1960s Motocross: Hamilton-to-Hereford, Hants, De Coster & Co (1969)

Something different for our 60th YouTube film...

While Alan McLaren's other movies have been of motor-racing in New Zealand, this surprise film is of Motocross in the UK during its heyday in the late 1960s and includes footage of some of the sport's most famous names.

But it begins on a cold winter's day in the Herefordshire countryside, where Alan's youngest son Ross - who had spent his career on the fast, grass-covered NZ circuits - is learning the techniques needed for the rough and often muddy UK tracks (and a 360cc rather than 250cc CZ) under the eye of Randy Owen.

After moving up the ranks in New Zealand from 1964-'68, Ross had been selected alongside Alan Collison and Alan Franklin to form the NZ team for the 1968 International Motocross series (organised by Tim Gibbes) held in Australia and New Zealand.

It was while competing in the Australian rounds that Ross became friends with Randy Owen, part of the International team, who was accompanied by his brother Tony as a mechanic.

Randy and Tony thought Ross "might do alright" in England. Ross thought he'd give it a go and so travelled to the UK, where he was based at the Owen family home in Herefordshire, in March of 1969.

The various footage in this film is thought to have been by taken by Tony Owen and then sent to Alan in NZ, who edited the clips together and added commentary to show riders in the local Hamilton MCC what Motocross looked like on the other side of the world.

Whilst in Hereford, Ross also helps Randy and brother Rowly start construction on a workshop that would eventually become Owen Bros Commercial Vehicles, a name familiar to anyone who followed Speedway Grand Prix several decades later…

The film then moves on to Ross' first local meeting in England - followed by support race appearances at International/Grand Prix events featuring Motocross legends such as Roger De Coster, Jeff Smith, Arthur Browning, Sylvain Geboers and Dave Bickers.

Alan however was not impressed by what he saw of the Matchams track: "This is what happens to the circuits in England, they get absolutely worn out. There's not a bit of grass left. What a shame!"

But the number of fans at the following 1969 British 250cc Motocross GP, held at Dodington Park, did catch his eye: "They sure get the crowds in."

(Note: Alan didn't receive much information about the events when he made the original commentary. However, Ross still has the original race programmes, which we've superimposed into the film and used to identify some of the riders).

Ross returned to NZ in August of 1970 (the family having been shaken by the death of his cousin Bruce McLaren) where he competed until 1974, when he and wife Pat (sister of Randy, Rowly and Tony) returned to England once again.

After more Motocross in the UK, Ross switched to Trials and finally called time on his motorcycling career in 1978. He worked alongside Randy and Rowly at Owen Brothers Commercials until retirement.

After Alan's original film ends, there is an update on what became of the Owen family track and workshop, plus page-by-page footage of the original race programmes for the 1969 Hants International and 1969 British 250cc Motocross GP.

Featured in this film:
Ross McLaren, (360cc CZ twin-port)
Randy Owen
Rowly Owen
Reg Owen

1969 Hants International (see programme for full line-up):
Joel Robert, BEL (380cc CZ)
Roger De Coster, BEL (400cc CZ)
Jeff Smith, GBR (500cc BSA)
Arthur Browning, GBR (380cc Greeves)
Sylvain Geboers, BEL (380cc CZ)
Dave Bickers, GBR (360cc CZ)
Hakan Andersson, SWE (400cc Husqvarna)
Adolf Weil, W.GER (380cc Maico)
Keith Hickman, GBR (500cc BSA)
Alan Clough, GBR (400cc Husqvarna)
Bryan Wade, GBR (380cc Greeves)
Ron Nelson, USA (400cc Montesa)

1969 British 250cc Motocross GP (see programme for full line-up):
Joel Robert, BEL (250cc CZ)
Sylvain Geboers, BEL (250cc CZ)
Heikki Mikkola, FIN (248cc Husqvarna)
David Crockard, GBR, (250cc Husqvarna)
Andy Roberton, GBR (247cc AJS)
Dave Bickers, GBR (250cc CZ)
Arthur Browning, GBR (246cc Greeves)

The song Yeah Yeah by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Film by Alan McLaren.

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