The 48th Irish National Rally took place last month in Killarney, Co Kerry from the 22 Aug to 28th.  This week long event saw a host of bikes from as far away as USA, Holland, UK, Belgium, Germany and of course Ireland both North and South. The rally was based in the Castleross hotel for the week and each day a ride-out was scheduled, distance varied between 130 and 140 miles each day and competitors could do a timed or non timed run. The rally is organised by the Munster vintage motorcycle and car club (www.munstervintage.com). The rally took in some of the most and panoramic spots of Kerry and Cork, taking us over hills, mountain passes, lake roads high roads and by roads putting man, woman and machine to the test in this event.  Days consisted of a start at 930am after breakfast in the hotel, competitors collected the route sheet with directions and mileages  in the lobby and made ready to depart. This year saw a marked increase in Indian motorcycles attending. Myself and Paddy Guerin were the Irish Indians involved, Kevin Tully from USA on his 47 Chief and some lads from Holland on Scouts.  It was great to see this most welcome addition of Indians again at the rally.
As we left the hotel each morning in great groups and haze of smoke and fumes heavily laden with the added two strokes hung in the air until we cleared Killarney one had to think, how much better does it get.  It surely did as each day wore on, heading out over the lakes of Killarney and up over Ladies view and looking down the Black valley the views were breathtaking .My 47 Chief shot up those hill climbs effortlessly and at times I found myself holding it back if anything, when following behind various flat-tankers doing the timed runs. My complete admiration went out to these riders as they nursed their 1911 onward, flat tank, leather belt driven machines up over these hills and always seemed to arrive at the next coffee stop never too far behind the main body of the rally.  Once clear of these erstwhile enthusiasts I was able to let the Chief run on and all felt good in the world again. Kevin Tully was ever present on his 47 Chief, all the way from the USA, painted in a lovely French Blue colour. This year saw a marked increase in Indian bikes in the rally, and not surprisingly from Holland. This year some 9 entrants from Holland came to the rally having seen and advertisement in a classic bike magazine. Paddy Guerin had his sport scout there also, making a nice collection of Indians taking part.  Usually the rally covers 60 – 70 miles in the morning run stopping at a pre booked hotel for lunch/dinner at 1 pm, although for some of us social butterflies who lingered at the coffee stops and taking photos and generally talking bike, dinner stops usually were about 130 pm. Dinner for some is usually fast and furious and the rest of the time given over to the obligatory repairs in the car park. The rally is followed by a team of breakdown vans and support to pick up machines and riders if needed, besides this the spirit of help is fantastic among the competitors with generally a large crowd gathering around the problem machine and all getting involved in repairs few are left behind for the recovery vans.  Each afternoon a further 70 miles approx is covered taking us over places like Priests leap pass, a gruelling climb but so worthwhile when the summit is reached as the view for miles is unbelievable and the feeling of achievement of getting over the summit is reward enough for most. Killarney National Park was used as a return route in the evenings and Kenmare, Healy pass, Inchigeela, Dingle peninsula, Connor Pass, and miles of coastal roads made the week an unforgettable experience. Myself and Kevin Tully and one of the Dutch Indian riders riding a scout, had a superb ride one particular day over the Cuam, through beautiful forest hills and down along the Lake road into Inchigeela, 12 kms of winding  beautiful roads running parallel to the lakes on our right. This was Indian territory indeed and we let loose all the way to Inchigeela. What a ride, sweeping bends and good road surface lent itself to an amazing day. The rally returned each evening to Killarney, where again repairs were carried out in preparation of the next day’s run. Dinner was in two sittings of 7pm and 9pm for what counted about 180 participants. The quality of food and service in the Castleross Hotel was second to none as were the meals in all the hotels at the lunchtime stop. My leathers seemed to have shrunk severely as the week went on but Paddy Guerin assured me it was not a fault in the leathers more the point I was getting fatter form all the good food, Thanks Paddy for clearing that up for me!

After dinner there was usually music in the bar and a time for people to sit and have a few drinks and chat, catch up on news, talk shop and rekindle memories of years gone by.  Many of the entrants have been coming to this rally for years and years and this is certainly one of the reasons for the great atmosphere on the week of biking Southern Ireland.
Speaking to the various entrants on the last night after prize-giving, especially the lads who had come from Holland, all agreed it was to be the start of an annual event for them.  I would think that a few more Indians will come from Holland through the lads that were here as news will get around of the event. Anyone considering a place on the rally should contact Chris Mahony off the website and place their name on the list for places as the club is restricted to 130 bikes on the rally.
My Chief ran very well on the daily runs, the roads suited the Indian beautifully, whether main roads, mountain passes, or country roads, she ran well up all, the pace of the rally is whatever you want it to be, the various stops both scheduled and then the “unofficial” watering holes that have become part and parcel of rally all add to a great day out.  Whether you want to burst on and ride flat out or just saunter along it’s your choice. As bikes went on the Indians proved themselves superior to all, every Indian coming home each evening under its own power.  Long live the Indian Motorcycle.

Bad Mother - Jo O'Toole