Czech Mate: A Minarelli 50 GP with a curious past

Nothing arouses curiosity quite like a rare racing machine. Bonus points if it's so vintage and obscure, you need to turn to specialist internet forums to pinpoint its origins. Which is exactly what Cole Mahlowitz, the owner of this beautifully restored 1970s 50 cc Grand Prix racer, had to do. When Mahlowitz bought the bike, it was listed as a 1975-model 'Czech' Minarelli 50 GP—a 50 cc two-stroke racer with a six-speed box, and a claimed output of 16 hp at 14,500 rpm. But when the bike arrived, he had to dig deeper. Because although the motor was undoubtedly a...