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Moto Morini offered a new series of OHV 175 sports racers for 1954, the Settebello was based on a road bike, complete with lights. Bike Exif  from 2012 "In Italian, “Settebello” is idiom for “seven of diamonds”. And this little 175cc Moto Morini is a real diamond, packing a surprising punch from its four-stroke single motor. This was during happier days for Moto Morini, when it enjoyed huge competition success after WWII. Built for privateer racers as well as fast road riders, the Settebello could keep up with most of the 250s of the day. Engine output peaked at 16.5 hp—at a heady 8,500rpm— but with only around 100 kilos to propel, the bike could hit a remarkable 88 mph (141 kph). Trading on the glamour of Morini’s even smaller 125cc factory racer, and ridden by Agostini in the early 60s, the Settebello was a sales hit for the Bologna company. This terrific 1954 Moto Morini Settebello is from the MC Collection entered at Mecum in 2019. Its is a first-year model for this famous mac...

Porsche’s lightweight 910 Bergspyder was extremely nimble and well-suited to dominating mountain roads. In 1967 and 1968, the Porsche 910/8 Bergspyder was the dominant force before the 909 came along. Technically, the Porsche 910 Bergspyder was state-of-the-art, featuring materials such as titanium (brake calipers), beryllium (brake discs), magnesium (wheels), electron (tank), plastic (body) and aluminium. The running gear was similar to that of a Formula 1 car, including an eight-cylinder boxer engine that had about 275 horsepower. The European Hillclimb Championship regulations stipulated 2-liter engine but didn’t stipulate minimum weight. The 910/8 initially weighed just under 990 pounds (450 kg) but by 1968, with additional development and optimization it weighed in at just 930 pounds (420 kg). There’s not much chance of driving this 910/8 Bergspyder: the racing car has remained unchanged for 52 years. This will remain the case, right down to the rusted front bonnet, where now-weat...

Outside of the USA, Board Track Racing isn't really celebrated, yet at its peak, some attendances were higher than those enjoyed by the Indy 500. Age of Glory  "Bikes were typically powered by large-displacement V-twin engines, often produced by manufacturers like Harley-Davidson, Indian, Excelsior, and Cyclone. These machines featured minimalistic designs, with no brakes, gears, or even clutches in some cases. Riders controlled speed primarily by adjusting the throttle or, in some instances, by cutting off the ignition. Board track racing took place on specially built oval tracks known as motor dromes. These tracks were constructed from wooden planks, typically 2x4s, hence the term “board track.” The tracks were steeply banked, sometimes up to 45 degrees or more, to allow motorcycles to maintain high speeds while cornering. The banking also added to the spectacle, as riders would race perilously close to the top edge of the track" Fatalities were a regular occurrence, an...

Chevron racing cars were designed and built by Derek Bennett from 1965 until his death in a hang gliding accident in 1978. The company continued for 2 years but lacking the hands-on engineering approach of Bennett the company went into liquidation in April 1980. The 1968 B8 was perhaps the car that really established Chevron as a serious production car manufacturer capable of taking on all-comers and beating them. In order the get the B8 homologated as a Group 4 car it was necessary to produce 50 cars but by some clever interpretation of the rules including adding the 1967 B6 cars in the calculations the FIA accepted the B8. It was success from the start for the B8 with Digby Martland and Brian Classick finishing 9th overall at the BOAC 500 miles at Brands Hatch. Other results included an amazing 2-3-4-5 at Croft, 5th and 6th overall at the Speedworld International Trophy at Oulton Park for Chris Craft and Tim Schenken and finally Peter Gethin was third at the Guards International Trop...