I am told it is the 25th anniversary. I've never been and can't seem to find any good websites about it.

Any information / advice / past experiences gratefully received.

Thanks

You said past experiences, I think I attended 25 years ago. Wow how time flies. It was held at the old nurnburg ring which had the snow plowed and melted off.Something like 14 miles and 174 turns. For very little money you could go out and take laps. Everybody was camping and partying in the snow. I rode up from munich with the temp about 10 degrees F.Got a small piece published in an obscure american bike magazine mainly because I had a good camera and took lots of photos. If you find out any more by all means attend but if you ride without a sidecar beware of the ice.

Actually I attended 35 years ago,1970 while stationed in munich with the US army. Had a ducati 350 sebring that was great fun on the backroads of bavaria.

Bill, thank you for that. So obviously it can't be the 25th anniversary, maybe the 50th?

It really sounds like something to experience. I'm quite tempted to take the sidecar but is it cheating?

Hi,
I believe the Elephant Rally first happened in either 1960 or 1961.
The following year, partly inspired by this, and the lack of any other motorcycle events at this time of year, the Conwy & District Motorcycle Club held the 1st Dragon Rally in North Wales. Both rallies still being run each year, in late January/early February.
I made the effort to go to the Elephant in 1992. Apparently it was "too easy", as the temperature hovered around 0c for the whole weekend and was not cold enough for the diehards!
It was a fantastic event, the sun shone brilliantly for most of the time and the scenery was such as is seen on most Xmas cards - lots of snow, pine trees etc.
I'd definately go again, but in reality, I'd rather head south to warm sunshine!!

Hi,

try this link:
http://www.alteselefantentreffen.de/

It's all in German though. Should offer you lots of practice before you go... ;-)

Hans

looks like my german needs some practice, I don't understand a word of it

Thanks for the link though, I'll get a german speaker to help me sift through it. It looks like the site I couldn't find!

There are two Elefantentreffen in Germany.
The original one, with the 45 year tradition is held at the last weekend in January in the hills (Thurmansbang-Solla) near Passau, close to the Austrian and Czech border.
Every year 5-7000 motorcyclists from all over Europe attend. Come early in the week as level campsites are rare, and its no fun to camp on a steep slope. Its very basic toilets, no showers, lots of funny people.
The so called Altes Elefantentreffen am Nuerburgring is a quite recent event. Its held on the 3rd or 4th weekend in February on a campground next to the nuerbrurgring racetrack (I don´t think it will be open) with all the amenities of a big campground. About 2000 motorcyclists attend.
For me, the one near Passau is more authentic and definetly more basic.
Have fun
Werner

Werner, thank you. This is the one I was trying to find out about. I'm still very unsure if I can make it, but it would be fantastic!

Hi

try here: http://www.bvdm.de/

or ask Maverick or Yosi at www.ukgser.com

Hope to see you there. I wont be able to make it until friday probably.

I think its number 49 by the way.

hasta luego

bob

I did got to the Bavarian version. Next year is the 50th anniversary, so jan 2006 would not be a bad time to go!

Here are some fotos from my trip there with my friend Oscar (I´m the big stupid looking one):

http://spanishbob.smugmug.com/gallery/380517

http://spanishbob.smugmug.com/gallery/380699

very different and worth doing.

This is what it was like saturday night -18
My tent

I went to the elefantentreffen this year from Yorkshire (Hull to Rotterdam) with my boyfriend, we both went on Honda C90's. It's the best rally I've ever done but you MUST be prepared for the conditions. We saw a couple of brits turn up Friday evening and next morning they'd abandoned their tent and gone. I thought it was -19 that night but apparently it was -24. Even my deodorant froze! I can give loads of advice if you want to contact me. The main thing for me was the ice - not easy to ride on if you're not used to it. The whole thing was an amazing experience and I would love to go again when I get used to riding on ice without falling off! I suggest you take some decent Scotch, it went down a treat with everyone. Take ice boots or crampons if possible as the site's quite steep in places. You can park on the road at the top if the site's too slippy to get down. Sidecar's a good idea, loads of people had them, it's much more sensible than solo bike. Also you can fit more sleeping gear in the chair. It's well worth the effort, go for it. By the way, I don't get much time at work for chatting but if my email address comes up here write to me. Cheers, Sue

I will be going to this years Elephant along with 6 others. It is the 50th anniversary this year and it will be my third time. In 1998, it was f f flippng cold and in 2000 it absolutely chucked it down with rain. The altes elefanten is held in February at the Nurburgring and is another good rally which I have done twice. They actually have a bar!!!

Sue, are you the lass from Huddersfield that won long distance female? I am from Bradford and will be on the Hull - Zeebrugge ferry on Wednesday night. I was talking to some guys from Huddersfield MAG last night who said there may be some people going from Huddersfield. Look out for the union flag if you go. Possibly even a Yorkshire flag as well!

Hi Mortis,

I'm not going this year because I fall off when I ride on snow, I need to learn how to get over the nerves then I'll go back. Yeah it was me, I didn't get the trophy until the Farmyard in June when I met some lads from Stockport (Ken & Paul), They'll be there this year. I think you met Nord & Kevin from Hudds. My Andy's going as well, he set off on Saturday on his C90 and should be there this evening. You might meet him if you're there by Friday, he's going on to the Taurentreffen in Austria for the weekend (1200 meters higher!!). Mad bugger. We're going to Dragon Rally in a couple of weeks. See you around, I need to go back to Elephant some time, how on earth do you ride on snow? Have a gluvine for me.

Sue