The glens will continue to 'thunder' next year

Fears that Badenoch and Strathspey has seen its last Thunder in the Glens rally were allayed as its co-ordinator headed out of Aviemore – and office.

George ‘Mad Dog’ McGuire told the Strathy it was time to call it a day but only personally.

He revealed: “I’ve been doing this now since it was just a small bunch of bikers getting together.

“This year’s silver anniversary rally brought over 10,000 people into the strath and the event is now regarded by many as the best Harley Owners Group gathering in the world – next to Daytona.

“I want to mentor a new co-ordinator who’ll set up a whole new generation of Thunderers to the benefit of the communities in Badenoch and Strathspey both economically and socially.”

Concerns have grown about the future of the event with the hosts at Macdonalds Aviemore Resort aiming to develop the base camp area used as the headquarters as well as camping and parking for the Harley-Davidson gathering.

Towards the start of the year, Macdonald Resorts Ltd submitted plans for permission in principle for residential development comprising both private and affordable housing, staff accommodation and associated infrastructure on its land in Aviemore.

Up to 180 new homes could be built at the site which lies vacant for nearly the entire year.

But Mr McGuire said: “We don’t see that happening for a while yet, especially with the company already having won planning consent to develop the Aviemore Inn, further over – word on the street is that they will start work on that first.

“Certainly we’re all preparing for a 2024 TITG based in Aviemore and there are certainly no plans to call it a day in the strath.

“It’s far too big and successful to lose.”

The application has been called in by the Cairngorms National Park Authority’s planning committee but has yet to come forward.

Meanwhile the injection of something like £1 million into the local economy is set to continue for the foreseeable future, Mr McGuire said confidently.

It also means that the charitable contributions which the thousands of kind-hearted bikers help bring to vital local organisations such as the Badenoch and Strathspey Food Hub will also continue to roll in.

Mr McGuire was proud to confirm that over £3000 was on its way to the group following a hugely successful raffle this year for a £15,000 ‘Nightster’ bike which was won by Edinburgh enthusiast Sean Blinstone.

Mr McGuire said: “It’s disgraceful that in this day and age these food banks and food hubs have to exist but while the need is there we must carry on keeping them in their useful work.”

At the hub, volunteer Beth Hay told the Strathy: “The bikers are amazingly generous and we’re so grateful for what they contribute. It will go a long way to providing the food bags that we put together to send out to those who either can’t make it to the hub personally or who for their own reasons prefer not to be seen doing so.

“The main thing is that we reach out to them and this year’s rally has been so generous.”

As he headed home to Edinburgh, Mr McGuire added: “There’s nothing to stop the great work going on but I would say it would be great – and increasingly important – to see the business community getting more on board in practical terms.

“It doesn’t help when during the big ride-out the pavements are taken up by cafes leaving chairs and tables out and parking can still be a problem, making life difficult for everyone else.

“Campervans and mobile homes are still a problem too but this year there was a great example set by the Strathspey Steam Railway who offered special space for them by the goods yard – not only did that help to clear some space during the rally but the charity, I’m told, earned itself some £1600 in parking charges.

“More of that would be great next year.”

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.