Benelli GPracers: 1he 250cc singles

Raymond Ainscoe, is a committed Italiaphile, and has compiled many books on the racing motorcycles from his preferred country. In collaboration with Paul Ingham - himself an authority on old racers, who has written several books too - they've come up with this slim and interesting volume on what could be best described as a 'niche' product: Benelli 250cc racing singles.

Though it's a very small number of motorcycles Raymond is talking about, it's an interesting read, nonetheless. It's not a hefty tome that's going to take ages to get through and, indeed, can be read in one helping - similar to Raymond's other recent offerings I've enjoyed, Paton GP racers and Bob McIntyre's 350 Bianchi.

Brilliant illustrations help 'Benelli' with Raymond's work and there are great little anecdotes to be picked up, including how when British aces Cecil Sandford and Bill Lomas went to try the Benellis in Italy, Lomas ran off the (public) road at 110mph avoiding a dog, while Cecil ended up in a prison cell after a misunderstanding and the police suspecting he'd stolen a Benelli. Neither ever raced for the firm ... Plus, we also learn race aces Ted Mellors (1939 250cc TT winner on a Benelli) and Fergus Anderson's were on Hitler's infamous 'race ace' list possibly due to their friendship with Gaston Barbe, a Belgian Benelli rider who raced under the name 'Dickwell:

There's so few of the machines remaining, Raymond has done a sterling job of trying to work out what is where and precisely what is actually what - lots of engine swaps and such has gone on, with well-known examples (including the Barbe bike) going through multiple incarnations, including its original frame buried in an English garden at least twice!

For a copy, at £18 (UK postage free), send a cheque payable to Raymond Ainscoe, 3 Mendip House Gardens, Curly Hill, Ilkley LS29 ODD.