Campsite bookings open now!

Book by 31st December for the lowest super-earlybird prices….

Campsite bookings are now open for the York Rally 2022, with super-earlybird prices until the 31st December 2021:

Your early bookings really do help the Rally – as well as saving you money. The more early bookings we have the more confident we can be in arranging a suitable level of facilities at the event. Advance bookings also allow our campsite team to match you up if you would like to camp with your friends or club-mates. For this, please just add a group name to your booking, whether you book online or by post.

The lowest “super-earlybird” prices last only until the 31st December 2021 – so please do book early if you can. 

Finally, a big thanks to our new campsite team who have taken over processing the bookings after our recent call for organising team volunteers. You can contact them any time on campsite@yorkrally.org with any queries about bookings – or see the campsite page for full details.

Camping at the York Rally makes for a very special experience for anyone who can make a weekend of it – we look forward to welcoming many of you onto the campsite in June!

The all-volunteer York Rally Team

It’s on! The York Rally returns 17-19 June 2022…

We’re delighted to announce that the York Rally will return to the Knavesmire on the 17 to 19th June 2022!

A superb response to our call for volunteers to join the organising committee has resulted in no fewer than six new members joining our all-volunteer team – of course more are always welcome!

This means we can be confident that key roles will be covered, and we can proceed with the 2022 event. Please save the dates: 17-19 June 2022.

Campsite bookings will open shortly. Please watch our website and social media for details – and we’ll also be keeping in touch via our mailing list. Please just go here to read previous messages, or to join the list.

We can’t wait to see everyone back on the Knavesmire, for a grand cycling weekend at this historic event! 

The all-volunteer York Rally team

2021 AGM and next meeting: 30th October

A quick note that the next York Rally AGM and planning meeting will be held on Saturday 30th October 2021 at 10.00am at St Chad’s on the Knavesmire Church Hall in York.

As ever, all are welcome.

If anyone would like to join the meeting via Zoom please e-mail a few days before to: info@yorkrally.org – we will do our best to make remote participation practical but please do bear with us if there are any issues.

Please also let us know if you would like a lift from the railway station.

Urgent call for organising team volunteers

We hope this finds you all well, and that many of you enjoyed some summer cycling despite of the lack of a York Rally this June. After the enforced break, we’re eager to bring the much-loved York Rally back once again.

But we do now need your help.

We need new volunteers on the organising team if we’re to run the next York Rally in June 2022! Please step forward if you can.

The York Rally Committee recently met for first discussions about running the event in 2022. Unfortunately, since the last York Rally in 2019 a number of our key volunteers on the organising committee are no longer available, through health, life events or other commitments.

Without enough people to take on organising/leadership roles to cover all of the essential aspects of the Rally, we cannot run the event safely and sustainably.

The two absolutely key jobs we need new volunteers to cover to secure the Rally are:

(1) Managing campsite bookings

This is the critical admin task which the current team cannot cover for 2022, although we will give any new volunteer full support.

It involves processing website and paper campsite bookings from November onwards. Familiarity with spreadsheets or similar will be needed, and email/phone for handling correspondence.

There should be no need to handle money (except perhaps forwarding occasional cheques to our Treasurer). There is also no need to be based in or near York – we can work remotely but of course you should be intending to come to the Rally!

We need to know that this role is filled by the end of October 2021 for the 2022 Rally to go ahead. To find out more or if you could do this job, please contact Paul Reid ASAP on organiser@yorkrally.org.

(2) Trade co-ordinator

To shadow our current volunteer for 2022, and take over for 2023.

Our current Trade Co-ordinator will retire from the role after the 2022 Rally, if that goes ahead. So a new volunteer is needed ASAP, so that they can learn the ropes for a year before taking over.

This role involves booking in and dealing with exhibitors for the trade show, as well as dealing with contractors for marquees, generators etc. It would suit someone with business experience. Again, there is no need to be in York.

This role really needs to be filled by the end of this year (2021) so that the handover can start ahead of the 2022 event (if it runs).

Unless this role is filled, we will not be able to run a 2023 event. To find out more or if you could do this job, please contact Charlie Hodge ASAP on trade@yorkrally.org.


There are other jobs too which we would like to fill, ranging from selling programmes at the gate to auction cashier to volunteer co-ordinator. Please do contact Paul Reid as above for more details or if you feel you can commit to any of these, or just to indicate willingness to step up in an organising role and to help keep the York Rally running.

If the 2022 York Rally can go ahead, it is likely to be on the weekend of 17-19th June 2022. These dates are still provisional, but please do put them in your diary for now.

We’ll keep everyone informed of any updates, and many thanks in advance to anyone who can make a commitment to help run the next Rally. Together with you, the Rally-goers, we have kept this historic and enjoyable event alive. And now, after the pandemic cancellations, we’d love to see it return again! So please do get in touch if you can help.

Yours in cycling as ever,

The all-volunteer York Rally organising team
info@yorkrally.org

No York Rally in 2021, but we’re hoping to be back in June 2022!

