Chico
- Thread starter Paul Marx
- Start date
Rob
Hero member
- Location
- Midlands, UK
Sad news. I remember him well from a visit to his workshop in 1982. He fixed my misfiring Jota FOC and also demonstrated the benefits of magnesium wheels by chucking a Campagnola item at me to catch. Light as a feather! Still have a carefully preserved tee shirt from him.
Laverdalothar
Hero member
- Location
- Germany
Very sad to hear, even though it is the path we all will go one day.
Riposo in pace
Riposo in pace
Ilovemotolaverda
Senior member
- Location
- Italy
Ci lascia Pacifico "Cico" Simonato. Collaboratore a partire dal 1970 del celebre capo meccanico Nino Carretta, lavorò su tutti i modelli da corsa della marca, in particolare al tempo dei successi sportivi della 750 SFC, e divenne responsabile del settore tecnico della squadra corse al momento del pensionamento di Caretta. Grazie alle sue doti naturali di tecnico e alla sua perfetta integrazione nel reparto corse della fabbrica, fu designato come meccanico del V6. La foto in apertura lo ritrae appunto nel 1978, in occasione dei primi test della Laverda 1000 V6 al Mugello con Brettoni in sella. Quando a fine 1978 lasciò la Moto Laverda per avviare un'attività in proprio, realizzò molte special sportive derivate dal modello 1000 3 cilindri, molto conosciute ancor oggi per la loro estetica e prestazioni. Alla Famiglia l'abbraccio di tutti i componenti di "I love moto Laverda"
Pacific "Cico" Simonato leaves us. Collaborator since 1970 of the famous chief mechanic Nino Carretta, he worked on all the racing models of the brand, in particular at the time of the sporting successes of the 750 SFC, and became responsible for the technical sector of the racing team at the time of Caretta's retirement. Thanks to his natural skills as a technician and his perfect integration into the factory racing department, he was designated as a mechanic of the V6. The opening photo shows him in 1978, on the occasion of the first tests of the Laverda 1000 V6 at Mugello with Brettoni in the saddle. When at the end of 1978 he left the Laverda motorcycle to start his own business, he created many sports specials derived from the 1000 3-cylinder model, still well known today for their aesthetics and performance. The family embraces all the members of "I love moto Laverda"
Pacific "Cico" Simonato leaves us. Collaborator since 1970 of the famous chief mechanic Nino Carretta, he worked on all the racing models of the brand, in particular at the time of the sporting successes of the 750 SFC, and became responsible for the technical sector of the racing team at the time of Caretta's retirement. Thanks to his natural skills as a technician and his perfect integration into the factory racing department, he was designated as a mechanic of the V6. The opening photo shows him in 1978, on the occasion of the first tests of the Laverda 1000 V6 at Mugello with Brettoni in the saddle. When at the end of 1978 he left the Laverda motorcycle to start his own business, he created many sports specials derived from the 1000 3-cylinder model, still well known today for their aesthetics and performance. The family embraces all the members of "I love moto Laverda"
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Laverdalothar
Hero member
- Location
- Germany
That article was the base for our engine concept of my then "Cico Jota" (bike was imported from italy end of the 80's, I bought it off of the hands of a friend of my brother and it had the full Cico design, but a totally standard engine) when after a drop in Austria on the Reschen-Pass, I had to overhaul the whole bike including the engine anyway.
We got close to Chico's results with a similar, but a bit "milder" concept (1117ccm instead of 1203ccm, high compression, 4/C cams instead of 7/C, 40mm carbs, SFC/Corsa type head). Engine made roughly 50.000km until I recently had to give it to OCT again due to a crank bearing giving up. Still at OCT due to the head has developed some cracks which need laser welding. Else, the engine was in pretty good shape still and without the crank bearing issue, it would for sure have covered another 50.000km without issue.
So - still see the bike as a bit of a tribute/credit to the man and his achievements. I know that Red's work went way ahead of this in terms of the results, but considering the time and knowledge at that time, it was incredible what Cico achieved to get out of this engine! It is almost 50% increase over the standard 74HP the triples developed at that time, which is not easy to achieve but do show the potential of these engines.
Have never met him personally though, would have loved to know if he actually put the body-work and 3-1 exhaust on the bike I have or if someone just bought the parts and did it. Never will have the chance again to ask...
