Vintage Enduro, six days 40 years later
Vintage Enduro is the trend of the moment on the motorbike scene and this was proven beyond the shadow of a doubt on Elba. The island hosted the Enduro Vintage Trophy 2021, a three-day regularity event that challenged 400 riders in the fifteen special stages and the finals on the dirt of the Buraccio track. Eight teams signed up for the Vintage Veterans Trophy (Italy, France, Poland, Austria, Germany, Finland, Spain and Switzerland), 89 teams for the Vintage Silver Vase Club and over 100 individual riders. Forty years later, the event brought back to Elba the off-road motorbikes that starred in the memorable Six Days, which, for the record, was won by Italy on Puch, Ktm, Swm, Sachs and Husqvarna. After four decades, the Italian team failed to repeat the success having experienced technical problems. The podium went to Spain (third), Germany (second) and France, that won the competition with a very strong team led by motorcycling legend Monsieur Dakar a.k.a. Stephane Peterhansel.
Good regulations
This aspect speaks volumes about the value of Vintage Enduro racing, too, as confirmed by Salvo Pennisi, Pirelli/Metzeler Moto Testing and Technical Relations Manager, who entered as a Fim wild card on a Husqvarna 250. “It was a great experience and the perfect expression of a very lively movement that is picking up the best off-road production from the mid-seventies through to the eighties”, he said. “Elba was the Olympics of our discipline that has events on continental and national levels. The Italian regularity championship in Group 5 is packed and highly competitive”. Having clear regulations is crucial. Bikes built up until 1984 can take part in Italian races, while the cut-off point is pushed two years forwards in Europe. Only technical interventions aimed at increasing safety are allowed, respecting the technology and, importantly, the looks of the time. Furthermore, the rankings are drawn up applying a driver's age handicap to avoid penalising the older competitors.
A fun-loving environment
Competitiveness, no matter how fierce, never detracts from the pleasure of being there. “The races are attended by former competitors, often with good track records, top-level amateurs and many fans who enjoy the blast from the past. A mix works well in the paddock too where there is a friendly atmosphere. From the celebrated champion to the rookie, bikers always enjoy being together. I like to think of it as a ‘democratic' speciality because you only need a few thousand Euros to spend some glorious days. The regulation is accessible but restrictive enough and is a guarantee for a positive future”. Far from being just all about old-school motorbikes, the competition focuses on compliance with regulations and attention to the racing environment. Organisers and competitors prove their correct approach by leaving the ground in perfect conditions at the end of the races.
Tuners and tyres
There are also interesting technical aspects to Enduro Vintage with semi-professional workshops, primarily Italian, alongside the big manufacturers. For instance, the interest is high for tuners who have turned tweaking their bikes into a life mission creating genuine works of art. When it comes to tyres, the Pirelli brand is on the front line. “Half of the bikes at the Enduro Vintage Trophy fitted our tyres because they are designed to be very versatile and suitable for older models”, Pennisi added. “We are closely following the development of a speciality that only exploded five years ago, creating specific sizes for smaller displacement models”. The event for next season is slated to be held in Portugal. It will certainly be another great Enduro Vintage Trophy.
