Issue 1 2010 > More than Just a Beautiful Motorcycle
More than Just a Beautiful Motorcycle
Jim Thompson’s 1958 BSA Bantam
motorcycle, restored to pristine
condition, currently on display
at the Crown Beijing Ultracenter.
This 1958 BSA Bantam motorcycle belongs to Jim Thompson, Founder & Chairman of the Crown Worldwide Group. As a young man, Jim embarked on a very special journey– a journey that ignited his appetite for international travel and eventually inspired him to establish Crown’s first operation in Yokohama, Japan in 1965.
The journey began in September 1960, when Jim and his close friend began a year long trip to see the world. Departing from California, they made their way across the United States and Canada, sailed from Montreal to Liverpool, England and then took a train to London. It was in London where they purchased motorcycles so they could continue their journey across Europe.
Jim traveled to Newcastle, England and then headed to Bergen, Norway. From there, he was planning to travel across a mountain range to the city of Oslo. On the day he was preparing for the next phase of his journey, he learned that it wouldn’t be possible to cross the mountain roads. Discouraged by the news, Jim tried to check back in to the hotel but was told that the hotel had no more rooms. Running out of options, he settled on a vacant park bench with all his personal items, where he spent a night in the freezing cold. He awoke to the sight of an old Norwegian lady, who handed him an apple. That was a gesture of generosity Jim never forgot.
Jim decided to leave that morning for Oslo, despite the windy and snow-filled roads ahead. It was a rough trip. At one point, a large truck emerged from a very narrow underpass. Jim endured some minor injuries and the motorcycle was damaged but miraculously, the engine eventually restarted.
With twisted handle bars, isolated from civilization, Jim made a habit of talking to his motorcycle–in an attempt to will it into completing the journey. Had it broken down, he may well have frozen. Jim promised his Bantam motorcycle that if it got him across the mountains, he would never part with it again.
Jim Thompson fueling up his
motorcycle in Norway, 1960.
Jim eventually arrived in Oslo. Unfortunately, the Bantam broke down near Karlstad, Sweden and it was unable to be repaired. Keeping his promise, Jim had the motorcycle shipped to Germany and booked it on a vessel back to California. In 1989, Jim arranged to have the motorcycle restored to its current pristine condition.
It was this trip, taken on this motorcycle, from 1960-1961, that fueled Jim’s interest in international travel. He continued on through Europe, the Middle East and Asia. This exposure to the world resulted, in January, 1965, in the formation of what is now known as The Crown Worldwide Group. Jim’s spirit of adventure and entrepreneurial spirit was the inspiration behind the world’s largest privately-owned group of transportation, relocations, records management and logistics companies.