Moto Guzzi 250 sohc Monoalbero racer Arthur Wheeler 1956 Ulster Grand Prix photo

Description

A superb and rare photo, made from what we believe is the original negative, of the magnificent
Arthur Wheeler
, seen in action with his
250cc Moto Guzzi s.o.h.c. production racer
during the
1955
Ulster
Grand Prix
which was ridden on
August 13, 1955
. Arthur Wheeler finished the race in a magnificent
3RD
position!
This great photograph of the Ulster Grand Prix was taken during the 250cc race of 1956. Arthur Wheeler finished the race in
third position
. The race was won by Bill Lomas on a works Moto Guzzi with an average race speed of
90.26 mph
(
145.26 km/h
).
Arthur Wheeler
, born in 1916, was a Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Wheeler gained a reputation as one of the top privateer racers on the Grand Prix circuit. Born in Epsom,
Surrey
, Wheeler left school at the age of 15 to be an apprentice electrician and engineer. He began his competitive motorcycling career campaigning a Velocette in grass track racing. Opening a motorcycle shop in 1937, he used his profits to enable his motorcycle racing career. When World War II started, Wheeler's engineering skills led him to being chosen to work alongside Barnes Wallis in developing the bouncing bomb. After the war, his motorcycle business boomed, allowing him to undertake a racing career on the Grand Prix racing circuit on the European continent. Wheeler won the 1954 250cc Nations Grand Prix at
Monza
, was a five-time winner of the
North West
200 race in
Northern Ireland
and won the
Leinster
200 at least twice. His best season was aboard a Moto Guzzi in 1962, when he won the 250cc Argentine Grand Prix and had a fourth place finish in the Isle of Man Lightweight TT, finishing in third place in the 250cc world championship behind Jim Redman and Bob McIntyre. At the end of that year he retired at the age of 46. Wheeler continued to develop the long outdated Moto Guzzi (which ceased production around 1953) all through his career, using home built streamlined "dustbin" and "dolphin" fairings and along with Ken Sprayson at Renolds Frames he developed an alloy spine frame with swinging arm rear suspension and oil bearing top tube. Wheeler was a close friend with many of the Guzzi factory riders, and it was through Fergus Anderson that he acquired his first Guzzi from the factory, a pre-war Albatros 250cc, which was to be developed through the 1950s to Gambalunghino spec and beyond. After his win at the Nations Grand Prix it was Moto Guzzi factory rider Enrico Lorenzetti that gave Wheeler his stock of factory spare parts, which enabled him to campaign the Guzzi's long after the official factory team had disbanded.
Moto Guzzi
, also known as Guzzi, is the oldest European manufacturer in continuous motorcycle production. Established in
1921 in
Mandello del Lario
,
Italy
, Moto Guzzi has led
Italy
's motorcycling manufacture, enjoyed prominence in worldwide motorcycle racing, and led the industry in ground-breaking innovation – for the greater part of its history. The company's history has been shaped by the importance of racing, engineering innovation and a constant adaptation to the changes in the motorcycle industry since its inception 1921. Moto Guzzi was conceived by two aircraft pilots and their mechanic serving in the Corpo Aeronautico Militare (the Italian Air Corp,
CAM
) during World War I: Carlo Guzzi, Giovanni Ravelli and Giorgio Parodi. By happenstance assigned to the same Miraglia Squadron based outside
Venice
, the three became close, despite starkly different socio-economic backgrounds. The trio envisioned creating a motorcycle company after the war. Guzzi would engineer the motor bikes, Parodi (son of wealthy Genovese ship-owners) would finance the venture, and Ravelli (already a famous pilot and motocycle racer) would promote the bikes with his racing prowess. Guzzi and Parodi (along with Parodi's brother) formed Moto Guzzi in 1921. Ravelli, ironically, had died just days after the war's end in an aircraft crash and is commemorated by the eagle's wings that form the Moto Guzzi logo. Carlo Guzzi and Giorgio Parodi, along with Giorgio's brother Angelo, created a privately held silent partnership "Società Anonima Moto Guzzi" on
15 March 1921
, for the purpose of (according to the original articles of incorporation) "the manufacture and the sale of motor cycles and any other activity in relation to or connected to metallurgical and mechanical industry". The formation of the company hinged on an initial loan of two thousand Lira from the Parodis' father, Emanuele Vittorio, which he gave on 3 January 1919, offering the balance of the loan upon his review of the project's progress: Dear Giorgio, you can let both your partners know that I will offer you for your first 1,500 or 2,000 Lire.
This is a very nice and very rare
non period
photo that reflects a wonderful era of Moto Guzzi ‘s rich motorcycle history in a wonderful way. This is your rare chance to own this photo, therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 8" x 12" (ca. 20 x
30 cm
). It makes it perfectly suitable for framing!
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you buy.   For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well protected in PVC clear files
and board backed envelopes.
We have photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and excellent quality.
After many decades of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club!
First come - first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any questions before the auction ends.