Wildguzzi.com

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: redline on January 27, 2021, 08:08:22 PM

Title: Racing Guzzis
Post by: redline on January 27, 2021, 08:08:22 PM

(https://i.ibb.co/JrjQggj/10748-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/JrjQggj)



Guzzi to the front...a 1978 Moto Guzzi small block is still competitive today!
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: drdwb on January 27, 2021, 08:20:11 PM
Nice picture of Guzzis on the dirt circuit.
But just once I’d like to ride like this.
(https://i.ibb.co/c12Hq0R/4-F45-DE45-C944-4-D8-B-9-D13-B4-CBA01185-FC.jpg) (https://ibb.co/c12Hq0R)


Check out the angle of the headers.
Didn’t mean to hijack your post. But it is about racing.
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: guzzi771 on January 27, 2021, 08:25:17 PM
Track day at COTA
(https://i.ibb.co/p0TNyHM/104742070-10219438581409954-14792938558173596-o.jpg) (https://ibb.co/p0TNyHM)
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: redline on January 27, 2021, 08:36:18 PM
So why not not jump on one of your Guzzis and go for it. I was riding a friend's Guzzi on a 1/4 mile dirt track a couple of weeks ago in Florida in that pic. It gets the heart racing for sure!
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: DavidB on January 27, 2021, 08:59:09 PM
There’s some good footage on YouTube of Aussie Paul Lewis (The Angry Ant) on a big block Guzzi giving the Britten’s a fierce fight.  In the end (spoiler alert) the Brittens prevailed after tag-teaming the diminutive Lewis on the Guzzi, but it’s still good viewing.

The subtext, too, about how an old iron-block pushrod twin could take it almost up to the Brittens, and give the Ducatis a good seeing-to - with all the mythology around their ‘technical superiority’ - is really interesting......
Even reading the comments on the video there is a lot of mythology around the Britten - “they’re were just playing with him” etc.  All this around Brands Hatch which is hardly optimal territory for a Guzzi, and there were some very obvious downshift torque reaction issues.  Imagine racing a modern Guzzi sports bike (if only they’d make one these days) with quick shift and auto-blip on down change. 

https://youtu.be/McnjxoBQ6TQ
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: cliffrod on January 27, 2021, 09:18:26 PM
There’s some good footage on YouTube of Aussie Paul Lewis (The Angry Ant) on a big block Guzzi giving the Britten’s a fierce fight.  In the end (spoiler alert) the Brittens prevailed after tag-teaming the diminutive Lewis on the Guzzi, but it’s still good viewing.

The subtext, too, about how an old iron block pushrod twin could take it almost up to the Brittens, and give the Ducatis a good seeing-to - with all the mythology around their ‘technical superiority’ - is really interesting......
Even reading the comments on the video there is a lot of mythology around the Britten - “they’re were just playing with him” etc.  All this around Brands Hatch which is hardly optimal territory for a Guzzi, and there were some very obvious downshift torque reaction issues.  Imagine racing a modern Guzzi sports bike (if only they’d make one these days) with quick shift and auto-blip on down change. 

https://youtu.be/McnjxoBQ6TQ

Iron block?  Unless that's a spell check issue, I don't understand.
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: Kiwi_Roy on January 27, 2021, 09:52:50 PM
I must say the Aussie on the Guzzi had his hands full, great effort though.
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: Mr Revhead on January 27, 2021, 11:35:50 PM
Yeah.... the Raceco Daytonas were very good, certainly had the measure of the Ducatis etc of the time. However the Brittens were toying with him. I think its in the Britten book, or something about Stroud I read where the promoter was very thankful of the show they put on.
In Racecos own words they won a lot.... unless the Brittens turned up.
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: twowheeladdict on January 28, 2021, 06:36:56 AM
So why not not jump on one of your Guzzis and go for it. I was riding a friend's Guzzi on a 1/4 mile dirt track a couple of weeks ago in Florida in that pic. It gets the heart racing for sure!

