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The Way it Was/You've Come A Long Way, Baby
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Husqvarna 250cc Heikki Mikkola Replica & Husqvarna TC 250
Jeff Buchanan
12/01/2003
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Photography by Cordero Studios/corderostudios.com
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 The sixties were drawing to a close when promoter Edison Dye trespassed on
American Hare Scrambles with a form of off-road racing he imported from Europe.
Dye had convinced a number of European riders to cross the pond and compete in
an exhibition series to introduce the sport to America. The sport was called
Motocross and dirt biking would never again be the same Stateside. (Click image to enlarge)
 The riders
Dye employed to spread the gospel of dirt were iron-men that came from far away
places like Finland, Belgium, Sweden and Germany. They had unusual names like
Torlief Hansen, Bengt Aberg, Torsten Hallman and Heikki Mikkola. The foreigners
proceeded to wow audiences with their fluid, seemingly effortless speed,
thrilling aerial antics and unheard of stamina as they blitzed across a
succession of U.S. tracks. American riders and spectators, accustomed to the
thumping, ungraceful, overweight street bikes that had been stripped down to
compete in Hare Scrambles, were equally intrigued by the sleek and lithe weapon
of choice among the all-conquering foreigners: the Swedish-built
Husqvarna. (Click image to enlarge)
 The Husqvarna’s single cylinder two-stroke engine emitted a
signature snapping, throaty exhaust note that was usually accompanied by a rain
of dirt clods tossed up from the spinning knobby rear tire as the bike blasted
past and then disappeared over the next obstacle on the course. The multiple
World Championship-winning machines confirmed their iconic stature several years
later when Bruce Brown’s feature documentary “On Any Sunday” opened in theaters
nationwide. An entire motorcycling generation was seduced by images of Steve
McQueen and Malcolm Smith launching themselves and their “Huskies” off pristine
Southern California sand dunes. The motorcycle craze had officially hit and
Husqvarna took its place atop the throne. (Click image to enlarge)
In the ensuing years, the big four
Japanese—already conquering the pavement—stepped into the Motocross arena,
signaling the beginning of the end for many European manufacturers of racing
machines. Long after legendary brands like CZ, Maico, Bultaco, Montesa and Ossa
had been ushered into the annals of off-road history by the onslaught of the
mighty Japanese, Husqvarna has remained to do battle.
1972 Husqvarna CR 250cc Heikki Mikkola Replica.
Air-cooled 2-stroke engine; drum brakes; 228 pounds; 6.6 inches of front fork travel; 4 inches of rear wheel travel.
2005 Husqvarna TC 250.
Liquid-cooled 4-stroke engine; disc brakes front and rear; 220 pounds; 11.8 inches of front fork travel; 12.6 inches of rear wheel travel.
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