Thor

The history of Thor parallels the history of Motocross

Last 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 introducing motocross to the United States. 

Torsten Hallman founded the Thor (Torsten Hallman Original Racewear) 
motocross apparel brand in 1968.

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. 

Wasserliesch, Germany based Parts Europe distributes the Thor Motocross line throughout Europe from its state-of-the-art 16,500 sq m warehouse.

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 racing career. “The results really lit a fire for motorcycle racing, and it became the one thing on earth to live for,” Hallman said in his 1970 book, Mr. Moto-cross.
Hallman’s big break came in 1957 when he won a major junior team race riding a Husqvarna. It was then that Bror Jauren, manager of Husqvarna’s racing team, gave Hallman the chance to become a factory-supported rider.
By the 1960s, Hallman was competing in the world championships. He would go on to win the 250 cc motocross world title four times. His first, in 1962, was thanks to a new engine and gearbox that Husqvarna had said would be the last throw of the dice. Without Hallman’s 1962 Championship win, a series that BSA had been dominating, ‘Husky’ may have gone out of motorcycle production at that stage. 

Torsten Hallman was among the Husqvarna riders from Europe who pioneered
motocross in the United States.

His battles with Belgium’s Joel Robert were considered some of the best in the history of the championships. Hallman might have won even more titles, but he was dividing his time as a full-time racer with also being a full-time university student.
Hallman made his first trip to America in 1966 at the request of Edison Dye, who had taken the first Husqvarna motorcycles to America, and went on to be the brand’s importer – along the way “converting” the equally legendary Malcom Smith away from Greaves, his first race machines, to becoming an all-conquering Husqvarna racer.
In addition to bikes, Dye also imported the stars of European motocross. Dye came up with the idea to bring the top riders to America to race after the European Grand Prix season was over. In 1966, he flew Hallman over for a series of U.S. races. Hallman won every motocross race he entered. The following year, Dye brought over Hallman again, along with other top riders such as Joel Robert, Roger DeCoster, Dave Bickers, Arne King, Ake Johnson and, a little later, Lars Larsson.

Hallman’s method of introducing himself and motocross racing into America was to enter scrambles and other off-road events throughout the fall, which he dominated like no other rider had done before. One race in particular gave Hallman a great deal of notoriety – the Hopetown GP held near Simi Valley, California, which was then the foremost motocross-style scrambles race in America.
“The Hopetown race was where I sort of became famous in America,” Hallman recalled. “The newspapers wrote quite a lot about me and my Husky after my success. No one had ever dreamed that it was possible to ride so fast on a motorcycle in motocross.”
With his reputation established in America, he and Malcolm Smith briefly opened a motocross school in Riverside, California.
For the next several years, Dye continued to bring the best European stars to America to race, which led to Dye forming the influential Inter-Am motocross series, with Hallman as its first star, and setting motocross racing (and eventually supercross) on course to be the most popular form of motorcycle racing in America and triggering its boom years of the 1970s.
During the late 1960s, Dye and Hallman also founded a motocross accessory business to provide motocross riders with imported racing gear that provided better protection than what was generally available in the United States at that time. Initially the supplier was a company in Sweden that produced hockey gear. It turned out that much of the protection worn by hockey players was perfectly suited for the needs of motocross racers as well.

Besides being a world champion racer, Hallman also proved to be a world-class businessman. He became a Husqvarna dealer in Sweden and then began to sell motocross pants and gloves at the races to help supplement his income. This eventually led to the formation of Thor. From the company’s beginnings out of the trunk of Hallman’s car, Thor grew to become one of the leading off-road racing apparel companies in the world.
Hallman later sold his interest in the company but remained Sweden’s Thor importer for many years. The buyer was Fred Fox, of Parts Unlimited, and now Parts Europe fame. Fox, an engineer by training, numbered motorcycle importing among his early career highlights and is another who did much to promote the growth and success of motocross (and many other motorcycle race series) in the United States through the support Parts Unlimited has given to “supporting the sport” through series and rider sponsorships.
A back injury slowed Hallman by the end of the 1960s. His results suffered and Husqvarna dropped him from the factory squad. The fledgling Yamaha motocross effort quickly picked up, and Hallman and the factory made the most of the world champion’s knowledge. With Hallman’s input, Yamaha developed its championship-winning YZ series of motocross bikes, the first production motocross machines to utilise mono-shock rear suspension.
Fast forward to 2019, and Wasserliesch, Germany based Parts Europe will itself be celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, and from its state-of-the-art 16,500 sq m European warehouse and headquarters facility now distributes the Thor Motocross line throughout Europe and maintains the founder’s, indeed both founders’ – Hallman and Fox – dedication to investing in motocross racing.
www.partseurope.eu
www.thormx.com



Thor MX 2019  - “a year of revolution and innovation”

Inspired by athletes that “continue to push the boundaries of motocross performance”, the Thor 2019 Spring collection “breaks new ground in both design and function. From our diverse racewear collection to the all-new ‘Radial’ boot, each product has been carefully crafted to make riders’ next gate drop the best one yet.

‘Prime Pro’ is a brand new, very light and comfortable performance product, introduced as part of the 2019 collection and replacing the 2018 Fuse and Prime Fit. The suit features minimal seams for maximum comfort, moisture-wicking material, ventilated arms and back, silicon print, an expansion stretch panel at the waist and premium full grain leather inserts at the knee.

The ‘Pulse’ suit is suitable for all riders, the pants have been upgraded for 2019, they feature 3-point adjustment at the waist, a flexible panel, a pre-curved Rapid Flex knee, vented mesh and full grain leather. The jacket has soft and stretch collar and cuffs and is made from a moisture- wicking fabric.

New to the ‘Sector’ range of helmets for 2019, the ‘Sector Bomber’ provides protection for the younger rider. It includes MIPS to absorb and redirect rotational energy, the shell is made of injection moulded polycarbonate/ABS, it includes a dual density EPS liner, flexible rubber nose piece and removable/washable liner and cheekpads. The visor is fully adjustable and the high flow mouth vent with filter provides a good air intake.

“After years of rigorous development and professional athlete testing”, Thor is introducing what it describes as the “class-leading” ‘Radial’ motocross boot. The company says that the “concept was simple - to create a quality boot, featuring premium materials and performance, at a price point that any serious rider could afford”.

Thor says that it is “proud to introduce the class-leading ‘Radial’ motocross boot. The concept was simple, to create a quality boot featuring premium materials and performance, at a price point that any serious rider could afford”.

Thor offers gear, protection and helmets for young and experienced riders alike. The new youth sector ‘Bomber’ helmet “combines quality, comfort and the best safety equipment you can get with MIPS technology (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) to absorb and redirect rotational energies. The ECE 22.05 approved shell is made of injection moulded polycarbonate/ABS, the visor is fully adjustable and the high flow mouth vent with filter gives a good air intake. 
 For the adult riders, Thor is offering new, fresh designs with the ECE 22.05 approved ‘Sector Warp’. The ‘Prime Pro’ is a brand new performance offering, and there are new designs for the popular ‘Pulse’ and ‘Pulse Air’ apparel programmes - “Thor made a huge step forward in terms of design - the new Spring collection convinces again with unique designs and thrilling colours”.

‘Terrain’ gloves feature TPR knuckle and layered backhand panels, mesh and Airprene construction, hook and loop wrist closure system, stretch mesh flex joints on the fingers, notched wrist opening and are touch screen compatible.