1976 Norton Wasp MX Sidecar
1976 Norton Wasp MX Sidecar
Three-wheeled winners
There’s no logical explanation why so many world-class sidecar riders have been Swiss, such as racing champions Hans Haldemann, Florian Camathias, Fritz Scheidegger and Rolf Biland. And when a European motocross championship was inaugurated in the 1970s, Robert Grogg and his passenger Andreas Graber proved unbeatable.
Four Times a Winner
Over the six-year period from 1974 to 1979, Grogg won the championship four times – 1974, 1976, 1977 and 1978 – and finished second the other two years. After a heart attack during the Belgian event in 1976, his passenger Graber retired and was replaced by Andreas Husser.
British Blend
Grogg’s machine had a Norton twin-cylinder engine and a gearbox of the same make, while the tubular chassis of the combination, with its generous suspension travel leading-link at the front, swing arm at the back – was a Wasp, built by Robin Rhind-Tutt in his little works near Salisbury, in the south of England. Despite the growing popularity of Yamaha-powered outfits, Grogg remained true to the Norton engine until 1981, when he finally gave in and adopted a Yamaha parallel-twin. Norton production had ended in 1977 and without any form of backing from the British marque, Grogg had to rely on his own resources.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 829cc (77×89mm) air-cooled 360- degree parallel-twin four-stroke
Power Rating: 70 hp @ 7000 rpm
Valves: overhead
Fuel System: two carburetors
Transmission: 5-speed, chain final drive
Suspension: leading-link (front); swing arm (rear); trailing arm (sidecar)
Brakes: drum
Wheels: 19 inch (motorcycle); 16 inch (sidecar)
Weight: 386 lb
The Swiss Rohert Grogg dominated the sidecar motocross scene for six years, and won the European title four times. He is seen here in action on his Norton-Wasp outfit in 1976.
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