In Memoriam: Marcel Discart, European sidecar cross champion.
Last night Marcel Discart died in the Imelda hospital in Bonheiden. Marcel turned 69 last month. Last week he was busy preparing the sidecar of his best friend Jef Van Loo for another race. Unfortunately, it was the last time he could indulge his passion, sidecar cross. Marcel suffered a stroke. Despite the quick and best medical care, he could not win his last match...
Marcel Discart started racing in 1966 at the then NBB, the National Mopeds Association. He made his debut there on an Itom, an Italian make. The young Discart became champion of Antwerp. The NBB evolved, started using motorcycles and was renamed BVM. Marcel also switched to a 125 cc. He missed out on the IMBA title twice, but he did become Belgian BVM champion.
After this extensive solo career, Discart turned to his passion in 1977: sidecar motocross. With Robert Wouters, Paul Beuckeleers, Gilbert Devoldere and Jozef 'Jokke' Saliën, among others, he amassed an impressive list of achievements: 3 x IMBA champion, 2 x FAM champion and once BLM champion.
Marcel was a municipal worker by profession, but he also ran a motorcycle and parts store at the Pig Market in Ramsel. He also helped with the expansion of Frans 'Sooi' Bevers' catering company.
After he left sidecar cross for what it was, the link with the 'carts' turned out to be inseparable. Marcel Discart would ride three more 'real' Dakars. One with Jokke Saliën, which ended when the second engine gave up the ghost. Then it went to Dakar with Lieven Van Den Heuvel. That Dakar was finished, despite the fact that Marcel broke his ankle in three places six days before the end. He refused to give up and the duo finished on the Senegalese beach, albeit out of the rankings. A third Dakar was ridden with Philemon Paredaens.
Marcel Discart has also been in the Guinness Book of Records for some time now. Both the endurance record on a cross circuit (Rooiveld Westerlo – Paredaens) and on the road (Westmeerbeek – Devoldere) are in his name. Son Tom Discart also rode a few nice seasons with BLM and BMB, and is currently focusing on restoring Itoms.
The MXMag editorial team wishes Marcel's family and friends a lot of strength.
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