Shelina Burnin’ Dinosaurs (Dept of AWESOME Video)

I gotta get me a GoPro.  Yeah, OK this is just me taking some notes on killer camera angle and placement on a motorcycle, since it’s the most AWEsome motorcycle racing video I’ve seen.  (Are you listening, butt-shot-video-boys?)  Looking forward to kind of work on an electric bike…

Here it is:

No, now stop it, it has NOTHING to do with the fact we can gaze into Shelina Moreda’s eyes as she slams that bitch through the turns (or watch her butt…  wait, WHAT??)

It’s all about the camera.

Yeah, that’s right.

.

History- Interview with Betti Thomas, Team BettiMoto

(President Vito Ippolito delivered the prestigious 2010 FIM Environmental Award to Betti Thomas)

Thomas kindly took the time to answer my endless questions, which I’ve translated here.  This is truly an honor to be able to help tell this story.  Here it is:

What made you think to make an electric motorcycle and race it?  

We have built an electric motorcycle because we have always been passionate about motorcycles of all types to 360 degrees.  A friend of my father, who for years ran electric cars asked us, why not try to make an electric motorcycle? Racing F.I.A. (International Automobile Federation) is a category IV, which also includes the two-wheel vehicles (category were FIA racing cars and go-kart electric separately for each category.)

 What was the motor and battery on your first bikes?  How did that change over the years?  

For the first motorcycles were common and heavy batteries used for starting.  In the second motorcycle batteries are lead-gel bike more performance.  The engines were brush engines.

Who else raced with you?  How many electric bikes? 

Many Italians-eg Centenaro Aurelius, who won the championship in 2001 but the competitors were from all over Europe- mostly from Austria.  That the biggest event of the season with dozens of participants, but not all vehicles were very competitive.

What races did you compete in?  

The Solar Electro-FIA was organized primarily in Europe, had also planned a race in Japan but no one has ever had the economic resources to go to Japan, the Japanese will come to Europe.

In Italy there was the FIVE (Italian Federation of Alternative Energy Vehicles) so the two were a world championship with an Italian with the FIA ​​and the FIVE. Races were held in Italy in conjunction.

Races were held in two rounds from about 12 km each, between the first and the second race there was a minimum of three hours where you could charge the battery.

Were you racing with gas bikes, or was it only electrics?

In my humble rider career I raced only with electric bikes, bikes with “normal” I have only trained!

What’s your relationship with the FIM now?  The TTXGP?  

In 2006 or 2005, I remember, we were contacted if we were going to participate in a competition that likely would take place in tourist Tropy with electric bikes, but at the time and lead-gel batteries for a ride of 66 km was too, only with Li Po was possible.

What do you think is the future of electric motorcycle racing?

The future of electric bikes I see very positive.  The question to ask is not whether electric bikes will become the future of our everyday lives, but when!

My thought is: one day fossil fuels will end, but I think the motorcycle and everything that entails will never end, the electric bikes are the natural evolution. What type of battery will be the future, we can not know, but the bikes will be electric.

What do you feel is the part you played in where we are with today’s racing?  Do you feel you guys paved the way, or do you think it would have happened anyway?  

I think we have done something great in our small way, surely it would’ve happened anyway but to be sure, we were an inspiration to many.

…

Indeed.  And thanks.

Laguna Seca ePower- 2010

History: The BettiMoto Story (A Better Translation)

Thanks to our friend, Simone Mancini of Motoelettriche, here’s a better translation with some more information:

- The “ECO” 1998:  The first motorcycle was built by Thomas and Luciano Betti in 1998 The bike was built using the electronics of a car and had a 120-volt brushed motor and total weight of 290 kg.  It didn’t reach 50 km / h – so much effort a disappointment!

- Fixed electronic problems remained the transmission problems . initially the bikes composed by a power regulator and a strap but a belt was not resistant to the power of the engine so it was replaced with a chain and the bike was up to 130 km / h with great acceleration.

- 1999: The first Electric Motorcycles World Championship won by Betty Motorcycle .  The first races of the echo had reliability problems, they solved the problems and he won all the races remaining. In the decisive last match in Vienna (Austria) Luciano Betti beat Czernoch Rudolf (winner of 4 consecutive titles) and won the world championship.

- 2000: Betti bike won his second World championship.  Two motorcycle riders in the championship were Thomas Betti and Luciano Betti . Thomas won many races but his father Luciano won the world championship. Betti also maked a scooter and with Stephen Sberlati rider (responsible  for the electronics for the team) won the first  Italian scooter title .

- 2002 = New Torpedine Motorcycle.  Three new Torpedine bikes are run at the start of the World dominated by Betti Thomas who won 9 races out of 10 total, the only race not won by Thomas was won by Luciano.

