1965 Joel Robert The Fantastic Belgian - 3-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article

Description

1965 Joel Robert The Fantastic Belgian - 3-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article
Original, Vintage Magazine article
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm) each page
Condition: Good
BRUSSELS, Belgium — Though since the end of World War II
Belgium has always been at the forefront of moto-cross racing,
prior to 1964 the only Belgian rider ever to take the world title
was Rene Baeten who became champion in 1958 on a Belgian-
made FN but was killed in a racing accident the following year.
When he won the title, he was the second rider in the world ever
to do so in the championship series which began in 1957. This
series replaced the European Championship series which had be-
gun shortly after the war. Two other Belgians were victorious in
this earlier series; Victor Leloup in 1952, and Auguste Mingels in
’53 and ’54. Both rode FN’s.
Prior to 1957, these moto-cross championships were restricted
to 500cc machines, but lightweight classes were later established
to accommodate 250cc cycles. The first winner on a lightweight
was F. Betzelbacher on a German Maico. Thereafter the title went
to Czechoslovakian rider Jaromir Cizek on a Jawa (1958), to
Swedish Rolf Tibblin on a Husqvarna (1959), and to Britain’s
Dave Bickers who took it both in '60 and ’61 on a Grecves. In
turn, this became a World Championship in 1962 when it was
won by another Swedish Husqvarna rider, Torsten Hallman who
took it both in ’62 and ’63. Belgian riders had hardly a faint
chance to mix with these powerful leaders.
SON OF A RACER
This was to be left to a young boy who just turned 20 at the
start of the '64 season. His career shows that we would probably
all be much better riders or drivers if we were allowed to get
behind the wheel or handlebars early in our lives. Joel Robert’s
father owns a motorcycle sales and repair shop and was himself
an enthusiastic grass track racer from 1945 to ’55. Joel was born
in November, 1943 and actually learned to stand on his legs by
holding on to frames, engines, sprockets and cylinder heads! It
wasn’t long before the youth watched his father race and dreamed
of the day when he could do the same.
Parents are usually flattered by such loyalty so it did not take
much persuasion for Robert to get instruction and, eventually, a
small motorcycle from his father.
At that lime Robert’s father’s garage was located in Nalinnes,
a small suburb of the industrial town of Charleroi, in a building
that had been used as a laundry, and at the back of which there
was a large field scattered with trees. The terrain was uncultivated
and rather rough, lending itself beautifully to conversibn into a
small moto-cross track with numerous bends around trees, sharp
rises, and steep descents.
At the age of ten, Joel was competently riding his small bike
on the family track. At 14 he was already tackling the most dif-
ficult expert techniques. He soon became a real acrobat on two
wheels. Meanwhile, his father had given up racing and was now
spending most of his spare lime coaching Joel, so that when he
received his competition license (al age 16) he would be right
among the leaders.
As a condition to obtaining his competition license. Joel was
required by his father to finish school. Joel knew that his father
meant business, and finished in excellent standing.
* It was decided to begin racing in the 250cc class, on a Greeves.
Perhaps Joel’s slim build was an important factor in the choice,
although the young man soon demonstrated that he possessed
ample strength and stamina for any size bike.
Here it should be explained that in Belgium the riders are
divided into three classes, rather inappropriately named “Junior",
“Senior”, and “International”. These class names have no con-
nection with either the ages of riders or the capacities of the bikes.
They correspond to what one would normally call “Amateur”,
“Expert”, and “International”, the latter being the class for riders
who are allowed to race abroad.
As a beginner Joel Robert naturally took out a “Junior”
license, and in his first year of competition he took fourth place...
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