Penulis
Vespa Circuito
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| 1947 Vespa 98 Corsa , race Vespa |
1947 Vespa 98 Corsa |
In the late 40s, the major motorcycle manufacturers thought that the best way to advertise their vehicles was by taking part in competitions that were held in a number of cities. The aim is to bring the general public closer to the automotive sector so that they can add new potential customers. Piaggio has also designed a series of circuit scooters like this 1949 product which were designed for this very purpose from the very beginning. Apart from advertising, the Vespa Circuito 125 is also useful as a trial run to test new products which are then applied to standard products.
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| 1947 Vespa 98 Corsa |
Racing Vespas, made entirely handmade by specialists from Piaggio's Experimental Division (R&D) and used in various races until the mid-50s. The scooter is ridden by famous racers such as Dino Mazzoncini and Giuseppe Cau. Especially for Giuseppe Cau, he won the race using the chronometer at Catania-Etna in 1950 and came out first in his class (125cc), finishing third in the overall standings behind Guzzi and Benelli
This first fabulous race Vespa was conceived for participation in various circuit races. With it, Piaggio dealers could enter their participation in speed contests. The Vespa in fact took part in several gradient and track races, with many victories in the scooter category, among which the Naples Grand Prix in 1947 and the chronograph climb at Rocca di Papa (Rome). The Vespa 98 Corsa's form derived from the standard production model, but it had a much smaller, bubble-shaped shield and small handlebars.
The horn was taken off the steering column cover and the seat is placed far back, so that the rider had to stretch to reach the handlebars. The rear brakes were also retracted to suit the rider's elongated, aerodynamic position. The engine casing, a fundamental aspect of the vehicle, had small openings for better ventilation. The front mudguard was very small. The steering column was strengthened. The suspension had two coil springs. The rear suspension was directly above the engine support arm. The engine had no starter switch and the crankcase was cut at the point at which the engine start lever would have been placed to give the scooter more incline on curves. It had a three-speed change, the 17-mm carburettor was the sport type with an intake cornet, and there was a direct "megaphone" exhaust.
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| 1947 Vespa 98 Corsa |
The Vespa 98 Corsa was built specifically to show the world that the capacity of the small scooter could be competitive in races. The great swarm of Vespa which was growing in the streets and squares of Italy, motivated Enrico Piaggio to produce an aggressive vehicle, which could be an on-track winner. The first to ride the Vespa 98 on circuit was Giuseppe Cau who triumphed in the Monte Mario Hill Climb in 1947. The Vespa 98 Corsa (Circuit) was built for speed and stood for innovation. The body was hand-built with a steel frame. The brakes were drum, equipped with rear air vents for cooling. The gearbox was a three-speed unit, which enabled throttle control and cooling happened through a forced air ventilation. Its original color was red, that’s why this model was also known as the small "fireball".
VESPA 98 vin number
1946-47 V98 -1-18079