Miss Justine Tibesar welcomed by leaders of the department of FN motorcycles after her return from Saigon.

The feat performed by a lady of Arlon (Belgium), Justine Tibesar, deserves some attention here for a few minutes.

(Beginning of translation as provided by Justine’s cousin Jerome Tibesar)

Justine Tibesar arrived in Saigon, after having traveled in America, Japan and China. On 10 March 1931 she came up with the idea to reach Belgium by road. She thus bought a 350 cm3 Touring Standard motorcycle. The numbers 62196 for the frame and 8045 for the engine were written on it. Justine did not know how to ride a motorcycle. This is why she decided, on (March) 13th, to take her driving test and, on (March) 16th she started her trip. However, once in Phnom Penh, Cambodia she suffered from a severe fall and had to stop for 10 days. Able to travel again she rode to Angkor (Cambodia).

“At every stop I had to protect my motorcycle against the natives’ curiosity. They were quite interested in mechanics and their familiarities with my motorcycle brought about a breakdown in the middle of a night in Cambodia,” said Justine Tibesar .

She reached Singapore by Bangkok, where she took on board (via ship) for Calcutta. Indeed she could not cross the Burmese mountains, as there were no roads. Once in India she made a detour via the Himalayas to greet the Citroen Yellow Expedition. She was driving to Srinagar and waited there more than a month until 26 June (1931).

Crossing Kashmir, India to Baluchistan, Pakistan was particularly dangerous. She had to buy a sidecar to carry water and fuel, so that she could reach Quetta, Pakistan. The city had just been destroyed in an earthquake. Once in Douzhab (Persia) tiredness, heat and non-drinkable water had the better of her. She was cured by a native (Persian) doctor and then went on with her trip.

She drove 1,000 km from Douzhab to Mashhad, where there was nothing but desert and two or three small villages. From Mashhad to Teheran 1,000 more km, where the landscape offered the same picture.

From Tehran to Kermanshah, it was the same. There was an epidemic of cholera in Baghdad and she encountered the risk to be quarantined when she wanted to go to Syria. She avoided the desert and drove northwards, crossing Mosul, Aleppo and Constantinople. Crossing central Europe via Paris was a part of pleasure compared to what she had been through.

The 22-year old girl had just covered 22,000 km.

(End of Translation by Jerome Tibesar)

This article (originally in French) was donated by Mr. Ron Fellowes. Ron plans to ride (in 2011) his 1910 Fabrique Nationale FN motorcycle from Australia back to the factory in Herstal, Belgium to celebrate its 100th birthday. 

Mr. Fellowes was fascinated to learn of Justine Tibesar’s journey through many of the countries he plans to ride through. If anyone has additional information regarding Justine’s amazing journey, please make comments and share documents.

Photocaption: Miss Justine Tibesar welcomed by leaders of the department of FN motorcycles after her return from Saigon.