too busy to handle touring entries. Paddy Murphy, John McClintock and Murty Campion (Rooters MCC) have represented Ireland 'on the ground' at official and stewards meetings during these events. Robbie Nolan (CMCC) is the Touring Section Convenor of MotorCycling Ireland. Everything (ferries, overnights, insurance, food & petrol) is organised and paid by each rider individually. Individuals/club members may agree a common route and pre-book accommodation, etc, but it's a private matter and not part of DMTC Ltd.
The FIM Touring Events are:
1. CLASSIC CALENDAR - This year, next year - http://www.fim-live.com/en/fim/fim-organisation/touring-and-leisure/classic-calendars/
2. INTERNATIONAL CALENDAR - Listing for 2012 - mainly Dutch events, unfortunately one has to go through the National and club websites to match specific dates and places
3. History of FIM Rallye Venues
While the FIM has a long history of involvement in the sporting side of motorcycling, FIM also has a long history of activity and support for street and touring riders. They have been active in international gatherings and classic events for many years and in more recent times the Commission for Leisure Motorcycling (CML) has focused some of its attention on providing information to individual riders and groups who want to travel to other countries but lack some key motorcycle-related information they need to facilitate the journey. As a result CML created a website Touring-on-Line or www.fim-live.com/en/fim/fim-organisation/leisure-motorcycling/fim-classic-gatheringsMotor Cycling Ireland, through the all-island MCUI, is the south of Ireland affiliate to the FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme), the world-wide motorcycle sanctioning body based in Geneva, Switzerland. Motor Cycling Ireland administer motorcycle sport and organised leisure motorcycling through their affiliated clubs. They can be contacted at their office: MCI, BEAT Centre, Stephenstown Business Park, Balbriggan, Co Dublin or via their website: http://www.motorcycling-ireland.com/index.htm
