Valery Pavlovich Chkalov was a passionate enthusiast of motorcycling, who did a lot for its development and popularization. The famous pilot repeatedly acted as the chief referee of various motorcycling competitions and participated in the races himself.
In February 1938, a trade union motocross was organized in the city of Gorky in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Red Army and Navy. Chkalov was invited to be the chief referee of the competition. That was determined not only by the ever-increasing authority of the pilot but also by his advocating the development of motorsport.
Recognized masters of motorcycle sports of the time preferred vehicles of foreign brands, which helped them excel in competitions from year to year. Chkalov, on the other side, was of a different opinion: he believed that it was time for the racers to switch to domestically-manufactured motorcycles.
As a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, he sent dozens of letters to factories that were directly related to the creation of new brands of motorcycles. Valery Chkalov was eager to have Soviet vehicles take part in the competition.
The test pilot was invited on numerous occasions to act as the chief referee of top-level motorcycling competitions, where he established himself as an objective, attentive and fair judge. Chkalov took a very responsible attitude to the preparation of competitions and was interested in the state of the track, the conditions for the accommodation of athletes and the storage of equipment, the mood of the participants, their provision, etc.
In the summer of 1938, at the national motorsport championship held in Kyiv, Valery Chkalov headed the panel of judges. As a Hero of the Soviet Union, he participated in all official ceremonies and reviewed the parade of motorcyclists. Sadly, that was the last time he attended such an event.
Two months after the death of the hero, in February 1939, a motor race for the prize named after Valery Pavlovich Chkalov took place. Initially, Chkalov motocrosses were of a paramilitary nature: they included throwing a grenade and crossing part of the distance in gas masks. The participants included both men and women.
In the first years of the war, no motorcycle races were held. But in 1944, the Central Automobile and Motorcycle Club of Moscow held another motocross for the Chkalov Prize — the tradition of Moscow motorcyclists was preserved and restored.
Since 1946, the motocross for the Valery Pavlovich Chkalov Prize has become a purely sporting event, without exercises of an applied military nature. Another innovation was soon introduced: sidecar motorcycles were allowed to run.
In February 1938, a trade union motocross was organized in the city of Gorky in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Red Army and Navy. Chkalov was invited to be the chief referee of the competition. That was determined not only by the ever-increasing authority of the pilot but also by his advocating the development of motorsport.
Recognized masters of motorcycle sports of the time preferred vehicles of foreign brands, which helped them excel in competitions from year to year. Chkalov, on the other side, was of a different opinion: he believed that it was time for the racers to switch to domestically-manufactured motorcycles.
As a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, he sent dozens of letters to factories that were directly related to the creation of new brands of motorcycles. Valery Chkalov was eager to have Soviet vehicles take part in the competition.
The test pilot was invited on numerous occasions to act as the chief referee of top-level motorcycling competitions, where he established himself as an objective, attentive and fair judge. Chkalov took a very responsible attitude to the preparation of competitions and was interested in the state of the track, the conditions for the accommodation of athletes and the storage of equipment, the mood of the participants, their provision, etc.
In the summer of 1938, at the national motorsport championship held in Kyiv, Valery Chkalov headed the panel of judges. As a Hero of the Soviet Union, he participated in all official ceremonies and reviewed the parade of motorcyclists. Sadly, that was the last time he attended such an event.
Two months after the death of the hero, in February 1939, a motor race for the prize named after Valery Pavlovich Chkalov took place. Initially, Chkalov motocrosses were of a paramilitary nature: they included throwing a grenade and crossing part of the distance in gas masks. The participants included both men and women.
In the first years of the war, no motorcycle races were held. But in 1944, the Central Automobile and Motorcycle Club of Moscow held another motocross for the Chkalov Prize — the tradition of Moscow motorcyclists was preserved and restored.
Since 1946, the motocross for the Valery Pavlovich Chkalov Prize has become a purely sporting event, without exercises of an applied military nature. Another innovation was soon introduced: sidecar motorcycles were allowed to run.
