“Icknield” History
First called the “Spring Rally”
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| The Modern Icknield Rally had it’s origins in what was originaly called “The Spring Rally”, which started life on April 25th 1959 as a visit to a vintage Motor-bike grass hill climb somewhere near Royston, members having gathered at the “Cromwell Inn” in Stevenage. It was on this event that the “Pat Davies Award” made it’s first appearance (Pat Davies being the wife of our first secretary, Eddy Davies), and this trophy was awarded to Roger Judge, first Chairman of the re-formed club. A similar event was organised for 1960, but Colin Bryce and Peter Bowler organised the first “Treasure hunt” type event in Hertfordshire in 1961, which proved moderately successful, and it was on this event that the “Twinpot trophy” appeared to be presented to the winner. So On March 25th 1962 Peter Bowler organised the very first rally to take place on and around the Icknield way, it was called “The Icknield Rome”, and included some green lanes and rutted tracks a format that met with a mixed reception from the few members who turned up to compete. In subsequent years The event appeared as the Icknield “Orient”, the “Rodeo”, “Orbit”,”Dragon”,”Iliad”,”Intrigue” “Ye Olde”, and “Europa”, Then the “Grain”, “Weald”, and “Vigo”, which, in Kent, were the first ones not to take place in Herts/Beds. In 1976 John Dentry took over the running of this club Classic, which moved to the Reading area, since which it has taken place in various parts of the country, and in many different formats. |
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| Peter and Audrey Bowler, first club rally, first date, April 23rd 1960, Club Spring Rally, Royston Hill Climb photo anon |
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| Eddy and Pat Davies, “Spring Rally” 1961 photo P.Bowler |
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| Well known landmark on early Icknields was Mortgrove farm, seen here with Jack Rowe’s Scout in the foreground, with the Icknield way curving away to the left towards Galley Hill. photo P.Bowler |
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| Les Cole’s rare “Family four” makes light work of Galley hill, early Icknield. photo P.Bowler |
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The Icknield “Orient” |
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