Liege Rally 2014

This year was the 58th International Police Rally in LIEGE, Belgium.

This event is organised for Police Crews of Solo Motor Cycles and Cars to compete on Public Closed Roads over 12 hours on a Saturday in the beautiful Ardennes countryside.

The Metropolitan Police Motor Club have been competing in this event in Cars and Motorcycles for over 40 years.

This year’s Crew was organised by Team Manager Paul Monk and assisted by Robin Tutchings and Ian James and Stuart Hinks.

Riders for Team MET this year were, Stuart Brogan – BMW 1200 GS, Peter Durham, Triumph TIGER, Ken Houston Kawasaki KLX 650, Rob Townsend KTM SMC 625, Steve Townsend KTM SMC 625, Paul McKinney TRIUMPH TIGER.

There were also GB Riders from Kent with Richard WATSON on APRILA TUONO 1000cc, Nigel STEVENS on SUZUKI SV 650 Special and Son Nicholas STEVENS on a SUZUKI DRZ 400, One Rider from Hampshire – Hans TAYLOR on a TRIUMPH TIGER.

Then there is our friend from Finland Police Leo LEINONON – who RODE ALL the way from Finland across to Belgium and Competed on a KTM 950cc then RODE Home to Finland on the same Bike- What a Man.!!!!

Monday 9th June 2015.

Team MET set out from London in two waves Stuart BROGAN set out with Ken Houston on Monday 9th June and myself and the remainder of the team on Tuesday 10th June 2015 by ferry from Dover to Calais.

Tuesday 10th June;

Tuesday evening arrive at the House in the Ardennes area of Ferrier’s -unload all the motorbikes and equipment we have brought from UK to use on the event.

The house itself resembles a Courtyard with three sides of buildings, Accommodation is very substantial and there is Garaging there – most important and a large garden and BBQ area.

Tuesday evening off out for a very good meal in a local restaurant and then Bed Time before midnight.

Wednesday 11th June;

Wednesday morning after a cooked breakfast assisted by Robin and Ian and Stuart we set off for the Road Sections of the Rally to check out the Route and for the Boys to do their own Rally Notes.

All of our competitors’ this year are Bike Riders, so it is ultra-important that they try to learn as much of the features of the Roads and Sections as possible.

Wednesday lunchtime Riders go out on the stages to ride as much as possible to learn the various corners and features.

The sections are ALL Public Roads which are Closed on the day of the Rally for the duration of the event, so any Routing has to be done in a Legal Fashion and also Not too annoy the Local Villages who will have all day on the Saturday to appreciate the Sound and Smell of Motorbikes and Rally Cars Hurtling past their Front Gardens- or IN for some unlucky people.!!

Wednesday evening we all stay at the house and we enjoy a cooked meal and the usual stories are told after a Beer or two or a Wine if you prefer.

Thursday 12th June;

Breakfast at the House then the “Boys” are all out on their bikes and go and check out those sections a few more times until they are confident that they know where they are going and which tricky little sections under trees with Damp and treacherous patches they want to give Respect to. Boys spend all day riding the stages and return to the house in late afternoon.

Service Crew takes advantage of the Rest Day for them and go out for the Day to Spa Race Circuit where there is an AMG Mercedes Track Day with some very pretty Cars on display and racing around the track with Mercedes trained Track Drivers.

Thursday evening is spent out at another local restaurant and retire to bed after more stories of Bike Riding.!

Friday 13th June;

Friday is Scrutineering and Parade Day in Liege, probably the least pleasurable task of the week for the Riders and Drivers.

Breakfast cooked for all the Riders and Crew.

All the Riders and Drivers have to gather at 3pm in a square opposite the Old HQ of the Rally then Parade off to the local Renault Dealers were at 5pm the Cars and Motorbikes are inspected to ensure that they comply with the Regulations.

Once the scrutineers are happy they will apply the relevant Checked sticker to the machine in question, the Machine is now Certified as Mechanically Fit to Enter the Rally!

