Hercules Day 2022 A unique gathering in beautiful Lonato del Garda, in Italy

HERCULES DAY 2022

The 30th Hercules day took place at ‘Arriga Alta’, Lonato del Garda, in Italy, on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th June 2022. Arriga Alta is a beautiful country estate that provided a perfect setting for the event. Arriga Alta is also a hill, the highest hill in the lower Lake Garda, and, Arriga is also a museum where you can find the most beautiful enduro bikes of the 60s [www.arrigaalta.it] so for every reason, Arriga Alta was the place to be!

The event, organised by the President of the Hercules DKW Sachs Historical Register, Roberto Biza, has been slowly building over many years and was a great success at this 2022 edition. The participants, the bikes and the climate all couldn’t have been better and nothing could disturb the event’s unfolding over the weekend, which witnessed many emotional scenes.

Foreign guests were the first to arrive. Mark Reul and his whole beautiful family arrived from Belgium, Marc Barette and Michel Capaldi came from France, while Peter Kling travelled from Germany. The meeting was embellished with such a rich display of off-road Hercules motorcycles, thanks to these and many other participants. The most beautiful motorcycles built in the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s were displayed alongside the ‘official’ motorcycles (works machines). There were several works bikes on display that had previously competed in the European Championship and the Six Days of the ‘70s. These are extremely rare models, unique in the world, and they are fully preserved and still fully functional.

Participants were able to use their bikes on a route of about seven kilometers, laid out by the excellent Registry Secretary, Words & photos by Roberto Biza

Alberto Braghetta, in the week preceding the meeting. On the ride were Duccio D’Amico, accompanied by a rare Stornello Regularity, and also Alfonso Crisci, Alberto Caraffini, Roberto Zocchi, Dario Salvi, Stefano Bignetti, Angelo Lodola, Giovanni Almici, Marco Borelli, Paolo Sala and many other fans of the prestigious German factory. Indeed, there was no shortage of great riders, the riders who fuelled our enthusiasm for the sport back in those glory years.

As well, the gruff, but sagacious Arnaldo Farioli honoured us with his presence, together with the great Piero Polini (Italian Champion 1970, 1971 and 1972 and now manager of Polini Motori). Both are still in excellent shape. From one joke to the next, they delighted us with their most interesting and precious memories.

This year was our 30th rally and it was felt that something should be made of the significant anniversary, to celebrate reaching such a goal. Among the many other commitments undertaken by Alberto Braghetta (and carried out with complete success), he also dedicated himself to the creation of a special commemorative plaque for this 30th event. The plaque was awarded

to all those who have shared in this long journey and kept their enthusiasm and passion over those decades. There was a small and informal ceremony where we awarded all the friends of all time, one by one.

As well as the wonderful people, of course mention must be made of some of the fabulous bikes in attendance. The crowd certainly did get to see some of the most beautiful and precious factory bikes, almost all those in fact that still exist in the world. As well, there were production bikes that most represented the models of the ‘70s. Among the many, there were, in my humble opinion, some very rare machines, which were certainly worthy of being admired, photographed and remembered.

First of all, we must dedicate at least a mention of three 1962-1965 DKW 50cc models, exhibited for the first time ever to the public. They were masterfully restored by Mark Reul, who, with great competence, took care of even the smallest and most hidden details. These are very important and rare pieces with original DKW engines, produced before the company was sold to Sachs, which

had sand-cast aluminium engine parts and futuristic five-speed gearboxes. This was at a time when, in Italy, it was considered a dream to have three gears operated by hand. Being able to admire them all together, side by side, was a real spectacle.

The Hercules 50 was no less appealing! On display, there were in fact, both the first Hercules GS ever, a very rare model from 1964, and the last, the famous Sachs 50 - Perego replica. They were in the company of the various intermediate models, including an equally rare “forklift” from 1966. Also in this case, these are pieces exhibited for the first time to the public and the exceptional quality of these splendid specimens has transformed participation in the gathering into a real museum visit.

The full and undisputed success of the event, together with the great satisfaction of the participants, bodes well for the future and we are already thinking about the 31st Hercules Day, which will be held in Lonato del Garda, Arriga Alta in June 2023.

Please join us!

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