Moto Guzzi Fast Endurance Trophy

 

After the circuit of Vallelunga close to Roma and the circuit of Cremona, the next Moto Guzzi Fast Endurance Trophy race will take place on August 27th at the emblematic Mugello circuit, the dream of any true racing enthusiast, before finally finishing in Misano on October 14th and 15th. The protagonists are teams that share the saddle of the Moto Guzzi V7 with an 850 cc engine, equipped with an even more evolved and improved GCorse Racing kit, for an ever higher performance and stronger emotions. The formula remains that of "fast endurance", with teams of two pilots and races of 60 minutes for the round of Vallelunga and the mini endurance on Sunday at Misano, 75 minutes for Mugello and 90 minutes for the circuit of Cremona and the night race of Misano.

Via : motoguzzi.com

Bol d'Or

Paul Smart at the Bol d'Or 1970, on a factory Triumph

The Bol d’Or, first organized by Eugene Mauve, in 1922, was a race for motorcycles, and automobiles limited to 1100cc engine capacity (in the 1950s the limit was raised to 1500cc, and later to 2000cc). Today, the Bol d’Or is exclusively a motorcycle race, although there are a number of side "attractions", such as races for amateur riders and for classic bikes.

1969 Honda N° 61 ridden by Michel Rougerie and Daniel Udrich

Prior to 1953 only one rider per machine was permitted. The record holder with seven victories, Frenchman Gustave Lefèvre, won with an average speed of 107 kilometers/hour riding his Norton Manx for the whole 24 hours (Only surpassed by Vincent Philippe). From 1954 to 1977 the teams comprised two riders, and then, in the interests of safety, this was increased to three.

Gustave Lefèvre

Vincent Philippe

 
Until 1970 the race was held at various circuits, mainly Linas-Montlhéry and Saint-Germain-en-Laye. From 1971 to 1977 the Bol d’Or was held at the permanent Le Mans Bugatti circuit, which excludes the temporary street circuit section, exiting before the Tertre Rouge esses and rejoining at the Ford Chicane, excluding the section from the Tertre Rouge, Mulsanne, and Porsche Curves. 

 

Michel Hervé

For the next 22 years the event took place at Paul Ricard, after which it moved to Magny-Cours. When the race left Le Mans the 24 Heures du Mans was established, so that when the Bol d'Or returned to Le Mans, there were for a time two annual 24-hour motorcycle endurance events on the Bugatti circuit. 

 

The Triumph Trident triple, which finished 19th in 1971

Until 2015, the Bol d’Or was held in the spring, while the 24 Heures du Mans was in the early September slot formerly used by the Bol d’Or. In 2016 things changed again: the "24 Heures du Mans" moved to the spring, while the Bol d’Or moved to Circuit Paul Ricard In September.

 Marc Fontan on the Japauto n°17 that he shared with Guy Bertin during the Bol 1977.

24-hour motorcycle endurance racing has a strong Francophone base, with the three main events held in France (Le Mans & Magny-Cours) and French-speaking Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps), and the most successful teams and riders are French. In 1970, 1971 and 1992 all-British teams of riders won the races. British rider Terry Rymer has had consistent results. In the 1970s the competitors included Phil Read and Neil Tuxworth, who later headed Honda Racing UK.

Le Cheval de Fer Motorcycle Movie

 

During the 1970s, Pierre William Glenn, until then director of photography and cameraman, decided to strike out on his own and became a director. He staged the motorcycle Grands Prix of the time with his first feature film as a director. The Iron Horse recounts the "fantastic ride", in 1974, of the best riders in Europe on the twelve Grand Prix circuits which then constitute the World Championship. If there was to be only one movie about the world of motorcycling to watch, to keep, to savor, it would be this one. Cult, hard to find and memorable, the Iron Horse has left a lasting mark on the minds of enthusiasts. Witness to a bygone era when legends of motorcycle riding fought a real battle on the track. More concretely, the film is interested in the 12 Grands Prix which constitute the world championship of speed of the year 1974 by focusing on the best French pilots of the time. We will thus be able to come across well-known faces of Continental Circus fans throughout the documentary, including the excellent Patrick Pons, the late Michel Rougerie or even the champions René Guili, Bernard Fau or Gérard Choukroun. Skimming the European circuits, the French then have rivals bearing the name of Giacomo Agostini, Barry Sheene, Phil Read or Jack Findlay. Names that are now legendary and engraved forever in the annals of motorcycling sport.

