MV Agusta 500 worksracer & Hocking – 1961 East German GP - photo

Description

WE
ARE
CLEARING OUT OUR ARCHIVES!
A superb and rare photo taken during the
500cc East German Grand Prix
which was ridden on
July 30, 1961
on the
Sachsenring
circuit. Shown is one of motorcyclings great riders, Rhodesian
Gary Hocking
on the mighty
500cc M.V. Agusta four cylinder works Grand Prix racer
. He would
WIN
the race with an average speed of
99.96 mph
(
160.82 km/h
)! It was a magnificent year for
Gary
Hocking, as in 1961 he wrote motorcycling history when he won
both the 350cc and the 500cc World Championships
!
Gary Hocking
was born on
September 30, 1937
, in the town of
Caerleon
,
Newport
, Wales (UK).
However, he grew up in
Rhodesia
, now known as
Zimbabwe
.
As a teenager, he began racing motorcycles on grass tracks.
Before long, he had moved on to road racing circuits.
He left
Rhodesia
to compete in
Europe
in 1958 and made an immediate impact, finishing 3rd behind the works MV Agusta ‘s at the illustrious German Nürburgring circuit. In 1959, he was offered a ride by the East German MZ factory and finished 2nd in the 250cc championship.
MV Agusta offered him full factory support for the 1960 season and he repaid their confidence by finishing 2nd in the 125cc, 250cc and 350cc classes. Following the retirement from motorcycle racing by defending champion, John Surtees in 1961, Hocking became MV Agusta's top rider and went on to claim both the World Championships in the 350cc and 500cc classes. Hocking was affected deeply by the death of his friend, Tom Phillis at the 1962 Isle of Man TT. After winning the Senior TT, he announced his retirement from motorcycle racing and returned to
Rhodesia
.
M.V. Agusta
began as an offshoot of the Agusta aviation company which was formed by Count Giovanni Agusta in 1923. The Count died in 1927, leaving the company in the hands of his wife and sons, Domenico (on the photo), Vincenzo, Mario and Corrado. Count Vincenzo Agusta together with his brother Domenico formed MV Agusta (the MV stood for Meccanica Verghera) at the end of the Second World War as a means to save the jobs of employees of the Agusta firm and also to fill the post-war need for cheap, efficient transportation. Count Vincenzo and Domenico Agusta had a passion for mechanical workings and for motorcycle racing. They were determined to have the best Grand Prix motorcycle racing team in the world and spared no expense on their passion. They achieved this goal by hiring some of the best riders of the time, namely Carlo Ubbiali, John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini, Phil Read, and others, and having the best engineers, most notably Arturo Magni. The fire-engine red racing machines became a hallmark of Grand Prix racing in the 1960s and early 1970s, winning 17 consecutive 500 cc World Championships, and 63 World Championships overall. With the death of Count Domenico Agusta in 1971, the company lost its guiding force. The company won their last Grand Prix in 1976 and by 1980, stopped producing motorcycles altogether. The Agusta aviation branch continued on with its successful helicopter business. Interestingly, MV produced their first prototype, ironically called "Vespa," in 1945. After learning of Piaggio's brand new motorscooter of the same name, it was changed to MV 98. The company successfully manufactured small-displacement, quintessential Café racer style motorcycles (mostly 125-350 cc) through the 1950s and 1960s, followed by the big four cylinder 600cc and 750cc bikes in the 1960s and 1970s.
This is your rare chance to own this photo that reflects a very interesting and historic piece of motorcycle and MV ’s history. Therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 8" x 12" (ca. 20 x
30 cm
).
We have more photos listed on Ebay, also motorcycle (racing) photos! Check them out and use the shipping discount! You can always contact us for any requests.
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.