Ducati.Net Photo Gallery - Vicki's View
This is what heaven looks like....
Motogiro d'Italia. 5 days of magic in the Italian countryside, where time runs backward and everywhere you look it could be 1959. 2006 was my 6th wonderful adventure among friends gathered worldwide. Perfect weather, challenging roads, staggering sceanery, it was everything you could hope for, a moto-junkies dream come true. This years route took us from Rimini at the sea to the Marche region, Umbria (Ancona and Ascoli)to the top of the highest mountain in Italy, past snow caps and wildflowers, every mile bathed in sunshine. The photos and captions in this gallery reflect the event as well as an attempt to document the types and variety of motorcycles that participated in an effort to help others considering the event better understand the many choices.
Vicki Smith
Motogiro d'Italia. 5 days of magic in the Italian countryside, where time runs backward and everywhere you look it could be 1959. 2006 was my 6th wonderful adventure among friends gathered worldwide. Perfect weather, challenging roads, staggering sceanery, it was everything you could hope for, a moto-junkies dream come true. This years route took us from Rimini at the sea to the Marche region, Umbria (Ancona and Ascoli)to the top of the highest mountain in Italy, past snow caps and wildflowers, every mile bathed in sunshine. The photos and captions in this gallery reflect the event as well as an attempt to document the types and variety of motorcycles that participated in an effort to help others considering the event better understand the many choices.
Vicki Smith
Welcome to the most fun you can have in two wheels! This year we rode in the Marche and Umbria regions of Italy.
That's me, Rino Caracchi, his son Stefano and Vicki 5, the fifth Ducati 175 Rino has built for me to ride in the Motogiro d'Italia. Each year begins with a visit to his shop to meet whatever he has prepared for me to ride, a traditional glass of wine and arrangements for where and when he will meet me at the tech inspection and registration.
Next we are off to unload the Mondial Rich Lambrechts has bought in England (sight unseen) which will be his mount for the event. Though restored it's an all original example with lots of documented Motogiro d'Italia and Milan - Taranto race history from back in the 50's. This truck is loaded with roughly 40 bikes transported from England and the US.
The bike is even nicer than expected, totally original (as declared by Giorgio Nepoti who was with the Mondial factory racing team before he formed NCR)and the oldest bike entered in the compitition. Rich is pleased and spends the next days promising Giorgio he will put it in a museum after the event. (Giorgio was killed with his wife in a road accident within the month, it was his last Motogiro, this great man will be hugely missed)
That's the original dealer sticker from Bologna. Rino Caracchi say's it was located very near his house.
The local Mondial specialist in Rimini gives it a once over as well. Still not a single unoriginal part or piece spotted. Remarkable really given it's age.
Each bike entered in Taglioni or Vintage requires a number plate on the front and a pair on the rear. This results in a scramble every year since many of the bikes don't have one fitted when they arrive.
For the next 5 days most of us will see these red arrows in our sleep. The route is laid out on a road book map but in the end this is how we find our way around. This picture is perfect because sometimes it really feels like these are the exact directions we are following!
Touring class rental bikes are provided by Ducati. Many people picked them up at the start in Rimini.
Rino Caracchi gives Vicki Five a once over at tech inspection the Monday before the event starts.