The Erzberg Rodeo

The Erzberg Rodeo is an Austrian motorcycle enduro event started in 1995 and held annually in May or June, run on ore. It is the largest of its kind in Europe. The Erzberg Rodeo is part of the Red Bull Hard Enduro Series, together with Red Bull Romaniacs, Red Bull Minas Riders, Red Bull Megawatt, Red Bull Sea to Sky, and Roof of Africa. In 2018 it joined the World Enduro Super Series, which became the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship in 2021.

The toughest extreme enduro race in the world. On the first day, the pilots have the mission to tame 35 km of treacherous terrain, tracks saturated with stones and big climbs in the forest. Then, the 500 fastest participants qualify for the main race on Sunday. In 2023 Mani Lettenbichler wins his second Red Bull Erzbergrodeo in a row

Wes Cooley an American Champion

Wester Steven Cooley, (1956- 2021), better known as Wes, was an American motorcycle road racer in the AMA Superbike class. He won the 1979 and 1980 AMA Superbike Championships on a Yoshimura Suzuki GS1000s. Born in Los Angeles, California, Cooley got his start on the Southern California club racing scene where his father ran a club racing organization. He honed his skills in the smaller classes before being hired by Pops Yoshimura to race a Kawasaki KZ1000 in the newly formed AMA production class. He won his first AMA superbike race in 1977. For the 1978 season, Yoshimura switched to better handling Suzuki bikes and Cooley began winning regularly. He teamed up with Mike Baldwin to win the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours race in Japan. In 1980, he teamed up with Graeme Crosby to win at Suzuka a second time. Cooley went on to win his first superbike national championship in 1979. He successfully defended his crown in 1980 by fighting off future Hall of Famers Eddie Lawson on a Kawasaki and Freddie Spencer on a Honda.

In 1985 Cooley suffered life-threatening injuries in a crash at Sears Point Raceway. He eventually recovered to race again but he was never able to recapture his form. After his retirement from racing, he worked as an instructor at a riding school (WCRA) before taking up a career in the medical profession. Cooley was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2004.

The Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race

Since its first holding in 1978 until this day, the Suzuka 8 Hours has been the scene a lot of dramatic racing that has brought great excitement to the fans and enabled the event to win tremendous support, both in Japan and abroad. Suzuka Circuit, the stage of this endurance race, is known all over the world as the host circuit for the F1 World Championship, Grand Prix of Japan. However, it must be remembered that motorcycles have always been welcome on the track: only two months after its inauguration in September 1962, the first motorcycle competition was held there. And in November 1963, the circuit was already hosting an FIM Road Racing World Championship race. The Grand Prix of Japan was then held at Suzuka for three years in succession. It resumed again in 1987 and continued to be held until 2003, after which the Grand Prix of Japan moved its stage to Twin Ring Motegi. The Suzuka Circuit still hosts various motorcycle road race competitions, such as national championship events and amateur races. Riding on this legendary track is a dream for many competitors.

The traditional "Le Mans style start" where you run to your own machine is one of the scenes that symbolize the Suzuka 8 Hours.

Every year, when spring passes and the temperature rises, not only motorcycle racing fans, but also motorcycle fans and riders start to get agitated. It's a signal. With the exception of being canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the spread of the new coronavirus, it has been held continuously since its first event in 1978, and has always been supported by many fans as the most major road race in Japan. "Suzuka 8 Hours" continues to be held.

2022 night session. As the climax of the race approaches, the headlights shine brighter.

