Old Number One
Old Number One
The Husqvarna that launched motocross
ONCE UPON A TIME, NOT TOO LONG AGO, THERE was no such thing as motocross. At least not on this continent, where off-road riders were content just scrambling around. Then, in 1966, a man named Edison Dye brought a Husqvarna 250 to the U.S., along with a rider, Torsten Hallman, who just happened to be the reigning World Motocross Champion. The duo's goal was to promote this new sport, and in turn the Swedish marque.
That Husky, frame #670001, is affection ately called "Old Number One" by those in the know. Vintage Husky aficiona do John LeFevre got his hands on the bike in 1988, and spent three years restoring it to its present glory. As simplistic and straightforward as this motor cycle looks today, it was state of-the-art back then. The air-cooled, two-stroke Single housed a four-speed gearbox, and was fed by a 32mm Bing side-float carburetor. The 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels sported purposeful Trelleborg knobby tires, and suspension travel measured a then-astonishing 6 inches up front and 3 inches in the rear. Extraordinary Swedish chromoly tubing made up the frame, which included a bolt-on rear subframe that was way ahead of its time. And the fuel tank, adorned with Husky's trademark chromed flanks, housed 2.2 gallons of premix-just enough for a 45-minute moto. There weren't many modifications required to transform the production machine into a pukka racebike-just take the chrome lower covers off the shocks and go!
During a nine-month period in late 1966 and early `67, Haliman toured the U.S., converting the prevailing rough scrambles courses into more technical motocross circuits, and giving the Yankees riding lessons in the process. By the time he returned home to Sweden, Hailman had won all 60 races in which he'd competed-and left a legacy that continues today. -Jimmy Lewis
