Minutes of a Motorcycle Addict

It's called the "Vedsamleren" - directly translated to "The Firewood Gatherer Motorcycle Rally". From 17 to 19 October 2008 the rally was held for the 34th consecutive year since its debut in December 1974. I was there, with some good friends from the Norwegian Guzzi club.
(All photos: © HP 2008)

 
Vis større kart
The "Vedsamleren" is held at the same place as the Primus Winter Rally, in Bjoneroa some 120 kilometres north of Oslo. 

It was originally just that: A meet to gather firewood to store for the upcoming Primus Winter Rally held in February. After some years local contributors decided to start driving in firewood from more regular suppliers - but the need for motorcyclist to welcome a new winter riding season didn't vanish. Hence the "Vedsamleren" still continues to be an important rally for those of us who like it sans bands, badges and rally games.

A Saturday morning chat. It was a couple of centigrades below zero, as the damping from the lake in the background shows.

This year was my debut year at the "Vedsamleren", but my companion Lars has been here for a number of times. As had the band from the Norweigan Guzzi club who joined us Saturday; Knut, Ivar, Frode, Eigil and Eigil's son (whom I don't remember the name of).

My companion for the "Vedsamleren 2008" excursion, Lars on his Aprilia Moto 6.5, signed designer icon Philippe Starck.

Lars and I decided to ride up Friday afternoon. The venue is some 120 kilometres from Oslo. I rode my Guzzi T5 sidecar rig while Lars opted for his Aprilia Moto 6.5 Philippe Starck. He was kind of anxious for it to start snowing while we where there, but the weather couldn't be nicer. For those of us who finds summer in Italy too much on the warm side, a nice autumn rally like this in October is just ideal.

The bikes at the rally spans from gleaming BMWs to ratty Jawas. Or, as in this case, ratty BMWs. This guy's from Sweden. And his rig actually passed MOT inspection. Not sure if that says it all about the bike or the Swedish MOT inspectors...

When we arrived there were only a few other bikes and riders who had arrived. A couple had actually stayed over since Thursday but the majority arrived on Saturday at lunch.
All in all we were maybe some 35 bikes, spanning from nice gleaming BMWs to ratty Jawas. A nice way of welcoming the new winter season and to test ride both my bike and my winter equipment. I am sure I'll go next year as well.

The area in which the Vedsamleren rally is held is truly very nice.

Guzzi club member Knut just bought himself this pearl of a Ducati 750 F1

Frode (left) with his Benelli 250 2-stroke, imported by the previous owner from the UK to Norway.

Eigil (right) tries to breathe life into his ancient kerosene stove. Knut seems a bit sceptic as to whether it works or not. It didn't.

See more pictures in the "Pictures of Bikes" section as well as a video from the rally at "Moving pictures of Bikes" section!