We were there… The 2011 Race Retro Show
The Race Retro show is one of those events that has a great mix of vehicles with both 2 and 4 wheels and there were some superb machines there from both worlds. With an underlying theme of historic motorsport, the show certainly attracts some of the world’s leading machines, riders and drivers.
Without a doubt the most exciting bike on show was the quite incredible Guzzi V8 – a machine that became a legend as soon as it was produced and has remained so until this day. The bike was the brainchild of Giuliano Carcano, who created perhaps one of the most iconic racing motorcycles never to have a major racing success. Eight separate Dell-Orto carbs helped to produce 80bhp from the 500cc twin-cam 90-degree V8, resulting in a top speed of over 180mph. The fairing is a work of art, although I would have loved to have seen the engine naked in all its glory – but perhaps another time… And if you fancy a real treat, click on this link to hear this bike in action back in 1957. It takes a minute or two to load but it’s superb!
It was nice to see The Sammy Miller Museum brought along a couple more Italian racing machines, including a
gorgeous Gilera 4 (that I am sure one day I will own!) and a 1953 Reynolds Mondial. I plan to take a trip to Sammy’s museum sometime over the next few months and have a chat with the man himself – I’m sure he will have a few stories to tell…!
So whilst there were a lot of Ultimate Italian race machinery there, the bike that really caught my eye was a 1967 Velocette Thruxton endurance racer. Just check out the pictures!
And to give you a feel for the wide variety of bikes at the show, I’ve put together a gallery for you all to enjoy! You can see the gallery here.
