page 21 2014 Bernie Schreiber feature interview
Bernie and Kristina.
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview
Do you play?
I started playing a few months ago. I've played two times, progressing slowly. I've done some training. I've had the opportunity to be with some of the top coaches in the world so I go to the clinics as a spectator without clients so I get lessons from different players. I'm not much good because I keep hearing different ways to do the same thing.
What sports do you do these days?
Not much. Some running, some fitness, some golf when I get a chance, that's about it. I've got a 4 year old son Daniel that keeps me and my better half Kristina busy. Jessica is 27 and is working together with Gilles Burgat in the family business, Beverly is 24, she is just graduating in June as a dentist.
What was your favourite non motorcycling movie?
I like the older movies especially, from the Godfather to Once upon a time in America. I like the older films. It seems like they have a little bit more weight and plot to them.
I started playing a few months ago. I've played two times, progressing slowly. I've done some training. I've had the opportunity to be with some of the top coaches in the world so I go to the clinics as a spectator without clients so I get lessons from different players. I'm not much good because I keep hearing different ways to do the same thing.
What sports do you do these days?
Not much. Some running, some fitness, some golf when I get a chance, that's about it. I've got a 4 year old son Daniel that keeps me and my better half Kristina busy. Jessica is 27 and is working together with Gilles Burgat in the family business, Beverly is 24, she is just graduating in June as a dentist.
What was your favourite non motorcycling movie?
I like the older movies especially, from the Godfather to Once upon a time in America. I like the older films. It seems like they have a little bit more weight and plot to them.
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview
|
|
How do you feel about being the first American to come over and beat the Europeans at their own game? Are you particularly proud of that and why haven’t the next American Champions come around already?
I didn’t really think of it this way. At that time it was mostly Europeans riding for sure but it was more important for me to be American and be the number one rider on the Bultaco team. This was the best thing for me. Lampkin was the first world champion in 1975. That was the first World Championship as before that , the Championship had been the European Championship.1975 was Bultaco, 1976 was Vesterinan, 1977 was Vesterinan, 1978 was Vesterinan. Bultaco had always won and I became the first American to be World Champion with Bultaco. I was also the last World Champion with Bultaco. I was the last World Champion that the company ever produced, so I think I was more happy to be the Bultaco number one and the World number one than beating the Europeans.
You were only 20 when you won. Do you look back now and think that you spent the correct amount of time in the sport after this win?
When I took back at that year, when I was with Garelli I do think that perhaps I should have got out one year earlier. You know the last year that I rode, I still won the U.S. Championship. I was quite comfortable with my career because I had won everything that there was to win. Kick Start, the Scottish and Barcelona indoor.
I didn’t really think of it this way. At that time it was mostly Europeans riding for sure but it was more important for me to be American and be the number one rider on the Bultaco team. This was the best thing for me. Lampkin was the first world champion in 1975. That was the first World Championship as before that , the Championship had been the European Championship.1975 was Bultaco, 1976 was Vesterinan, 1977 was Vesterinan, 1978 was Vesterinan. Bultaco had always won and I became the first American to be World Champion with Bultaco. I was also the last World Champion with Bultaco. I was the last World Champion that the company ever produced, so I think I was more happy to be the Bultaco number one and the World number one than beating the Europeans.
You were only 20 when you won. Do you look back now and think that you spent the correct amount of time in the sport after this win?
When I took back at that year, when I was with Garelli I do think that perhaps I should have got out one year earlier. You know the last year that I rode, I still won the U.S. Championship. I was quite comfortable with my career because I had won everything that there was to win. Kick Start, the Scottish and Barcelona indoor.
That's good that kick start came first ha ha?
The World Championship in Italy, England France and Spain. I achieved most of the goals that I wanted in the sport.
Do you have any regrets about your time in trials?
There are things that I have learnt from all of my time such as choosing Italjet. I learnt from these. I didn’t look back and think, that I regret these things.
Are you still in touch with any riders from these days?
No. I'm still in touch with Gilles Burgat .I still have some contact with him but not as much as I would like.
Earlier today the USA played Switzerland in the ice hockey. Who would you support? Ha ha
Ha ha well you know, the Swiss take hockey so seriously, the kids play it in all the schools, it's really a big sport. They are both good teams.
You’re sitting on the fence?
Yeah ha ha. A tough question to answer.
|
Here Bernie reunites with his early 70's Saddleback park teacher Mick Andrews at the Robredgardo trial in 2008
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo J Robertson
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo J Robertson
|
Back in 2011 Bernie was invited to a Trial near in Ventoux, France. He appeared there there with Gilles Burgat , Coutard , Piero Kuciukian , Pascal Couturier , Joel Corroy and Manuel Soler.
You can see here , Bernie still rides without gloves.He was also described as riding with the same confidence and natural ability as back in the late 70's and early 80's . Surely this was the trial of the decade ?. 
