A Lambretta scooter over 200 km/h

Innocenti’s response to Piaggio’s record on the flying kilometre
is not to be waited for. After a first positive result, the Lambretta scooter reaches
such a limit that the match is considered closed forever.

Innocenti had in fact been getting ready for some time for the flying record, and, after having been anticipated by Piaggio, increased efforts to beat its rival. According to research made on a variety of aereodynamic shapes (shown here in some drawings), the initial choice was with the leaning rider, in a position similar to that later used by Baumm at NSU. A prototype was made and tested by Rizzi at Monza, but it was difficult to drive and discarded. A solution with the crouched – but astride on the saddle – rider was then chosen. This solution tended to higher resistance to advancement and it was necessary to increase engine power. The tests for the record with the final prototype were carried out at five in the morning on the Bergamo-Brescia motorway in a stretch near Ospitaletto. Giulio Alfieri, who was then a young engineer at Innocenti and later a designer at Maserati, mentions that one week before the record they were working full time in the test room, but hp did not come out. Ingegner Torre, who was the technical manager at Innocenti, after many tests was disconsolate and at nine in the evening left the test room saying "Ingegner Alfieri, do whatever you think!". "With mechanics Cassola and Giuliani" says Alfieri "we disassembled head and cylinder once again and modified transfers and finally obtained an increase from 16 to 18-18.5 hp. In the morning, Torre was moved: the record was within reach". Romolo Ferri was the one who was driving the faired Lambretta in the attempt taking place on Saturday 14th April on the straight stretch of the "Fettuccia di Terracina", a stretch of Via Appia near the town of Terracina. Traffic reasons limited the road closing to two hours, from 8 to 10, but the weather was not promising. Finally, it was decided to make the attempt in any case, even if it was late. The first lap on the kilometre was impressive, with an average speed of 195.652 km/h. In the opposite direction, running was disturbed by wind gusts and the average lowered to 184.615 km/h. Total back and forth average was in any case close to the 190 km/h (exactly 189.973). On the flying mile average speed was 190.391 km/h one way and 184.804 the way back (average of average 187.556 km/h). The attempt to improve these results was not made (even if certainly possible) because it was now half an hour over the allowed time and it was not possible to keep the road closed. The engine used in the attempt was boosted. Tests were made with a volumetric compressor derived from a Fimac type depressor used on airplanes and therefore well known by ingegner Torre. Drawings dated 2 February 1951 show a 55 mm external rotor diameter and a 55 mm width, with a 172 cm3 capacity per rev. Obviously, as the compressor rpm is not known, it is not possible to value its liter capacity per minute. In this attempt, according to what the magazine "Motociclismo" reports, the compressor liter capacity per minute was equal to that generated in the engine by the piston stroke, so we can speak of an intake engine. In fact, on the contrary, according to the evidence given by ingegner Alfieri, there was a little supercharging, even if pressure during this first try was reduced (0.5 relative bar). The ignition was by coil and the carburettor a 26 mm diffusor Dell’Orto. The employed fuel, internally marked by number 15, was composed, according to what Riccardo Rizzi recalls, by 70% special 106-octane Agip petrol, 25% alcohol and 5% ether, with the addition of 5% medical castor oil. For the transmission from the engine to gear a disc had been added to the clutch.

The one-hour record. A month after the exploit on the "Fettuccia of Terracina" the faired Lambretta was dispatched to Monthléry for attempts on short mileages and the one-hour record. A new rider joined Romolo Ferri: Carlo Poggi. During the attempts, from the 19th to the 27th May, the two riders took turns at driving in a sort of family fight. On the 19th, Poggi beat the records on the 10 kilometres, 10 miles, 50 kilometres and 50 miles, with average speeds included between 143 and 161 km/h. On the 23rd Ferri slightly improved the record on the 10 kilometres (144 km/h compared to Poggi’s 143), and very slightly the 10 miles. His goals were the 100-km record, which he set at the average of 160 km/h, and the 100-miles one (average 159 km/h). On the 25th they run again, both Ferri and Poggi, on the shorter mileages. In this match, the first one brought the 10-km record to 150 km/h and the 10-miles to 154 km/h. The second rider did even better because he brought the 10-km record to 151 km/h and the 10-miles one to 156 km/h. Finally, on the 27th, Ferri tried the one-hour record and he broke it by running a significant 158.6 km. With this result the exploit could be considered closed and the team went back to Lambrate. The scooter employed in these attempts had an engine without compressor and a fairing similar to that of the flying kilometre record, but completed in the higher part so that only the rider’s helmet stuck out.

The last touch. Now Lambretta had practically won all the 125 class records, with very few exceptions, and Piaggio did not seem to be wanting to oppose them. The match could be dropped, but Pierluigi Torre was not satisfied yet: he knew that the absolute record of the scooter could surpass 200 km/h and wanted to prove it. The "Fettuccia di Terracina" was dismissed because it was too dangerous. This time the records were challenged on German motorways, and exactly on the stretch between Munich and Ingolstadt, that had already been the setting of many prestigious records of all German motorcycles and motorcars. The Lambretta was again modified with a slight reduction of the frontal section and a modification in the front part. The engine power and boosting level were increased (apparently 1.5 bars relative and over 21 hp). On the 8th of August the machine was on its run and the expected result was obtained. On the flying kilometre the average speed was 201 km/h and 200 km/h were maintained also for the class 125 records with very few exceptions. Piaggio did no longer show the desire to contrast them and the match was over.