1962 Itom 50 Mark 8
1962 Itom 50 Mark 8
Start of a new championship
In the 1950s, when 50cc racing became popular, the Itom was one of the main contenders. Made in Turin and sold as sports mopeds, these little singles lent themselves very well to tuning, and the majority of racers in the early days of the 50cc category were Item-powered.
Training a Champion
Among the many riders who cut their racing teeth on these little bikes was Bill Ivy, who went on to become World Champion, riding for Yamaha.
Apprentice Class
The first Itom had a three-speed transmission with a manual selector on the handlebars, but that was not really ideal in competition. It subsequently adopted a four-speed gearbox and then, on the Mark 8, a selector pedal. The 50cc category attracted many entrants, since the FMI (International Motorcyclists’ Federation) looked favorably on this “apprentice” class that was an ideal springboard for young riders who wanted to race but were deterred by the cost and speed of bikes in the higher displacement categories. So in 1961, the first official championship, the Coupe d’Europe, came into being. The very first race was held at Mouscron in Belgium and won by Pierrot Vervroegen on an Itom at an average of 53.6 mph on the short but difficult 1.2 mile circuit. However, that was the only major international success for Itom. The Italian two-strokes were overhauled by the German Kreidlers, which won five races out of eight that season, giving Hans-Georg Anscheidt the first 50cc title. The class acquired world championship status in 1962 and, with the growing participation of the Japanese teams, became too costly for the Italian marque.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 49cc (40×39.5mm) air-cooled single cylinder, Marelli magneto
Power Rating: 8 hp @ 10,000 rpm
Valves: two-stroke
Fuel System: Dell’Orto carburetor
Transmission: 4-speed, chain final drive
Suspension: telescopic forks (front); swing arm (rear)
Brakes: drum (front & rear)
Wheels: 18 inch (front & rear)
Weight: 95 lb
Maximum Speed: 80 mph
The first racing 50cc motorcycles were tuned versions of standard road-going models rather than real competition bikes, and machines like this Itom dominated the class.
This and many other Atlas Editions Classic Motorcycle cards are available for purchase.
