Helmut Clasen (born September 3, 1935, in

Cologne, Germany Cologne ( ; ; ) is the largest city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the fourth-most populous city of Germany with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city proper and over 3.1 million people in the Cologne Bonn urba ...

) is an active

motorcycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike; uni (if one-wheeled); trike (if three-wheeled); quad (if four-wheeled)) is a lightweight private 1-to-2 passenger personal motor vehicle Steering, steered by a Motorcycle handlebar, handlebar from a saddle-style ...

enduro Enduro is a form of motorcycle sport run on extended cross-country, off-road courses. Enduro consists of many different obstacles and challenges. The main type of enduro event, and the format to which the World Enduro Championship is run, is ...

competitor since 1957, called "Speedy" by family and friends alike.

Career highlights

Clasen finished his first International Six Day Trials in 1962 which was held in

Garmisch Garmisch-Partenkirchen (; ) is an Alpine ski town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the seat of government of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen (abbreviated ''GAP''), in the Oberbayern region, which borders Austria. Nearby is Ger ...

Partenkirchen Garmisch-Partenkirchen (; ) is an Alpine ski town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the seat of government of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen (abbreviated ''GAP''), in the Oberbayern region, which borders Austria. Nearby is Ger ...

, Germany. Clasen, a privateer, campaigned a

DKW DKW (''Dampfkraftwagen'', – the same initials later also used for ''Des Knaben Wunsch'', ; ''Das Kleine Wunder'', and ''Deutsche Kinderwagen'', ) was a German car- and motorcycle-marque. DKW was one of the four companies that formed Auto U ...

RT175, and finished only 25 seconds behind Czechoslovakian ace Zdenek Polanka. This finish brought Clasen much recognition as an up-and-coming rider, and earned him a position as a Hercules factory rider. After several successful racing seasons in Germany, Clasen emigrated to Canada in 1967. In Canada, he remained active in the sport of Enduro, also racing in

motocross Motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. The sport evolved from motorcycle trials competitions held in the United Kingdom. History Motocross first evolved in Britain from motorcycle trials competi ...

and hare scrambles, while becoming a successful motorcycle Importer and dealer. During the 1971 ISDT, Clasen won the first ever Gold Medal for Canada. This feat earned him an invitation from the Canadian Prime Minister, by whom he was recognized for his Gold Medal effort. Clasen has participated in 7 ISDT's (1962, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1989, and 1994), and has won the Canadian Off Road National Championship 14 times. Clasen won his final Canadian National Championship in 2000, at the age of 65. Today, at over 80 years of age, Clasen is actively involved with "Vintage" motorcycle off-road racing. Clasen participates in racing events in Europe, Canada and the United States. January 1972 Ambassador of Canadian Motorcycle Sport. On October 27, 2007, Clasen was inducted into the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Clasens' induction is significant as he is the first German Canadian "offroad" racer to be so recognized.

References

* Canadian Motorcycle Association/ ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil Club),/ Canadian Hall of Fame/Active off-road racers/ {{DEFAULTSORT:Clasen, Helmut 1935 births Living people Sportspeople from Cologne Canadian motorcycle racers Enduro riders