We have covered the fact that Race Retro 2011 will be held at Stoneleigh Park, U.K., in a few weeks during 25 to 27 February. We have even gone through the long list of visitors and visiting motorcycle royalty which is scheduled to attend this massive motor show. As part of the Italian theme, though, a new announcement has eclipsed some of the excitement garnered from previous news and has given Race Retro even more significance.
The very rare, often drooled over, and almost never seen Moto Guzzi V8 Grand Prix racer will debut in the U.K. at this year’s event…one you cannot miss!
The Moto Guzzi V8 was developed during the Grand Prix ‘golden age’ back in the middle part of the 1950’s. This exquisite feat of engineering was designed by Giuliano Carcano in a program
designed to conquer the 500cc Blue Riband class in the FIM World Championship, now MotoGP. The machine never was developed to its full potential as it was cancelled once Moto Guzzi, along with other manufacturers, quit Grand Prix racing altogether in 1957.
The 90° V8 made use of eight carburetors, made nearly 80 horsepower, could exceed 180mph, and actually ran up to 12,500rpm! Carcano believed a great deal in aerodynamics and made extensive use of Moto Guzzi’s industry-first wind tunnel to help with designing the fairing for the ultimate in cheating the wind.
At Race Retro, the Guzzi V8 will be started and run as part of the Ace Café London’s brand new Fire Up Paddock, where other notable machines will also join in the petrol-powered symphony. We can thank owner Giuseppe Todero for bringing this undeniably important machine across the English Channel for its first ever appearance in Great Britain. This is a great opportunity for local residents to get what may be the only chance to both see and hear this cult icon of motorcycling.
Of course, the “Otto” only had limited success in racing. Very few riders were ever able to tame the beast that this machine was to ride due to the fact that most technologies on the machine lagged far behind engine development. It may have become a great race bike if development of the system were continued, but eventual changes at Moto Guzzi and in racing relegated it to a museum piece. Maybe some brave insurance company will let it take a parade lap at a local circuit? It’s good to see the Moto Guzzi V8 being brought back to life again.
Race Retro 2011 will be an all-Italian affair with bikes from Benelli, Ducati, Moto Guzzi and even MV Agusta’s “Fire Engines” will be on display. Race legend Giacomo Agostini will also attend next to a bike built to the same standard as the original three-cylinder MV Agusta 500cc motorcycles he raced. Be there or regret it later – www.raceretro.com.
