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Hundreds of Harley-Davidson motorbikes roar through Norfolk as part of fundraising rally

Stuart Anderson

Published: 7:32 AM July 29, 2018

Updated: 8:19 PM October 10, 2020

Harley Davidson Rally rides through Fakenham.Picture: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher

Mid-Norfolk may have experienced torrential storms on Friday, but on Saturday Fakenham heard a very different kind of thunder.

Hundreds of Harley-Davidson motorbikes purred their way up to the north Norfolk coast after mustering in town for the 26th East of England Rally, organised by the Fenlanders Harley Owners’ Group.

Thousands of onlookers lined Market Place as more than 400 bikes motored through Fakenham and onto Wells-next-the-Sea and Sheringham for the event, where a town centre celebration has been taking place, before heading to Holt, where they were due at 2.55pm.

Rally road captain Neil Sturman, from Fakenham, said he was delighted with the turnout, despite less than ideal weather in the lead-up to the rally.

He said: “No other bike sounds like a Harley - they’ve got such a cult following and the riders are lovely people. This is the fifth year we’ve had bringing them through the town and it’s been really popular.”

Harley Davidson Rally rides through Fakenham.Picture: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher

MORE: Thousands set to arrive for one of UK’s biggest Harley Davidson ralliesMore tickets were sold to this year’s rally than ever before, but a number of participants who had travelled from elsewhere in the country and were camping could not take part as they were flooded out on Friday.

John Bowles, 59, of Little Snoring, was there with his 2006 touring bike, which he has ridden all over Europe.

He said: “When you buy a Harley-Davidson you don’t just buy a motorbike, you buy into a culture.