At our recent virtual AGM and planning meeting, the all-volunteer York Rally organising committee unanimously decided that it is, regrettably, not possible to run the Rally in 2021.

Although restrictions may have eased by June, we cannot at this point be sufficiently confident to run the event. We had left the decision about a 2021 event as late as possible, hoping for more certainty by now, but it could not be postponed again simply because so many aspects of the Rally need booking and organising well in advance.

However, the committee is optimistic that we will be able to run a full York Rally in 2022. Of course this will have to be confirmed in due course (probably towards the end of this year) if circumstances permit.

If it can go ahead, it is likely to be on the weekend of 17-19th June 2022. These dates are still provisional, but please do put them in your diary for now – something to look forward to at last!

We’ll keep everyone informed of any updates.

Meanwhile, thank you to all of the York Rally’s volunteer officers and committee members who agreed to continue in their roles at the Rally’s AGM.

The committee will meet again (virtually) on the 24th April to discuss what if anything we can do mark the traditional Rally weekend in June. As ever, our meetings are open to all, so please do contact us if you would like to join.

But for now, let’s cross fingers for the next York Rally to take place on the weekend of 17-19th June 2022 – COVID permitting of course!

Merry Christmas from the York Rally!

In this difficult and extraordinary year the York Rally team wishes you all the very best for Christmas and the New Year, and we really hope we can see many of you soon at another York Rally.

As you will know, sadly the 2020 Rally was cancelled in March due to COVID-19. Thank you again for all of the messages of support in the wake of this announcement.

Since then the organising committee has kept active and in regular contact, and we are in good shape to organise another Rally just as soon as conditions allow.

We will make a final decision on a Rally in 2021 at our upcoming meeting and AGM in January (see below).

At the moment we are cautious about raising any expectations for 2021. Even after the cancellation early this year, the Rally finances are sound but we cannot risk running anything but a ‘full throttle’ Rally – one which we can be confident will go ahead and one for which Rally-goers can be confident to book campsite pitches in advance. We will have to weigh up the welcome news of vaccines with the risk of ongoing restrictions.

We do want to run the Rally again just as soon as possible, which is why we are leaving the final call as late as we can. The final decision about a 2021 York Rally will be made at January’s meeting, and we will then let everyone know ASAP.

Meeting and AGM
The next York Rally meeting, and AGM, will take place virtually on the 23rd January 2021. As ever, all are welcome to attend. If you would like to join, please contact us.

We will let everyone know about the meeting’s decision on a 2021 Rally as soon as possible!

Meanwhile we wish all Rally-goers the best of health and cycling happiness, and a very Merry Christmas.

The all-volunteer York Rally Team

It would have been the York Rally weekend!

Just a quick note to thank all of the well-wishers and contributors who have left comments on this website, on the York Rally and Friends of York Rally Facebook pages, or contacted us direct, as we come up to the dates the York Rally would have taken place, had it not been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Head over to the Friends of York Rally Facebook page in particular to join in the celebration of the Rally that could have been – you can join fellow York Rally supporters in posting old photos and recalling treasured memories for everyone to enjoy!

As we spend this year’s Rally weekend at home we can certainly look forward to future events. The organising committee is active by correspondence and eager to resume planning for the next Rally.

We do very much hope and expect to be back in 2021 – but until we’ve confirmation of dates for the Knavesmire, and the committee has formally decided that the COVID-19 risk has sufficiently reduced, we’d rather not make any announcements just yet.

Just as soon as we have news of future events we’ll let everyone know!

Meanwhile, we wish all Rally-goers the best of health and safe cycling, until we can meet again in York!

The York Rally organising committee

York Rally 2020 cancelled

York Rally 2020 CANCELLED

We regret to announce that the 2020 York Rally has been cancelled. We are in the process of refunding all bookings in full. A further announcement with full details will be made shortly.

The York Rally Committee

Bands, beer and badges – we’re getting set for the 2020 Rally! Plus, cleaning and recruiting…

A rather belated update as we gear up for the 2020 York Rally in June!


Cwrw Ial beer and vegan pizza – both booked!

We’re delighted to announce the return of community brewing company Cwrw Ial to the York Rally! Pictured above at the 2016 Rally, they’ll be bringing a selection of their fine beers.

We’re also very happy that Mio Pizza, whose vegan menu went down so well at the last Rally that he sold out, will be back with increased stocks ready for a very busy weekend in 2020! 


Campsite – earlybird prices are still available!

For the full Rally experience it’s best to stay on site! And as ever, we’ve made sure that the earlier you book your campsite pitch, the cheaper the prices. The reduced rate earlybird fees are still available until the 30th April 2020. 

This year we welcome a long-standing friend of the Rally, Peter Poppy, to the campsite team. He’ll be handling bookings by post, so please do note the new address if you’re sending us your booking form , a copy of which you can download from our website.

For all the campsite details, and for both online and postal bookings, please just click the button:


Can you help with badge design?

Without a graphic designer on the York Rally volunteer team, we always struggle with designs for the York Rally badges. And this year, we’re also running low on badges for our supporters club, the Friends of York Rally – so we need a new (undated) design for that as well as one for the 2020 Rally.

