The October issue of Classic Bike features great historic tales of derring-do and duplicity. There’s the story of the Circuito del Lario, which first hosted the mountainous Italian road race known as the ‘Italian TT’ 100 years ago, and the intrepid racers who risked their lives there. The dramatic defection from communist rule of Ernst Degner 60 years ago, taking vital secrets of MZ’s two-stroke race bikes with him, is also recalled in detail, as is the career of John ‘Mooneyes’ Cooper, the British racer who rode a BSA to a legendary victory over ‘unbeatable’ Giacomo Agostini in 1971.
There’s also a road test of Yamaha’s YDS7, the 50-year-old 250cc two-stroke that makes a fine and affordable first classic. And coming round to the present day, there’s a report on this year’s Mortimer 100 Miler – the classic motocross event that attracts riders who just do it for a laugh along with hardened racers.
