Whilst traveling to South Africa to spend time with my family is the main purpose of this journey, I have also been offered the privileged opportunity of being able to participate in the 99th Annual Durban to Johannesburg vintage motorcycle rally in company with my father.
The first Durban to Johannesburg “DJ” motorcycle race was held in 1913 and continued with the last being held in 1936. There are around 135 competitors on this years rally with several international entries. Click here to be directed to the official DJ website and find out a little more about this classic rally and the history surrounding it.
I will be riding the DJ on a 1936 Zenith 600cc single. Zenith motorcycles were manufactured around London in the UK between 1904 and 1950. I took this bike for a 80 km familiarization ride yesterday afternoon with my dad riding his 1934 Norton model 18. The Zenith was great and once you get used to the need to retard the ignition each time you start her, make sure you remember that the rear brake is on the left side and the gear shifter on the right. That the gearbox is configured to operate by moving it 1 up and 3 down and that the bike has a total loss oil system (oil is pumped from the oil tank into the engine and then onto the road), it's a breeze!!
700 kilometers on this beauty will be a real adventure!
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