Wow!  Dirt in Florida, who would have known.  Must have been somewhere up in the panhandle or had it imported.  My years in Florida all I ever saw was sand.   :azn:
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: F-Fred on January 28, 2021, 07:25:50 AM
A few from the old hard drive:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-gVCvdnL/0/3d215df8/X2/i-gVCvdnL-X2.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-SxZDqRs/0/c4e95d59/X2/i-SxZDqRs-X2.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-ndS6pjp/0/555a06fa/X2/i-ndS6pjp-X2.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-ZpfsvBg/0/590cffae/XL/i-ZpfsvBg-XL.jpg)

Ed!

(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-tbd23pD/0/64c37789/XL/i-tbd23pD-XL.jpg)
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: jwinwi on January 28, 2021, 07:55:26 AM

(https://i.ibb.co/FJwJp35/Trospers.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FJwJp35)

Kenosha Wisconsin's own Eric and Celia Trosper. Not sure who owns the rights to this picture...
Would your wife/SO do that? Neither would mine!
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: jas67 on January 28, 2021, 11:03:17 AM

(https://i.ibb.co/FJwJp35/Trospers.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FJwJp35)

Kenosha Wisconsin's own Eric and Celia Trosper. Not sure who owns the rights to this picture...
Would your wife/SO do that? Neither would mine!

I'm pretty sure that is the couple that we met and watched last year at Barber.  They were definitely very impressive to watch, and a nice couple to meet and talk to too.  Check out her tat.

(https://i.ibb.co/HLyW3wC/IMG-6375.jpg) (https://ibb.co/BHJXFWG)
(https://i.ibb.co/wCP8yXH/IMG-6376.jpg) (https://ibb.co/BjQvLxD)
(https://i.ibb.co/nb9JZky/IMG-6485.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Dth2sKF)
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: cliffrod on January 28, 2021, 11:29:38 AM
Here's more good pics and good reading- 

http://www.fredsgarage.net/the-guzzi-that-gave-yamaha-the-finger/ (http://www.fredsgarage.net/the-guzzi-that-gave-yamaha-the-finger/)
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: guzzi771 on January 28, 2021, 08:35:32 PM
Here's more good pics and good reading- 

http://www.fredsgarage.net/the-guzzi-that-gave-yamaha-the-finger/ (http://www.fredsgarage.net/the-guzzi-that-gave-yamaha-the-finger/)
Thanks for posting !
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: Huzo on January 28, 2021, 10:49:57 PM
Properly set up “modern” racing Guzzies look as good as anything of their ilk on a track.
When at full lean angle viewed from the high side with just the rider’s leg and part torso showing... :thumb:
They look as good as comparable Ducatis, Triumphs..et al.
Something like a stripped down V11 Sport or Daytona, Griso type of thing..
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: HarveyMushman on January 29, 2021, 06:21:35 AM
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Racing/2015-Barber-Vintage-Festival/i-ZkZVFjz/0/409adfa2/X5/DSC_2747-X5.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Racing/2015-Barber-Vintage-Festival/i-XB2m3Hp/0/a8f2f872/X5/DSC_2883-X5.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Racing/2015-Barber-Vintage-Festival/i-XDrVhQf/0/ee442103/X5/DSC_3947-X5.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Racing/2015-Barber-Vintage-Festival/i-n67Kfv9/0/4d452ecb/X5/DSC_4694-X5.jpg)
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: chuck peterson on January 29, 2021, 07:13:44 AM
Dave Roper, first Americun to win Isle of Mann...

https://daveroperracing.blogspot.com/2020/03/?m=1

Come to a SLMDRossi Tiddler Tour and meet the man, the beard and his Guzzi


(https://i.ibb.co/yF7xCKq/DAC20-CB6-47-D5-46-A0-9-A7-F-895-C2470-FD05.jpg) (https://ibb.co/yF7xCKq)
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: Turin on January 29, 2021, 09:03:39 AM
Dave Hull of Daves Cycle Service.

