The San Diego Air & Space Museum is bringing “Speed” to San Diego throughout 2018 with its SPEED: Science in Motion special exhibition. Each month features a new theme, with “Land-Speed Record-Holders” kicking off in February. We’re featuring a new vehicle in this blog each week. Today it’s the Moto Guzzi Mandello Meteor motorcycle.

Hand built at home in a local Escondido garage, this Bonneville Salt Flats and El Mirage hot rod is based on a 1987 normally aspirated Moto Guzzi LeMans IV, bored and stroked to 973cc. The frame, suspension and transmission remain unaltered, but all other aspects have been custom built or heavily modified to complete in faired (streamlined) and bare frame SCTA classes for under 1000cc push-rod gas engine. The bodywork began life as an Airtech Charlie Toy before custom-fitting around the chassis, engine and massive 3.5” stainless steel exhaust, and includes cutouts for the rider. The Mandello Meteor took three records in its first year of competition, 2008, and two more again in 2012, with its fastest certified record of 170.856 mph. Finished in traditional Moto Guzzi Racing Green, it is name after Mandello Del Lario, the town in Italy where the Moto Guzzi factory has been located since 1921.

About Moto Guzzi
Moto Guzzi is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer and the oldest European manufacturer in continuous motorcycle production. Established in 1921 in Mandello del Lario, Italy, the company rose to prominence worldwide in motorcycle racing, and industry innovations, including the first motorcycle center stand, wind tunnel and eight-cylinder engine.

Moto Guzzi was conceived by two aircraft pilots and their mechanic during World War I, Carlo Guzzi, Giovanni Ravelli and Giorgio Parodi. Guzzi engineered the motor bikes, Parodi financed the venture, and Ravelli promoted the bikes with his racing prowess.