MOTO X VOLUME 2 NUMBER 5

THE RECEIVING
END
Harry Everts : The Man.
Before Harry Everts v/on his world champf.onahf.p title in 197~ he was relatively
unknovm outside Belgium. When his trip to South Africa was announced,amongst
the lesser-informed or newer groups to become interested in Motocross it wa3 a
case of "Harry Everts, who's he?" Even in the United States, (seemingly the
most informed of the mota-cross countries outside of Europe), there raged a
conflict to whether he was Everts or Everst, all due to tailors mistake on
Harry's leathers. Could such a conflict happen to Gaston Rahier or Roger De
Coster? It's unlikely. They are too well known.
Even after his wins at Syringa and Killarny little was known about him. Here
are some facts:-
Harry is 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. He has a wife, Francine,
and both come from the Flemish section of Belgium, as do Roger De Coster,
Sylvain Geboers, Jaak van Velthoven and Gilbert De Roover. Harry also has a
son who is now six and had learnt to ride a mini-bike from the age of three.
Motorcycle racing seems to be very much a part of the family. Harry's uncle,
Gef. Teuwissen was in the 60's European 500 cc Champion.
Harry was all ready an up and coming rider when in 1972 at the age of 18 he
travelled to America to ride a 125 cc for Puch. Although he did extremely well
(seven wins out of eight entries) it was not enjoyable as Harry could not speak
English; he had difficulty in ordering food and other necessities.
At the age of twenty-one, in 1975, Harry won his first World Championship,
again aboand a Puch, (pronounced Pook).
Puch had taken their racing not very seriously, and it was as Harry recalls,
"a hobby for Herr Puch ", As the team ran on a low budget Harry was told to
nurse the bike and thus they had a relatively trouble-free season.
Harry's Puch was a remarkable bike; a twin, carburetor wonder then put out an
incredible 53 horsepower.
Dear Editor
As this is the second time 1m writing to
you, I just like to say thanks for the
great mag. At last I have something to
look forward to each month. I think it's
time S.A.B.C. spent a little time and
attention to Motocross and find place
for Motocross on their programmes.
Lastly my Edition of Volume 1 No. 2
has disappeared, if you could let me
know where I'll get another one I'll
gladly pay for it and it will be very much
appreciated.
Keep up the good work, and oh yes! I've
converted about 20 of my friends to
your mag and, Motocross!
John Pirzenthal Meredale
Johannesburg
What a great letter John. We have sent
you a copy of Vol. 1 No. 2 with our
compliments.
Ed.
Harry looked forward to a repeat victory in '76 but it was not to be. The
Puch became unreliable in the '76 season and the best Harry could manage was a
fifth spot.
At the beginning of 1977 Harry switched to Bultaco when Jim Pomeroy left for
Honda.
Although Harry put in some stirring rides,his Bultaco was not up to the highly
works KTM's and Montessa's. He will be lucky if he can repeat his 1976 position
of 5th.
Harry however is only 24 this year and therefore he still has time to repeat
his '75 World Place.
In between the 1977 and 1978 seasons Harry visited South Africa. He found South
African tracks too flat and small. But despite that and the fact that he rode ~
stock Bultaco Harry trounced the opposition.
Harry at the moment is second to Roger De Coster in the Belgium National title
and ahead of Gaston Rahier so 1978 could well be an incredible year for him.
Dear Sirs
I am a very great Moto-X fan and go to
every meeting at Briekor as it is the
nearest track to my house. I get your
Mag every month and think it is great. I
would like to know if you could send me
as many posters as possible (mainly of
Tyrone Stevenson) as I have read and
heard that you give away posters. I have
looked high and low but can't find any
more posters. I have only two posters of
Tyrone Stevenson and I am looking for
many more as I have got big walls to fill.
Keep up the good work.
Yours sincerely
Paul Scott
Benoni Transvaal
Moto X SA Vol.2 NO.6 Page 2