Radio Rallies

[Antoni]

When's the next one?

Didn't know where on here to ask this - but you generally want the under-the-table stuff to make homebrew with. Especially if you want to make stuff and are fond of a pound note!

I'm in North Notts but others might want to know about the more obscure ones anywhere. Small ones can be very good - more oriented towards stuff that's close to being junk but happens to be exactly what you need at the time.

[Allan666]

Back in the 80s and 90s I used to love going to the rallies,I especially liked The Granby Halls in Leistershire running across that real duel lane road from the Cattle market to get to the Halls,I also liked Telford Rally, Woburn to name just a few ,Great times.

[Agent 48]

Everything is s#!t these days...

I can just imagine how amazing the radio rallies were back in the 80s & 90s.

[Antoni]

They still are! And great if you want parts.

What is it that you want to see at a rally that you don't see now (apart from young faces)?

I remember the Granby Halls well. Used to go as a punter on the old Z250 (long way) and later stood behind one of the major stands.

https://www.barac.org.uk/rally/
This is Spennymooor Bishop Auckland Rally (South of Newcastle) This Sunday.

[Antoni]

Bad news. Just received notification from the organisers that the SNADARC Junction 28 Rally June 2025 has been cancelled due to the cost of the venue and diminishing support from "key traders". The one last year was their biggest yet.

I hope something will develop, after all I went to this one when it was an outdoor event in a sports field 20+ years ago. The organisers are not daft. This must have been a difficult decision.

[Agent 48]

Vintage / older gear is becoming more desirable now days as the modern stuff is made cheap. There will be more people now holding onto there older stuff so less and less stuff at rallies. Things are also costing much, much more and things are diminishing unfortunately.

[Antoni]

You don't own the old stuff you are just the custodian of it. Just like a 1st World War BSA airgun. It would be a nice thing to have, it won't break the bank and can very definitely be used. It won't even lose value. Ring any bells?

I love the old stuff. Just found the alignment details for my 60 year-old Quad AM II long medium and shortwave tuner. That's tonight's 'work' lined up. I'll have selectable selectivity great sounding short-wave reception on my audio gear. Just like a BSA No.2 bore airgun, the family would know my stuff will sell easily on E-bay.

The rallies usually have someone doing a silent key sale. A lot of stuff to move and quick. The rallies are easier than eBay.

I don't need the big dealers and distributors showing the stuff. I'll wait 'till someone I know buys it then go play with it. No enormous racket going on around me and enough time to look at just that piece of kit. Then there's the parts of a similar vintage to make things with.

The rallies will continue because there are punters willing to buy and people with stuff to shift. In summer all you need is a club and a sports field.

[Strawberry]

They still are! And great if you want parts.

What is it that you want to see at a rally that you don't see now (apart from young faces)?

I remember the Granby Halls well. Used to go as a punter on the old Z250 (long way) and later stood behind one of the major stands.

https://www.barac.org.uk/rally/
This is Spennymooor Bishop Auckland Rally (South of Newcastle) This Sunday.

Was yours the Z250T Twin?, I had one of those in pearl red, I used to thrash it, I had no mechanical empathy back then, I chewed up the cam trying to keep up with RD250s and X7s.

Did anyone go to Drayton Manor park, (that was huge), or the Harlaxton BATV rally in the late 80s early 90s ?
Great memorys, hot sunny days, going home with a car full of junk.
Neil

[Antoni]

2 weeks today:

Sunday 26th January 2025
Lincoln Short wave Radio Club Winter Rally
Open 10am £3
The Festival Hall
Caistor Road Market Rasen LN8 3HT
Steve 07777 699069

Car parking was tight last year, maybe park on a street.

My bike was the metallic red Z250A (Scorpion I think). I'd love to get one now. There was the B twin which was more basically finished and the C which was a bit smaller and a 250 four stroke single. Of all the bikes I've had (abt 50) the Z250A had the most elegant lines and the very worst paper-thin exhaust system.