Italians in full bloom

The Festival of Italian Motorcycles has been run for many years; the location, a moving target, has changed between the Melbourne Museum, Coburg and lately, back to Carlton. The organising group is a movable feast; at the moment there is representation from C.I.M.A.A., the Moto Guzzi, Ducati, Laverda and M.V. clubs of Victoria. The Festival may appear to some, like Italian Politics; unstable. This is a mistaken view; the Festival is an inevitable springtime flowering, an expression of Melbourne’s deep Italian heritage! Despite changeable weather, there were about 200 people attending and 107 machines were on display. The People’s choice award, sponsored by Eurobrit Motorcycles was won by Richie Hawkes’ 1950 200cc FB Mondial. It was imported by him about 2 years ago. Garth Martin’s 1967 250 Aermacchi Ala Verde won the ‘Best in Show Restored’ award, sponsored by Chateau Tahbilk Winery. Teo Lamers and Trevor Armstrong, from the mid North of Victoria, brought along two Moto Guzzi ‘Ercoles’. These half-truck, half-motorcycle are built by various workshops in the Northern Italian alpine areas, based on the Moto Guzzi 500cc single. Both of these machines had farming usage and are tough machines; Ercole translates as Hercules! Teo’s machine is a 1968 model with electric start, Trevor’s machine is from the early 1950s. Both machines feature 4 speed gearbox, auxiliary reversing gearbox and hydraulic powered tippers. Rob Barker brought along a 1972 Laverda 750 SFC series 11000, (one of 55 produced), with factory option Ceriani front brake and exhaust. It is jointly owned with his brother Pete. It was raced at Misano, Modena and Vallelunga before being stored for about 25 years. This machine won the award, sponsored by Badge replicas, for best Laverda twin. All award winners also received a bottle of wine from the Major Sponsor, Chateau Tahbilk Winery who are long time supporters of this event. The Festival organizers wish to specially acknowledge Chateau Tahbilk and to thank all the other award sponsors.