| Elephant Rally Elefantentreffen |
|
|---|---|
| Date(s) | January or February |
| Location(s) | Near Thurmansbang, Bavarian Forest, Germany |
| Inaugurated | 1956 |
| Attendance | 5,000-10,000 |
| Genre | Motorcycle rally |
| Patron | Federal Association of Motorcycle Riders |
| Website | www.bvdm.de |
The Elephant Rally, or Elefantentreffen, is a winter motorcycle rally, which takes place on the first weekend in February or on the last weekend in January annually in a valley between the towns of Thurmansbang and Solla in the Bavarian Forest in Germany. It is organized by the Federal Association of Motorcycle Riders in Germany.
Since 1989 it is resident in the Bavarian forest, where it takes place in snow-safe situation in the proximity of the Czech border. Each year between 5,000 and 10,000 riders from all over Europe participate; some bring along motorcycle changes and failed special constructions to the meeting.
The meeting was created in 1956 by Ernst Leverkus, who had organized it as meeting for winter-hard drivers of the well-known Zündapp KS 601 motorcycle-sidecar combination. The KS 601 (the "Green elephant") gave its name to the meeting.
Originally the meeting took place 1956 at the Solituderennen (Solitude) racing course in Stuttgart. After changing places the organizer, BVDM, took over 1961 and placed the meeting at the Nürburgring. After serious problems and organizational changes in 1978 a transfer took place to the Salzburgring — in the first year still as emergency meeting with 400 participants, but starting in 1979, it became a regular meeting.
In 1988 the rally was canceled, as BVDM no longer wished to bear the liability and risk for it. At the Salzburgring only a privately organized emergency meeting took place. Since 1989 the meeting has taken place in the same area as the Stock Car club. The most important change is the complete prohibition of all vehicles except motorcycles for several kilometers around the periphery of the meeting area.
After the rally was canceled in 1988, some private individuals organized a parallel spare meeting, which has taken place since then each year. Since 1990 it is held at the Nürburgring under the name Altes Elefanten (Old Elephant Rally). It takes place as a rule two weeks after the Elephant Rally.