Antelope Rally
The Coventry Antelope Motorcycle Club had its own headquarter in Coventry and was a popular evening run for the Leicester Phoenix. Terry Reynolds went to the rally in 1977 and liked it so much he bought the membership as well as writing a report for Megaphone. I think the campsite was near the Alvis test track. I'm sure I recall hearing the armoured vehicles going round the circuit. For all I know we might have been camped on the grounds and been under their tracks. If I remember right, didn't the Antelope do a club run to the Saltbox MCC in Biggin Hill / Kent and vise versa? I was a Saltbox member in the mid 60's when I lived in S.E.London. By the way, the Saltbox still exists, look on the web for Saltbox Motorcycle Club. Still a lot of the old gang around but gone grey & retired, same as me & a few more who read this. - Tennessee Will Jan Heiland recalls that rallies were at Baggington at the end of October. Les Hobbs captured some of the rallyists at the first Antelope Rally. Here is an addition from Paul and Lynda Dunn I remember going to the Antelope rally in 1975 or 76. The reason I remember it so well was because it was my birthday that weekend! A few of the Phoenix members disappeared on the Saturday afternoon and took Lynda with them. - Paul Dunn Les Hobbs adds a full report on Antelope Rally Coventry 1970-83 organised by Roy Dewis, Antelope M.C.C. Where do you start with what was considered to be the premier motorcycle rally of the seventies. I was lucky to have been at it from the start. In my early days of rallying, as a few of us will remember, it was word of mouth, Pete Whitesmith's rally lists, the occasional mention in the Motor Cycle Weekly or fliers handed out at other rallies and that's how we found out about the first Antelope Rally to be held at Baggington, just south of Coventry on the A45. Saturday October the 20 something or other (always the last weekend in October) dawned cold and bright but soon warmed as we gathered our group together for the run over to Coventry. The majority of us were what you could call "the Golden Eagle" motor cycle club. We used to meet up each Wednesday at the pub of that name in the Whitmore Reans area of Wolverhampton. There was about 15 of us but we never had more than about 6 of us attending rallies. 
Alan Barclay (the Banker) who had just driven from Oldham to Scotland, signed in at a rally there, then driven down to the Antelope. He got to the club house on his bike around 8.30pm The route was simple; A4123 to Birmingham, out past what was then Elmdon airport, over Stonebridge island, A45 past Meriden, skirt around Coventry and you're there. Tents up and you're ready to go. 
The first thing we asked was "Where's the pub?" for a dinner time pint. It turned out that there wasn't one in easy walking distance and the nearest was a little hostile to bikers so we had to drive a couple of miles towards the city. We enquired about the evening and were told not to worry as transport was laid on to take us to "the club house". 
It was quite a large field and the approximate 70 - 90 tents were scattered around the edges on the right of the field. On slightly higher ground was a few buildings and a load of earth moving equipment and mobile cranes. About 5.30pm a ratty old double-decker bus turned up. This was the promised transport and, as they could only take about 50 passengers, it was a shuttle service that dropped us off right outside "the club house". 
My God, what a place! We didn't know what to expect but we never expected this modern well furnished building. If my memory serves me well I think we were restricted to the ground floor the first year as there was a function being held upstairs. 
We had a great night as normal. Most of us finished up the worse for drink. The following year 1971 I went on the back seat of my mate's car, leg in plaster, after getting advance permission from the organisers. This time there were at least twice the number of tents, many from the continent. 
The next year '72 was even bigger. There was even a beer tent and quite a few of the lads took to climbing the poles and downing a bottle of Newcastle at the top. The ratty old bus had been replaced by modern coaches for those who wanted to go to the club, which is where we went most of the time. The upstairs was the place to be. One end of the bar was selling beer by the crate as waiting to be served was quite a lengthy business. Even the legendary Mike Hailwood turned up as a Guest Of Honour one year. He was totally amazed to see a rally going at full tilt and Johnny "The Vicar" doing his fire breathing. That was the time he had a slight blow-back and set fire to his face. He was lucky. I had only got a couple of mouthfuls of beer left in my glass and I threw it at him (the beer not the glass). He laughed it off but it had hurt him. A few minutes later in the downstairs toilet he was bathing his face. The stage was the obvious place to lead the singing from. 
Left to right Les Hobbs, Phillip Hogg, John Flitney and Sid Beaumont rendering Swing Low Sweet Chariot. The rally moved a couple of times and the last time I went in 1982 it was to the north of Coventry opposite the old Standard Triumph works on the A45 towards Meriden. The purchase of a house put the brake on rallying for a few years but I still remember those good old days and most of the people I met there. Dave Richmond {the reporter for The Motor Cycle Weekly} came on a couple of occasions. Keith (Kit) Arthurs, Dot Tilley, Heather MacGregor, Brighton Bob, Paul Mullis, John Flitney and his brother Fred and all the regular crew. Attendance rose to nearly 800 one year swelled by large groups from France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Hi! Just rolled up in your bike park. Used to be a member of the old Saltbox MCC, Biggin Hill. Oh Jeeze, "yesterday leave me alone." - "Simeon" Please note that the Antelope Rally is up and running again! The 2008 event is being held at Barkers Butts Rugby Club, just outside Coventry. It's on 13-15 June. Tickets are only £10-00 and that includes the badge. More details can be found on the Antelope MCC website antelope-mcc.co.uk. We look forward to seeing some more faces from the past! - Sean Langford (Antelope MCC - Present) The picture of Steve Cawthorne, Paul Mullis and Heather MacGregor and the question of who is the other girl is Sue Harveson (nee Hawes). Sue lives in Southampton with her husband and has a son, now 29 I believe. I am still in contact with her and we always exchange cards at Christmas. - Graham Butler We never did this rally but it was the Antelope MCC that did all the food for the Three Spires' Mad March Hare rallies. All homemade currys, chillis etc Ii remember their chilli con carne would set your mouth on fire. - Hayley Mansell Ronnie Barker was my dad. I have one of his bikes. My dad passed away on the first of December last year and my mum passed away in 1988 but I have been told of good memories and seen some fun pics. My brother Ralph and sister Lorraine remember more. - Natalie Evans (nee Barker) I am deeply indebted to you for the photos Natalie. They bring a lump to my throat for days long past. Usually I hack photos to bits to wring out the parts I want but this time the original back yard photo speaks volumes as it is, faded and much loved. I tried to bring out the gloss on the BSA in the one underneath. Ronnie's Belstaff carries his honours. I can make out two bars on an Elephant badge and several 1960s Dragon Badges. I am still a member of the Saltbox Club and was at a few Antelope rallies from '69 to '71 or there about. - Bob Smith Saltbox run to Tintagel 1968 Easter - Jim Beirne I can't remember the actual Antelope rally but I do remember visiting the club house back in the '60s with my Saltbox friends. I remember being slightly shocked that it had a bar! The Saltbox cafe only served tea and coffee so we didn't drink and drive. - Linda Bootherstone |
If I remember right, didn't the Antelope do a club run to the Saltbox MCC in Biggin Hill / Kent and vise versa? I was a Saltbox member in the mid 60's when I lived in S.E.London. By the way, the Saltbox still exists, look on the web for Saltbox Motorcycle Club. Still a lot of the old gang around but gone grey & retired, same as me & a few more who read this.
