Lucky Phil

Visited Mugello race track yesterday and just my luck there was a ride day on. These guys are pretty serious about their ride days as the paddock images show and the action on the track was take no prisoners as well. Go hard or go home pretty much. No fast, medium and slow group stuff here. Paid 10euros for the wife and I to get into the pits and got trackside on the pit wall and took some videos which are too big to upload apparently. Mugello is the track where the MotoGP boys hit 366kph on the straight. At the end of the straight there is a rise and a kink not a million miles away from the kink and rise at Laguna Seca on the straight except here the GP boys are cranking out 366kph and also setting the bike up for the braking zone and turn in point for turn 1 without being able to see either because of the rise. It's not that apparent on the TV but trackside it's quite distinct as is the undulating nature of the rest of the track. Back maybe 10 years ago Rossi's Yamaha blew up here as it wheel spun over the rise every lap over revving the engine until it called enough. Yamaha had to reduce the max rpm to compensate at this track for a year or two till they got the engine management stuff sorted. No Guzzi presence at all, not hard enough. Phil

Oh good, glad I didn't fly half way around the world to miss great weather at home. The weather here is perfect. Yesterday evening we sat outside in the 24 degree sunny day, drank vino and listened to the steady stream of sports bikes going past on the very windy road past and below the villa. After we ate a simple meal we prepared ourselves with pomodoro, Mozzarella, basil and Bresaola. The Pomodoro and Basil were home grown and given to us by our hosts. The road surfaces here are perfectly smooth and grippy. Relaxation day today with a tour around the local area and a visit to the Mugello track. Only issue is I really don't want to leave. Phil

You need to be careful about the rear shock length on the v11. If my memory serves you can't go much beyond and extra 10mm in length or you run into clearance issues with the front uni joint and the swingarm hole. If your Hyperpro is already lengthened. I havea Wilbers with a ride height adjuster on the swingarm end. Currently staying in this Tuscan Villa. Looking down into the valley you may just be able to make out the famous Mugello race track. We are less than 2 klms from it. The roads around here are so amazing I wonder why the need a track at all. There's a Porsche club using the track until tonight apparently. You can here them in the distance. Naturally nobody here complains about a bit of engine noise off in the distance, unlike home. Phil

I never even thought about the handlebar V steering wheel aspect of the trike V 3 wheeled car. Phil

Can you really call these a "trike" Personally I consider them more a 3 wheeled car. A trike is something that was 2 wheels at the back and one at the front and originally based on a motorcycle or something with a motorcycle front end/forks. I know they morphed a bit from there with VW powered "things" being popular but the Morgan style seems as I said more a 3 wheeled car not a "trike". Phil

The issue with the neutral light switch is the brass contacts become tarnished after many years and no longer have a low resistance. A new switch is the best answer as the originals aren't really able to be disassembled. I disassembled one and found the tarnished contacts and then attempted to reassemble it using JB weld but it didn't last long so I used a spare I had I recently bought a brand new switch for a reasonable price as previously they wants some totally stupid money for them. Can't remember where I bought it though. Ruling out the obvious connection issues the switch also needs to be fitted with the correct thickness crush washer to work correctly as this governs the plunger travel position on the selector gear. Phil

One swallow does not a summer make as the old saying goes. I wouldn't make a statement like this without quite a few miles on the bike in various weather conditions. Been there. Phil

The writing literally takes 5 seconds. Phil

Carlo Guzzi memorial. Centre of Mandello.

Forgot to mention that yesterday I got to sit on a Guzzi V8 that was in the small Piazza where the statue of Carlo Guzzi resides. This Piazza was where they had a display of about 20 old Guzzi race bikes and some were started up for the benefit of the crowd including the V8 and the 500 Bicylindrica. I cheekily asked the custodian of the V8 if I could get an image of me sitting on the bike and he looked a little shocked that someone would ask such a thing but then happily agreed. So on it I sat and my wife got a few images. This is the bike.

One for docc and scudd. The wife and I are so taken with Mandello we are looking at properties here. Six months a year here would be quite agreeable.

Big day today wandering around Mandello. Still packed with Guzzi enthusiasts. I got the hear an old bicylindrica running (the 120 degree V twin 500cc GP bike from the thirties to the 50's if memory serves) and also got to sit on a Guzzi V8. I didn't get to see it running due to timing issues (me being around) but I heard it run twice during the day from 1/2 a klm away when it was started up. I also had the great privilege of visiting the preserved workshop of Giorgio Ripamonti who was a teacher of the young Carlo Guzzi and in this workshop with his help the very first Moto Guzzi called the "GP" was built and assembled. I spent 1/2 hour talking to his grandson who spoke very good English. On this very anvil and in this tiny workshop at this hearth Carlo Guzzi and Giorgio Ripamonti created the very first Guzzi.