I am pleased to announce that the 2012 British Diesel Motorcycle Rally is all set for the weekend starting Friday 1st of June at the Bat & Ball. You are welcome to come earlier and/or stay longer this year as it's an extended Bank Holiday with Monday & also Tuesday being national holidays here in the UK with the Queens Jubilee.

If you own a new Track T800CDi or any Diesel, Bio-diesel or Multi-fuel motorcycle please try and make the effort to attend as this is the only event of its kind in the U.K. It's the only place to swop ideas and see some really interesting & cutting edge motorcycle engineering. You will also see some very interesting creations!

This event is FREE and open to all who wish to attend but camping fees apply. Camping costs per night (if like 2011?) are likely to be in the region of £5 for one man tent, £7.50 for 2 man tent and £10 for 4 man or bigger tent. (To be confirmed!!) Please pay over the bar for your camping giving your reg No. and let the landlord know how many night's you plan to camp. See you there!

There will be a limited number of T shirts for sale at the event.

NOTE: Entertainment yet to be confirmed.

Last years entertainment was provided by the excellent Mythago.

The Bat and Ball Public House is situated at Newpound, Wisborough Green, Billingshurst, West Sussex, RH14 0EH. (B2133). Telephone: Mark on 01403 700313. See below for Maps and site photos. The Pubs Public Wi-Fi password is: fishpond and a signal is receivable close to the pub. 

Anyone wishing to come earlier is welcome to do so. Let me know and I will come say hello. I will bring some wood for everyone to rest the motorcycle side stands on and make sure a bin is available for the rubbish.

The Ernie Dorsett Long Distance Award: This will be awarded to whoever comes furthest! (Home Zip - Pub zip - google maps)

The aim is for an informal weekend which will most probably consist of a ride out sometime Saturday for a few hours to a local place of interest and hopefully plenty of talk concerning things mechanical so: All the visiting bikes may not be present on site at any one time due to Saturday runout at noon.

Legal stuff: The organisers are not liable for any accident at this venue. Visitors come at their own risk and are warned that machinery can be dangerous!

Local Attractions: For those arriving early and those wishing to ride out from the Rally to site-see, I include the following local sites. Amberley Working Museum, Arundel Castle, Bluebell Railway, Sussex Past, Weald & Downland Museum, Horsham Homepage, Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, Bury Hill. Or you may wish to visit the local town of Horsham to see it's historic Causway here.

Internet Access: Horsham Town Centre has a Public Terminal at its centre in the Carfax close to the bandstand. The Pubs Public Wi-Fi password is: fishpond and a signal is receivable close to the pub. 

Directions: Firstly aim for Crawley/Gatwick Airport (M23) in West Sussex from the M25 London Ring road, Then Horsham on the A264. Take the Northern Bypass A264 over Horsham and turn left at the Dorking roundabout onto the A264 Worthing Road. Go straight over roundabout. After .5 km turn off up the dual carragway slip way for BroadBridge Heath (turn right here towards Services) and take the Five Oaks Road left before garage, which is the A264 (A29) (sign posted for Bognor Regis).Go down Broadbridge Heath bypass and turn left. This will get you to the A29 at Five Oaks. Go South on this old Roman Road (Stane Street) until you reach Billingshurst bypass roundabout. Go right and (under bridge) until mini roundabout and take A272. (Note camping sign is for Fishers Farm Park and NOT Bat & Ball but they are close.) Go West until B2133 sign is seen to Newpound. Turn right (north) and the Bat and Ball is up here on the left. If you are coming from the Continent I would advise you travel via the motorway to the M25 and then down to Gatwick as the coast roads are very busy with traffic!

Positioning: Could I ask that people bringing Diesel Bikes position them appropriately so that anyone walking past can view them without falling over tent ropes and such. An information sheet is always a help here (stuck on a stick). In the same vein maybe petrol bikes (and 4 wheel vehicles) could be parked further back out of the way? I'd appreciate it if you could set up your tent without disturbing anyone elses bike. If you are bringing a Diesel Bike please be aware that you might be asked a question or two by the often curious general public!

This is a small event so don't come thinking there will be many Diesel Bike's. We seem to average about 25 machine's each year. See here for Hamm rally details: www.dieselkrad.info