We’d love to see your creative ideas! If you have even concept sketches (finished vector artwork is even better) please do email publicity@yorkrally.org and we’ll take it from there! Or just post them at the York Rally Facebook page if you prefer…

We note, by the way, that 2020 marks 75 years since the first York Rally in 1945 (see some history here). That may be something that could be commemorated in the badge design, too…


Bands and more booked!

To ensure that the Rally runs smoothly our team of hard-working volunteers books all sorts of things well in advance – marquees, toilets, showers, tables, fire extinguishers, catering… and also on the list is the artists who provide our live music!

We’re very happy that we have again booked American Routes, featuring Irene and Brian Hume (formerly of hit band Prelude) for the Saturday evening performance, and The Sonics will again be delivering their lively rock and roll set on Saturday morning!


Cleaning – changes afoot

An essential if less glamorous thing we must arrange before the Rally is cleaning of toilets and showers. Since we revived the Rally we have been incredibly fortunate that Rally-goers Pippa and John have taken on this role with incredible dedication, keeping the facilities spotless throughout the weekend and handing them back to the Racecourse in a better state than we found them! We have received numerous positive comments over the years, both from Rally-goers and the Racecourse.

For 2020, John and Pippa are stepping back from cleaning – we wish them many very well-deserved Rallies without this duty, and pass on our sincere thanks. 

That does mean we must make some alternative arrangements, and we feel we should recognise that it will be very hard to live up to the standards set by John & Pippa, who were on site full time.

We are currently looking at commercial cleaners who may come in a few times per day over the weekend, unless there’s someone among you who might want to take on the (paid) cleaning role? If that could be you, please email Charlie on trade@yorkrally.org to talk details!

And for everyone – please do bear with us if the new arrangements don’t quite rise to the level of previous years! We’ll certainly adjust for future Rallies once we see how any new cleaning arrangements work in 2020. And your assistance in ‘self-cleaning’ the facilities after use will be much appreciated in any case!


Help us recruit!

Do you know fellow cyclists who don’t yet join you in attending the York Rally? It would be great if all of our attendees, friends and supporters could make it a new year’s resolution to mention the Rally to at least one cycling friend in the coming months and urge them to come along! We’re happy with numbers so far, but the Rally’s ongoing vitality depends on new visitors – who we hope will become regulars!

Could you help distribute the Rally’s 2020 leaflet (per the picture at the top of this email?) At other events, at campsites or at cafes to fellow cyclists? If you would like some paper copies (A5) please just email with your address to publicity@yorkrally.org

Also on the recruitment front, we always need more willing volunteers to help on the organising committee – the only requirement is really that you can attend a good proportion of our meetings, which are around 8 times a year, on Saturnday mornings in York. In particular there’s a role for a volunteer fundraiser – if you fancy taking that on, we’ll do our very best to support you and make it a rewarding role! Please just contact Paul Reid on organiser@yorkrally.org or 07467 321443 if you’re interested.

Finally, please do keep sharing and mentioning our posts on social media – follow our Facebook page here and if you’d like to print or share our leaflet, it’s available here.


And finally…

All are welcome – especially newcomers, and anyone interested in joining our organising committee – at our next York Rally planning meeting, which takes place at 10am on 28 March 2020, at the Church Hall of St Chad’s on the Knavesmire, Campleshon Road, York. Please just let us know if you would like a lift from the railway station.

We’re looking forward to seeing many of you at the Rally in June!

With best regards,

The all-volunteer York Rally Team

York Rally 2020 dates are confirmed (19-21 June) and campsite bookings are now open!

York Rally 2020 poster - main image by David Kimberley

We’re delighted to confirm that the next York Rally will take place on the weekend of 19-21 June 2020! Our all-volunteer team is already looking forward to welcoming everyone to the Knavesmire once again…

Campsite bookings are open now, so please do take full advantage of the earlybird discounts! And all are welcome at our upcoming AGM.


Campsite – super-earlybird bookings are open now!

For the full Rally experience it’s best to stay on site! And as ever, we’ve made sure that the earlier you book your campsite pitch, the cheaper the prices. The cheapest super-earlybird rates apply until the 31st December. 

This year we welcome a long-standing friend of the Rally, Peter Poppy, to the campsite team. He’ll be handling bookings by post, so please do note the new address if you’re sending us your booking form, a copy of which you can download from our website.

For all the campsite details, and for both online and postal bookings, please just click the button:


AGM approaching…

All are welcome – especially newcomers, and anyone interested in joining our organising committee – at the York Rally AGM, which takes place ahead of our next planning meeting. Start time is 10am on Sat 30th November 2019, at the Church Hall of St Chad’s on the Knavesmire, Campleshon Road, York. Please just let us know if you would like a lift from the railway station.

And we’ll be in touch after that meeting with another newsletter to keep you up to date with plans for 2020!

With best regards,

The all-volunteer York Rally Team

E-mail: info@yorkrally.org