Super Rally, Pasohlavky, CZ
Rolling with the Dudes
It takes a special kind of Harley rider to go on a Superrally. The keyword here is "long distance". Every year there’s a new destination on the map of Europe - "to discover other countries and cultures … from the salmon up North to the pasta down South ", at least that's what it says on the FH-DCE Super Rally® website, as the whole thing is officially called. FH-DCE however is not another inscrutable H-D model designation, but stands for "Federation Harley-Davidson Clubs of Europe". Which originated in the 1960s, when German, Belgian and Dutch Harley riders used to meet at "rallies", of which the Pinkster Rally of the Utrecht H-D Club was the most notorious.
Nobody really knows why
the name Superrally suddenly caught on in 1974, but the rallies were spreading all over Europe. One thing was also clear: every year a different club would take charge of the organization, they were, and are, independent of the company and none of the clubs want to be an "MC". All that’s needed is a bunch of enthusiast Harley riders - that's enough.
Well then, off to the Czech Republic, to Pasohlavky (about 600 km from W&W headquarters) where a campsite by the lake, not far from Brno was awaiting the intrepid long distance crowd. Peter, our Mr Superrally (now for the 18th time) is there, joined by a group of friends who had ridden down in their usual laid back way, just as it should be for Harleys leisurely going the long route. No showing off, no games of chicken, no breakdowns - serious traveling, with the rumblings and vibrations of V-Twins thrown in as a bonus.
Once on site, people fondly remembered
the Super Rally of 2017, which also took place here: a beautiful setting with a small lake, a larger lake, and an even larger lake, a water ski facility, a restaurant, stalls, Czech beer, Czech beer, Czech beer, and bands, Bands and BANDS on the main and side stages - actually everything was fine, until an uninvited guest dropped in on the second day: Rain. And we mean rain, not just a light drizzle, or a refreshing shower - more like a relentless, soul destroying deluge. No one wants to sleep in an underwater tent … Many people packed up their soggy sleeping bags and rumbled home early. But Super Rally regulars have seen this all before, and rolled home without any hard feelings. Better luck next year, when Katowice, Poland will be the host town, and the H-D C Riders of Poland will throw the party of the year.