Ron Griewe 1939-2005

RON GRIEWE 1939-2005

RON GRIEWE, CYCLE

World Off-Road Editor from 1977 to 1993, motorcycle nut and one of the forces inspiring the modern, lightweight, four-stroke dirtbike, died this past March, aged 65.

He was an

exceptional man, but more to this point,

Ron was the perfect test for one of my favorite rules when I sat in the editor’s chair at CW: Hire newspaper graduates. Mr. Editor Edwards, Peter Egan and a couple more prove this was a valid policy.

But in 1977, the “Ogre” (as he affectionately came to be known for his gruff ways) was working for the city of Riverside. He’d never had an hour of journalism experience, he’d picked the Army instead of college and he came by the office only because he had friends here and we’d lend him testbikes.

But we needed someone to test off-road bikes, and by

lucky chance he was asked to tum in some notes.

They were great. First, he had a natural turn of phrase, a talent for putting his reactions on paper. Better yet, he was as honest a man as I’ve known, and he was blunt about it. No spade ever doubted its identity when Ron got through.

Further, he was never satisfied with a stock bike, so his off-duty time was spent building a series of lighter and more powerful off-road racers,

big four-strokes mainly.

So, when he decided he’d rather invent than report, and left the magazine to help develop production bikes, he’d exposed his ideas to everyone in our sport.

It’s normal at this stage of a tribute to say we’ll miss him, which in a personal way we will. But in Ron Griewe’s case, it seems to me that in my Honda CRF450R-or your Suzuki or KTM or Yamaha Thumper-he’s still here.

Allan Girdler