Our man in Colombia takes a spill

Mateo del Rio is the owner of Royal Enfield Colombia. On the weekends, he leaves his Royal Enfields behind and heads for the track with his Kawasaki Ninja 250. In a recent race he suffered a nasty high-sider. Here is video of the incident. Fortunately he is ok.

Victory in Rhodesia

Southern Rhodesia used to be the colonial name of modern Zimbabwe (Northern Rhodesia was the modern Zambia), and Gatooma the colonial name of modern Kadoma, a town 90 miles southwest of the capital, Harare. A race took place in 1916 and was won by a Royal Enfield. The article does not report the result of the potato race, but since it was carried out with "ladies occupying the sidecars" and nothing was impossible for an Enfield sidecar, we conjecture it was won as well! From The Motor Cycle January 4th 1917.

More on the plaque and Richard Hammond

 More details of the unveiling.

Flagship

 Royal Enfield opens its first-ever flagship dealership in the United States, Baxter Cycles in Marne, Iowa.

World Origin Site

 As we mentioned, Richard Hammond unveiled a plaque at the remains of the Hunt End factory where the first motorbike was built in 1901. What are these plaques?

The World Origin website describes it like this:

What is a World Origin Site?

A World Origin Site is somewhere unique. It marks the place, people and moment when something truly groundbreaking was invented, discovered or first used.

This includes where and when some of the world’s most significant cultural events, brands and companies originated.

Only one place on the planet can ever lay claim to these landmark moments in the development of the modern world.

World Origin Site .Org sets out to record, recognise and celebrate these sites whether they are marked by a monument, museum or are just a humble house, shed or street corner. Every World Origin Site matters.

 For the Royal Enfield site they include a little history of the brand.