The great Finnish enduro is now celebrated by a parade of old enduro bikes.
This year, your truly did take out the CZ and rode along. I have never
exprienced riding behind a police car.
Things went prettty much the same as in the actual race. First, I am almost
missing the start (why do you think the team is called Last Drop Racing). Then
the parade is riding so slow trough the city that the CZ has to ridden using
first gear and a lot of clutch. Still I manage to stall it. That calls for
pushing tha bike and when I finally get it running agian, others are not any
more seen. So you have a chance to really rev it. Which leads to sizing. While
still on the city streets. A quick pull of the clutch lever and the engine
starts running again. After catching the others it is back to stalling the
engine for riding too slow. This time pushing the bike up a hill (twice) and
trying to push start did not help. Fortunately I got a ride in a van and so I
was able bring the bike to the starst of the actual race, where spectators were
waiting to see these "good old days" bikes. For me it was excactly
like when racing, but all within an hour. That's what I call Instant Enduro.
Until late 60's Finland had very low reserves of foreing currency. You had
the get a special import license for Western bikes. Since Commie Block countries
had even less money they were happy to sell bikes for in return of Finnish goods.
Those familiar with trade terms have probably heard of "bilateral trade"
What's this Banana Jawa?
This was the works bike. Only limited number was produced. The bike looked
great but the story goes that the Finnish riders with Jawas contract still chose
the old Six Days Jawas for the Six Day enduro. They were first told that
ubless they ride the new model they will get a ride at all. Since you do not
really want top argue a Finn, these guys were given the old bikes. They did beat
the Czech team, who were riding the new Banana Jawas.
Works Jawa |
|
Why do you think it was
called "Banana Jawa" |
|
You could remove the gear
box without removing the
engine off the frame |
MZ 125 and Jawa |
MZ125 was a very competitive
bike in its class |
MZ 250 |
62 Six Days took place at
Garmisch Partenkirchen |
Not a very common bike
Honda Trial |
Heikki Mikkola - 4 times
Motocross World Champion
and Päitsi winner in 68 |
Mikkola rodr this HVA 240 |
Päitsi has been ridden for
quite many years: They even used
Indians, before you were able
to get Jawas or MZ's |
Of course, there were
lots of Jawas, so you did
not have to ride an Indian |
Remember the military models |
Jawa Six Days, notice
up pipes, front fender and
more powerful lamp for
night stages |
Solifer 125 - one of the only 3
produced |
Solifer - Finnish moped factory
produced 3 of these 125's
to beat Tunturi sales |
A Bultaco engine was used |
This noise level inspection
label was required. |
CZ 250 - really an MX bike
with lights |
CZ engine |
Early 70's modification
Actually, this was an improvement |
Tank signed by Roger de Coster
and Heikki Mikkola
The other side is signed by
Rick Sieman |
HVA Silverpilen - the dream of
every healthy 16 old Swedish
boy in the early 60's |
There was weight limit
that is why the bike is so light |
One way of making HVA Silverpilen
so light was the rubber front suspension.
Today, Swedes make Öhlins |
Pretty tank or what |