RC Reading: A Million Miles Of Racing

RealClassic regular Stu Thomson recently discovered a book by GS Davison, Phil Heath and WJ McGowan, originally published in 1950. It attempted to capture the million miles that were estimated to be completed by motorcycle racers in that year’s season. As a fan of Italian lightweights, Stu was drawn to the report from the Ulster Grand Prix…

The Ulster Grand Prix on 19^th August 1950 marked the first time the little Italian bikes had competed in the 125cc race. These were the days of mass starts where all classes were in the same race! The 125 race was the last to start and the first to finish as they only completed 165 miles compared to 247 for the 500 class. All eleven of the 125 entries were Italian, composed of five Mondials, four Morinis and a couple of MVs.

Unfortunately the Morinis failed to materialise on the day and neither did two of the Mondials. It was said in the press box that this was confusion caused by the telegraphic entry from the Mondial concern. Two of the riders had been put down as entries in their first names as well as their surnames. The firm had only ever intended to submit three entries to the race.

Although the 125 race was recorded as ‘not being exciting’, it was certainly interesting. The mechanical perfection of these ‘fleas’ was seen for the first time on any circuit in Britain, a thing to behold and admired. Spectators were accustomed to watching the 125 class at short circuit meetings in the UK. Those races would be won at an average of 40-45mph s people were a little surprised when Bruno Ruffo did a lap in practice at 76.19mph.

In the race itself this increased to 78.92mph. Indeed the two Mondial riders who finished the race were both faster than the fourth-placed Excelsior-mounted rider in the 250cc race! First, second and third in the 250 race were Moto Guzzi, Benelli and Moto Guzzi, underlining the competitive nature of small-capacity Italians of this era.

In the 125 class the three Mondials left the line together making a noise like that of a trio of angry mosquitos. Just over 12 minutes later they had completed the 16½ miles  and came buzzing furiously past, ahead of several 250s, their riders flat on the tanks and their legs stretched out on footrests near the top of the rear mudguards.

Ruffo, the leader from Ubbiali by a few yards, was reported to have clocked 84.3mph on the ‘flying kilometre’ near the pits. Their positions were eventually reversed. Including pit stops, Ubbiali finished in just over two hours at an average speed of 77.46mph. Ruffo was a single minute behind him at 76.81mph. Pretty quick for 125s in 1950 without streamlined fairings!

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Stu Thomson tells us more about lightweight Italians in the September issue of RealClassic magazine…