Report From Italy
REPORT FROM ITALY
FIVE WORLD RECORDS were set on November 19 at the Monza circuit by an F. B. Minarelli lightweight ridden by Pietro Cava. The records are particularly significant because the machine is powered with a conventional 73.5cc two-stroke single running on pump gasoline and fitted with a dolphin fairing. The engine produces 12 bhp at 11,000 rpm and has a compression ratio of 11:1. It employs a flywheel magneto, a 23mm Dellorto carburetor, gear primary drive and a four-speed transmission. The frame is a full double cradle and the bike weighs 123 pounds.
F. B. Minarelli is a Bologna firm which produces about 50 percent of Italy’s proprietary engines (those used by manufacturers who build only chassis) in the 48 to 175cc category. Minarelli built the racer as an aid to development of their sporting engines, and it has been extremely successful, having won every race it was entered in.
The new records are:
Quarter mile, standing start in 17.775 sec. at 50.6 mph
1 km, standing start in 34,650 sec. at 86.2 mph
(previous record Ghiro-Ceccato — 1955 in 38.8 sec. at 57.8 mph)
10 kms in 4:32.4 at 84.7 mph (previous record Ghiro-Ceccato — 1955 in 5.06 at 72.9 mph)
100 kms in 44:05.4 at 84.7 mph
(Old record Ghiro-Ceccato — 1955 in
44.36 at 83.6 mph)
One Hour at 84.7 mph
(previous record Ruffo-Moto Guzzi —
1950 at 71.0 mph)
TRANS-AFRICAN TOUR WITH A 50cc
Roberto Patrignani, well known for his journalistic and sports activities and the Milan to Tokyo tour, brilliantly accomplished in 1964 (and duly reported by CW), has now started another tour from Cape Town to Milan with a tiny 50cc machine, the Moto Guzzi “Dingo Cross.” He left Cape Town on November 24th and will cross the continent through Union of South Africa, Rhodesia, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt, Lybia and Tunisia. He will then cross, by sea, to Sicily and again by sea to Italy, riding up to Milan. His route is about 11,250 miles long and will take three months to cover.
CARLO PERELLI
The machine is a series production model, fitted with a larger (13-liters) fuel tank, luggage carriers and a 14mm instead of the usual 16mm carburetor to provide more pulling power at low rev. The engine is an orthodox two-stroke (50:1 petroloil lubrication), developing 4 bph on an 8:1 compression ratio at 8,000 rpm.
And now, two interesting news items in the sports and racing field.
An Italian-American society has been formed recently for the production of high-performance models (in roadster, scrambles and racing versions) to be built in small batches for true enthusiasts all over the world. Chief designer is a well known Italian engineer who, in recent years, has successfully developed a racing twin of various cubic capacities, the 500cc one having won the Italian Senior Championship in 1964. The first prototype has already been built and soon CYCLE WORLD will publish pictures and details. Further information can be obtained in the USA from Mr. Bastacky, at 462 Ocean Boulevard, Golden Beach, Florida, or 3112 Northwest 36th Street, Miami, Florida.
Daniele Fontana, well known for his excellent racing bikes (described in CYCLE WORLD about a year ago) has gone into an exciting project, i.e., building a threecylinder 500cc racing machine on the lines of the MV, to be sold to private riders. It is a double ohc with a forecast 80-bhp output and seven-speed gearbox. The first engine should be ready in a month’s time and it has already been arranged that, all going well, this new three cylinder will be housed by the Rickman brothers in one of their specially conceived Metisse frames. Also, Fontana will fit this engine in a frame of his own design. Its racing debut will surely be next season, perhaps at the first Italian Senior Championship meeting, usually held in March at Modena.
