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SA Union: Johannesburg-Durban Race / Rand Motor Cycling Club
SA Union: Johannesburg-Durban Race / Rand Motor Cycling ClubSA Union: Johannesburg-Durban Race / Rand Motor Cycling Club
SA Union: Johannesburg-Durban Race / Rand Motor Cycling ClubSA Union: Johannesburg-Durban Race / Rand Motor Cycling Club
Form: Circular with attached lug with loop for a ring
By: Seider Bros (?)
Date: 1922 & 1924
Ref:  Laidlaw: 1130;
Variations:
SizeMetalMassValue
26.0 mmCopper-Bronze (1922)8.2 gm$15
26.0 mmCopper-Bronze (1924)8.4 gm$15
Edge: Plain.

Obverse: Rider crouched over motor cycle, right, ground below. Above in arcs: " The / RAND MOTOR CYCLING / CLUB". Maker's name at foot: "SEIDER BROS".

Reverse: Within a laurel wreath, space for engraving. This medal: "DURBAN RACE / F.A.R. ZUCHER / 31.5.22 (first medal) 31.5.24 (second medal)".

Notes: The Johannesburg-Durban Race was a competition for motor cycles held under the auspices of the Rand Motor Cycling Club. It was held annually between the years 1913-1936 except during the First World War. The course over which the race took place was the road (then un-tarred and in places no more than a track) between Johannesburg and Durban, a distance of 421 miles. It was a two day event held in the winter months, in the early years from Johannesburg to Durban and later in the other direction. The race was re-established in 1970 as a rally event for veteran and vintage motor cycles called the “DJ Run”.

The winner’s trophy is known as the ‘Schlesinger Vase’. It is believed that the medals here were awarded to all those riders who completed the race.

Fritz A.R. Zurcher was a South African pioneer of motor cycle racing. He competed in every race between 1919 and 1932 except 1921. He was placed: 6th in 1919, 1st in 1920 , 9th in 1922 (this first medal), 18th in 1924 (this second medal), 15th in 1925, 14th in 1926, 9th in 1930 and 10th in 1932.

The medals awarded to Zurcher for the 1919 and 1920 races can be seen at Laidlaw 1127. These medals were on a grander scale. Presumably the batch of initially sponsored medals had become exhausted and the medals here were their more modest replacement.

Further information at: http://www.djrun.co.za.