20 March 2023 (G.T.) – It’s the event that marks the opening of Guzzi season every year with the traditional starting of the engines ceremony. It was held on Sunday morning, 19 March, in the plaza in front of the Moto Guzzi plant on via Parodi in Mandello del Lario (Italy). Numerous enthusiasts spanning three generations, from grandparents to grandchildren, applauded the parade of about one hundred vintage bikes, also celebrating the 102nd birthday of Moto Guzzi (“Società anonima Moto Guzzi”, established on 15 March 1921).
The event was promoted by the Antiche Moto Brianza Association, GP Mandello del Lario, ASI (Automotoclub Storico Italiano), the Municipality of Mandello del Lario, and Mandello del Lario Città dei Motori. It had a great following of Guzzi fans who came from all over, presented by Oscar Malugani. A triumph of vintage beauties, all manufactured by 1980, rumbled between two rows of spectators in order of type and engine capacity, ridden by biker – from all over Italy and abroad – proud to show off their vehicles, buffed and polished for the occasion. There were light motorcycles, pre-war models, and “sottocanna” bikes, small bikes up to 250cc, ’40s through ’60s era bikes up to 500cc, not to mention prototypes and racing models, ’70s and ’80s era bikes, and Guzzi Trophy bikes. There were Galletto, Falcone, V7, Le Mans, California and many other models, spanning the first 60 years of the Eagle Brand.
A photo report was posted on the Antiche Moto Brianza Facebook page, from which the images for this article were taken for editorial purposes:
www.facebook.com/groups/1557171684497826/?locale=it_IT
The event was live streamed by LECCO FM, Visual Radio Station, on their YouTube channel and it can be viewed here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPYhR3BgEo0
ON THE EVE OF THE EVENT: DIORAMAS AND MINIATURES EXHIBIT. On the occasion of Moto Guzzi’s 102nd anniversary, an exhibit of dioramas and miniatures dedicated to the Eagle Brand’s history was set up and open to the public from 15 through 19 March 2023 in the Antica Officina (Ancient Workshop) di Giorgio Ripamonti, on via Cavour 12 in Mandello del Lario.
It was created by Gianni Redi, Alessandro and Simone Rigamonti, and Alessandro Besana, motoring and model building enthusiasts. Among the works, painstakingly created down to the last detail in 1:24 scale, is the workshop where the first Guzzi-Parodi (GP) prototype was built in 1919, forefather to the first Moto Guzzi motorcycles, the Normale 500.
Source of images, Officina del prototipo Guzzi Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/laofficinadelprototipoGuzzi
LECCO FM Visual Radio Station Official YouTube Video – Guzzi themed Dioramas on display in the Ancient Workshop:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ1AzToEYjk
In the background of this article: the first Moto Guzzi, the 1921 Normale 500; a historic, 100 year-old poster, created by G. Muggiani in 1923; the detail of a miniature in the exhibit at the Mandello Officina Ripamonti/Ripamonti Workshop.
UPCOMING MOTO GUZZI EVENTS.
MOTO GUZZI WORLD CLUB, NATIONAL MEETING IN BENEVENTO: “Moto Guzzi finally in Benevento. The event, scheduled for 28, 29, and 30 April 2023, is an important one. In fact, the National Meeting organised by the Moto Guzzi World Club will be held for the first time in Campania. The Meeting is an event which has gathered Guzzisti from all over Italy and Europe over the years. The programme is still being determined and the hosting club has the task of preparing the relative signboard, namely the Benevento Guzzi Club. In the meantime, the city of Benevento and the entire Samnium are preparing: the Trajan Arch, the Roman Theatre, the Church of Santa Sofia (UNESCO Heritage site), and the Museo del Sannio will certainly manage to amaze everyone. The local Institutions have already given their approval, so all that’s left is to wait a few weeks to begin discovering the details of the official event which will kick off the M.G.W.C. rally season.
Source and info: motoguzziworldclub.it/mapi/index.php
En:
motoguzziworldclub.it/mapi/index.php?module=content&object=417
MOTO GUZZI THE CLAN, THE OFFICIAL COMMUNITY OF MOTO GUZZI OWNERS AND FANS:
www.motoguzzi.com/en_EN/the-clan
MOTO GUZZI EXPERIENCE 2023:
www.motoguzzi.com/en_EN/experience
