The Shipley Rally (called this even though it is actually held in Baildon), first began when approximately 11 Harley riders from various parts of Britain arrived at Dobrudden Farm in August 1976 for a weekend on Baildon Moor. This progressed each year until the first rally proper took place in 1979 at Dobrudden. A year later the Harley- Davidson Riders Club of Great Britain chose the site for its annual rally it continued to grow each year attracting 600-900 visitors from UK and Europe.
The HDRCGB ran the rally continuously up to and including 2001 when they decided to move to Berkshire for a year. 2002 looked like seeing Baildon without the Harleys until the Wrecking Crew HDC stepped in and ran the event at Dobrudden with great success. The following year, 2003 which was Harley Davidson's Centenary Year, saw the HDRCGB return to host the event for the last time in Baildon. They decided to move their National Rally to Talgarth in Wales then onto their now established site at Oswestry.
Early 2004 was bleak as the Wrecking Crew decided not to take the rally on permanently and a new site was also needed as Dobrudden was not a feasible site any more. Three local Harley riders could not let this happen and with great support from members of the Wrecking Crew HDC and other local riders, they managed to stage the 2004 Rally at Baildon Cricket and Rugby Club, Jenny Lane, Baildon. The new organisers formed the Shipley Harley Club, with the sole purpose of keeping the rally going. This continued, with the rally growing in popularity through until 2015, by when, even the locals were able to celebrate the weekend at the rally site, which was now open to the public on Sunday afternoons. For 2016 & 2017, the Wrecking Crew HDC will be hosting the event as their annual club rally.
The committee at the Rugby Club have been brilliant in their support and now some 14 years later, the Rally has established itself once again as one of the "must not miss" events of the year. Numbers have been growing each year with riders from Holland, France, Belgium, Germany, Spain and Ireland visiting in the last few years. The rally has a unique friendly atmosphere generated by the village being within walking distance and the "Welcome" given to all riders by the locals and friends alike.
The Rally is always held over the August Bank Holiday weekend with the annual Charity Ride-Out leaving the village at 1pm on the Sunday, which is a sight to behold! There's live music all weekend, a bike show on Saturday, trade stands, fantastic camping facilities and good beer available in the clubhouse and marquee. The site is open to the public on Sunday afternoon.
If you've not visited before give us a try, you won't be disappointed! If you're old friends look forward to renewing old acquaintances and enjoying a beer or three!!
The HDRCGB ran the rally continuously up to and including 2001 when they decided to move to Berkshire for a year. 2002 looked like seeing Baildon without the Harleys until the Wrecking Crew HDC stepped in and ran the event at Dobrudden with great success. The following year, 2003 which was Harley Davidson's Centenary Year, saw the HDRCGB return to host the event for the last time in Baildon. They decided to move their National Rally to Talgarth in Wales then onto their now established site at Oswestry.
Early 2004 was bleak as the Wrecking Crew decided not to take the rally on permanently and a new site was also needed as Dobrudden was not a feasible site any more. Three local Harley riders could not let this happen and with great support from members of the Wrecking Crew HDC and other local riders, they managed to stage the 2004 Rally at Baildon Cricket and Rugby Club, Jenny Lane, Baildon. The new organisers formed the Shipley Harley Club, with the sole purpose of keeping the rally going. This continued, with the rally growing in popularity through until 2015, by when, even the locals were able to celebrate the weekend at the rally site, which was now open to the public on Sunday afternoons. For 2016 & 2017, the Wrecking Crew HDC will be hosting the event as their annual club rally.
The committee at the Rugby Club have been brilliant in their support and now some 14 years later, the Rally has established itself once again as one of the "must not miss" events of the year. Numbers have been growing each year with riders from Holland, France, Belgium, Germany, Spain and Ireland visiting in the last few years. The rally has a unique friendly atmosphere generated by the village being within walking distance and the "Welcome" given to all riders by the locals and friends alike.
The Rally is always held over the August Bank Holiday weekend with the annual Charity Ride-Out leaving the village at 1pm on the Sunday, which is a sight to behold! There's live music all weekend, a bike show on Saturday, trade stands, fantastic camping facilities and good beer available in the clubhouse and marquee. The site is open to the public on Sunday afternoon.
If you've not visited before give us a try, you won't be disappointed! If you're old friends look forward to renewing old acquaintances and enjoying a beer or three!!