A decade ago, I heard about an auction of old motorcycles in Lambertville, New Jersey a few days after the event happened from a friend who then mentioned that a few of the bikes didn't sell. I hurriedly contacted the owner to take a look at what he had left as I found myself momentarily flush after a successful business transaction. The owner had a magnificently eclectic collection of bikes that ranged from British Sunbeam to a Italian Bennelli 250cc four cylinder and oddities like a Spanish Ducati 450 dual purpose machine. One bike that caught my eye was a red 1972 MV Agusta 350cc "S" Electronica. This was a deluxe sporting roadster that featured a full fairing and solo seat direct from the factory in Italy. The 'Electronic' label referred not to electric start but electronic ignition instead of points.
This hot little sport model produced a claimed 32 horsepower at 7600 rpm via its twin cylinder four stroke engine resulting in lively performance. Quick, but not fast. While I cannot condone doing what I did to the MV, 'destroying' a complete, stock, usable, rare motorcycle, I had bigger plans for the coming year. We were going to go racing.
When I mentioned the project to my race buddy Chris Marshall, he was intrigued by the idea of putting an MV on the track to contest the dominant Ducati's in AHRMA, WERA and USCRA 350 Grand Prix class.
So off came the road bits and on went the race bits. When we got a look at the cylinder head, Chris realized we weren't going to be making any radical changes. As things moved along , we paid a visit with local MV supremo Albert Bold who explained to Chris his preferred megaphone making techniques and a set was produced post haste.
Daytona was upon us before we knew it and with some hesitation we loaded the bike into the trailer with the other bikes we'd be running. Chris was riding five or more bikes per day that race weekend. A fall two days prior on a Ducati 750 at Roebling Road in Georgia didn't slow him down at all as he was in superb form. Despite having an issue with the stock Dell 'Orto carburetors, Chris rode the MV while I raced my Honda 350 Four in the 350GP class.
Hampered with runnabilty problems we decided to purchase some Mikuni carbs soon. Before the day was out though, Chris was severely injured in the Formula 750 race in an incident that included Gary Nixon and Yvonne DuHamel in Turn one at the Speedway. There would be time for reflection as his hospital stay was lengthy before he headed north to home again.
I decided to race the bike while Chris recovered and had an number of second and third place finishes, all the while revelling in the sound of an MV singing for its supper. Life was good. The sweet handling chassis was well suited to the bikes performance and it was a joy to ride. When Chris finally returned to fitness, he was back in the saddle and had a run of success for many races with the bike until one fateful weekend at Loudon, New Hampshire. Chris called to say he had been hit and the bike and he crashed, although thankfully with no real injury to him this time. The race fairing was scrapped and a stripped down MV finished out the season with Chris putting in an inspiring ride at VIR that year.
We campaigned the bike another season until I found the money to do a little restorative work. Now, with the MV looking handsome as ever, I was prepared to park it for display use when I heard that my racing hero, Giacomo Agostini would be coming to AMA Vintage Days at Mid Ohio Sports Car Complex in Ohio that summer. Having retired my Honda 350 Four and now competing on a 1949 Norton International that season, I entered the MV 350 for that weekends races as well as the Norton. It was going to be some weekend. Well, at least they were both right side 'reverse' pattern shifters.
When the big weekend arrived I cannot tell you how nervous I was when we spotted 'Ago' rolling in with Eraldo Ferracci to the event. My bike was featured in the MV Agusta Museum that was set up for that weekend in the infield. We seized the moment and accosted Ferracci and Ago and dragged them over to the bike. Peppering Ago with questions, he politely answered everything and was very gracious with his time. He asked about the MV and if I was racing it that weekend. I told him, yes, I would be running in the 350GP class and was indeed the only MV racing that weekend. As he leaned over the tank to add his autograph at my request, he said, " I watch you in the 350 race". Uhh, did Ago just say he'd be watching me in the race?
Ago was whisked away into the throng of people who would surround him all weekend long, a true superstar of Grand Prix racing, a 15-time World Champion. We moved the MV back to the pit garage and found the new clutch plates and a swtich to synthetic oil created a problem of major clutch slippage. Dave Roper loaned us a set of Aermacchi plates and a group of us went to work sorting out the bike. We made the race, but it was held in very damp conditions that reduced me to 'parading' pace. Not my finest moment on the MV, but it would be the last time I would ride it and it was put away in favor of the Norton and a Yamaha TZ350 I had been running as well.
I can still close my eyes, drift off and 'do laps' in my mind of the many tracks we rode together. I hope to return the bike to the track again someday. Someday, for sure.
From champions of yesteryear to todays champion roadracers. That's Italian Supersport champ and AMA Pro Roadracing Rookie of the Year (when he was riding for Ferracci MV Agusta team), Luca Scassa. Scassa will be racing a Yamaha R6 in World Supersport competition in 2011. Scassa won the opening round of the Suspersport Championship at Phillip Island, Australia March 2011. Luca seemed amused at the quaint little MV when he tried it on during a weekend visit to my brothers house this past summer. He was resting before the World Superbike round at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah where he raced a Ducati Superbike and beat the Ducati factory team rider Nori Haga to the line. Good times.
As luck would have it, the bike turned out to be in demand and made a number of shows and motorcycle exhibits over the next few years as well as being photographed by Michael Furman, whose automotive books are works of art themselves. It also introduced me to a wonderful event called the Radnor Hunt Concours d' Elegance in Malvern, PA.
A chance encounter and spontaneous purchase of the MV Agusta 350 spawned such wonderful experiences. It's been very satisfying to meet so many good people who share a passion for Italian motorcycles and racing. Here's looking forward to the next adventure.
