Alf LewinThe V8 only raced in the IOM in 1957 ridden by Dickie Dale as Bill Lomas was injured at the time. I think he finished 3rd on 7 cylinders. It also did not use the dustbin fairing. He finished behind Bob McIntyre and John Surtees. I watched the race at Hillberry, I was 14 at the time.
I have got to correct some of the statements below this video. After talking directly with Mr Pino Todero in Mandello del Lario, I can say that there are still three original and complete Moto Guzzi 500 cc 8 cylinders: one at the Moto Guzzi Museum, another one owned by Mr Todero himself and the third one in Mr Frigerio's hands (he keeps it in his living room). Of course there is a number of original engines (one at the Moto Guzzi Museum itself, near the complete motorcycle) and spare parts but, if we talk about complete pieces, the total number is three. Apart from them, there are some replicas. The original motorcycles dating back to the 50's (if I remember well, six motorcycles were produced between 1955 and 1957) could have been more if Moto Guzzi had taken care of all of them the way they deserved to but that did not happen, unfortunately. I hope this may help all the fans of such a superb expression of mechanical technique
You would be surprised how small these machines are. I sat on one displayed at the U.S. M.G.distributor in 1967 during a service seminar. Incidentally, I don't think these had hardened valve seats, just the aluminum head material.
If you check online, there's some audio of the original factory bike at the IoM, when it raced in 1954, I think. The awesome sound it put out at full speed was incredible, and nothing like a "mo ped with a broken exhaust" as another poster put it. The original Moto Guzzi V8 factory racer was a very scary bike to ride. Only Bill Lomas and one or two others could handle it, or even wanted to try. It could spin the back wheel in any gear, at any speed, which is understandable when you realize the fattest tires they fitted on the back were 400/19 when it was raced, which are way skinny by today's standards. The dustbin fairings were used on other GP bikes, too, but were eventually banned after too many of them broke and hit the front wheel. The fact that Lomas was still alive and well in this video is pretty amazing when you consider that most of those that he raced against back then were killed while racing. Back then all you had between you and the hard stuff was a single layer of very thin leather, with no back protectors or armour of any kind. This leather boots and gloves, and a Cromwell helmet, which was a short half-helmet made out of cork under a shell that was essentially a 1/4-inch layer of hardened nylon and resin. Not much protection, especially on a V8 Guzzi.
Chuck, have a look here! you'll find it very very interesting! it's a movie starring Lomas too... racing on Guzzis, of course. www.kickstarter.com/projects/2143748536/i-fidanzati-della-morte-engaged-to-death
one complete bike was built and one engine. both are displayed at the moto guzzi museum in mandello del lario, italy. every other 500cc v8 guzzi you see is a replica. like the one in the sammy miller museum.
Why were dustbin fairings outlawed anyway? A critical obstruction to smooth airflow is that front wheel spinning away out in front of the modern fairing.
David is right. They were actually dangerous too, since the racer had little room to move and exit them in case of accident... If you want to enjoy the last dustbin fairing in MotGP have a look at this amazing movie, hust recovered after 60 years of oblivion! www.kickstarter.com/projects/2143748536/i-fidanzati-della-morte-engaged-to-death
The V8 also won several records... Unluckily Guzzi, Gilera and Mondial signed the so called "great refusal" to stop speed racing activity. It was in 1957. Luckily there's a feature narrative movie shot in 1956 in the italian racing world that has just been recovered where you can enjoy all those amazing jewels competing in Monza. Have a look here! www.kickstarter.com/projects/2143748536/i-fidanzati-della-morte-engaged-to-death
Would you love to enjoy Bill Lomas riding Guzzi jewels in the only movie ever shot in the 50s thrilling motorcycle racing world?? Would you love to help restore it and re-release it? Donate here and reserve your dvd and many other rewards... www.kickstarter.com/projects/2143748536/i-fidanzati-della-morte-engaged-to-death
Alf LewinThe V8 only raced in the IOM in 1957 ridden by Dickie Dale as Bill Lomas was injured at the time. I think he finished 3rd on 7 cylinders. It also did not use the dustbin fairing. He finished behind Bob McIntyre and John Surtees. I watched the race at Hillberry, I was 14 at the time.
Oh...mai...good...FANTASTIC !!!
