Gilera 500cc 4cylinder factory racer Geoff Duke Ulster Grand Prix 1956 photo

Description

A superb and rare photo of the famous multiple motorcycle road racing world champion and Gilera factory rider
Geoff Duke
(starting number
21
) , seen in action with his
500cc four cylinder Gilera works racer
during the
1956
500cc Ulster Grand Prix
which was ridden on
August 11, 1956
.
During the race, Geoff Duke would ride the fastest lap with a record speed of
94.47 mph
(
152,03 km/h
). The race was won by John Hartle (Norton), followed by Bob Brown and Peter Murphy (both Matchless). Due to mechanical problems Geoff Duke was forced to retire from the race.
Geoff Duke
, OBE (born
29 March 1923
in
St. Helens
,
Lancashire
) was a British multi-time world champion Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. The name of Geoff Duke is synonymous with motor sports, for he dominated motorcycle racing in the 1950s, winning six world championships and five Isle of Man TT races. Duke came to prominence after winning the 1949 Senior Clubmans TT and the Senior Manx Grand Prix and was to become the very first post-war motorcycling 'superstar', popularly known amongst the racing fraternity simply as 'the Duke'. He was signed up to the Norton works team for the 1950 TT, finishing second in the Junior and breaking both lap and race records in the Senior. After winning three World Championships for Norton he surprised everybody by moving abroad to Italian motorcycle manufacturer, Gilera in 1953. With Gilera, he had a string of three consecutive 500cc world championships. His support for a rider's strike demanding more start money led the FIM to suspend him for six months, dashing any hopes for a fourth consecutive title. In 1955 he was declared the first rider to lap the Isle of Man TT course at
100 mph
, though this was later corrected to 99.97. As a consequence the official first
100 mph
lap is credited to Bob McIntyre, also on a Gilera, in 1957. Duke was a non-starter due to injury. His final race was the 1959 Junior when he finished fourth on a Norton. In 1963 formed Scuderia Duke with Gilera to race the 1957 Gileras against the might of MV Augusta. Duke cut a distinctive figure on racing circuits as he was the first rider to wear one-piece leathers - he had enlisted his local tailor, to make the first of his now famous one-piece race suits. He was named Sportsman of the Year in 1951, awarded the RAC Segrave Trophy and, in recognition of his services to motorcycling, was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1953.
Highly honoured by the
Isle of Man
, where he made so many of his world record breaking rides, a point on the Mountain Course has been named after him. Three sharp bends at the 32nd Milestone between Brandywell and Windy Corner now carry the title 'Duke's'.
The FIM named him a Grand Prix "Legend" in 2002.
Gilera
was founded by Giuseppe Gilera in the Northern Italian town of
Arcore
, close to the city of
Milan
, in
1909
. In
1935 Gilera acquired rights to the Rondine four-cylinder engine. This formed the basis for Gileras four cylinder racing machines nearly forty years. From the mid-thirties Gilera developed a range of four-stroke engine machines. The engines ranged from 100 to 500cc. The most famous of which was the 1939 Saturno. After World War II,
Gilera dominated Grand Prix motorcycle racing
, winning the 500cc road racing world championship 6 times in 8 years. Facing a downturn in motorcycle sales due to the increase in the popularity of automobiles after the war, Gilera made a gentleman's agreement with the other Italian motorcycle makers to quit Grand Prix racing after the 1957 season as a cost cutting measure. In 1969 the company was purchased by the Piaggio & Co. SpA -- which now holds six marques and is the world's fourth largest motorcycle manufacturer. In 1992, Gilera made a return to the Grand Prix arena and Piaggio continues to produce small-displacement motorcycles with the Gilera name.
World Championships
1950: 500cc with Umberto Masetti
1952: 500cc with Umberto Masetti
1953: 500cc with Geoff Duke
1954: 500cc with Geoff Duke
1955: 500cc with Geoff Duke
1957: 500cc with Libero Liberati
2001: 125cc with Manuel Poggiali
This is a very nice and very rare
non period
photo that reflects a wonderful era of 1950s motorcycle history in a wonderful way. This is your rare chance to own this photo, therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 8" x 12" (ca. 20 x
30 cm
). It makes it perfectly suitable for framing!
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you buy.   For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well protected in PVC clear files
and board backed envelopes.
We have photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and excellent quality.
After many decades of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club!
First come - first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any questions before the auction ends.