The Malle Mile Beach Race is underway in Margate today (May 21) with more races lined up for tomorrow.
The annual event involves more than 200 custom and vintage bikes taking part in a series of races.
The event is again raising money for ‘Two Wheels For Life’ and their partner ’Riders For Health’.
For 30 years the charity has trained local health care professionals to use motorcycles to reach the remotest parts of Africa where other vehicles simply cannot reach, bringing medicine, doctors and the modern digitisation of medical paper based-systems.
To date they have reached and supported over 12 million people. Learn more about their work at: www.twowheelsforlife.org
The event includes sprints, Motopolo and after parties.
Environmental concerns have been raised by the owners of Margate’s Crab Museum in the Old Town about the effects on micro-organisms that live in the sand.
They said: “We like being loud and obnoxious as much as the next person, but prefer it when it doesn’t damage a fragile local ecosystem. Margate beach might look like empty sand, but it’s full of living, sensitive organisms that don’t much like fumes pumped over them for the merriment of humans. Hundreds of these creatures can be found in a single petri-dish when examined under a microscope. It is animals like these that form the basis of all ecosystems on Earth and they deserve respect.
“Public land is for everyone, and it’s disheartening to see this kind of enthusiasm for activities so closely linked to the climate crisis. In the year 2022 CE, we should be promoting greener modes of transport, rather than fetishising obsolete machines.
“We accept that the event will bring an amount of money into the local economy, but so would fracking underneath Monkton Nature Reserve or selling Dreamland to Russian oligarchs. If everything has a price, what are we valuing over the local ecosystem?
“Malle’s partners may offer tokenistic moral get-out-of-jail-free cards, but we are fast heading towards a carbon-free future, where these events will be organised by historical re-enactors. Until then, let’s keep racing events on racetracks, and not in living, breathing biomes.”
Malle organisers say they have worked with Thanet council on an environmental plan.
In a statement on the Malle London website it says: “We have been working with Thanet council over the last year to create an environmental plan that ensures The Mile Beach Race leaves the beach in a better condition than when we arrived and leaves only footprints in the sand.
“Like The Malle Mile Festival the entire event is plastic free. Before and after the race the entirety of Margate Sands is being combed by our dedicated Marshall team, removing any debris and rubbish from the beach and recycling it safely.
“There will be many electric motorcycles in the beach race and more each year no doubt, but the majority of entries are vintage race bikes powered by engines. We’ve set up several initiatives to keep the beach environment pristine. We have a pre/post race washing station for all race motorcycles to remove any oil before and any sand after. Our environmental Malle Marshals will also be on hand to watch out for any drops of oil on the beach and they’re equipped to dispose safely of any sand that may be affected throughout the day.
“For all Malle events, including The Malle Mile, The Mile Beach Race and The Malle Rallies, we are working with ‘The International Tree Foundation’ to plant a tree for every rider who enters the race – with an aim to plant a minimum of 5000 trees in 2022 – off setting and locking away carbon and protecting the global environment.
“Started in 1924 – learn more about their stellar work in the UK and Africa here: www.internationaltreefoundation.org”
SATURDAY 21ST MAY – (remaining events)
LOW TIDE AT 10.30AM AND HIGH TIDE AT 4.50PM
18:00 PM : THE BEACH RACE PARTY THE SUN DECK
19:00 PM : DJ DESTRUCTION
20:00 PM : LONGY & THE GOSPEL TRASH LIVE ON STAGE
21:00 PM : BROKEN HANDS LIVE ON STAGE
10PM-2AM : THE OFFICIAL BEACH RACE AFTER-PARTY AT THE LOVE CAFE WITH DJ DESTRUCTION!
SUNDAY 22ND MAY
LOW TIDE AT 11.30AM AND HIGH TIDE AT 5.50PM
09:00 AM : THE DGR
MEET AT THE MARGATE LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE MARGATE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN’S RIDE, DEPARTING AT 9.30 & RETURNING TO THE SUNDECK BY 10.30AM
10:00 AM : THE BEACH SPRINT RACE
ALL RACE CLASSES RACING IN ORDER ALL MORNING
12:00 PM : THE MALLE100 BEACH RACE
ONCE RIDERS HAVE COMPLETED THE SPRINT RACE, PLEASE ENTER THE MALLE100
13:00 PM : MOTOPOLO
BEACH TOURNAMENT – FINAL
14:00 PM : THE BEACH RACE DERBY
KNOCKOUT FINALE
17:00 PM : THE PODIUM AWARDS
18:00 PM : AFTER PARTY
THE BEACH RACE PODIUM AWARDS AFTER PARTY AT THE SUN DECK
I can’t think of anything more ghastly than a load if old, noisy, dirty and smelly motorbikes tearing up and down the sands.
I can’t think of anything better
Really?
Your welcome.
well at least it gives you something different to moan about !!!
The Ramsgate Trio moan about everything!