(https://i.ibb.co/mhhYFmm/lemans-SE-Racing.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mhhYFmm)


(https://i.ibb.co/zQWL164/Lemans-Racing-3.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zQWL164)


(https://i.ibb.co/XYRwJB9/Lemans-Racing-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XYRwJB9)

online image upload (https://imgbb.com/)

Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: Huzo on January 29, 2021, 09:28:31 AM
Here’s my point.
A well ridden bike on a twisty road is in that configuration 90% of the time and it would not matter if it had 50% more potential performance, at that point you couldn’t use it.
So.
If that bike had a Griso engine, it could not be ridden any faster than an MGS.
Tell me my Griso engined MGS would not be equal to a (relatively) current sportsbike in amateur hands..(like ours..).
(https://i.ibb.co/Jj1ypW7/72-C089-EE-6432-4-EB0-882-A-6-E47799-FED99.png) (https://ibb.co/Jj1ypW7)
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: HarveyMushman on January 29, 2021, 10:32:25 AM
Here’s my point.
A well ridden bike on a twisty road is in that configuration 90% of the time and it would not matter if it had 50% more potential performance, at that point you couldn’t use it.
So.
If that bike had a Griso engine, it could not be ridden any faster than an MGS.
Tell me my Griso engined MGS would not be equal to a (relatively) current sportsbike in amateur hands..(like ours..).
(https://i.ibb.co/Jj1ypW7/72-C089-EE-6432-4-EB0-882-A-6-E47799-FED99.png) (https://ibb.co/Jj1ypW7)


And here I thought the thread is re: racing bikes . . .
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: HarveyMushman on January 29, 2021, 10:39:27 AM
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-4jfnb3c/0/1e6a6075/X2/i-4jfnb3c-X2.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-vnHw7Sq/0/8002ce1a/X2/i-vnHw7Sq-X2.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-3grc5KZ/0/db85fd52/X2/i-3grc5KZ-X2.jpg)

Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: Huzo on January 29, 2021, 10:49:09 AM
And here I thought the thread is re: racing bikes . . .
Yeah fair enough.
I wonder what bit you edited out.
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: bad Chad on January 29, 2021, 10:56:10 AM
Father and daughter racers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-WpaIHTFUY
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on January 29, 2021, 11:07:56 AM
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-4jfnb3c/0/1e6a6075/X2/i-4jfnb3c-X2.jpg)

Stephen Brenton on his Loopframe racer.  :thumb:

Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: HarveyMushman on January 29, 2021, 11:32:23 AM
Yeah fair enough.
I wonder what bit you edited out.

The rude bit, naturally.   :grin:

Mike Tiberio's racer at Nelson Ledges in early 90's:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-RRTMgQh/0/02a64ef7/O/i-RRTMgQh.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-84q5HMH/0/0ebe0349/O/i-84q5HMH.jpg)
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: Misterb on January 29, 2021, 11:41:24 AM
A reversed head endurance racer I saw at the Bol D'or in 1985. When I got home, MCN had a small article about the bike..

(https://i.imgur.com/JX6CxLQ.jpg)
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: Huzo on January 29, 2021, 02:03:38 PM
The rude bit, naturally.   :grin:

Mike Tiberio's racer at Nelson Ledges in early 90's:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-RRTMgQh/0/02a64ef7/O/i-RRTMgQh.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-84q5HMH/0/0ebe0349/O/i-84q5HMH.jpg)
I used to like watching his races on WG.
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: larrys on January 29, 2021, 02:04:23 PM
Dave Roper, first Americun to win Isle of Mann...

https://daveroperracing.blogspot.com/2020/03/?m=1

Come to a SLMDRossi Tiddler Tour and meet the man, the beard and his Guzzi


(https://i.ibb.co/yF7xCKq/DAC20-CB6-47-D5-46-A0-9-A7-F-895-C2470-FD05.jpg) (https://ibb.co/yF7xCKq)


