XI COLOMBRES INTERNATIONAL RALLY OF CLASSIC MOTORCYCLES.
Ten years have passed since the Indianos Moto Club organised its first Colombres Rally in 2012. Not a single year have they failed, even in the years when hundreds of rallies were cancelled, the organisation of the Indianos went ahead. This determination and effort have not gone unnoticed by the regulars of this unique event, as has been proved this year, when the attendance has increased significantly.
On several occasions this magazine has already given me the opportunity to narrate what each edition has been like and what this event is all about. In order not to be repetitive, I will make a short summary for those readers who are discovering these chronicles for the first time. Then I will tell you some of my experiences.
The Colombres Rally is a week-long international gathering of classic bikes in which touring is the core of the event. Routes are ridden every day in the Picos de Europa area, where you follow routes with a road map, with arrows at crossings and, for the more tech-savvy, digital routes. Every day there is a mid-route lunch at a place of interest and there is an assistance service to pick up bikes that have broken down.
During this time it is quite usual to make new friends and of course the reunions are something that the regulars look forward to every year. The evenings are spent on the terraces of the Restaurante La Parra (headquarters of the MC Indianos) between beers and lively chats in which it is easy to see how, despite the language barrier, we motorcyclists understand each other very well. This is the vision of Colombres that someone who participates all week would give, but there is another vision, that of those who come to this beautiful village during the weekend attracted by the events offered by the Moto Club, such as the spare parts market, the Bustio-Colombres Hill climb, the Motocross and the "Correpasillos" race for the kids. All with the presence of the classics in the square like an open-air museum.
You could say that there are as many Colombres as there are attendees, and so many stories that it would be impossible to tell them all here. What I can do is to tell you some of the most interesting ones. I can tell you that one of the participants came from France and rented a bike just for this event, because after having experienced it in previous years, she couldn't miss it even though she didn't have a bike at the moment. A group came from Holland by road and promised to return with many more companions next year and of course they also brought their bicycles with them. Personal stories of overcoming a serious illness, such as that of our friend Pascal, a well-known French motorbike journalist, who has been able to return to one of his favourite European rallies after recovering from a serious medical condition. And what a comeback he has had. Not only did he do this rally, but also the week before the Rally of the North, which I told you about in the previous article. Willing to prove to himself that everything was over, he did the most taxing event of all, the 300 Millas de Colombres with his 1930s Nimbus. A beautiful inline four-cylinder in the direction of travel and three gears operated with a lever from the side of the tank. The 300 Millas is a challenging test for both rider and machine and is estimated to be done in about 10 hours, starting at eight o'clock in the morning. Our friend had to wait for the sunrise to be able to see something, but even so he completed the race and came fifth at the finish line.
Despite the demanding nature of the routes through the Picos de Europa we had two British participants who every year finish the routes on bikes under 125cc. This year with a beautiful MV Agusta and a Moto Guzzy. It is a real joy to see them enjoying themselves as much as anyone else on these tiny machines which always arouse a special admiration for their riders. We have had several examples of families riding together as sibling pairs, father and son, father and daughter, nieces and nephews Etc. It is very moving to see parents talking proudly about their offspring, when they are absent-minded. The first to arrive at the 300 Miles, the youngest of the Moreno's, was driving the Norton that his father, who was present, had restored and owned many years ago. The sight of them both thrilled under the finish arch was touching.
There is something about motorbikes and this event that helps to overcome all kinds of difficulties, such as the case of a British couple who were both riding jewels from the 1940s. The wife was on the point of not being able to attend her first edition, as she had to have surgery on her right wrist just a few days before the start of the rally. She had heard so much about the event that she decided to take the risk and come anyway. Watching her ride every day, without fail, that big, heavy BSA with no rear shock and Girder fork at the front, which is like not having one at all, was awesome. Always with a smile on her face and admitting that despite the pain she didn't regret her decision in the slightest, it was clear that she would be there next year.
I would also like to mention the story of Zack who travelled all the way from Australia to pick up a 1930's Norton that was supposed to be ready to go. Unfortunately, it wasn't, and he missed the Rally of the North completely, but nevertheless, without the slightest dismay, he managed to recondition the magneto and get a new carburettor which allowed him to enjoy the Colombres Rally, but not without suffering a few more breakdowns and going through the workshops that are set up at the Moto Club headquarters (called the shed of shame among the participants), and all this bearing in mind that he is awaiting surgery on both knees. And as if that wasn't enough, he rode off on his ailing Norton via France to the UK.
Another of the experiences you can have in Colombres is to enjoy a dinner among great champions that takes place every year on Saturday night. This year, as a guest of honour of the Moto Club, we were lucky enough to have the presence of Benjamín Grau, a rider who, if you know anything about motorbikes, doesn't need me to explain what he represents in the history of motorsports. What I can say is that getting to know the person behind this name was a very nice surprise. His friendliness, his passion for this world of two wheels and a modesty, not at all in accordance with his track record, adorn him. There was also José Ángel Mendivil, a legend of Motocross and a regular at this Rally, who you get fond of as soon as you meet him, because he radiates humanity on all four sides, always accompanied by another great champion and friend José María Saiz "Titín".
All these little stories, and many that are left out, are proof of the family atmosphere at this event. The veterans take care of the newcomers, making everything easier for them. Long-standing friendships are celebrated each time, like a treasure that you don't want to lose. Those who are no longer with us are remembered and life is celebrated in their honour, as only those who have lived long enough do. Colombres is much more than a Rally, it is a celebration. It is not surprising, then, that every year and from so many different locations, a pilgrimage begins, a pilgrimage that is longed for twelve months. COLOMBRES IS THE PLACE TO WHICH EVERYONE WISHES TO RETURN.
Here is a selection of videos of the event.
Fotos: Serafín R. Trashorras, Alejandra Muñiz, Daniel Prieto.
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