2011 DJ Run

bmad · Mar 4, 2011

Yep, it's DJ tun time again :biggrin:

The 2011 event takes place on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 March

Here is some info on the DJ:

The first motorcycle race between Durban and Johannesburg was held in 1913. At that time, a touring trip between the cities by road was an adventure in itself and motorists prepared themselves well in advance for all the eventualities such as mud, puncture and mechanical breakdown. Normally the trip would take two or three days and on their arrival at the destination, the drivers would be normally be asked "How many punctures did you have?"
To travel by car was an adventure, by motorcycle an experience never to be forgotten, but to cover the the distance by motor cycle at racing speeds...!

To cater for all sizes of machines, it was a handicap race with the little bikes leaving Durban as much as 5 hours ahead of the scratch man.

The initial races were in fact raced from Johanessburg to Durban over a 3 day period with stop overs in Standerston and Ladysmith. In 1919 the race moved to a 2 day event and has remained as such to this day with a stop over in Newcastle. 1922 saw the event change cities and has been ridden from Durban to Johannesburg since.

The history and the experiences of South Africa's greatest motor cycle racers taking part in the race are well documented and could fill several books on the courage, disasters, excitement, determination and spirit of the entrants as well as the bikes they rode. Sadly, the last event was held in 1936 after which the authorities stepped in and banned racing on public roads due to the higher speeds and increased volumes of traffic.

In 1969, the late Dick Osborne, himself an avid motorcyclist, persuaded a group of enthusiasts to help him organize a commemorative D-J run, using the roads that the original race covered and most importantly, using motorcycles that were old enough to have participated in the last D-J race. This eligibility limit meant that the bikes had to have been manufactured before 31 December, 1936.

The format of the run would be a competitive rally running to varying set speeds and participant's performance would be monitored by hidden marshals placed along the route. The run would be over 2 days (as was the original race), with an overnight stop in Newcastle. The original Schlesinger Vase, still in existence, would be awarded to the winner.
The first commemorative run was in 1970 and it has taken place every year since then except for 1974 when the authorities refused permission due to the petrol shortage.

The event is acknowledged as the premier vintage motorcycle rally in South Africa and has International status and is run under the auspices of MSA (Motor Sport SA) and AMU (African Motorcycle Union). It attracts huge interest amongst all veteran, vintage and classic motor car and motor cycle enthusiasts.

***

This year we have a record entry of almost 150 bikes taking part.
There are a couple of Wilddogs taken part, they are:

Bmad and GSwannabe on a 1936 Panther :biggrin:

African Sky and "possibly" Dman on a 1936 Sunbeam :biggrin:

Adventure boy on his old man's 1926 Velocette

Ralph Pitchford of Dakar fame will be riding his 1926 Truimph

Simon Fourie will be there on his 1935 BMW R12

***

So if you have nothing planned for next weekend, please come out and have a look at these awesome bikes in action.
Scrutineering starts on Thursday (10 March) afternoon from 1pm in the basement parking at the Hillcrest Shopping centre.

The Start is at the Hillcrest Shopping Centre roof on Friday Morning at 06:00am :eek7:
We make our way to Newcastle for the overnight stop.

If you are interested in riding along and meeting the bikes on the Saturday, here is a rough overview of the route and stops:
- Start at 07H00 outside Newcastle
- 1st Fuel Smit motors Volksrust from 07:39 to 09:59
- 2nd Fuel stop Vaal Rivier Motors Standerton from 09:49 to 11:35
- 3rd Fuel stop Greylingstad Motors Greylingstad from 11:17 to 12:55
- Last Fuel stop Rensburg Engen Heidelberg from 12:11 to 13:52
- Lunch stop Cnr of Liebenburg and Apsey street Heidelberg from 12:24 to 14:25
- End James Hall Museum from 14:20

You are most welcome to attend the finish at the James Hall Museum of transport in Wemmerpan. There will be food and beer and plenty of bikes!
:mwink:

Look forward to seeing you on the road or at the finish!
:ricky:

www.djrun.co.za