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview phototrial.it
|
Your name has become an icon within trials. You’re held very dear to the hearts of USA, Bultaco and old school riders all around the world. I think you've become more of an icon than some of the other riders. You, also just disappeared ha ha . Do you ever think about this?
No, not at all. I spent my whole life in sports and in sports marketing. I’ve spent a bit of time with Michael Phelps and other top golfers, these are icons, you know what I mean. This guy has got 24 medals and 18 for gold. Everything is relative in size. I was bigger back then, but it's so small. I think to be an icon in something you had to be big. When I sit in my office, Greg Norman's office is down the hallway from where I'm sitting. Now that's an icon. Valentino Rossi, Roger Federer….that's an icon name because globally they are household names.
But there are a lot of people who didn’t play golf or watch moto gp. They’re sport is trials.
It's small. I've been surrounded by so many great athletes and with such a high level of media exposure that I don’t see myself as that, if that makes sense.
No, not at all. I spent my whole life in sports and in sports marketing. I’ve spent a bit of time with Michael Phelps and other top golfers, these are icons, you know what I mean. This guy has got 24 medals and 18 for gold. Everything is relative in size. I was bigger back then, but it's so small. I think to be an icon in something you had to be big. When I sit in my office, Greg Norman's office is down the hallway from where I'm sitting. Now that's an icon. Valentino Rossi, Roger Federer….that's an icon name because globally they are household names.
But there are a lot of people who didn’t play golf or watch moto gp. They’re sport is trials.
It's small. I've been surrounded by so many great athletes and with such a high level of media exposure that I don’t see myself as that, if that makes sense.
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview
When was the last time you were recognized as a trials rider walking down the street?
Never. The last time I got recognised was at the Trial GP in Tennessee. I do get recognized once a week if I am wearing my sunglasses as some anchor man, Anthony Bourdain. I have to tell them the same thing. I don't smoke, I don’t drink and didn’t use the F word. That's his show, it's got the beep throughout the whole thing.
Never. The last time I got recognised was at the Trial GP in Tennessee. I do get recognized once a week if I am wearing my sunglasses as some anchor man, Anthony Bourdain. I have to tell them the same thing. I don't smoke, I don’t drink and didn’t use the F word. That's his show, it's got the beep throughout the whole thing.
|
Bernie signing autographs at the Tennesee World Trial
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview
|
Anthony Bourdain
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview
|
Who do you offer most thanks too?
Starting with my parents for sure, they were my greatest supporters. The 45 countries visited that opened my mind. Bultaco, Pete Hudson along with Comerfords. There are so many people that helped me through life, sports and business. This support means a lot to me and I can never thank them enough. The experience has been one of a kind.
Time to say good bye folks
Starting with my parents for sure, they were my greatest supporters. The 45 countries visited that opened my mind. Bultaco, Pete Hudson along with Comerfords. There are so many people that helped me through life, sports and business. This support means a lot to me and I can never thank them enough. The experience has been one of a kind.
Time to say good bye folks
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview
oh ......i almost forgot something
Please Mr Bernie ......can you sign my book ?
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview
|
|
|
Thanks Bernie -you've just made a
|
|
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview Thanks to Jon Stoodley for the book :)
Right .....lets hit the town.
Now tell me Bernie ........have you ever tried a Tequila slammer mixed with a Jager bomber and a bloody Mary. No ? . Well let me tell you , its really big in the Uk at the moment . You wont believe how good it is . So Duran Duran is your favourite 80's band , well its mine also .........................
Were going to have the time of our lives ........................................ ;)
Now tell me Bernie ........have you ever tried a Tequila slammer mixed with a Jager bomber and a bloody Mary. No ? . Well let me tell you , its really big in the Uk at the moment . You wont believe how good it is . So Duran Duran is your favourite 80's band , well its mine also .........................
Were going to have the time of our lives ........................................ ;)
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview
thank you bernie and kristina .
thanks also to everyone else who contributed to this feature
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview
|
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview
|
Statistics, figures and standings
|
Bernie won the Scottish Six days Trial in 1982.
Bernie has won the Trial de Espania 8 times. That's more than any other rider in the history of the trial. Bernie is America's only World observed Trials Champion in the history of the sport. Bernie is the only trials rider ever to be inducted into the AMA motorcycle Hall of Fame. Bernie won the U.S. National Trials Championships in 1978, 1982, 1983 and 1987. Kick start winner 1979,1982 and 1983 |
Bernie was the World Observed trials Champion in 1979 and was the youngest rider at the time to have accomplished this .
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS from 1977 - 1987 1977 - 7 1978 - 3 1979 - 1 1980 - 2 1981 - 6 1982 - 2 1983 - 2 1984 - 3 1986 - 7 1987 - 20 Bernie competed in the World Championship for 10 years . Out of the 109 World Trial competitions Bernie competed in he was placed on the podium 48 times with 20 seperate wins. Bernie was Bultaco's last World Champion. |
|
122 World Trials
134 World Trials 109 World Trials 118 Euro trials 125 Euro trials 131 World Trials 121 World Trials 92 World Trials |