‘Come and Try’ Guzzis

I have just read OBA 82 with the story on the racing Moto Guzzis in Australia. I saw Bill Lomas and Dickie Dale with the bikes at Fishermans bend in 1956. They were unbeatable, as the article said.

Australian Keith Bryen on the works 350 Moto Guzzi on the grid for the 1957 Belgian Grand Prix, alongside Colnago’s sister machine. Note the fairings painted in the green etch-primer, which showed up any cracks, as well as the greasy fingerprints!

After the meeting was over, they gave a lot of the locals a ride, just up the strip and back, and they all came back rapt. Bill Petrie told me how he had a ride, and he couldn’t believe how light and balanced they were. In those days, the dustbin fairings were not painted, just a light coat of etchprimer (aircraft type), to keep the weight down, and also if a crack developed, it was easily seen. Under a coat of paint it could be missed.

The man who did much of the work to establish the Mt Kembla circuit, Ron Shoemark, leads Noel Gavenlock at an early meeting.