Bolliger Team: A microcosm of Swiss motorcycling culture

The term ‘Bolliger microcosm’ does not originate from your SPEEDWEEK correspondent, but from Niklaus Räz, who has been following the Bolliger team since 1984 as a freelance journalist, photographer and volunteer. Not even a Pulitzer Prize winner could come up with a more apt description for this unique phenomenon of Swiss motorcycling culture.

SPEEDWEEK has reported in detail on the turbulent season, which began with the Bolliger team writing off their articulated lorry in an accident and ended with them arriving at the final race in a new, larger and more attractive team vehicle. This is probably only possible in a very special environment – namely the Bolliger microcosm, which isn’t quite as ‘micro’ as it sounds.

At the end of every season, the Bolliger Team invites sponsors, patrons and members of the 100 Club to the end-of-season party. When Kevin Bolliger invites sponsors and patrons onto the stage, there are three dozen people up there by the end. In total, around 90 sponsors support the Bolliger Team. Membership of the 100 Club is open to anyone contributing 100 francs or more. This club has around 500 members. The function room was therefore well filled.

A veritable microcosm has formed around the Bolliger Team, consisting of team members, sponsors, patrons, other helpers and event visitors. When the Bolliger Team calls, both volunteers and event visitors turn up. Take the pizza festival in early October as an example: with around 200 volunteer shifts, the Bolliger Team sold well over 1,000 pizzas over two days.

Throughout the year, the Bolliger Team competed in the four races of the World Endurance Championship and trained on three occasions. That’s what endurance racing teams do. In addition, the Bolliger Team organised four events of its own: the Racing Exchange, the Fischknusperli Drive-in, the Pizza Festival and now the end-of-season party. They also took part as exhibitors and gave pit stop demonstrations at four further events. This year, following the lorry accident, there were also impromptu trips to the races, as well as the purchase (thanks to donations) and rebuilding of a team articulated lorry. The Bolliger Team is not only a successful endurance team; it is an indispensable part of Swiss motorcycling culture.