Post by gregobrien on Mar 16, 2011 21:06:58 GMT -5
This is a WORKING document to provide historical context for what we enjoy doing most. Significant enduro and non-enduro events are provided for historical reference. Please feel free to contribute additional dates or corrections.
A Brief History of NJ Enduro:
1913 - First International Six Day Enduro - Carlisle, England
1923 - United State's first Enduro - Jack Pine Enduro, Michigan
1923-29 Offroad motorcycle trail riding begins to gain popularity in NJ as riders convert street and military motorcycles for offroad use on sand roads and trails.
1928 - Emilio Carranza's plane crashes during a good-will flight to NYC from Mexico. Site of the Carranza Memorial
1934 - NJ's first official Annual Enduro competition - Sandy Lane, Meteor MC Club. This first NJ enduro was named after the 225(!) miles of deep 'sand lanes' the riders would need to navigate at night(!) on their modified 500# Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycles to complete the endurance run.
1945 - WW II ends. Enduro riders return bringing smaller/lighter European bikes with them. As the bikes get smaller and more competition oriented, the trails get tighter and more challenging.
1946 - First enduro won by a foreign motorcyle - a BSA
1955 - Wharton Tract purchased by State of NJ.
1961 - Batona Hiking Club establishes the Batona Hiking Trail
1963 - South Jersey Enduro Riders (SJER) formed to compete as a club in Sandy Lane and other events.
1964 - Tri-County Sportmen MC (TCSMC) formed as a competing club
1965 - First Annual Greenbriar Enduro held by TCSMC - named after the abundance of Greenbriar shrubs and thickets throughout the course area that, at times, proved impenetrable and painful to the riders.
1968 - Penton Motorcycles (related to current company KTM) begins producing the first Enduro-specific offroad motorcycles while at the same time Yamaha began producing DT1 dirt bikes. Enduro riders could now buy their bikes off the showroom floor.
1969 - SJER held its first Official Enduro - The Curly Fern Enduro (named after NJs botanically famous plant, the Curly Grass Fern - first discovered at Quakerbridge in 1805)
1970 - Honda produces the first ATC, aka Three Wheeler
1978 - Pinelands National Reserve created by Congress under National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978
1979 - The original Comprehensive Management Plan directly acknowledges and describes Enduros as a historic pastime of NJ residents. The official report mentions 621+ miles of existing narrow, single-track trail in ADDITION TO the prevalent sand roads and firecuts/plowlines.
1982 - Suzuki produces the first ATV, aka Four Wheeler… and OHV heads mainstream.
to be continued....
A Brief History of NJ Enduro:
1913 - First International Six Day Enduro - Carlisle, England
1923 - United State's first Enduro - Jack Pine Enduro, Michigan
1923-29 Offroad motorcycle trail riding begins to gain popularity in NJ as riders convert street and military motorcycles for offroad use on sand roads and trails.
1928 - Emilio Carranza's plane crashes during a good-will flight to NYC from Mexico. Site of the Carranza Memorial
1934 - NJ's first official Annual Enduro competition - Sandy Lane, Meteor MC Club. This first NJ enduro was named after the 225(!) miles of deep 'sand lanes' the riders would need to navigate at night(!) on their modified 500# Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycles to complete the endurance run.
1945 - WW II ends. Enduro riders return bringing smaller/lighter European bikes with them. As the bikes get smaller and more competition oriented, the trails get tighter and more challenging.
1946 - First enduro won by a foreign motorcyle - a BSA
1955 - Wharton Tract purchased by State of NJ.
1961 - Batona Hiking Club establishes the Batona Hiking Trail
1963 - South Jersey Enduro Riders (SJER) formed to compete as a club in Sandy Lane and other events.
1964 - Tri-County Sportmen MC (TCSMC) formed as a competing club
1965 - First Annual Greenbriar Enduro held by TCSMC - named after the abundance of Greenbriar shrubs and thickets throughout the course area that, at times, proved impenetrable and painful to the riders.
1968 - Penton Motorcycles (related to current company KTM) begins producing the first Enduro-specific offroad motorcycles while at the same time Yamaha began producing DT1 dirt bikes. Enduro riders could now buy their bikes off the showroom floor.
1969 - SJER held its first Official Enduro - The Curly Fern Enduro (named after NJs botanically famous plant, the Curly Grass Fern - first discovered at Quakerbridge in 1805)
1970 - Honda produces the first ATC, aka Three Wheeler
1978 - Pinelands National Reserve created by Congress under National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978
1979 - The original Comprehensive Management Plan directly acknowledges and describes Enduros as a historic pastime of NJ residents. The official report mentions 621+ miles of existing narrow, single-track trail in ADDITION TO the prevalent sand roads and firecuts/plowlines.
1982 - Suzuki produces the first ATV, aka Four Wheeler… and OHV heads mainstream.
to be continued....