We got close to Chico's results with a similar, but a bit "milder" concept (1117ccm instead of 1203ccm, high compression, 4/C cams instead of 7/C, 40mm carbs, SFC/Corsa type head). Engine made roughly 50.000km until I recently had to give it to OCT again due to a crank bearing giving up. Still at OCT due to the head has developed some cracks which need laser welding. Else, the engine was in pretty good shape still and without the crank bearing issue, it would for sure have covered another 50.000km without issue.
So - still see the bike as a bit of a tribute/credit to the man and his achievements. I know that Red's work went way ahead of this in terms of the results, but considering the time and knowledge at that time, it was incredible what Cico achieved to get out of this engine! It is almost 50% increase over the standard 74HP the triples developed at that time, which is not easy to achieve but do show the potential of these engines.
Have never met him personally though, would have loved to know if he actually put the body-work and 3-1 exhaust on the bike I have or if someone just bought the parts and did it. Never will have the chance again to ask...
piranha-bro2
Hero member
- Location
- Melbourne
Vale Cico. Never met him but have no doubt he was a man of talent and passion. A life well-lived.
Andy J
Hero member
- Location
- Isle of Man
Whilst I sometimes found the styling of some of his bikes not to my taste I greatly respected his achievements with tuning Laverdas the way he did. A sad loss to the Laverda community.
Ilovemotolaverda
Senior member
- Location
- Italy
Hi Laverdalothar,That article was the base for our engine concept of my then "Cico Jota" (bike was imported from italy end of the 80's, I bought it off of the hands of a friend of my brother and it had the full Cico design, but a totally standard engine) when after a drop in Austria on the Reschen-Pass, I had to overhaul the whole bike including the engine anyway.
We got close to Chico's results with a similar, but a bit "milder" concept (1117ccm instead of 1203ccm, high compression, 4/C cams instead of 7/C, 40mm carbs, SFC/Corsa type head). Engine made roughly 50.000km until I recently had to give it to OCT again due to a crank bearing giving up. Still at OCT due to the head has developed some cracks which need laser welding. Else, the engine was in pretty good shape still and without the crank bearing issue, it would for sure have covered another 50.000km without issue.
So - still see the bike as a bit of a tribute/credit to the man and his achievements. I know that Red's work went way ahead of this in terms of the results, but considering the time and knowledge at that time, it was incredible what Cico achieved to get out of this engine! It is almost 50% increase over the standard 74HP the triples developed at that time, which is not easy to achieve but do show the potential of these engines.
Have never met him personally though, would have loved to know if he actually put the body-work and 3-1 exhaust on the bike I have or if someone just bought the parts and did it. Never will have the chance again to ask...
i met Cico ... what you told really moved me and touched my heart and soul. Grazie
Alberto
Laverdalothar
Hero member
- Location
- Germany
Grazie mille, Alberto. Questa è una delle cose di cui sono sempre più consapevole: Per alcune cose non c'è una seconda possibilità. Se puoi, dovresti fare quello che ti senti di fare. Non è facile, ma altrimenti si parla solo di occasioni mancate...
Grazie anche per aver condiviso la tua esperienza di incontro con lui. Ecco cosa mi piace di Laverda: Abbiamo avuto la possibilità di incontrare persone che hanno davvero lavorato sulle nostre macchine, le hanno progettate e costruite. Quale altro motociclista può dire questo di sé?
Grazie anche per aver condiviso la tua esperienza di incontro con lui. Ecco cosa mi piace di Laverda: Abbiamo avuto la possibilità di incontrare persone che hanno davvero lavorato sulle nostre macchine, le hanno progettate e costruite. Quale altro motociclista può dire questo di sé?
I met Cico in 1981 in Breganze in his workshop. He fulfilled my dreams (at that time) and mounted the SFC fairing on my SF3. I remember well my talks with him about the 750 SFC (which I couldn´t afford) and the three cylinder engines (which accoring to his opinion were too heavy).
It took 38 years to meet him again in his KTM workshop during the 70 year Laverda celebration. I will always remember him as a great and competent motorbike enthusiast.
It took 38 years to meet him again in his KTM workshop during the 70 year Laverda celebration. I will always remember him as a great and competent motorbike enthusiast.
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Kickback
Junior member
- Location
- Somerset UK
A very sad loss, I confess that I had not realised what a huge role 'Chico' played in the Laverda legend, thank you Chico and to all those that have posted their memories.