Two Aermacchi racers to appear at Stafford
A 1969 Aermacchi-Harley 350cc Ala D'Oro and a 1974 Harley-Aermacchi RR250 Grand Prix bike will be on display and running at the Classic Motorcycle
Two significant Aermacchi racing motorcycles from different eras will be exhibited at a Stafford show this autumn. Owned by Andy Webb, the bikes will be featured at The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show sponsored by Carole Nash, held at the Staffordshire Showground on October 10-11, 2026.
Both machines carry the Aermacchi name but represent vastly different engineering philosophies. They will be on display and heard running during the event.
1969 Aermacchi-Harley Davidson 350cc Lawton Ala D'Oro
This factory-built racer from 1969 was originally tuned by specialist Sid Lawton. Its engine is a 350cc single-cylinder pushrod unit mounted in a spine frame.
Power is delivered through a bronze racing clutch and a close-ratio six-speed Schafleitner gearbox. The bike weighs just 210lb dry and can reach around 125mph.
The motorcycle's competition history is extensive. It was purchased new in March 1970 by the late Ronnie Niven of Ayr, Scotland. Niven raced it from the 1970s into the mid-1990s, entering numerous club events, 13 Manx Grands Prix, and four Classic TTs. His best Isle of Man result was a 10th-place finish in the 1982 Formula 3 TT.
The bike remains active in classic events. It has won the South of England classic up-to-500cc class twice and the national championship in 2022 and 2023. Its best recorded standing quarter-mile time is 14.22 seconds.
1974 Harley Davidson-Aermacchi RR250 Grand Prix Racer
This orange-and-black machine is a very different proposition. Built in Aermacchi's Varese factory, it is the model Walter Villa rode to three consecutive 250cc world titles from 1974 to 1976.
This specific bike was raced in the Italian national championships by Diego Montella. It came to the UK in the mid-1990s and was later acquired by its current owner, who performed a complete restoration.
The restoration has earned awards, including Best Road Racer at the 2024 Bristol Classic Motorcycle Show. Like its stablemate, the RR250 is regularly used. It has participated in track days and events like the Prescott Hill Climb and the Festival of 1000 Bikes parade.
It also competes in sprint meetings, with a best quarter-mile time of 13.83 seconds. A dyno test in February 2024 showed it produces 53bhp at 11,800rpm.
| Specification | 1969 Ala D'Oro | 1974 RR250 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Type | Single-cylinder, pushrod | Parallel-twin, two-stroke, liquid-cooled |
| Capacity | 350cc | 246cc |
| Compression Ratio | 11.5:1 | 12.8:1 |
| Claimed Power | ~36bhp @ 8,500rpm | 53bhp @ 11,800rpm |
| Dry Weight | 210lb | 105kg |
| Top Speed | ~125mph | ~147mph (235kph) |
| Best Quarter-Mile | 14.22s @ 95.91mph | 13.83s @ 99.49mph |
Show Appearance and Legacy
Together, the bikes illustrate a dramatic evolution in racing technology. The show is a major event in the classic motorcycle calendar. It features hundreds of bikes, club stands, and traders across the weekend.
Advance tickets for the Stafford show offer a saving of more than 20% compared to the gate price, according to the source.
