Report From Italy
REPORT FROM ITALY
CARLO PERELLI
FRANCESCO VILLA, many times Italian Champion, and well known in the U.S. as a Ducati rider, has been testing two new F. B. Mondial road racers at the Modena Autodrome. Designed for this year's Grand Prix classics, the machines are a 125cc and a 250cc using the same basic layout. Both are two-stroke rotary valve twins, with the cylinders slightly inclined, and have chrome barrels. The crankcase is split horizontally, and to reduce overall engine length, the gearbox shafts are one above the other. Primary drive is by gear from the middle of the crankshaft; this gear also drives the oil pump, contact breakers and tach drive. Positive oil feed to the four crankshaft main bearings and connecting rod big ends is supplied from a separate oil tank. Pistons and cylinders are still lubricated by a 20:1 gas/oil mix. Frame and suspension are orthodox in design. Brakes are rather unusual in that mechanically-operated discs are used; two on the front and one on the rear. The 125 engine is fed by two 27mm carburetors. Bore and stroke are 43 x 43mm, giving a total displacement of 124.83cc. Tests have shown air-cooling to be satisfactory on the 125 and the manufacturer claims 30 bhp with reliability, and without piston seizure, at 14,000 rpm using 12:1 compression ratio. (Last year's single-cylinder twostroke rotary valve gave 23 bhp at 11,500 rpm.) Weight is only 190 pounds in racing trim and wheels carry 2.50-18 front and 2.75-18 rear tires.
The 56 x 50.5 248.64cc features water cooling for the cylinders and air cooling for the heads, uses a seven-speed gearbox instead of eight as on the 125, and has a power output of 48 bhp at 11,500 rpm and 11.5:1 compression ratio. Weight in running order is 214 lbs.; tires are 2.75-18 front and 3.00-18 rear.
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MV has just announced the price ($1800 in Italy) and the delivery date for first machines (June 1966) of their sensational 600cc four-cylinder roadster exhibited at the recent Milan Show.
Comm. Giovanni Parrilla, ex-proprietor of the Moto Pariila factory and now builder of the successful "Saetía" (Lightning) go-kart racing engines, has built a sports one-two-five called "M.P." with some interesting and unorthodox features, especially for the Italian technical school.
Derived from the 23 bhp (at the crankshaft) go-kart model, the power unit is a 54 x 54 rotary valve two-stroke with 9:1 compression ratio developing 17 bhp (again at the crankshaft) at 8800 rpm. Power drop is caused by an efficient silencer and the re-positioning of the carburetor, alongside the cylinder on the left for more protection and less width.
Ignition is by flywheel magneto on the right with HT coil under the "triangular" tank. Primary drive is by adjustable chain on the left. The 24mm carburetor draws filtered air from a cylindrical metal box under the saddle which also houses the toolbox. A separate five-speed gearbox is extremely compact. The light alloy cylinder is fitted with an iron barrel, while the head features the efficient radial finning as on the Mondials.
The orthodox tubular frame is fitted with Ceriani scrambles-type suspension and side panels to direct more air on the engine for the best possible cooling. Wheels are 18", the rear one independent from sprocket and chain to facilitate removal; weight is 172 lbs.; top speed, even with rather "short" transmission ratios for better off-the-road work, is around 75 mph. Comm. Parrilla is also working on a 250 twin and a 500 four, both of two-stroke rotary valve design. Wait and see. . . .
