ISSUE #73
November, 1997
* SPECIAL ISSUE

MASERATI MOTORCYCLE EDITION

• FEATURE: Concorso Italiano '97 & Maserati Days. An insiteful overview of this year's event. Article by Janet Mandarano with photos by Matt Stone, David Gooley, and Francis Mandarano. Four full pages devoted to the Concours' full-day program and to the fun-filled activities of Maserati Days. From Thursday night's first official get-together to all the awards distributed to worthy contendors, this year was a banner year. The Concours, which featured DeTomaso automobiles and honored the design career Tom Tjaarda and race car drivers Isabelle DeTomaso and Denise McCluggage, was reviewed, as well as the Historic Races, the MCI Awards Dinner, and the Pebble Beach Concours. A wonderful time was had by all.
• FEATURE: Maserati-Moto. This seven-page article, written by Neri Daniele, and published in this special edition of VCM both in Italian and English, discusses the passion and desire for racing and for developing the Maserati motorcycles which were created in the fifties. Susinct and eye-opening information is included regarding the passion displayed for motorcycles by the Maserati family, the Orsi family, and generations of Maserati aficionados.
• FEATURE: Maserati Motorcycles. This five-page pictorial collection of motorcyles are compliments of I. Zanisi, and are well worth the viewing. Included are shots of a 1956 75 T2, a 1954 125 T2, a 1962 125 GTS, a 1955 160 T4, a 1957 250 T4, a 1956 125cc from the Marcello Candini Collection, as well as many others.
• FEATURE: The Story of Maserati Motorcycles, by Hermann Postert, Jr., and translated by William D. Lyon. This 20-page tribute to the Maserati motorcycle is very comprehensive. Hermann's unflagging dedication to the Maserati motorcycle is apparent in every word. His research into the Tipo 125/T2, the Tipo 160/T4, the Tipo T.V. 125/T2, the Tipo 125/GT Super, the Tipo 175/S4, the Tipo 250/T4, the Tipo 50/T2/Uomo, the Tipo 50/T2/Donna, the Tipo 50/T2/S, the Tipo 50/T2/SS, the Tipo L. 75/T2, the Tipo 125/LE, and the Tipo 50/T2/MT is fully developed and his dedication to the Maserati marque is unquestionable. You will find yourself well fed off of Hermann's banquet of motorcycle research.
• FEATURE: Maserati and the Motorcycles, published both in Italian and English, written by di Romano Biolchini. This twelve page comprehensive article recalls the legend of the motorcycles of Modena, and is packed full of wonderful full-colored and black and white photos. The article itself takes a dive into the past - to the early fifties - to recall the legend that Maserati built: from the small 50cc to the more powerful 160/T4. It includes technical specifications regarding the 125/T2, the 250/T4, as well as the 160/T4, as well as a comprehensive listing of the production years and specific information regarding each Maserati motorcycle produced. A joy to read.
• FEATURE: The Story of Maserati Motorcycles. The full text and documentation by Herman Postert, Jr., is published in German in this special edition.
• FEATURE: Maserati and the Motorcycles. The full text by di Romano Biolchini is published in this special edition in Italian.
• MASERATI IN THE NEWS: Articles include:
  • "Maserati Sabbatical" taken from Autoweek, addresses Ferrari's takeover of Maserati management, and discusses the review and overhaul of the Maserati assembly process.
  • "Maserati Takes A Back Seat" by Hans Ohloe addresses Maserati's 1999 Mistral coupe which is scheduled to debut at Frankfurt next Fall.
  • "Maserati - Back from the Brink" by Georg Kacher from Automobile discusses Maserati's next "big splash," meaning, of course, the Ghibli replacement.
• REGIONAL NEWS: John Asmus, Regional Director, writes about some of the great events of the past spring and summer, including the Pismo Beach event, the West Sonoma Adventure, and the annual Maserati Days in Carmel. He encourages all to attend the September 7th, Ostrich BBQ in Vacaville, as well as encourages members to write their local state senate representative regarding the "new gas" additive MTBE.
• INTERNATIONAL NEWS: The Maserati Club UK, commemorating 25 years since its founding, published its Silver Jubliee Edition of The Trident. Shinichi Ecco, the President of the Maserati Club of Japan, sent in photographs and a short account of their July Maserati Time Rally. Coreille Harms-Van Wandelen from the Maserati Club Holland brought news that the Maserati Classic International in Gestaad, Switzerland was a success, with 85 Maseratis in attendance.
• NEWS & PEOPLE: Michael and Debbie Damyanovich, Tom Jones, Claus and Lana Groth, Francisco Vilas, Gerrit Van Esch, Hector Boerno, Hiroschi Sugao, Teiichiro Takemura and his young cousin Yuri, were all featured, as well as snippets of news, photos, and anecdotes. Mr. Bob Leuder, respected Maserati technician, recently passed away. A memorial section was published in his honor. The Pacific Northwest All Italian Picnic and Poker Run was held on June 1, 1997. 40-plus Italian automobiles rallied for this successful, annual get-together, and a great time was had by all.
• TECH TIPS:
  • #287- BITURBO POWER STEERING
  • #288- 425 WINDOW REGULATOR
  • #289- 425i AIR FILTERS
  • #290- 330 DIFF SHIMS
  • #291- CRANK TRIGGERED IGNITION SYSTEMS
• MEMBER-TO-MEMBER TIPS:
  • #292- 425i BOOT LID
  • #293- NOISY SHIFTER
  • #294- GUAGE PROBLEMS
  • #295- BITURBO FROM HELL
  • #296- SOME COMMENT REGARDING REMOVAL OF THE ZF 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION FROM AN '85 BITURBO E