Moto Guzzi 500 C 4V – 1924 Guzzi racing team - motorcycle racing photo Ghersi

Description

A superb and rare photo of the famous
1924 Moto Guzzi racing team
just after victoriously finishing the famous
Circuito del Lario
race of
1924
with the
Guzzi 500cc C 4V
factory racer.
Shown are, from left to right,
Guido Mentasti
,
Pietro Ghersi
and
Mario Ghersi
.
It is a very interesting photo that represents a lot of Moto Guzzi history.
The photo was taken in 1924, just after the finish of the famous
Circuito del Lario
roadrace, which was won by
Pietro Ghersi
(in the middle) on a Guzzi 500cc C 4V
s.o.h.c. 4-valve racing single (bike on photo).
Guido Mentasti
(left) finished 2ND behind Pietro Ghersi.
Mario Ghersi
, the brother of Pietro, finished 4TH. All three riders rode the magnificent C 4V Guzzi.
Mentasti’s bike, with number 49, is visible in the photo.
Pietro Ghersi finished the race in a time of 3.14’17”1/5, averaging
42.269 mph
(67.631 kmh).
This was fast on the extremely demanding Lario circuit.
But the success did not end there, as Pietro Ghersi also broke the lap record during the race!
It was the first big racing victory that Guzzi scored.
Many would follow…
The year 1924 was a special year for Moto Guzzi, as in 1924 also the first ever European Championship was organized.
Guido Mentasti (left on the photo) won that championship on a Guzzi C 4V (same bike as on the photo).
The Guzzi C 4V factory racer was derived from the famous
500cc “ Guzzi Parodi “ motorcycle prototype
(see our auction for a photo of that machine) that marked the start of the famous
Moto Guzzi
factory in
1921.
This motorcycle was extremely advanced for its day.
The horizontal single featured 4 overhead valves which were operated by a bevel driven single overhead camshaft.
The machine delivered more power then most twins double its size.
The fact that the engine was designed in unit was also a novelty.
The chassis was as modern as its engine.
Especially the rear was rather special, as the rear chassis doubled partly as mudguard.
These light weight sheet metal construction parts continued under the engine, making the frame as light was it was stiff.
This machine eventually stood on the base of the first ever true racing machine that Guzzi brought out in 1924: the C 4V; which is also visible on the photo!
This machine, the
C 4V
, immediately won in the hands of racing ace
Guido Mentasti
(left on the photo) the first ever
European Championship
in
1924
, and it would dominate the European races it participated in for years to come.
The
500cc
horizontal single engine of the
C 4V
had a compression ratio to
6 : 1
, allowing a power output of
22 hp at 5,500 r.p.m.
and a top speed of almost
94 mph
. And it could keep that speed up tirelessly.
The famous Italian
Circuito
del
Lario
roadrace was an extremely heavy race.
The circuit consisted of public roads which were closed during the race.
The Circuito del Lario was located between the two legs of the mountainous
Lake
Como
in
Northern Italy
.
Its nickname the “ Italian T.T.” was definitely deserved. The circuit was no less then
22.7 miles
(
36.5 km
) long and counted a mind blowing amount of 300 curves! Of those
300, a
total of 50 were hairpins since also the famous Ghisallo mountain pass is part of the track!
The height difference between the lowest and the highest point of the circuit is
1,805 feet
(
550 metres
).
To cover that difference, the riders and the bikes have to cross besides the mountainous hairpins, also the many longer and shorter curves combined with shorter and longer straights.
And all of that combined with a gruelingly poor road surface.
So, this is your rare chance to own this
non period
photo that reflects a very interesting and highly historic piece of Moto Guzzi and motorcycling history. Therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 8" x 11" (ca. 20 x
27 cm
).
We have more vintage Moto Guzzi and other motorcycle (racing) photo’s. Please check our E-bay store and take advantage of our shipping discount!
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you buy.   For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well protected in PVC clear files
and board backed envelopes.
We have photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and excellent quality.
After many decades of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club!
First come - first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any questions before the auction ends.