Today in motorcycle history, August 14, 1988

  

  

  Enzo Anselmo Ferrari dies in Maranello, Italy, at the age of 90.

  The name Ferrari is synonymous with racing, speed, and performance of the four-wheel variety. But, Enzo Ferrari was a confirmed bike nut, riding motorcycles until fairly late in life. Surprisingly, he was not an Italian bike guy, but he rode a beautifully restored Rudge similar to the one he had as a young man.



  Ferrari chose several motorcycle racers to drive his cars, believing that racing on two-wheels was good exercise for racing on four-wheels. Two of the more noticeable names being Tazio Nuvolari and John Surtees. Nuvolari, who was the 1925 350cc European Motorcycling Champion and four-time Nations Grand Prix winner, became the first great Ferrari driver, winning Ferrari's first race after switching from Bianchi permanently in the early 1930's. Surtees is the only man to take both bike and car world titles. He was a four-time 500cc motorcycle World Champion with titles in 1956, 1958, 1959 and 1960 and then winning the 1964 World Championship for Ferrari.

  The Italian Grand Prix was held just weeks after Ferrari's death, and, fittingly, the result was a 1–2 finish for Ferrari. 

  In 1994, Enzo Ferrari was posthumously inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.


  Today in motorcycle history is a proud supporter of the National Association for Bikers with Disability (NABD).  www.nabd.org.uk

Today in motorcycle history, August 13, 1972

 



 

  After years of complaints over safety concerns, Prievidza, Cigelsky Okruh, is closed down. 

  Prievidza, Cigelsky Okruh (Cigel circuit), is shut down after years of criticism and safety complaints.

  Probably one of the most exciting of the Slovak tracks, reminiscent of Spa, with trees, 220 ft (67m) elevation and super-fast corners. Unfortunately, it was built in a mining town and what it had in addition was a railway crossing going from the mine. A portion of the track going through the village was a rough mixture of tarmac, brick and concrete leading up to a bridge where in 1972 there was a fatal racing accident. The accident brought criticism of the tracks surfaces and safety concerns of the riders, but what really finally stopped racing was there was mining machinery along the track. Just a small concern.

  Built in a mining area, between Prievidza and Cigel, it was originally organized in 1964 to give some entertainment to the miners. What started as a local event quickly attracted international motorcycle racing and the CzechoSlovak F3 (Czechoslavokian Championship) in 1968. Car racing ended in 1969 when one driver lost control after the finish and crashed injuring 32 spectators. 

  Prievidza was 3.2 miles (5,175m) long with some parts barely 20 ft (6m) wide.

  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD).  www.nabd.org.uk