- 2003 = 5 riders in the new team: Thomas Betti, Betti Luciano, Matthew Cesarini, Simone Baldini and Angelo Andreani. All pilots have participated in the two categories of 150 kg and 300 kg a total of 10 bikes for the team. Luciano Betti back to win the FIA World class and absolute!

- 2004 = Luciano Betti domain that wins both titles FIA.

- 2005-2006 = Third and fourth title for Thomas Betti and seventh and eighth for the team.

- The team Betti Motorcycles has won seven titles of category and an absolute in FIA electric motorcycles championships.

See all the posts about BettiMoto and the history of electric motorcycle racing here.

History- The EVN Cup

My racing history thread has brought up the EVN Cup on more than a few occasions.  Here’s a little translation of an archived page from what was http://www.evn-cup.at.

EVN CUP 2002

Largest event in Europe

The EVN AG and ÖAMTC Motorsport arrange for the twelfth consecutive year the EVN-CUP, on 24 and 25 August at the site of the Arena Nova Business fairs will be held in Wiener Neustadt.

The EVN-CUP 2002 is the sporting highlight of the year for alternative fuel vehicles in Europe and a feast for the whole family. In 2001, 86 race teams at the start – including all the top teams from Switzerland, Hungary, Great Britain, Italy, Finland, Germany and Austria.

The EVN-CUP 2002 will not only offer exciting racing, but also present new developments in alternative drives, an interesting program complements the motor sport sector.

The EVN is one of the FIA ​​CUP 2002 Solar and Electric Cup and this year the organizers expect another great racing atmosphere.

With the EVN EVN CUP promotes the development of environmentally friendly, alternative-powered vehicles.

Here’s what looks like the EVN’s current site.  Ahhhh.  Got it.  An environmental company that probably sponsored or hosted theses races…  more on their history, here.

See all the posts about BettiMoto and the history of electric motorcycle racing here.

History- More on BettiMoto, Races

As I’d hoped, the information is starting to bust open.  Here’s a post I found on Electrifying Times, ca. 2002, with some translated press releases:

From:

http://www.bettimoto.com

Betti OF THE Doohan “ELECTRIC”

An Italian Firefighter Wins World Title

His name is unknown to the general public, but Luciano Betti, 44, a professional firefighter, is a champion of the world. Sunday, August 22 in Vienna won the second edition of the World Championship electric motorcycle. Specialties for now unrecognized, which – oddly – does not fall under the aegis of the federation or Italian motorcycle or international, but the FIA, the symbol that identifies the highest body car. The world of electric bikes has been awarded this year in four tests: Lombardore Levico, Jesolo and, of course, Vienna. There was also a stage in Japan, suppressed for lack of participants. Too expensive for drivers to travel outside Europe to participate.

“A Season in the world, bike and travel, costs about fifty million, which I covered in part with the help of sponsors,” says the new champion of the world, that its “Eco” if it is built by himself, with the ‘help of his son Thomas.

“The decline of internal combustion engines has already begun,” a word Betti, who firmly believes “the future of the two-wheel electric motor.” Its “Eco” is designed around an engine running at 120 volts for ten batteries. Total weight 270 pounds, for a maximum speed of nearly 160 times and “amazing acceleration.” Betti, who races in the highest category for bikes 150 to 300 pounds (the bottom is reserved for media up to 150 kg) with a first and a second place in the ‘last race (each race is run in two heats) has beat the Austrian Rudolph Czernoch; third place for another Italian, Andrea Buldini.

And next year at the start of the Betti global electric bikes will be two: in addition to Luciano, his son Thomas.

*****************

Motorcycle World Championship in Austria

Betti, The Electric Horseman gives the world in Pesaro

PESARO – World champion at 44 years, riding the electric bike built in the garage under the house. Luciano Betti firefighter Novafeltria, a small town of Pesaro on the border with Romagna, has realized the dream of the last vita.Domenica as Rossi and Melandri, the magnificent Italian children of the circus world champion had won in Brno with their hissing two days, he silently conquered his world title riding the Echo.

A motorbike of 270 kg and can reach 160 km / h, which has grabbed this year, including that of Vienna, three successes: “To learn to drive it the best Betti said I had to forget how to drive the other dock, but to go fast, to win you need to do as the other two wheels: brake after the first and open the throttle. And my revenge on those who thought that I had played 40 years rincitrullito when I said that I built an electric motorcycle to participate in the World. “

Even before winning the world title, Betti had been contacted by prof. Francis Grianta, nuclear engineer, Professor of Physics at the University of Urbino, which intrigued by the motion of the fireman, had wanted to know the secrets.

So the Echo will become the subject of study for the thesis of some of the students’ university Montefeltro, while it is quite possible that the University is involved in research, funding of firefighter competitions, making it even more competitive medium.

