2009 Rallies & Events
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Photo Captions:
Main Photo: Re-enactors everywhere: At McAuliffe Square, you can meet them from Friday on! The 2010 Street Bob ran strong despite muddy roads and bad weather.
Top Row (left to right)
Airdrop at Mardasson memorial
Expect military traffic anytime: from a WLA to a complete convoy with tanks, you can see everything.
NUTS? This is the Bunker where American troops broke the ring around Bastongne on Tuesday, December 26th. The small pillbox is of Belgian origin and was occupied by german troops when Patton’s tanks broke through.
Bottom Row (left to right)
Inside the Bunker
Ceremony at the Patton Memorial, featuring the granddaughter and grandson of George S. Patton, the American Ambassador and Veterans.
Harley’s WLA’s are always a favourite with the crowd, only beaten by the tanks! Following the Dutch re-enactors is a M 10 “Priest” self-propelled gun!
Nuts!
Story and Photos by Horst Rösler
There are storys out there, and then there is history. December is hardly the time for riding motorcycles in the Ardennes, but not just history buffs know what happened in December 1944 at Bastogne, Belgium. Especially on the 22nd, when Bastogne was surrounded and beaten, but commanding American General McAuliffe anwered the request for surrender with one simple 4-letter word. Every year, the inhabitants of Bastogne now celebrate the NUTS festival, which has developed into a huge event with re-enactments of historical scenes. They include a parachute airdrop from a DC 3, the ceremony at the Patton Memorial, and the traditional Nuts drop from the balcony, this year conducted by veterans, the grandson and granddaughter of General Patton, and the American Ambassdor. The 65th anniversary was probably the biggest celebration ever. From a small parachute Cushman to WLA’s, Jeeps and Sherman and Pershing Battle tanks, the Sunday parade attracted huge crowds, despite the cold weather and snow. Doing a tour around the battlefield on a 2010 Street Bob gives you quite a view – and a real feeling of what the soldiers had to endure back then. It’s nuts even when nobody shoots at you!