"It's not about the bike"
An early morning mist cloaked the bushveld around Isandlwana as close friends and family of Dave and Nicky Rattray began their "battle of the bike", the Fugitive's Drift Inaugural RattRace 2007. Even the sun struggled to make itself visible through the shroud, appropriately reminding all of the Day of the Dead Moon; however this "battle" would have a happy ending for these Englishmen and women. The locals waved and stared as 44 motley looking cyclists pedalled their way along the corrugated dirt road to the Fugitives' Drift Guest House with cattle, goats and the odd minibus taxi as inherent hazards.
 
Early leader, Andrew Murray finished the race well ahead of the rest of the field, followed by race darling, 15 year old Peter Rattray, who delighted his mum and his enthusiastic girl cousins and mates with a gutsy second place. Meanwhile all sorts of shenanigans took place in the rest of the field - a secret short cut across the river by Andrew Rattray and fellow conspirator Ben Pretorius moved them from about 36th and 37th place to 6th and 7th place, and the last placed "Lipstick Brigade" of Peter Clarke and 3 ladies were ALL wearing lipstick and stopping along the route to dance with Zulu maidens!
 
Every cyclist, driver and spectator received good natured "fines" for misdemeanours ranging from 4th placed Alastair Clarke having far too smart matching cycling kit, to Doug Rattray's imbibing of illegal substances in the form of a packet of jelly babies along the route! Even the fine master himself, Chris Harvie, was not exempt and organiser Sheila Swanepoel, [affectionately nicknamed "Clipboard Sheila"], was deprived of R50 for not having her clipboard attached to her bike for the ride.
 
The prizegiving and brunch afterwards was a happy affair with loads of gentle ribbing, all of which David would have totally approved, being the master of leg pulling.
 
Several thousand rands were added to the coffers of the David Rattray Foundation as a result of this initiative, to be used for furthering the educational opportunities of the local community.