Already happens in the World Championship, where the University of Belfast sponsors of the team of British rider ‘Aprilia, Jeremy McWilliams.

Saturday evening the town of Novafeltria, mayor at the head, will celebrate its champion in the square. It is not known as Valentino Rossi, but he won the World Cup speed electric vehicles.

The world of the future.

Maurizio Bruscolini

***************

And this, from the German:
From:

http://www.evn-cup.at/index01.html

EVN CUP 2001 provided a thrilling race action
“Future Forum” showed the latest developments in alternative motor drives

Once more the character of “hot” was the 11th race atmosphere EVN-CUP for alternative fuel vehicles. Thousands of visitors at the test site, near Baden-Semperit were also a lot of information “to take home.”

Were offered to viewers in high summer temperatures not only exciting race with spectacular wheel-to-wheel duels. As a point of attraction was also the “Forum for the Future”, where several well-known car manufacturers their innovations in the field of alternative motor drives presented.

The Opel Zafira 1.6 CNG – a Komapkt-van that runs on natural gas – were the CUP EVN Austria did its premiere. Toyota introduced the Prius, a vehicle with hybrid petrol-electric drive before. Volvo showed its bi-fuel models (petrol and gas), S60, S80 and V70. Mercedes Benz, it was the first time in Austria a 1-1 sectional model of Necar 5 (Class A), the recent development of DaimlerChrysler’s fuel cell research to see. Fiat was represented by the Mulitpla, which is available in version Bipower (gasoline and natural gas) or Blue Power (excluding gas drive). For this purpose, Linde Gas with new fueling facilities.

Although Audi presented a “traditional”, with the A2 1.2 TDI, but extremely economical car (three liters per 100 km).

Attraction for true mass audience in EVN-CUP, moreover, were once more the ORF Schlagerparty, furthermore, the show stage, where among other things provided Ö3 weatherman Andrew Hunter and Roland Düringer with his solo performance for entertainment and humor, as well as the fun park.

And not least of course, proved to be the race for the “Prix of Austria” as real crowds. “Grand Prix” mood was thus not only on the weekend at the Hungaroring, near Budapest, but also in the “Formula 1 is the e-Mobile” on the Semperit test site.

Also a hot battle for the victory, the visitors enjoyed the celebrity race. Caused when the “VIP Grand Prix” in electric cars, especially the “audience favorite” Roland Düringer sensation. The comedian had to be on his debut as “Brother Power” is ultimately just a crooner Nino Angelo de beaten in the cable signal to give electric car. Third place went to Semperit Managing Director Dipl. Hans Hirschl. Best female participants in the twelve-member field northeast ORF presenter Christiane Teschl was in sixth.

There were also the winners-EVN CUP 2001 for the “Prix of Austria” itself: the overall victory secured Alex Sqarzoni Carlo (ITA).

See all the posts about BettiMoto and the history of electric motorcycle racing here.

History- Electric Racing ca 2003 (video)

Thanks to our friends at Motoelettriche, we can have a look at what electric racing was like back in 2003.  I’m trying to find the names of the madmen you see here, if you can give me any information I’ll gladly update with anything I get.  Again, forgive my stab at translation…  and if you can help me out, please dive in!

First, 3 minutes of coolness:  “Excerpt from the race- Brescia, 2003- is valid for the Italian championship and world. Race won by me, the strangest I’ve ever run … I’m the one with the bike No. 5 ….  excuse me but is shooting a home movie.” (See comment below, this is Simone Baldini, Team BettiMoto.)

Next, “extracted from the regional transmission”.  Not sure if that means it was covered by a local TV station or magazine, but I love the crash- you can see the battery pack, what appears to be some bigass lead batteries.  Ah yes…  indeed: “Padina Marcelo tells what happened in race one of his broadcasts.  Electric motorcycle race, Brescia 2003 is valid for the Italian league for the championship.”

Finally, the podium. “Even today, since 2003, seeing this video I still get emotional …”

The funny thing is…  a bunch of us have been talking about getting together for some sort of rally…  DIY builders, guys we know from some of the groups we’re on, and as we discuss it, it is starting to look just like this.   Maybe a bunch of ya-hoos swapping lies and racing bikes, maybe the start of electric club racing in the US?

For sure, these guys are an inspiration.

See all the posts about BettiMoto and the history of electric motorcycle racing here.

History- Team BettiMoto and the Early Days (Part 1)

The BettiMoto site has a page talking about their history, here.  Unfortunately, the English translation is a little tough to fathom, so I did a few translations and put together my own edited translation here (apologies in advance):

OUR HISTORY

It all started with a passion for motorcycles with internal combustion engines; In October 1998 team President Luciano Betti, having had extensive experience as a race rider and as a manager and mechanic for race teams involved in international championships, learned of the World Championship of Electric Bikes, and built, as a joke in five months, the first bike dubbed “ECO”.

