The magazine for classic Japanese motorcycles

Aircooled RD Club Rally 2011

Organised by Robin and Ann Melmoth, the rally attracted a several hundred RD enthusiasts from all over the country including many first timers. Billy Griffin made the 400 mile round trip from Dublin in Ireland bringing his Yamaha RD400 Daytona. He has owned the Daytona for five years and only got it back on the road shortly before the rally.

Bikes came in all shapes, sizes and condition, from well ridden to meticulously restored, through to owner built specials. Also on show and ridden by club members was the newly finished members’ bike 'Project X'. It was built from donated time and parts from members and will be ridden by various members to different events to show the club at its best.

Early Friday evening saw over 30 bikes making the 25 mile run to Ashbourne for a fish and chip supper, returning later to see the Friday night band, the Almaboobies.

Saturday’s run through the countryside to Matlock Bath had a mixture of 80 bikes ranging from little RD50s to RD500s and there was a mass line-up of bikes for the concours show afterwards. Awards were presented in the evening before plenty of partying late into the night.

Best in show, voted for by the members, was the RD350 cafe racer that belonged to Patrick McKenery, who also took the trophy for best 350 with his silver RD350B that was in stunning condition despite the 74,000 miles on the clock.

The most hotly contested prize for best RD400 went to Hugh Kennedy and his black RD400. The collective membership chose 14 different RD400s as the best with Hugh’s bike winning by just a few votes. Dave Ellis also did a double when he won the prize for best RD125 and on the Sunday it won best Yamaha at the VJMC show at Uttoxetter when he showed it there.