I knew a Dave Roper in CT in the late '70's who was a welder and a motorcycle racer. He was campaigning a Silk at the time, which looked like it was based on an old Scott Flying Squirrel. I remember him saying it wasn't the fastest on the straights but hard to beat in the twisties...
Same guy?
Larry
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: Murray on January 29, 2021, 06:04:36 PM

If that bike had a Griso engine, it could not be ridden any faster than an MGS.
Tell me my Griso engined MGS would not be equal to a (relatively) current sportsbike in amateur hands..(like ours..).
(https://i.ibb.co/Jj1ypW7/72-C089-EE-6432-4-EB0-882-A-6-E47799-FED99.png) (https://ibb.co/Jj1ypW7)


In amateur hands it would be chewed up and spat out backwards, amateurs tend to rely on straight line acceleration over cornering skill, the further behind the bike is in this department the bigger the differnce.
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: motoduck on January 29, 2021, 08:52:55 PM

(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-3grc5KZ/0/db85fd52/X2/i-3grc5KZ-X2.jpg)

Hey, that's me.  I appreciate the photo as I don't have any action shots of when I had the 17" wheels on it.  In practice, it didn't work out so well and I went back to 18" wheels. 

That was a while ago for sure...thinking 09ish.

Jeff
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: cliffrod on January 29, 2021, 09:11:54 PM

(https://i.ibb.co/FJwJp35/Trospers.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FJwJp35)

Kenosha Wisconsin's own Eric and Celia Trosper. Not sure who owns the rights to this picture...
Would your wife/SO do that? Neither would mine!

Showed her the pic and comments & my wife said "sure, no problem except that we're old now." 

We both did lots more ridiculous stuff before we met.  20 yrs later, we now either sit in front of the blazing fireplace or crank the heated mattress pad (imagine a queen bed-sized heating pad.. It's amazing) and convalesce together while laughing about young people doing stuff that's gonna hurt a lot later.
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: 80CX100 on January 29, 2021, 09:46:35 PM
     Dave Roper is in a league of his own, definitely a class act.  :bow:

     Watching him doing the one man crew routine, pulling the vintage bikes out of his van and setting up his pit with his bikes up on his homemade stands constructed  out of discarded hockey sticks is priceless.

     I searched for a photo of an old guzzi single that he was racing at Calabogie, he described it as some sort of pre Falcone Factory ride bike, very different engineering, just the gas cap lever assembly alone had 8-10 moving parts, alas I can't find the photos,lol.

     But I did find a photo of a sweet sidecar rig from Mosport, I believe it's the same bike ridden by the American couple that others have posted, just done up in slightly different body work, very impressive riders and rig.

     
(https://i.ibb.co/D9pfrWN/moto-guzzi-sidecar-mosport-2019-jeff-born.jpg) (https://ibb.co/D9pfrWN)
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: HarveyMushman on January 30, 2021, 07:10:09 AM
Hey, that's me.  I appreciate the photo as I don't have any action shots of when I had the 17" wheels on it.  In practice, it didn't work out so well and I went back to 18" wheels. 

That was a while ago for sure...thinking 09ish.

Jeff

Cool!  Barber, '07.  I'll send you a few more. 
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: chuck peterson on January 30, 2021, 11:24:29 AM
I knew a Dave Roper in CT in the late '70's who was a welder and a motorcycle racer. He was campaigning a Silk at the time, which looked like it was based on an old Scott Flying Squirrel. I remember him saying it wasn't the fastest on the straights but hard to beat in the twisties...
Same guy?
Larry

Check his blog!
Title: Re: Racing Guzzis
Post by: HarveyMushman on February 01, 2021, 05:19:43 PM
Some photos from the internet . . .

(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-hfgbpSj/0/77c0f48e/O/i-hfgbpSj.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-TBSXjXm/0/6000a7b3/O/i-TBSXjXm.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Qw2dSsx/0/c30ed682/O/i-Qw2dSsx.jpg)