Grass track racing is not without risk. For example, last month a German driver was killed in Eenrum and another was seriously injured. Hamminga is not afraid of similar incidents. “We have a short track of only two hundred meters. So the speed is not an issue for us.”
The motorcycle violence in Anloo is slightly different than before. Until the 1990s, a major motocross was held annually through the Kniphorstbosch. According to Hamminga, such a race is no longer possible. “You’re not allowed to do much in the forest these days,” he says. “Now we just drive on my private property. We have also received a nitrogen permit for that.”
Motor racing and Anloo are strongly connected, according to Bareld Schuiling – who is also involved in the construction of the grass track. “For example, you used to have a motorcycle shop owned by Jan Oosting. That was a popular shop,” he says. “Oosting had a large store, where many boys came together.”
According to him, there was always a lot of activity at the races in the village. “There were a lot of people out and about. At that time you also had crossbreeds in Norg and Annen. Fortunately, that also happens in Annen, but it is difficult to arrange such things nowadays.”
Nevertheless, Hamminga and Schuiling are looking forward to it. “It will be really nice,” concludes Schuiling. The matches in Anloo start at 12 noon at Bosweg 2a.
See below what the 1971 motocross in Anloo looked like: