-
-
pagina
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14
page


1904
In order to overcome the lack of regulations, in Paris on the 21st December 1904 in the Ledoyen restaurant the first form of the MF (Motorcycle Federation, international) took shape under the name Fédération Internationale des Clubs Motocyclistes – FICM.
It was only many years later that it assumed the definitive title of FMI Federazione Motociclistica Internazionale (the International Motorcycle Federation).
In the same year, on 25th September in Dourdan to the south west of Paris, Moto Club di France (Motorcycle club of France) organised a competition known as Coupe Internationale over a distance of 54 kilometres, to be repeated five times.
Riders from England, France, Denmark, Germany and Austria-Hungary (then united under the sign of the empire) all participated, subdivided into teams of three riders. Again there were not yet any number plates and in order to identify the various riders numbered arm bands were used.
The race was won by the Frenchman De Master on a Griffo but because the rules could not be interpreted correctly the wrangles that followed threatened to undermine the operational capacity of the new born Federation which became embroiled in misunderstandings and rivalry, remaining inactive for various years, even risking its dissolution.

1905While on the circuits citizens and others practised pure velocity, on the road stamina trials with sections that exceeded 200 kilometres, the regularity trial became popular – the test of the capacity to respect previously set average times over a measured distance.
The stages were normally rugged and dusty apart from the broken roads that scaled the Alpine passes – occasionally these roads transformed themselves into fractured paths full of dangers. In the case of bad weather these dangers could be much heightened.
This type of competition, characterised by the strict selection of men and machinery and the nature of roads which were used on a daily basis generated interest from the military who from the beginning lined up their best teams at the start ribbons in order to test their effective capacity in the field.

1906Some legendary competitions were born in these years such as the Targa Florio created by Vincenzo Florio, which was run 61 times without exception, apart from the periods of the world wars, from 1906 to 1977.

1907New initiatives followed frenetically and the year after it was the turn of the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man.
This too ran without interruption in the spring of each year from 1907 with the notable exception of the periods of the two world wars. In Italy the 100k Brescia race immediately became famous – four 250k daily stages from Milan to La Spezia, Florence, Padua and Brescia.
57 riders were signed on for the first edition although only twenty managed to finish.
The increasing success of the competitions and the progressive expansion of motorcycle use brought forward the old problem – the necessity to regulate the competitions and to have a unique point of reference capable of keeping all the European associations in line together.

1912Some years later, November 28, 1912, the British Federation (ACU) convened a meeting at Olympia in London, attended by delegates of Belgium, Denmark, USA, France, Great Britain, Holland and Italy.
In so doing, the FICM was given to new life, and two weeks later during a congress convened in Paris, which was attended now by Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the delegates of various nations, considered the official founding of the International Federation and elected their most important representatives.
The Marquis Mouzilly St-Mars was elected Secretary while Sir Arthur Stanley M.P. became President.
So it is no wonder that the Six-Days trial was born in England, but it is certainly curious that the first edition was organized in response to a small "quarrel" with the IMF.
The most important English motorcycle association, grouping together the manufacturers and dealers of motorcycles, the British Cycle & Motor Cycle Manufacturers & Traders Union Ltd., decided to donate a valuable silver cup to the above-reborn International Motorcycling Federation, in the hope that the FICM organize an event worthy of that prize.
The FICM, perhaps because of his youth, did not feel it was up to such a demanding task, and instead they retained the cup, returning it with an invitation to put it up directly as a prize for winning a motorcycle race.Prompted by this unexpected request, the British thought to organise a spectacular race, capable of improving the image and the spread of the motorcycle, which many still regarded with suspicion.
The main idea was to create an event that demonstrated the reliability and versatility of the motorcycle, and its exceptional range of applications.
What could be better than a trial lasting six days, very selective, over rough terrain travelling about 300 km a day?
In order to give greater impetus to the event, the competition was elevated to international status, with the participation of riders from many parts of the world expressly invited for the competition.
In the event there were only four international riders, three French and one American gentleman rider who accepted the invitation gladly, and presented at the starting line.


-
-
-
-
-
-
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14