I have got to correct some of the statements below this video. After talking directly with Mr Pino Todero in Mandello del Lario, I can say that there are still three original and complete Moto Guzzi 500 cc 8 cylinders: one at the Moto Guzzi Museum, another one owned by Mr Todero himself and the third one in Mr Frigerio's hands (he keeps it in his living room). Of course there is a number of original engines (one at the Moto Guzzi Museum itself, near the complete motorcycle) and spare parts but, if we talk about complete pieces, the total number is three. Apart from them, there are some replicas. The original motorcycles dating back to the 50's (if I remember well, six motorcycles were produced between 1955 and 1957) could have been more if Moto Guzzi had taken care of all of them the way they deserved to but that did not happen, unfortunately. I hope this may help all the fans of such a superb expression of mechanical technique
Moto guzzi la mejor
Que hubo de carreras
Y no de carreras tambien
You would be surprised how small these machines are. I sat on one displayed at the U.S. M.G.distributor in 1967 during a service seminar. Incidentally, I don't think these had hardened valve seats, just the aluminum head material.
If you check online, there's some audio of the original factory bike at the IoM, when it raced in 1954, I think. The awesome sound it put out at full speed was incredible, and nothing like a "mo ped with a broken exhaust" as another poster put it. The original Moto Guzzi V8 factory racer was a very scary bike to ride. Only Bill Lomas and one or two others could handle it, or even wanted to try. It could spin the back wheel in any gear, at any speed, which is understandable when you realize the fattest tires they fitted on the back were 400/19 when it was raced, which are way skinny by today's standards. The dustbin fairings were used on other GP bikes, too, but were eventually banned after too many of them broke and hit the front wheel.
The fact that Lomas was still alive and well in this video is pretty amazing when you consider that most of those that he raced against back then were killed while racing. Back then all you had between you and the hard stuff was a single layer of very thin leather, with no back protectors or armour of any kind. This leather boots and gloves, and a Cromwell helmet, which was a short half-helmet made out of cork under a shell that was essentially a 1/4-inch layer of hardened nylon and resin. Not much protection, especially on a V8 Guzzi.
Chuck, have a look here! you'll find it very very interesting! it's a movie starring Lomas too... racing on Guzzis, of course. www.kickstarter.com/projects/2143748536/i-fidanzati-della-morte-engaged-to-death
one complete bike was built and one engine. both are displayed at the moto guzzi museum in mandello del lario, italy.
every other 500cc v8 guzzi you see is a replica. like the one in the sammy miller museum.
The single sound like lawn tractors with the muffler removed. Yay.
Che meraviglia certo non doveva essere facile da guidare sembra un siluro
Una obra de arte esa moto y mas en la epoca que fue creada despues dicen de los japoneses ellos se copiaron de los europeos
The Only One Original is in the Museum about Guzzi's Factory in Mandello del Lario...the others are all replicas
Who built the repicas, and how many replicas are there ? Does anybody know. ?They are a great piece if enineering
Why were dustbin fairings outlawed anyway? A critical obstruction to smooth airflow is that front wheel spinning away out in front of the modern fairing.
I understand it was because they were badly affected by side winds.
David is right. They were actually dangerous too, since the racer had little room to move and exit them in case of accident... If you want to enjoy the last dustbin fairing in MotGP have a look at this amazing movie, hust recovered after 60 years of oblivion! www.kickstarter.com/projects/2143748536/i-fidanzati-della-morte-engaged-to-death
How many did they build. ? Does any body know?
Good video, but some editing is in order.
they won i think two races, but that was it, then moto guzzi pulled out of gp racing
The V8 also won several records... Unluckily Guzzi, Gilera and Mondial signed the so called "great refusal" to stop speed racing activity. It was in 1957. Luckily there's a feature narrative movie shot in 1956 in the italian racing world that has just been recovered where you can enjoy all those amazing jewels competing in Monza. Have a look here! www.kickstarter.com/projects/2143748536/i-fidanzati-della-morte-engaged-to-death
Lorsque tu vois les pneus tu entent les moteurs ,,,sans carénage le casque et tous ce que tu vois aujourd'hui et bien ces mecs etaient FOUX
Hibou , caillou , chou , bijou , genou , joujou , pou . . . Et c'est est tout ! . . .😛😛😛Lol ! . . .
how many cc's?
Ein 8Zylinder Motor hat einen anderen Klang (neudeutsch Sound )😁😁😁
500cc v8 engine
Would you love to enjoy Bill Lomas riding Guzzi jewels in the only movie ever shot in the 50s thrilling motorcycle racing world?? Would you love to help restore it and re-release it? Donate here and reserve your dvd and many other rewards... www.kickstarter.com/projects/2143748536/i-fidanzati-della-morte-engaged-to-death
Sounds awful compared with MV