Published MC avisa: 13.09.2019 at 10:17

The Straand event is expecting up to 1,000 motorcyclists to come to Vrådal next weekend, making it the country’s largest motorcycle event.

Text: Press release.

For the second time in Norway, a “season boost” for motorcycle riders, dealers and important motorcycle players will be held at Straand Hotel in Vrådal in Telemark from Friday 20.
to Sunday 22.
September.
Almost 1,000 motorcycle riders, enthusiasts and interested motorcycle guests are expected to visit Telemark, Vrådal and Straand Hotel this weekend.
They will have the opportunity to test drive 80 brand new motorcycles that have been transported up to Vrådal in Telemark.

At Straand Treffet 2019, visitors will be able to get the latest news about motorcycle news for the 2020 season and try out the 2019/2020 models.
Drivers will get the latest news from the research community, meet key traffic politicians and enthusiasts in road and traffic safety,” say Ole Andreas Isdahl and Bjørn Richard Johansen, who together are the initiators and responsible for the Straand Rally.
This year, the Enduro community is providing its own course and bikes to give everyone an opportunity to try their hand at a simple off-road course.
KTM and Husqvarna will provide bikes and the Norwegian Motor Sports Federation (NMF)’s Enduro branch manager will provide its own resources to give instructions and advice.

Storting representative Morten Stordalen, leader of the FrP faction in the transport and communication committee, will introduce the topic “Motorcycle policy in Norway” and participate in a debate on the subject.

Opportunity to test drive over 80 new motorcycles:

– “In the US, we have the Sturgis event in South Dakota and Daytona Bike Week in Florida as major events, but we have lacked an event of this caliber for testing motorcycles and developing the knowledge base of riders in Norway,” says Ole-Andreas Isdahl.

Straand Hotel, which aims to become Norway’s best touring hotel for motorcycle enthusiasts, is behind the event in collaboration with leading dealers, importers, MC-avisa, Motorsykkelsiden.no, Motorsyklistenes Facebook page and more.
Some of the motorcycle brands that will be present are: BMW, Indian, Moto Guzzi, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, MV Augusta, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha.

Satisfied meeting organizers.

The entire hotel chain focuses on tailoring services for motorcyclists and classic car enthusiasts:

– “We’ve got the entire hotel chain De Historiske Hotel og Spisesteder on board to focus on motorcycle and classic car/veteran car tourism,” says Sigmund Straand, Hotel Director at Straand Hotel in Vrådal.

– “This is the second year we’ve organized the ‘Straand Treffet’ and we’re incredibly pleased with the great interest the gathering has received,” says Sigmund Straand, CEO and 5th generation owner of Straand Hotel in Vrådal.
generation operator of Straand Hotel in Vrådal.
The hotel has 155 years of history and was established in 1864.
Back then, people used horses and carts to get around.
Today, there are beautiful winding roads that are ideal for motorcycles and cars all the way up to Vrådal.
There are also lovely roads in Kviteseid and in our neighboring municipalities.

Straand Camp for those who want to stay in a tent:

– New this year is the launch of Straand Camp, where you can spend the night in your own tent and “get to know the cabin” where you rent a bed.
We believe that this is a good measure to make the threshold for taking part in the entire event as low as possible, this is an event for the everyday motorcyclist and those who want professional refills and good driving experiences.
We still have places available, contact the hotel to book.
In addition, we plan to provide good catering for all those who visit us, whether they are on a day visit or are with us throughout the event, so that the overall experience is as good as possible,” says Sigmund Straand.

De Historiske Hotel og Spisesteder follows Straand Hotel’s example:

– We at De Historiske started our efforts this year to give motorcyclists and classic car/veteran car visitors a little extra and tailor-made service at our 62 unique hotels, 24 historic eateries and our one historic ship this season and see it has been met with enthusiasm among a growing number of visitors on motorcycles and in vintage cars, says CEO Nils Henrik Geitle in De Historiske Hotel & Spisesteder.

– The Straand family and the hotel’s goal of becoming Norway’s motorcycle tour hotel has become a good example for the other historic hotels and restaurants’ focus on the motorcycle and classic car/veteran car tourism segment.
“There are more than 165,000 registered large motorcycles in Norway and 200,000 classic cars in Norway,” says Geitle.

Telemark’s county mayor Sven Tore Løkslid.

Opening by county mayor Sven Tore Løkslid:

The event will be opened by county mayor Sven Tore Løkslid in Telemark at.
18.00 on Friday afternoon.

– I’m really looking forward to having the honor of opening this year’s meeting again.
I’ve never received so much praise for winding roads as I did at this meeting last year.
It’s really great that it has been held in Vrådal, right in the heart of our beautiful roads and nature here in Telemark,” says county mayor Sven Tore Løkslid in Telemark.
– “Telemark county council owns 1,900 kilometers of good motorcycle roads in the county, and I know from conversations with motorcyclists that it is simply fantastic to ride in Telemark.

Mayor Tarjei Gjelstad (right) in Kviteseid municipality.

Mayor of Kviteseid municipality arrives on Suzuki SV 650 2008 model:

– This has really taken off.
Incredibly fun for Telemark, Kviteseid and Vrådal.
I ride a 2008 Suzuki SV 650 myself and I’m really looking forward to this year’s event,” says Tarjei Gjelstad, mayor of Kviteseid municipality.
– “It’s going to be exciting to look at, and maybe even try out, some of the many great motorcycles coming to Vrådal this weekend.
The 80 new bikes with their many test drivers and perhaps over 1,000 visitors over the weekend are guaranteed to thrive on our roads.
“I’m also pleased that the organizers have a strong focus on road safety and safe driving.
It’s important,” says Gjelstad.

Goal to become the country’s best hotel for motorcycle tour and vintage car visitors:

– Our strategy is to create the country’s best motorcycle tour hotel right here in the heart of Telemark.
We’re the first hotel in Norway to start tailoring an offer to the growing group of motorcycle tourists.
This is a large target group of guests between the ages of 40 and 70, who like to enjoy nature and hiking experiences on a motorcycle.
Motorcycle riders are keen to have good roads, with great bends and climbs.
Furthermore, they carry little luggage on their bikes, so guests need good service and good food and drink from the hotel,” says Sigmund Straand.

– The Straand family has been inspired by the many hundreds of motorcycle guests we have every year and for the past two years has invited motorcycle clubs to a brainstorming session and workshop at the beginning of May.
One of the ideas that came up at the brainstorming session in May last year was to invite motorcycle enthusiasts and the motorcycle industry to an autumn meeting where, among other things
try out new motorcycles, listen to interesting lectures, go for a ride and more.
Now we’re up and running and looking forward to the event,” says Sigmund Straand.
The motorcycle routes to the hotel can be found at the bottom of this page/link: www.straand.no – “Directions”.

Test drives are one of the attractions of the Straand meeting, and this year the selection has more than doubled!