2011 NATIONAL RALLY

2 - 4 January, Solway College, Masterton 

Welcome to the first of our regular communications on the 2011 national rally.

Club member and author Peter Mitchell says in his New Zealand Motorcycle Atlas –

“Between Featherston and Upper Hutt lies the mighty Rimutaka Range, the mere mention of which causes many motorcyclists to wet their knickers in excitement”.

Just 20 minutes riding from the foot of the Rimutakas lies the township of Masterton (pop 22,600) – the principal township of the Wairarapa District, and the site of our 2011 National Rally.

The Wairarapa district is well known in NZ for a number of things non-motorcycling –Tui Beer Girls; Golden Shears; wonderful gardens and parks; fine wines, coffee shops and bakeries; and of course the local weather - to mention just a few. (Met Service quotes Masterton as having an average summer temperature of 22C – 4C higher than Nelson!)

Add to that, the Wairarapa district contains some of the best on- and off-road motorcycling you will find in the north island, without the usual north island traffic volumes. Twisty roads; little traffic; fine wine and coffee shops; warm sunny days; and  magnificent hill rides all around!  Sound like the place for a national rally?  You bet…

Early details:

The rally proper will be held from the  2^nd to the 4^th (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday) of January 2011, with accommodation provided on nights of 1^st, 2^nd and 3rd.

The rally will be based at Solway College in Masterton. Solway College is an integrated private girls’ school (maximum roll 175), the majority of whom are boarders. It provides a private, all-encompassing, venue set in beautiful park-like grounds. Accommodation will be within the boarding establishment at the College and is mostly of single and twin room type similar to that of the 2008 Alexandra Rally and the 2009 Pukeora Rally.

For those who prefer motel accommodation, we have arranged an alternative accommodation option at the nearby Masterton Motor Lodge and there a plenty of other options close to the rally site. All off-site accommodation will be the responsibility of individual participants to arrange direct. The Motor Lodge will hold accommodation available for members until late July, just quote BMWOR if you do book something.

Given the popularity of the area over summer, we anticipate that motel accommodation in Masterton will become very scarce by end of the winter months, and so early attention to your accommodation requirements is recommended.