General Category > General Discussion
March 15, 1921 - Moto Guzzi founded
Dean Rose:
Carlo Guzzi: a dream that came true.
The Guzzi family
At the beginning of the 20th century, a rich family from Milan used to spend their holidays in
Mandello. There were four siblings in the Guzzi family:
Giuseppe, known as Naco, was a civil engineer who designed factory buildings as well as their
insignia: the Moto Guzzi Rowing Club building and the hydroelectric Zerbo River power station..
He worked with Carlo on several projects; among them was the “Norge” of 1928. He drove his
Sport 500 (“Norge”) during various rides: 1923 Mandello-Parigi (2000 km), 1924 Mandello-TolosaPirenei
(2500 km), 1926 Mandello-Vienna–Budapest-Carpazi (3000 km), 1927 Mandello-Slesia
(3000 km), 1928 Mandello-Stoccolma-Lapponia-Oslo-Berlin (6200 km), and 1929 MandelloAmburgo
(2200 km). In 1942, he wrote the book “The Motorbike and the Biker”, where he
explained the functioning of a bike and offered useful tips.
Carlo’s baby sister, Fanny Guzzi, is remembered for her passion for climbing. There is the “Fanny
way”, which she opened in 1923 on the southern face of the Grigna Mountain.
Maria, the other sister, shared her passion for mountain climbing with her husband and Fanny.
Carlo Guzzi and his Moto Guzzi
"I will design a motorbike with standards that I believe are better than the existing ones"
This is how Carlo Guzzi remembered the background of his invention. He was literally an eclectic
genius. He created a motorbike that resulted in a unique model of different qualities, combining
stability and technology with functionality and convenience: a durable vehicle for everyone. Carlo
Guzzi was kind, concrete, and reserved. He was an excellent designer and a literate man. He was
always willing to share his brilliant ideas and technical explanations with others. His father was the
physicist-engineer, Palamede. He was born in Milan, but was Mandellese by adoption. Carlo
attended the Industrial High School in Vicenza. He worked at Singer, and at Isotta Fraschini. In
1914, he was enrolled in the Air Force and fought during the First World War. During the war, he
met two pilots: Giorgio Parodi from Genoa, and Giovanni Ravelli from Brescia (one of the best
bike racers at that time). He shared his ambitious project, to manufacture a motorbike, with both
friends. Together they decided that, at the end of the war, they would start a motorbike factory based
on Guzzi's technical ideas, Parodi's financing, and Ravelli's fame as a racer. After the war, Carlo
began building the frame of his bike prototype. His ideas consisted of the belief that his motorcycle
could be worthy competition for the best existing products worldwide (1918-1919). In the meantime,
Giorgio Parodi tried to convince his father to finance the project. Unfortunately, Ravelli died in an
air crash and the Eagle of the Air Force became the logo of Moto Guzzi. The bike and its symbol -
the eagle - were influenced by the aeronautical education of their inventors. The first Moto Guzzi –
G.P. (Guzzi – Parodi) was shown to Giorgio's father who immediately understood the chances of
success of Carlo Guzzi's idea and gave his financial support. The Moto Guzzi limited company was
officially founded on March 15, 1921. In 1921, 17 motorbikes were produced with the Eagle logo
and the Moto Guzzi trademark on every tank.
Since advertising did not exist at that time, Carlo decided to race in order to make the trademark
known (in September 1921 a Guzzi won the famous ‘Targa Florio’). Between 1921 and 1957, he
won 14 world titles and several prizes for sports (3332 victories in official competitions).
Endurance tests and verification techniques produced results of absolute innovation in the motoring
world of that time.
brlawson:
https://vimeo.com/16920754
Moto Guzzi, il mito
pehayes:
--- Quote from: Guzzistajohn on March 14, 2015, 10:32:20 AM ---
We approve!
--- End quote ---
Why does the dude with the black eye have his sweater on inside-out? He must have pissed off somebody.
Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA
Guzzistajohn:
--- Quote from: pehayes on March 14, 2015, 11:54:56 AM ---Why does the dude with the black eye have his sweater on inside-out? He must have pissed off somebody.
Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA
--- End quote ---
I dunno? so it can be read in a rear view mirror?
rodekyll:
You've heard of getting slapped into next Tuesday? He was pummeled inside out.
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