Like father, like son...
By TMX Archives on 18th Dec 08
IN T+MX The Annual' we took you through the fascinating tale of Harry Everts on his way to four world titles and the first with son, Stefan. Chatting to the 56-year-old is so fascinating, we simply couldn't stop there, so read on to see what Harry had to say about the last two decades, during which time he has become a vital link in moulding the careers of so many talented young racers.
AFTER winning his first world title, Stefan moved up to the 250cc class, but it took him four years to win the title, and it was on Kawasaki, not Suzuki, that he did it.
"I think Stefan was good, but the Suzuki was not good for Stefan. They can say what they want, Stefan was not 100 per cent, and the bike did not suit him. It was an animal, too strong, but to say that to the top people in Suzuki was very difficult.
"I worked at Suzuki and had to hear the problems on Monday morning, it was always Stefan's fault. Like at Foxhill when Stefan hit the gate. I thought to myself: 'What is he doing?' but Stefan came in after the race and said, 'Papa, the bike moved by itself.'”
Nobody believed him. However, I asked Harry Nolte to check it, he took the bike out, revved it and it took off. They had a problem in the gearbox, but nobody would believe it until then. And there was more. That was when I arranged that Stefan should switch to Kawasaki.
"Albertyn was also no good on the Suzuki in the starts at the early races of 1994. I used to go and look at the bike every week on Friday at the GPs and they had changed nothing. Then, suddenly, I saw new hand-made pipes, and I knew Albertyn would be getting out of the gate again. Albertyn had always holeshot with Jan De Groot, he had even made bets with the De Groot team that he would do it. Then suddenly he had no holeshots anymore at Suzuki but they woke up, and they made the bike better overnight. Suzuki could do it, but they didn't want to believe Stefan, that was the problem.”
Having guided his son to a winning ride again, Harry then found himself in the wilderness for several years.
"There were some difficult days with Stefan then, the Honda times with Dave Grant. I was outside the team, not with Stefan. We always had contact, but not at the race. Sometimes I went in the tent, but I was not welcome there. That was difficult. In Spain, Sylvain Geboers even needed to give me a ticket to get in the paddock.
"I remember at the 'Nations in Jerez (1996), Grant came to me and said something like: ‘I have him for three years.'”
Those were his words. It was a bad time, but it is past. Stefan doesn't talk about it anymore, but I think Stefan learnt from that time.
"I was always there for him, and I told Stefan then he would come back. We stayed in touch, but it was not like I wanted it to be.”
Harry had also been given the feeling that he was unwanted in 1996, the first Honda year with RWJ, though not with Colin Reed himself, it should be stressed.
"There were problems with the mechanic. I tried to tell them what the bike problems were, but they would not listen. I went and told the Japanese. The bike was not moving (had no torque). It was a problem related to the carburettor but this guy did not understand the carburettor. At Foxhill Stefan had a new bike – the Japanese had made it.”
FOR FULL STORY AND PICTURES SEE T+MX NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2008
Max Nagl (12) was told to cut down on his training so he would become stronger - he understands that now.