Do these lot always have a moan about stuff then? Not just about bike events.
I don’t think I’ve ever read a positive or encouraging comment from Andrew, Martha and Phyllis. I feel very sorry for them if they’re that miserable in real life!
Oh, who are they? I thought you was talking about the lads from the crab place kicking off.
Pieter Checksfield is simply a troll.
Whatever you say Martha.
Possibly because there’s absolutely nothing positive to say about your chitterings, Mr Cheeksfeeled.
Or any new businesses, writers, musicaians, sports events or anything else in Thanet?
*musicians*!
This event is brilliant, great to watch.
I’m sure it is. But the main beach is possibly not the right place for it.
I completely agree with the owners of the Crab Museum.
I’m just wondering how much the visitors to the Crab Museum spent in the town at the weekend.
a crab museum ? you are having a laugh !
So much for the TDC declared climate emergency.
That was just a bit of political opportunism and will have no real bearing on anything they do. Exemplified by the decision to turn a listed building with no insulation into the drug/ homeless hostel which will be heated 24/7 at the council tax payers expense. That place will chuck out more carbon than this race ever will.
Agree with the Crab museum. The intertidal zone is full of life. Just shows TDC’s complete lack of understanding and care for a environment they are supposed to be looking after.
Well it was certainly full of life at the weekend.
BAN THIS EVENT NOW … it’s not needed in 2022 it just pumps pollution into the atmosphere… IF they were electric bikes then maybe it has some place In society promoting them but it’s not so BAN THIS EVENT NOW !!!
It is needed we arent all into living boring lifes !
Just what thanets needs more of these events much better than the arty stuff 😉
Bertie, Chase and Ned from the Crab Museum
Thank you for your invaluable insight into the fragile local ecosystem. Full of living, sensitive organisms Much like yourselves
They have been in the sand for thousands of years and will remain there for a few more thousand years
Heavy duty tractors and trailers sweep and comb the beach every morning, from the council and town. Lightweight motorcycles and beach goers will have no effect.
This dirty noisy event is not what should be happening now.
Wholeheartedly agree Marva
Yet concerts at dreamland are to be applauded? The racing is once a year and finishes well before people settle down for the evening, the same can hardly be said of the concerts. Compare and contrast.
I agree BAN DREAMLAND CONCERTS !
NOISY
BUSY
LOUD
LITTER
BAN THEM NOW !!!!
These comments are about the motorbike event, not concerts.
Yes Marva I agree BAN THE MOTOBIKE EVENT !
No you raised the question of noisy dirty events, just because some you agree with and others you do not doesn’t mean one isn’t a noise nuisance and the other not , if either actually are.
Actually, I have no opinion about concerts at Dreamland.
so what should be happening ? knitting classes ? potato growing ?
I hate to be negative but this type of event just seems chavvy. Also an unnecessary disruption to the fragile ecosystem that still survives on those sands. Before anyone accuses me of being boring … I’m not. Between books I enjoy, long walks, deep talks, surfing, climbing, footy ball, smashing back cans of Stella and smashing skulls…. And some occasional burglary.
Not really my thing, but I’m glad that these events still happen (I prefer Air Shows!).
Did one of those from the Crab Museum used to be on Little Britain?
I quite like old vehicles. I suppose the BSA motorbikes I had in the 70s would count as “vintage” by now.(As would I!)
But, nowadays, I just hope that I will live long enough to enjoy a country where all the vehicles will be electric. No more roaring, snarling motorbikes exceeding the speed limit on local roads.
Our local main road is over half-a-mile away but we can hear the motorbikes on summer evenings from our house.
The normal traffic is just a distant hum when the wind blows from there. But the motorbikes completely ruin our evenings in the garden.
Am I paranoid or is it the case that the owners of these bikes ENJOY the racket they make and love making themselves heard all over the area? The louder the acceleration the better!
Do current owners of noisy, polluting motorbikes welcome the arrival of electric bikes? Or do they scrape around for reasons to carry on disturbing the local populace because they enjoy being noticed? And does anyone know how they seem completely unafraid of being stopped for speeding?
Electric isnt good for the environment. The batteries are made out of lithium which is mined. The life is around 12 years and cost about 12k to replace.
It’s a mith that electric cars
Zero immitions is the important figure here …
What are “Immitions”?
loud pipes save lives
you sir , are a traitor to your past.
JFC ,
all you whingers , need to get out a bit more , your lives may be highlighted by the post turning up early ,or the milkman leaving Jersey milk , not semi-skimmed , but some of us need a bit of adrenaline every week .
So whingers , make your choice , get out more ….or book your place early , at the nice resting place in Manston Road. ( FFS my auntie T , had more go in her at 103 years old , she loved going on the back of my bike )
JFC ,
Thanet really is full of the living dead , some of you might as well go over to “Coffin Corner” , take a chair with you . no need to be standing while you wait for God.
Who is/are “JFC”?