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Colombres Rally - which one?

There was a recent thread about who was going to the Colombres (N.Spain) Rally at the end of September. Being at the Stafford Show on Sunday I now realise there are two rallies going on in that area, and at almost the same time.

Jenny, me and Commando are booked in to the VIII Rally De Colombres and the preceding III Rally Norte de Espana that together run over 29 September to 13 October 2019. I think this is the event that has been enthusiasticaly described by others and was in the VMCC journal. It is run by MCI Indianos and I seem to recall that this group was a split from those who ran the original Colombres Rally because that one was hosting much newer motorcycles and outgrew the small town. This MCI Indianos event is for pre-1988 motorcycles.

At the Stafford Show there was a large display upstairs by the MC Piston Club and they were promoting their Picos Tour and XXXII Piston Rally over 22 to 29 September 2019, based in Potes, just inland from Colombres. This event is for pre-1980 motorcycles. I mistakenly thought it was the event we had booked, but not recalling the dates could not work out if it was, and my lack of Spanish meant that enquiries did not progress far.

Having got home and looked at the details I can see it is two quite different events. But it must be easy to confuse them and I put this post online in case it is of assistance to anyone else. I would guess that MC Piston Club have now moved to making their rally a classic bike event?

Anyone able to correct my information or add any other news?

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Hi Norman, I have been going to the Moto Piston rally for many years. When it was in colombres it was featured in MSL Magazine a few years back which unfortunately opened the flood gates to many hangers on, none of which had eligible bikes. However, accommodation in the area was limited and because of the sudden influx of modern bikes and people the club had no option but to move to santander. They have kept the same dates, as far as I know to take advantage of the better weather. About 4-5 years ago club indianos resurrected the colombres rally, but later, presumably not to clash with the moto piston rally, and ferry availability. The only problem is that sometimes the later dates are susceptible to changeable weather.

From what I have heard the colombres rally is two weeks later than the moto piston rally this year, but I don't know what extensions they have added. The moto piston extension is before their main one ie 22-29 Sept. Having done both, there are pros and cons to each, just depends on  your preferences. Some people do both!! 

And in answer to your last comment, the moto piston rally has always been a classic rally, but a sad few have been taking the pee recently. 

 

 


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