Friday evening back to the House were we have our traditional Pre Race BBQ, prepared by myself and Robin and assisted by Ian and Stuart.

Saturday 14th June;

Race Day has arrived and we are all up Early, 5am Not a Pretty Sight for some.

Riders are all Off to the Start, Assistance Crew Pack Up all our Kit for the Day and all our Food to replenish the Riders throughout the day and then we are off to stake our Spot for the Service Area for the day.

Service is an interesting place it consists of a Goods Yard Area which is barely big enough to house Half the Service Crews of the 20 Cars and 24 Motorbikes, it is a First come arrangement No Fancy Reserved Slots here.

So we are in position by 0715am, which means leaving the House by 0630am, complete with ALL our Kit loaded into a Minibus and a Service Van to collect any Bikes that Don’t complete the Race.

Our Riders Start the first Lap and almost immediately Steve Townsend one of our Riders comes off on the First Section at the notorious Chicane, he goes off to Hospital and we collect him later that day- Steve suffered fairly moderate injuries to his Shoulder and Wrist following the Crash into the Straw Bales, we are informed of this by Mobile from one of our Riders.!!

Several of the Car Crews also Fall out at the same Section in the same chicane, it had apparently been torrential Rain prior to the Start of the Section and it was treacherously slippery!

All of our Riders survive the next circuit of Three Laps until Nicholas Stevens Son of Nigel comes off in spectacular fashion on Stage 4 on the approach to a Hump Back Bridge, he goes off to Hospital, he is released later that day and collected by one of our extra Support Crew.

For the rest of the Rally our riders manage to stay largely upright save for the odd moment, with a Bit of Battered Machine to be fixed at the Service.

Rally Ends on the Road and I then go out with Stuart Hinks and retrieve Both of the Motorcycles that were damaged earlier in the day from the circuit.

All Riders safely back with us, Very sore but still alive and kicking for another Race another Day!!!

Back to the House and we have a BBQ for all our Crew and Kent Crew join us and a great evening is had by all.

Sunday 14th June;

Results;

Well the Rally was conducted over 12 Stages of 3 x 4 Stages of about 250 kilometres of Racing. 3 Sessions into the Service Area of 20 Minutes for any Mechanical or other Repairs.

Best British Rider was Nigel Stevens of Kent who finished 5th overall in 1.23.00 Very respectable , being beaten by Three French CRS Riders ( Semi Professional Riders).

Followed by Stuart Brogan from Tem MET who finished 6th overall a very creditable Result, then Paul McKinney – Sussex-, then Rob Townsend of MET and Richard Watson – Kent, then Ken Houston –MET- our Senior Rider- Great Ride Ken, and Peter Durham- MET then Hans Taylor – Hampshire and Leo Leinonen of Finland- He Rode All the Way to lIege and Back Home to Finland on the Same Bike .

Some very tired Boys, some Not able to move very much due to their injuries that have been tended to previously by the local Hospital.

Breakfast cooked for all then we pack up all the Bikes into the Vans with all the Kit Cleaned Off, tidy up all the Rooms in the House.

Out to Sunday Lunch in a very pretty village on a river, what could be better.

Sunday evening is the Banquet and Presentation evening for ALL the Competitors and Crews and Marshalls and Officials of the Rally.

This is a very Formal evening with Police Crews in Dress Uniform and Retired Police Officers in Black Tie or Suits and Ladies in their Best Frocks.!! Late Finish at the Dinner, Very late for some.!!

Monday 15th June;

Breakfast is a simple affair, had enough of Cooked Breakfast now.

Pack Up the House and Meet the Owners who check the House for Damage, we know them well so this is a Jolly Affair and then we set off for the Four Hour Drive back to Calais for the Ferry back to England.

So another great Rally, great week away – I suppose it must be as I have been organising the MET CREW End for about 15 years or so.!!

If you want a great Weeks Rallying and Comradeship – then this is the Event for you.!!

Paul MONK

Manager- MET POLICE LIEGE RALLY TEAM.

15th July 2015.