Foggy 888
You might discuss the matter with Paul's son Chris and see how he feels about it now that some of its previous race history has been uncovered. While Paul was a super great guy and an Expert racer, Jimmy Adamo/Reno Leoni was essentially the factory Ducati race team in the USA.
The bike is an important part of Ducati racing history in the USA, and deserves to be treated as such. I am sure that Paul would understand. You don't need to exclude him from the bikes history. He raced it as well, and when the bike is displayed in the future you should mention his involvement with it.
I have owned one Jimmy Adamo bikes and three factory World Superbikes. They came to me through a trickle down effect. Raced by the factory in WSBK, raced by the Factory in AMA Superbike, raced by a privateer racer, raced by an amateur racer, then sold to me. I sold three of them, including the Adamo bike for money reasons, and they were all restored to their original Adamo, and factory WSBK appearances.
I still have an ex-Scott Russell Team Muzzy ZX7R World Superbike that I plan on restoring to original 1994 spec. When ever I displayed any of the other bikes, I alway mentioned all of the riders that raced them.
You don't need to dump a ton of money into it, but I would restore as close as is possible in terms of appearance and parts to Jimmy's bike as it was in 1988.
As Bill has already suggested, if you just want an 851/888 race bike, then I am sure that some kind of arrangement could be made with Chris and you will probably end up with a better starting point for a racebike than you already have. I would not make any modifications (gussets to the frame, etc) to the bike until you have figured out what path you plan to take with the bike.
Regards,
Brian Brown
Foggy 888
A couple more Adamo Tricolore 851 photos:
cjensen
I certianly do not want to break up anything here, Paul was the last one to race it and if Paul's son would really like it restored as his father raced it then that would be just fine! If you coul dfind those old forks that would be even better! AS for original motor, those old heads could be fixed up, I am sure they will never be perfect as they have seen a lot of use, but could be repaired. AS it was a race bike always much of the rest of the motor has been changed out at one time or an other so those parts can be found. I do not remember much of an air box that we had on the bike, just the raised tank and a floor I think. Due to the stupid snow we are having and work here I have not had time to go find any old photos I hope I still have. We had a reverse cone exhaust on it, but the cone was mad out of perforated mesh and we had an aluminum sleeve over it with fiberglass packing for a silencer, passed tech but still sounded really good!! If those old forks can be found that would be fantastic!! That was a long time ago but I am trying to remember as much as I can, my race note taking back then was terriable, sorry about that!
nine16
I messaged Bryan (the son) and asked him to check back in on the thread and give his opinion.
Jorlandi
I personally prefer the idea of the bike being restored as Paul's bike because that's who raced it last and it is a very emotional part of the bikes history. It's a way of honoring a guy who lived and breathed racing and motorcycles with Ducati being his absolute first love. Just my humble opinion, having known Paul for most of my life and watching his smiling face after he would come off the track in a bliss state:-)
Jorlandi
On the other hand, I think we all would love to see that bike on the track again and whoever rides it would have the Orlandi blessing behind them. Maybe Paul will ride in spirit!
Jorlandi
Ok, Paul's other son, Chris says anyone can ride that bike as long as it says ORLANDI on the bike! Lol. And he wants pictures for proof! Lol lol
Jorlandi
P.S. Who picked that ugly ass paint anyways? Lol. We all always hated the paint job. I'll be excited for a new look!
Jorlandi
Meanwhile, I'll be looking in the shop for any more pieces and parts to that bike! Paul left us with a plethora of bike parts and I've had a hard time sorting them all out.
Jorlandi
We have the forks but they're in rough shape. There's a lot of parts and if you like we can take some pictures and you can have what you need. Just ask Bryan and he can let me know. We also have the old white rear rim that matches the white front rim in the picture.
wgsvintage
Rebuilding a bike is pretty much a labor of love, and it certainly sounds like that's what is taking place by restoring with Paul in mind. And it sounds like Chris is fine with that too. Get it back on the track, and keep your posts coming.
Bill
Jorlandi
Were waiting on Bryan's weigh in... Paul has Chris and Bryan and all us girls... The girls just want the bike to look good! Traditional Ducati fans at heart and the sound of that dry clutch. Just don't change the sound:-)
nine16
Well, no matter what, it's clear that the bike will be put back together and cherished in whatever form it takes. It has already been dismantled, the frame blasted and sent off for repair, and the tank has been stripped of the ugly paint (waiting to see how much Bondo is on it). It will live again.
marvin
I got the frame today to "restore, etc.". There is nothing special about this frame. As near as I can tell it is a replacement street frame (originally white)(no numbers) that someone has butchered. I will do nothing to it until I hear from Adam.
