Just a few more days to go…

Just a few days to go before The Great Canadian (motorcycle) Roadbook Rally gets underway.

The Sign-On waiver is here: https://www.gr200.com/post/vancouver-island-motosports-events-participant-liability-release-and-waiver-2026-and-2027

And this is the generic rider briefing:

The Great Canadian motorcycle Rally.

Greetings and welcome to the 2026 edition of the Great Canadian motorcycle roadbook rally. This is the 5th year I have been running these events and the eighth or ninth event in this format.

This year, I have the pleasure of the company of Iris Gillies of Full On Lighting, manufacturer and supplier of the universe’s most impressive helmet lighting system. Iris has some sample lights for you to try and will be very happy to take your orders.

The format is a fusion of the time-honoured Time Speed Distance regularity format, where the object is to drive/ride at the prescribed speed over timed legs, using rally-type tulip diagram “Roadbook” directions over rough, gravel Forest Service Roads that are designated as public highways by road-legal motorcycles, using smartphone gps timing apps to record your progress, your success at matching the designated AVERAGE speeds and calculating your scores.

Yes, there is a lot here and I would like to thank you all for your support of this “little project” of mine bringing motorcycle motorsport back to regular motorcycle enthusiasts.

In order for this activity to be legal there are some ground rules we need to conform to.

* These are public highways, therefore you must all be road legal. Licenced, registered and insured. Out of Province riders are legal in BC if you are legal in your home state, country or province. When you signed on, note was made that you presented your giving documents and they were found to be in order.

* As public highways, you are obligated to follow the motoring laws. Helmets, keeping to the right of the road, expecting other road users and conducting yourselves in a responsible manner.

* This includes not treating this event as a race or speed event. These are open public roads and you must expect other road users. Children on bicycles, potheads driving hippie-mobiles and 110tonne logging vehicles.

* As motorcyclists, you are VULNERABLE ROAD USERS! You will always come off second best in any crash. You might even die……

* There are a number of recent, serious “incidents” that are uppermost in my mind as I organise these events. Each has resulted in serious consequences.

* I give you the following instructions.

* DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR, DO NOT BE A DICK! We are not as good as we think we are!!

* DO NOT RACE. DO NOT RIDE RECKLESSLY. It is a dangerous game we play, do not play the game in a dangerous manner.

* Does anyone want me to talk you through the process to follow if you encounter large vehicles or wildlife?

There will be a riders briefing before each route - this briefing is for the Prologue route this evening.

First start is at 2130hrs, then at two minute intervals. The route will be scored in the usual VIME moto-TSD manner, the winner is the rider with the lowest Time Penalty score. Tomorrow’s start order will be the reverse of tonight’s finishing order with the winner tonight choosing their start position for tomorrow. Clear?

Tomorrow, the competition, solo riders will start first, followed by the solo Gaia riders followed by the pairs and group Gaia riders.

You will be counted out from here and counted through and in:out of the census points around the course.

Note! There is a lunchtime cutoff. If you haven’t started the return legs by 1400hrs, you will be deemed Out Of Time and will be instructed to return to here by way of Highway 19. You will be able to start subsequent days.

Now, this evening. It will be dark. The route is about 80km long and should take between 90 minutes and two hours to complete. I have set the speeds on the moderate side. If you think the speeds are too fast, slow down. There aren’t any prizes for this!

The finish is at the same point as the start.

Please do not ride through the campsite but push your bike back to your tent/RV.

There aren’t any road hazards to warn you about that I know of, but please do not assume you have a clear road….

Any questions?

Assemble opposite the petrol station at 2100hrs please.