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Archive indexOn the 5th of July, Joan and I set off for a long weekend in Belgium and a Solex rally in Rochfort. Joan's motive was a few days away from work and to indulge in some shopping buying Belgium chocs, etc; mine was the rally and to collect a Solex from Daniel Colignon that I heard of through an introduction by David Beare; also to partake of some of Belgium's excellent beers. We negotiated a cheap package through a local travel agent and set off on the Friday, travelling through the Chunnel to Calais and driving down to Namur, where we had booked B&B in what turned out to be a very smart casino. Saturday consisted of sight seeing; Sunday was the rally in Rochfort. It was a very good run with over 40 Solexes taking part: models 2200, 3800, 5000, 4600, also a Pli-Solex folding Solex. Their riders were a mixed group with a large age range, and included five nationalities that I could identify: Belgian, French, Dutch, German, and ourselves representing the UK. There was a contingent from Calais on cut down racing models - very fast but no good on anything like a hill (no pedals to give assistance). After croissants and coffee I collected my 5000 from Daniel, which I rode, and Joan was persuaded to borrow a 3800, which she rode; this was very brave of her as she hasn't ridden since our scooter days in the late 60s. I will now have to purchase another crash helmet!
We set off at 10:30am in a long procession for a run along some by-ways and forest side tracks, through splendid countryside with views across farmland, including some long twisty downhill runs through wooded country side, eventually arriving at Wellin for a very good Barbecue (in spite of the weather turning wet) hosted by Gerard Golinvaux and his family. It was followed by presentations, where we were presented with special Solex base-ball style caps. Then there was a viewing of the Hungarian-built Solex. Afterwards there was a small Bike Jumble and coffee. On the return run we managed to get lost but eventually manage to find our way back to Lavaux-Ste-Anne by another route. We then had to try the excellent locally brewed Rochfort Beer before leaving. Returning to Namur with my new acquisition strapped firmly to the rack on the back of the Fiesta, much to the amusement of the car park attendant at the casino when we parked the Fiesta/Solex combination among the large Mercedes, Porches and BMWs. On the Monday it was the return journey home and back to reality.
We were made to feel very welcome and we will definitely try for the Sars Poteries rally next year in the hope of meeting up with the Club Solex de Belgique again.
First published - October 1997