P.S. I believe Mark T called it correctly early on. We have conversed on the phone and he will come over and have a "look see" soon. If anyone can correctly "call" it, it would be Mark IMO
Jorlandi
The Bike
I remember the day Paul came home with "The Bike".
He was out for the day going to look at a bike, was all I knew. He came home with the coolest ducati I had ever seen! It was tied into the back of the truck and I couldn't believe my eyes!
Not only was it a new race bike, but it had apparently come from the Adamo/Leoni camp in some fashion. I hadn't remembered the Jensen part until this thread. Everyone was a star to me at that time, including Paul.
I knew he needed more bike to keep winning because the old 750?, wasn't doing it. He raced on team G force with Mike Norman and Dave Francis at that time. As well as on his own. Racing was expensive! I was cracking up about the "deal" on that bike for funds because it was the most expensive bike we ever had at the time! I almost fainted when I found out how much it was! Lol
We went without a few meals for that one, but it was all in the name of racing!
I can tell you that I was pretty upset that the bike needed a few things.... Like the electrical... For how much it cost! Lol. Then the motor! Oh boy! I believe it was Karl Englander who helped with the motor and Dyno work... He's in the California bay area.
Nothing could stop Paul from riding and racing and winning! Broken bike or not, he found bikes to ride and win until repairs were done. BUB, who is Dennis Manning, made the pipes for Paul, and may also have some info on that bike.
In the end, it never mattered what bike or the cost because Paul was happy and that made me happy too:-)
You guys are all right about what bike it is. It's a combo to make the whole.
Keep having fun and keep posting!
Julia Orlandi
marvin
Someone with deep pockets should buy it and restore it if it's that important to people IMHO.
lawman
Can't wait to see the bike together again.
AFM 691
Hi All,
I'm Bryan, Paul's other son. I met Adam(the man who has the bike now) by pure chance when I was trying to get rid of an old wheel. I hadn't even considered letting this bike go, as it has a ton of sentimental value to Chris, Julia, and the whole family, but after talking with Adam more and more, the bike entered the conversation. The more I talked to Adam, the more confident I was that he was the guy that could treat the bike with the respect it deserves and do something special with it. Plus, it was clear that he is a die-hard Duc fan. I started to consider the possibility of letting the bike go so that Adam could breathe new life into it. I knew that I was never going to be able to restore it myself, so the bike was just collecting dust in my garage. Letting the bike slowly die in my garage was not doing anyone any good, so I decided to go for it and let Adam work his magic on it so that the bike could live again and put a smile on somebody's face. My stipulation was that he keep me posted and send pictures.
I didn't expect all of this history of the bike to come to light and I see that, as important as the bike is to my family and I, it had a life before my dad owned it and it is meaningful to more than just us. It sounds like Adam is trying to make a decision on what the best path is to take.
Adam, If you are waiting for my weigh in, I would be happy to help make that decision. Can you summarize the current options that are available? I agree with Chris, that the Orlandi name should be on the bike, but I think we need to clearly understand exactly what the options are. Feel free to give me a call if it would be easier to discuss on a call.
Sorry to join the conversation so late. I have been so buried lately that I have hardly had time to come up for air.
cjensen
My old bike
I have no say in this but I know I would like to see the bike ridden and raced again by someone and since Paul was the last person to own and race it would be cool to see his name on it! To get a race bike back to historically correct you would have to almost pick a particular race and build to that as these bikes changed all the time with different parts, all the race bikes I have in my shop now change weekend to weekend, so if you can get it back close enough would be great! I am sure my old motor is worn out by now, and those old Ceraini forks were a pain and did not work that well, so would be really cool to build it the best you can in a way that actualy works, then bring it to Barber and race with us, I would love to see it again and running! I am sorry, I still cannot find any old photos to send you but will keep looking. Good luck and I hope you post photos as you build it!
marvin
cjensen wroteI have no say in this but I know I would like to see the bike ridden and raced again by someone and since Paul was the last person to own and race it would be cool to see his name on it! To get a race bike back to historically correct you would have to almost pick a particular race and build to that as these bikes changed all the time with different parts, all the race bikes I have in my shop now change weekend to weekend, so if you can get it back close enough would be great! I am sure my old motor is worn out by now, and those old Ceraini forks were a pain and did not work that well, so would be really cool to build it the best you can in a way that actualy works, then bring it to Barber and race with us, I would love to see it again and running! I am sorry, I still cannot find any old photos to send you but will keep looking. Good luck and I hope you post photos as you build it!
I would think that Rick at Cogent could put his 25mm cartridge "kit" in those old forks and they would work as well as any Ohlins R&T fork. My old '92 Showa's sure do!
Also unless that frame is braced a 996 engine would twist it into a pretzyl !