The economic crisis of 1973, the so-called oil shock, remained in the aftermath for several years after that, causing a decline in the racing population that had been booming since the 1960s. Many of the domestic motorcycle races at that time had few entries, and several classes were mixed.

Yoshimura won the first Suzuka 8 Hours in 1978 by defeating the mighty Maker Works. A total of 98,000 people visited the first Suzuka 8 Hours in two days.

In the latter half of the 1970s, the racing world finally began to recover from the effects of the oil crisis, and the Suzuka Circuit staff and people involved in the race said, "European champion teams will participate in the famous Le Mans and Bol d'Or 24 Hours races. If we could hold an international-class endurance race, wouldn't it be a new festival for Japanese riders?” Such thoughts began to grow, and the “planning for a new race” began. This project is the "International Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Motorcycle Race", which started in 1978, and is now known as the "Suzuka 8 Hours".

Pit work scene in 1991.

The length of the new race was eight hours as a result of considerations for noise to the surrounding area and strain on officials. In addition, the goal time is set after sunset, taking into consideration the dramatic goal and the production of fireworks. After making a comprehensive judgment on securing transportation for the fans to return home and safety related to the race, a format that continues to this day was established, with the start at 11:30 a.m. and the checkered flag at 7:30 p.m. .

The Suzuki GS1000 R wins in 1980

The Suzuka 8 Hours featured a variety of highlights that were almost non-existent in the sprint-centered domestic motorcycle races up to that point. A unique Le Mans-style start that runs to the machine, rider changes during the race, pit work such as tire changes and refueling. The audience was enraptured by these dramas and cheered them on. When dusk approached and the light-on signboards were put out, the headlights and taillights of the circling machines created a beautiful contrast in the evening sky, making the spectators even more excited.

Christian Sarron in 1986

Christian Sarron in 1986

In 1980, the European Championship endurance series was promoted to the World Championship. The popularity of the Suzuka 8 Hours in Japan was conveyed to the world by officials who visited Japan in 1978 and 1979, and the Suzuka 8 Hours was held as the "World Championship Series Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Motorcycle Race" from 1980. After that, it developed further and became the largest motorcycle race in Japan.

Kenny Roberts in 1985

In addition, the PR effect of the Suzuka 8 Hours event also attracted attention, and in 1984 Coca-Cola started sponsoring the event, which continues to this day. Each team now has a sponsor. Campaign girls and celebrities also appeared as moving billboards, making the Suzuka 8 Hours even more spectacular and established as a midsummer festival, the Suzuka 8 Hours. Even now, it continues as a big event that is indispensable in summer.

Via : https://www.suzukacircuit.jp/

BSA Catalina Scrambler

The BSA Catalina Scrambler was the perfect machine for a rider like AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Chuck "Feets" Minert. Chuck Minert raced for the BSA factory team, with the biggest win of his career coming at the 1956 Catalina Grand Prix. The win was so prestigious that after Minert's win, BSA named the 1959 Gold Star DBD 34 the "Catalina Scrambler." It was a little tricky because the machine Feets rode to victory was a 1956 BSA Gold Star Scrambler. “I switched to a five-gallon tank so I could run the 100-mile race non-stop. I used a front brake backing plate with a scoop for extra cooling and ran a 19-inch front wheel instead of the standard 21-inch wheel favored by English riders,” Feets said.

Chuck Minert, at 83 years old, standing behind a 1962 BSA Catalina Scrambler. 

Hap Alzina, the West Coast BSA dealer, asked the factory to build a replica of Minert's Gold Star bike. BSA responded with the Catalina Scrambler in 1959. The machine would not change until BSA stopped production in 1963.

Hap Alzina

Chuck and his wife Gloria

The aluminum-barreled Gold Star was arguably the most successful race bike ever built. It won races for over a decade in all disciplines, but ultimately the venerable Gold Star model was replaced by the smaller (and lighter) B44 that was developed by 500 World Champion Jeff Smith. This machine, based on the BSA 250cc model, would win its final 500cc Motocross World Championship in 1965, marking the end of four-stroke dominance in the premier series for the next 30 years.