The bike was built entirely by hand with his son Thomas, was made without any experience in the field of electrical races let alone electronics.

The bike was built around the electronics of a race car-  five months later the “ECO” was ready, powered by a 120 volt brush motor at 290 kg. The first test did not reach 50 km / h. (31mph)  After so much effort the performance was such a disappointment!

The team found the electronic defects that limited the speed.  One problem was to find a belt drive strong enough to withstand the power, that would not restrict the efficiency of the drive train.  The belt drive, which allowed minor efficiency loss but was not reliable, was replaced with chain drive, so the bike was up to 130 km / h (80.77mph) with great acceleration.

After the first few races in which he suffered from some reliability problems, Luciano Betti managed to win all remaining races, including the decisive final race of the season (CUP-EVN), running in Vienna,  Austria where Betti, riding the “ECO”, managed to beat his host Czernoch Rudolf, who had already won the championship four times in a row, giving the Betti team’s first World Championship title of Electric Motorcycles.

In 2000, with the experience of a year of competition the team made a second effort, entrusted to Luciano’s son Thomas Betti. Thomas managed to win many victories in his debut, but the title was won by Betty Luciano.  The 2000 season, bringing its second world title and winning the Italian for top category, and the Italian title of the first electric scooter driven by Stephen Slaps, not a great driver, but responsible for the electronics of the Betti team.

 In 2002 the team of Luciano Betti, Betty Thomas, Matthew Cesarini, riding the new torpedo in the class, and three bikes in the class minor, always Thomas Betti, Betti Luciano and Matthew Cesarini, is repeated in the 2002 championship.  The team had gave great satisfaction with their performance in their class with  Thomas Betti earning World Champion and Champion and taking home two titles at once.  Betti won nine of the ten races.  Among other things, the race was not won by was won by Thomas Luciano, demonstraing the great superiority of the Betti team.

In 2003 part of the team with 5 riders, Thomas Betti, Betti Luciano, Matthew Cesarini, Simone Baldini Angel Andreani and all have participated in the two categories of 150 and 300kg for a total of ten bikes.

2003 was the year of the return of Luciano Betti who regained the World Title and Top Electric Motorcycle category for electric vehicles.

In 2004 Luciano Betti won his fourth title ever aboard the updated “torpedo”.  Betti won the fourth title in the FIA ​​roster and the sixth for the team.

The 2005 and 2006 years carry the title for the third and fourth titles for Betti Thomas and the seventh and eighth titles for the team.

During eight years of competition the BettiMoto Racing Team has won seven FIA titles in their classes.

The result of this success can be attributed to the passion, the real driving force that has allowed Team Betti to continue despite the difficulties, and make a difference, at a time when the competitive spirit of electric motorcycles was not taken into account.

In 2010 Betti Moto Racing Team will participate in the championships reserved for electric motorcycles following the TTXGP 2009, which was a huge success, as a result of our extensive experience we are sure to be among the leaders of this new adventure.

For the original Italian version, go here.  If you see any errors, PLEASE feel free to comment and suggest corrections.

See all the posts about BettiMoto and the history of electric motorcycle racing here.

History- The First Electric Motorcycle Races (hint: not TTXGP)

Think TTXGP is the first ever electric motorcycle race?  Think Azhar is the Grand(or God)father of Electric Motorcycle Racing?  Well, kids, pull up a stool and let Uncle Teddy give you a little history lesson.  In spite of what the fanboys like to think (and say, well, repeatedly), TTXGP was predated by about a decade.

Just the slightest bit of research will get you this press release from 2010, posted on ElMoto, where you can read:

Thomas Betti, e-Power Champion commented, “It was a historic championship, and we found little improvements every race which gave us the possibility to win. Electric motorcycle racing is not new… we’ve been competing in various racing series since 1999 and have won 8 championships, but the learning curve is so fast that from one race to the next you can make so many steps forward.

What’s that?  1999 you say?

A little more searching and you get to this page- the history of BettiMoto.  Slightly fractured translations aside, it’s pretty cool stuff.

It all started with a passion for motorcycles with engine heat, Betti Luciano team president, having had extensive experience as a driver of speed and as a manager and mechanic racing teams engaged in international championships, which is cross-speed track in ‘October 1998, came to the attention of the world championship of electric bikes, built as a joke in five months, the first bike dubbed “ECO”.  

No wait.  There’s more. Reports from 2000.  2001…  on through 2006 even.

Over eight years of competition Betti Moto Racing Team has won seven titles in a category and absolute FIA.
The result of such success can be attributed to the passion, the real driving force that has allowed to continue despite the difficulties and make a difference in a period where the electric motorcycle racing was not taken into account.

Stay tuned…  more to come.

See all the posts about BettiMoto and the history of electric motorcycle racing here.