Not only the TT is celebrating a special anniversary this year, Jan Abbing from Zwiggelte has also reached a beautiful milestone. The 85-year-old racing enthusiast was today for the 75th time at the motorcycle races at the TT Circuit in Assen.
It is a busy day for Yvonne Lunsing today. She puts jubilees in the spotlight around the track. “I bring tiles to jubilees who have been coming here for 50, 55 or 60 years.” Or like Jan Abbing: 75 years. “And I still have someone in the same stands who are up for the 75th time. I don’t have 80 yet.”
This year, the TT is celebrating its centenary and attracts many dog -losing fans to the track, as witnessed by Lunsing’s busy day. “People love it totally. I get people crying in the stands.”
There are no tears at Jan Abbing who sits in the stands together with brother Jans (76). The men are especially happy with the tile. “It is a appreciation that you have been for so many years. We are going to go all the years with great pleasure.”
As a kid in Laaghalerveen he saw the engines tear past for the first time. From a ditch he looked at the racing violence. “Oh, how fast that is going,” I thought then. But compared to now, they were just like solexes. ” 75 years later the pleasure is still the same as that very first time. “I am not a motorcycle racer myself, but I really love motorsport.”
Brother Jans, who was also honored today, is just as enthusiastic. In addition to the competition, the peripheral issues are at least as important, Jans explains. “We have been at the top for years, but the age makes it a bit more difficult. That’s why we went down this year. Then we don’t have to go on and off all those stairs to buy a beer every time.”