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Kreidler Van Veen 50 1969
The military airport at Elvington, England, is an officially
recognized ground for world land speed records. On October 5, 1968, Van Veen,
the Dutch importer of Kreidler vehicles, took a team to Elvington in search of
glory. The Dutchman had prepared a special 50-cc. racer that he had adapted from
a Kreidler sports model. The new motorcycle was driven by Aalt Toersen.
Van Veen's enterprise was the first attempt since Kreidler withdrew from racing
to return the 50-cc. motorcycle to the world of sport. (It was in 1961 that a
Kreidler Florett had won the world championship.)
Toersen set three world records on the course at Elvington
with the Kreidler. As a reward Van Veen entered Toersen and his Kreidler in the
1969 world championship.
The results of the first three races of the season were
sensational as Toersen rode the Kreidler to three victories. Toersen, the
private entrant, outraced the Spanish racer Angel Nieto with his official Derbi.
But subsequently Nieto was able to improve the performance of the Spanish
motorcycle, and Toersen ended up losing the championship by a single point. From
that moment on, the Van Veen plant became a veritable Kreidler racing team. The
Kreidler company had overcome its fear of the Japanese and went back into
racing.
Motorcycle: Kreidler-Van Veen 50 Manufacturer: Kreidler Werke
GmbH,
Kornwestheim Type: Racing Year: 1969
Engine: Kreidler-Van Veen single-cylinder, horizontal, two-stroke, with
ro-tating-disk distribution. Displacement 49.6 cc. (40 mm. x 39.5 mm.)
Cooling: Air
Transmission: Five-speed block Power: 15.5 h.p. at 14,500 r.p.m. Maximum speed:
About 105 m.p.h. Chassis: Raised double cradle, tubular
elements with engine suspended.
Front and rear, telescopic suspension Brakes: Front wheel, central drum with
four shoes; rear, central drum
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