1999 Moto Guzzi Falcone Southwest Tour


A classic Moto Guzzi Falcone Sport from 1952.

Moto Guzzi has been producing fine, Italian Motorcycles at Mandello del Lario along the eastern shore of Lake Como since 1921.  The mainstay of the company, from 1921 through 1966 was the single cylinder 500 cc motorbike.  To many, the most notable of all these machines would be the Falcone Sport produced during the 50's.  Moto Guzzi is legendary for its racing prowess and its innovation of motorcycle design features.  The Falcone is the epitome of simplistic, reliable design and performance riding.

MOTO GUZZI CLASSICS is a club for lovers of antique vintage Moto Guzzi motorcycles. The club is centered around the area of Vicenza, Italy about one hour inland from Venice.  Club members own and show a variety of vintage Moto Guzzi motorcycles, with the Falcone reigning as the premier model.  The club organizes a major tour with their antique motorcycles every year.

Club Tour History

1993

USA Southwest

1994

13 Passes of the Swiss Alps

1995

Circuit of Central Italy Wine Country

1996

The Castles of South France

1997

The "Parade Lap of Honour" - Isle of Man TT Races

1998

A Perimeter circuit of Sicily

1999

USA Desert Southwest

In 1993, sixteen vintage Moto Guzzi Falcone 500cc single cylinder motorcycles were shipped by container from Venice, Italy to San Francisco, California to conduct a three week tour of the southwest. The tour was incredibly popular with local riders who joined up along the way.  Photographs of this tour have become a prominent display of honor within the Moto Guzzi Factory.  A professional video documentary is available through the factory store.

In August of 1999, MOTO GUZZI CLASSICS will arrive to tour Nevada, Arizona, Mexico, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and California. The tour will start and end in Las Vegas, Nevada. This page will be periodically updated to provide the most current information on the tour so that you may meet up along the way. This adventure is constantly subject to revision and variation.  Please check periodically to find last minute changes and variations.  We provide this information so that you may consider planning to visit with the tour.

1999 Tour Itinerary

Saturday

July-31

Arrive in Las Vegas from Venice, Italy

Sunday

August-1

Uncrating the Motorbikes and organizing the support

Monday

August-2

Shake Down Ride through the Valley of Fire

200km

Tuesday

August-3

Las Vegas to Prescott, AZ via Oatman and Route 66

500km

Wednesday

August-4

Prescott to Mesa, AZ

310km

Thursday

August-5

Mesa to Tucson, AZ

170km

Friday

August-6

Tour to Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

Saturday

August-7

Tucson to Silver City, NM

320km

Sunday

August-8

Tour to Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

150km

Monday

August-9

Silver City to Albuquerque, NM

400km

Tuesday

August-10

Albuquerque to Santa Fe to Taos

210km

Wednesday

August-11

Taos to Durango, CO

320km

Thursday

August-12

Steam Train tour to Silverton, CO

Friday

August-13

Durango to Mexican Hat, UT

250km

Saturday

August-14

Jeep Tour of Monument Valley

Sunday

August-15

Mexican Hat to Kanab, UT

400km

Monday

August-16

Kanab to Las Vegas, NV

340km

Tuesday

August-17

Day tour to Death Valley National Monument

300km

Wednesday

August-18

Thunderbirds Tour at Nellis Air Force Base

Thursday

August-19

Crating the motorbikes for return shipment

Friday

August-20

Return flight to Italy

Meeting the Tour:  The members of Moto Guzzi Classics are always interested in meeting other motorcyclists.  You are welcome to stop in and visit at any time.  Please be aware that only about half of the group are conversational in English.  Also, remember that we are putting in long, hard, hot days on antique motorbikes.  Our need for hitting the pools and showers may limit our time for visiting.  We are reluctant to make any advance appointments to visit people.  Travel with antique motorcycles requires that we remain constantly flexible to adapt to bike, road, weather and group conditions.

Riding Along with the Tour:  You may wish to spend part of a day riding with the tour in your area.  Please remember that this is a club tour ride on antique motorbikes.  The club members all wear matching red riding suits and wish to ride together.  If you do wish to ride along, please be courteous and join in at the back of the line so that the club members may ride together.  Besides, you can only get the best appreciation of the sight, sound and smell of a long line of Falcones when travelling in the rear.  Also please be aware that we seldom exceed 55 mph even on wide open country highways.  Leave adequate room and be prepared for automobiles, motorhomes and truck traffic to pass us by.

Staying Overnight with the tour:  The tour organizers have already reserved hotel rooms for all of the tour dates.  If you wish to reserve space on your own at any of these hotels, you are welcome to pick whatever space remains available.  There are no special rates or considerations for joining in with the club.

Group Reservations:  Dinner reservations each night have been pre-arranged.  If you join us, you may have to dine elsewhere or at an alternate time depending on the restaurant facilities available.  The special day tours have been reserved in advance by special arrangements.  There may not be space available for you to join in on these activities at the last minute.

Hotel List

Saturday

July 31

Silverton, Las Vegas

702-263-7777

Sunday

August 1

Silverton, Las Vegas

702-263-7777

Monday

August 2

Silverton, Las Vegas

702-263-7777

Tuesday

August 3

Super-8, Prescott

520--776-1282

Wednesday

August 4

Super-8, Mesa - Town Ctr.

602-834-6060

Thursday

August 5

Super-8, University, Tucson

520-622-6446

Friday

August 6

Super-8, University, Tucson

520-622-6446

Saturday

August 7

Super-8, Silver City

505-388-1983

Sunday

August 8

Super-8, Silver City

505-388-1983

Monday

August 9

Super-8, Albuquerque

505-836-5560

Tuesday

August 10

Super-8, Taos

505-758-1088

Wednesday

August 11

Super-8, Durango

970-259-0590

Thursday

August 12

Super-8, Durango

970-259-0590

Friday

August 13

Burch's Hotel, Mexican Hat

801-683-2221

Saturday

August 14

Burch's Hotel, Mexican Hat

801-683-2221

Sunday

August 15

Super-8, Kanab

801-644-5500

Monday

August 16

Silverton, Las Vegas

702-263-7777

Tuesday

August 17

Silverton, Las Vegas

702-263-7777

Wednesday

August 18

Silverton, Las Vegas

702-263-7777

Thursday

August 19

Silverton, Las Vegas

702-263-7777

INFORMATION CONTACTS:
For further information about the club or the tour, you may contact:

USA:  Patrick Hayes of Fremont, California, pehayes@comcast.net or telephone 510-651-6463.

ITALY: Yvan Pfyffer of Schio, (Vicenza), 39-0445-525003

Three Californians will be participating in this complete tour.  Patrick Hayes will be on his 1946 Moto Guzzi SuperAlce.  Jerry Kimberlin of Richmond will be on his 1937 Moto Guzzi GTW.  Bill Ross of Escondido will be on his Falcone Sport.

---SUPERALCE                                        GTW---



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