Ducati Racing Single Valves

[Duccout]

I am interested in Ducati's racing history and I am trying to find out if the 1973 Imola racers were the first to use 60 degree valve angles, or does anyone know for sure that the SC or SCD singles used 60 degree heads? It appears that all the single cylinder racers used the head castings from the 250F3, which had the exhaust pipe secured by studs, rather than a screwed ring.

[DesmoDog]

It might be worth signing on to the Bevelheads list at micapeak.com and asking this. There are one or two guys on there that raced the bikes back in the day and would probably know from personal experience.

[chipper]

Duccout-
The well known American racer Frank Scurria wrote a bio for Bevelheaven, and he wrote-
"For 1962 I raced the 250 Formula 3 for Berliner/ZDS ... 1962 was also the start of my most ambitious Ducati project---the first 350 Ducati ... My idea was to go in a different direction and make a 250 size motorcycle with a 350cc engine. I went to see Alan D’Alo again, and asked if he would stroke a Diana crank to 76mm. He did. Borgo made the 76mm piston. The head on this machine was also the first to have the altered intake port angles that really made a big difference in performance. This machine was the most extensively modified Ducati I ever built and was ready for the start of the 1963 season."
Sounds to me like he had a narrow included angle(60 degree?) head in 1962. You can read the whole story here:
Bevel Heaven Foto Gallery Page

[Duccout]

Thanks chipper!

[DesmoDog]

Originally Posted by chipper

Duccout-
The well known American racer Frank Scurria wrote a bio for Bevelheaven, and he wrote-

FWIW Frank is one of the people on the bevelheads list and he's provided a lot of good info over the years.

[Duccout]

It appears that the USA has the best engine tuners in the world, at least in the private sphere, outside of formula one factories like Cosworth, Renault, Ferrari and Mercedes. Guys like C R Axtell and Jerry Branch really know (knew?) their stuff when it came to port shapes. If anyone here has read the fascinating account of Kevin Bracken's bevel racer, they will know that Axtell believed that 'Italians don't have a clue about port shapes'. + look at the miracles that Jerry Branch performed on Cook Nielsen's Ducati.

[chipper]

I know the DesmoDog/Craig is trying to help, but it's not as easy as going to Micapeak and signing up to the Bevelheads list- I've applied several times and never got any sort of reply/response.
And I agree with you about American tuners, I'm collecting info on guys who raced bevel Ducatis in the sixties and seventies. I have a 74 Sport and a 74 SS, both of then ex racing bikes, and I plan to restore them to 'as raced' condition, even though most guys would restore a greenframe to a coffee table photo shoot glamour motorcycle- they were designed as racing motorcycles and converted to street use, much in the spirit of Ferrari. The most blatant 'not really a street bike' Ducati built was the Diana Mark3- I'm still looking for one.

[Duccout]

I applied to the Bevelheads list, but also have not got a reply. Maybe it's invitation only!

[Desmo46]

I've been on Bevelheads for years and I seem to remember that I missed a step in the sign up procedure that resulted in no reply. Something in the wording threw me off. The password, screen name and your e-mail address were also case sensitive. Also, check your e-mail settings, it used to require a text only setting. Micapeak rejected or ignored e-mail with attachments, cool fonts and colors in the name of security. Lastly check your antivirus/antispam.

I believe Frank is refering toinlet port angle, not valve included angle.

[chipper]

You're right- it does say intake port angle, guess I read what I wanted to read and not what he wrote.
And, I don't mean to make a big deal out of it, but I'll try the Bevelheads subscription process again.