Presentation on 2023 Motogiro di California in Paso by Phil Sutter and Jeff Koskie

For our March meeting we’ll have a slide show by Phil Sutter and Jeff Koskie on last fall’s Motogiro di California in the Paso Robles area.  Phil rode it and Jeff was one of the chase vehicle drivers.    This is an event that originated in Italy many years ago and still goes on to this day. Groups in other countries have organized events that strive to maintain the same format and focus.   In the U.S. there is one event every year on the West Coast and another on the East Coast.  There is no formal club or organization and the events are organized totally by volunteers who are active riders.

To participate in the event, you must ride an Italian motorcycle that is 175cc or less.  Classes are usually split into 175cc, 125cc, 100cc, and 50cc. Motorcycles are supposed to be limited to models produced previous to 1958. However, you may use a newer Italian motorcycle if it is produced from a design that originated in that defined time frame. For instance, Gilera produced 105cc and 124cc motorcycles prior to 1958 and continued to produce the same design into the late 1960s. Therefore, those later years qualify.

The bike rules were as standard for Giros – manufactured 1957 and earlier, 175cc or less though the date was less important than the engine size which was strictly adhered to with the result that we had 19x175cc, 2x150cc, 7x125cc and 1x106cc. .
There was also quite a variety of bikes that were ridden:
6 Ducati, 6 MV Agusta, 4 Gilera, 2 Benelli, 2 Bianchi, 2 Moto Guzzi, 1 Aermacchi, 1 Ceccato
1 Mondial, 1 Morini, 1 Motobi, 1 NSU, 1 Parilla

We’ll meet at Petra at 6:30 and pizza will be provided.