Motorbike rally in Kulmbach
| General information | |
| place | Kulmbach |
| Website | www.motorradsternfahrt.de |
| Visitor numbers | |
|---|---|
| 2001 | approx. 5,000 |
| 2009 | approx. 35,000 |
| 2010 | approx. 40,000 |
| 2011 | approx. 40,000 |
| 2012 | over 40,000 |
| 2013 | over 20,000 |
| 2014 | approx. 40,000 |
| 2015 | over 40,000 |
| 2016 | approx. 15,000 |
| 2017 | almost 40,000 |
| 2018 | over 40,000 |
| 2019 | around 15,000 |
The motorcycle rally to Kulmbach is the largest motorcycle meeting in southern Germany . The event is a prevention event initiated by the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior , the Upper Franconian Police and the Regional Association of Bavarian Driving Instructors with the support of the City of Kulmbach, the Kulmbacher Brewery and Antenne Bayern , under the motto Arriving instead of perishing , which has taken place every year in Kulmbach since 2001.
history
The idea of setting up an event under the motto of road safety arose in 1999. 1,000 Upper Franconian motorcyclists and visitors took part in the first event in 2000 in Pegnitz. The responsible persons at the police headquarters in Upper Franconia and the regional association of Bavarian driving instructors became aware that an event with such a background could be expanded. The impetus came a year later, in the "Year of Road Safety 2000" from the Bavarian State Ministry. All Bavarian police headquarters were asked to design a Bavaria-wide traffic safety event for motorcyclists. Upper Franconia was able to refer to initial experiences in Pegnitz and presented a concept. Partners were found with the Kulmbacher brewery and the city of Kulmbach and a permanent cooperation was established.
The motorcycle rally has been taking place in Kulmbach at the end of April since 2001, always with the aim of minimizing the number of accidents in traffic with motorcycles. Responsible behavior and the renunciation of alcohol in traffic are the focus of the event. The original one-day event with a safety fair, excursion, driver safety training throughout Bavaria and a motorcycle convoy has now become a biker event over two days. The event grew from 5,000 motorcyclists and visitors in 2001 to 40,000 guests.
Police officers from various European countries also regularly take part in the rally with their company motorcycles. The offer at the traffic safety and sales fair has been expanded over the years, as has the supporting program.
In 2006 and 2007, a 13-man motorcycle squad of the Paris police wowed visitors with a motorcycle acrobatics show. Figures were shown bearing names such as "tulip" or "umbrella". The importance of road safety training was also demonstrated at various stunt shows.
In 2008 and 2009 the motorcycle relay of the Berlin police showed impressive motorcycle acrobatics on two wheels, which, however, should be reserved for specialists on cordoned off routes.
In 2010, 2011 and 2012 daredevil freestylers demonstrated perfect vehicle control. They amazed young and old with their tricks. At the same time, the show served to demonstrate the effectiveness of a machine and showed what control this requires of every driver.
In 2013 and 2014 there was a thrill with the “Globe of Speed”. The huge steel ball was pure excitement and thrill. A breathtaking motorcycle show of the highest perfection took place in the “Globe of Speed”. Inside the steel ball, the young men around Alex Ramien and up to three stunt motorcyclists overrule the law of gravity. With engine noises, actors circling wildly and spectacular stunts, fiction and reality blur in the intoxication of speed.
In 2015, the Geschwister Weisheit artist group impressively demonstrated a high-wire motorcycle acrobatic show in perfection. On both days of the event, numerous spectators followed the impressive demonstrations high above their heads on the grounds of the Kulmbacher brewery. With Nader Rahy, Andreas Kümmert and Sharron Levy, three “The Voice of Germany” stars came to the biggest biker event in southern Germany. The headliner was the party band LIPSTICK.
In 2016, despite unfavorable weather forecasts, around 15,000 visitors found their way to the 16th motorcycle rally through ice and snow in Kulmbach on April 23 and 24, 2016. The headliners were DIE TOTEN ÄRZTE who really heated up the numerous spectators in adverse weather conditions.
In 2017, the sunny weather and mild temperatures attracted almost 40,000 motorcycle and music enthusiasts to Kulmbach. The headliner on Saturday evening was the ANTENNE BAYERN band.
In 2018 well over 40,000 bikers and visitors came to Kulmbach on both days. Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann presented the new motorcycle clothing for the Bavarian Police, which was manufactured in a blue design analogous to the newly introduced Bavarian police uniform. The headliners were DIE TOTENÄRZTE.
Achievements of the motorcycle rally
The biker weekend in Kulmbach is not only a destination for bikers, but also increasingly for other visitors from all over Upper Franconia. In this way, the understanding of the non-motorized participants for traffic situations with motorcyclists increases from year to year. One visible success is the expansion of guardrail underrun protection, which reduces the risk of accidents for motorcyclists. After a few assemblies, the attachment is now to be expanded significantly. This development was also supported by an event such as the motorcycle rally.
Highlights of the motorcycle rally
The driving safety training
The completion of qualified driver safety training at the start of the season is seen as an important prerequisite for motorcyclists for an accident-free season. Since these training courses in Kulmbach would not be feasible on the event site due to the large number of participants, free driving safety training courses have been offered at around 28 locations throughout Bavaria since 2005, under the leadership of the Bavarian Driving Instructors Association. Between 700 and 1,200 bikers take advantage of this offer every year.
The motorcycle parade
On Sunday morning, motorcyclists from 30 locations in Bavaria drive into Kulmbach in a star shape. The convoy starts from Albert-Ruckdeschel-Straße through the Kulmbach city center to the brewery event site. It is traditionally headed by the patron, the Bavarian Minister of the Interior.
The motorcycle relay
It is a tradition to visit foreign motorcycle police officers with their typical police colors and motorcycles. Every year over 100 police motorcycles from Germany and abroad take part in the city parade through Kulmbach. Also included are delegations from the Federal Police, the Bundeswehr, the BRK, ADAC, DLRG and the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund.
Participatory course on road safety
The hands-on course includes a total of 40 hands-on stations on seven safety-related topics in road traffic. As part of the hands-on course on road safety, all visitors to the rally can refresh their knowledge of all aspects of road safety and first aid and then take part in a raffle with attractive prizes. In the case of realistic accident scenarios, the spectators are invited to participate and are supported by professionals from the rescue organizations in initiating the first rescue measures.
The rally patch - embroidered symbol of the motorcycle rally
The police motorcycle club Blue Knights has been one of the active supporters of the motorcycle rally since the second event.
Following a joint decision by the Bavarian Blue Knights, the so-called Sternfahrtpatch (patch = embroidered patch) was designed, launched and offered in Kulmbach on the event weekend for the first time in 2005. This first patch could already be sold out, which is why a continuation of the campaign was out of the question. The entire net proceeds were donated during the event to MEHRSi , a non-profit organization that is committed to guard rail protection.
The patch has now achieved cult status, is selling extremely well and is always produced in a limited edition of 500 pieces despite the demand for higher quantities. In total, 7,000 rally patches have found a carrier in the past 14 years, resulting in a total donation amount of 21,000 euros for MEHRSi and thus for motorcycle safety.
The motto of the event Arrive instead of perish also adorns the current edition.
Data
The 2020 motorcycle rally was supposed to take place on April 25th and 26th, but was canceled due to the corona virus.
Web links
- www.motorradsternfahrt.de - the website for the rally
- www.sternfahrtpatch.de - The rally patch
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Motorcycle rally website
- ↑ Homepage Motorradsternfahrt http://www.motorradsternfahrt.de/
- ↑ Homepage Motorradsternfahrt http://www.motorradsternfahrt.de/