MILES

The Art of Losing a Motorcycle Race

The official Malle Mile book, celebrating the sub-culture of the motorcycle racers, the motorcycle makers & the Malle Mile shakers from ten years of The Malle Mile. The motorcycle race we all lose together.

‘MILES’ IS AVAILABLE IN 2 BEAUTIFUL UNIQUE EDITIONS, INCLUDING A COLLECTORS SPECIAL EDITION. EACH ONE SIGNED AND NUMBERED BY THE MALLE FOUNDERS, IN A BLACK-ON-BLACK EMBOSSED SLIP CASE AND MALLE MILE NO.10 FOLD OUT POSTER. THIS SPECIAL EDITION IS LIMITED TO 200 COPIES.

Foreword by Charley Boorman

Ten years! A decade of mud, grass, dreams won and dreams lost, and the relentless roar of engines tear- ing through the unlikely grounds of a medieval castle. It’s been a wild ride, and as I sit down to pen these words, memories surge like an old engine firing into life. The Malle Mile: a gathering where oily poets and dirt-bike dreamers converge, where the spirit and thrill of adrenalin are not just a notion, but a way of life.

I remember the first time I rode in to the Malle Mile, that unmistakable scent of two-stroke engines mingling with the warm summer air, the sound of laughter echoing through the camp. It was as if I had stumbled upon a secret society of kindred spirits, united by a shared love of two-wheeled freedom. From the moment my boots touched the ground, I knew I was home.

Over the years I’ve witnessed this festival evolve, grow, move and carve its place into the annals of British motorcycle history. What began as a humble gathering of friends has blossomed into a cultural phenomenon, drawing riders from across the country and beyond. Yet, amid the dust, the music and the annual Malle mayhem, the essence of The Mile remains unchanged: a celebration of camaraderie, passion, a touch of rebellion and the unbridled joy of the motorcycle in all its forms.

The Malle Mile is a place where riders of all stripes converge, where vintage classics mingle with modern marvels, and where the only currency that really matters is a shared love of two wheels. But the thrill of racing notwithstanding, it’s the people who make this festival truly special, from seasoned expedition riders to wide-eyed newcomers discovering the magic of two wheels for the very first time. I’ve met characters at The Mile who could fill volumes with their tales of daring escapades. Because at its core, The Mile represents a community united by a passion for that glorious invention, the motorbike.

But make no mistake, the Malle Mile is more than just a motorcycle gathering. It’s about pushing boundaries, building motor- cycles, reincarnating old barn finds, turning rust into thrust, and embracing the thrill of speed with open arms. It’s about the thrill of the race – not just the glory of winning, but losing together, in style.

Above all, it’s about forging connections and making friends.

As I reflect on ten years of Malle Mile memories and mad- ness – of dusty scrambles, mud, warm beer, sunburn, hay bales, rain and starlit skies, of triumphs and tribulations – I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the friends I’ve met there, for the stories we’ve all shared, and for the indelible mark the Malle Mile has left on many of us. So here’s to ten more years of racing, losing and everything in between. May the finish line be full of endless glory and may we never reach it, but laugh in the mud and the dust together.

Ride on, my friends. And remember, the greatest journeys start where the road ends and the racetrack begins.

Rubber side down!
Charley Boorman.