International Dealer News IDN 147 February/March 2019 | Page 57

INDUSTRY EXTRA
THE HISTORY OF
THOR PARALLELS
THE HISTORY OF
MOTOCROSS
Torsten Hallman founded the Thor
(Torsten Hallman Original Racewear)
motocross apparel brand in 1968.
ast year saw the Thor
Motocross brand celebrate
its 50th anniversary. One of
the oldest apparel brands
in the MX market, its
origins are rooted in the
career of an extraordinary
man, Swede Torsten Hallman, a man
who did much to establish the sport of
competitive motocross on both sides of
the Atlantic, but especially in the USA.
Inducted to the AMA Hall of Fame in 2000, along
with Husqvarna importer Edison Dye, Torsten
Hallman was one of the men responsible for
L
introducing motocross to the United States.
Hallman was already a four-time World Motocross
Champion (1962/3/6/7) when he went to the United
States in the late 1960s, as part of Edison Dye’s
efforts to popularise both the Husqvarna motorcycle
brand and the sport of motocross. Hallman’s
incredible skill on a motocross bike was a revelation
to American fans and racers. Within a few years after
Hallman’s first visit, motocross became the most
popular form of motorcycle racing in the United
States. Hallman was also a savvy businessman and
founded a riding apparel company, Thor (Torsten
Hallman Original Racewear), that heavily influenced
the look and function of motocross riding gear at the
time and ever since.
Hallman was born in 1939 in Uppsala, Sweden. His
father and older brother were both motorcycle racers
and the family had built a small practice track on the
farm where they lived. They often hosted many of the
top Swedish racers, who would come to the farm
when they were in the area to train on the practice
track. Hallman’s first bike was a 100cc DKW, which
he quickly wore out from riding so much. His father
then moved young Hallman up to a Royal Enfield
125.
By the time Hallman entered his first formal
competition, he was already a skilled rider. He won
that first race and knew that he wanted to pursue a
Wasserliesch, Germany based Parts Europe distributes the Thor Motocross
line throughout Europe from its state-of-the-art 16,500 sq m warehouse.
www.idnmag.com
INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019
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