Report From Italy
REPORT FROM ITALY
CARLO PERELLI
A 50cc ZUNDAPP set up astonishing world records at Monza in spite of continuous blowing winds and far from perfect conditions on the high-speed banked Autodrome. It was the first time in its long existence that Zundapp had attacked world records. However, the Munich factory bosses, present at Monza, stated they do not have the intention of spreading their sporting activity from trials and record breaking attempts to world championship contests. On the contrary, they are planning to sell a small batch of exact works replicas of their highly successful 50cc Six Days Trials mounts next year.
During the night of May 12-13, a team of riders composed of Brandl, Eser, Volker Kramer, Rosenbuch, Lehner and Sengfelder (all famous Zundapp factory trials riders) broke the 6 hours, the 1000 kms and the 12 hours records. The wind then increased to a speed of over 25 mph so the attempt on the 24 hours record had to be interrupted.
The record bike featured an air cooled two-stroke engine derived from the trials model, but modified with rotating disc and "overdrive," so that the 5-speed foot operated gearbox was supplemented by a 2-speed twistgrip control. Bore and stroke measure 40 x 39.5, maximum power output is not specified but is well over 10 bhp at I 1,000 rpm, using pool (98 octane) gasoline with 25:1 oil mix. Weight is 180 pounds, complete with extensive fiberglass streamlining, using 18" wheels with special 2.25 Metzeler record tires.
On May 14, Volker Kramer broke the 100 kms (62.14 miles) and the one-hour records with the same machine, fitted with a similar more powerful engine (using up to 11,500 rpm) and water cooled. The air intakes in front of the fairing had of course been closed for better streamlining while the radiator fan was operated by a small electric motor.
On May 15, Volker Kramer, using the same water cooled version, broke the 10 kilometer record. Most of the six new records had been set by the rival Kriedler factory. •
New World Records: 10 kms (6.214 miles) at 153.452 kmph (95.352 mph) previously held by Kreidler at 93.83 mph. 1 hour at 162.069 kmph (101.04 mph) previously held by Kreidler at 98.87 mph. 100 kms (62.14 miles) at 162.002 kmph (100.8 mph) previously held by Kreidler at 98.60 mph. 6 hours at 147.700 kmph (95.0 mph) previously held by Kreidler at 86.68 mph. 1000 kms (621.4 miles) at 146.6 kmph (94 4 mph) previously held by Garelli at 76 mph. 12 hours at 137.039 kmph (85.4 mph) previously held by VAP-Sachs at 69.3 mph.
