1961 Ducati 250cc F3 Production Racer

 

Bonhams had the Ex-Campbell Donaghy 1961 Ducati 250cc F3 Production racing bike pass through their Stafford sale in 2019. The bike that scored Ducati their first ever world championship point for one of their single cylinder bikes, finishing 5th in the Ulster Grand Prix, then a round of the World Championship.

Only available in 1961 and 1962, the 250F3 (sold by UK importer Vic Camp as the Manxman) had a sandcast motor that carried over the 175's ribbed conrod and longer, stepped, crankshaft. Unlike previous F3s the 250's head incorporated bosses to allow desmo closing rockers to be fitted, and at least one left the factory so equipped. The clutch cover also omitted an inspection cover and drilling to allow a kick starter. While the bore and stroke were the same as the roadster, at 74 x 57.8mm to give 248.6cc, the carburettor was a 29mm Dell'Orto SSi 29A (rather than 27mm). The frame was unique to the 250F3, and the cycle parts were very different to the roadsters: for example, the F3 featured 19" – rather than 18" – wheels.

As well as success at the 1962 Ulster Grand Prix, this 250F3 Manxman saw action on many other occasions. Mick Walker said he saw the bike at Mallory being ridden by Donaghy in 1962. It was then sold to Bob McCurry who rode it to wins at Cookstown and Tandragee (and possibly Skerries) in 1963. But McCurry was set on replacing the Ducati with an Aermacchi, which led to a sale to its third and current owner. Like Donaghy and McCurry, he lived in the Limavady area, a part of Northern Ireland that the Ducati was delivered to new and, until now, had never left.

The original heel and toe gear change had been sawn off when purchased and, in 1964, the vendor commissioned the twin plug conversion from Campbell. Donaghy always helped the current owner out with the bike, and Ducati also supplied some parts for the bike, for example following a crank pin seizure in its first North West 200. It ran in that legendary race in 1967, '68 and '69, as well as at Cookstown, Kirkistown, Tandragee, Temple, Lurgan Park, Dundrod (again in the Ulster GP) and at Antrim, loved and enjoyed as a club racer.