Pere Pi standing outside the main Esplugues factory doors with an early Montesa Cota 247.
My bike we decide to place in the Barcelona car and motorcycle show and out there. Then we need to leave to Scottish Six day. Then it’s not possible to leave the bike in the show as I must go.
The organisation says, it is not possible to take the bike as it is in the show and you cannot take out. Oh no, what will we do. I need to take the bike for the Scottish, then we decide to take the bike, but without permission. We do this in the day. I go with another person and I take a machine of photo, a camera ha ha. We then out the bike here and make the photo here, then we put the bike in another place and we take more photo. Then we take the moto into the garden and we take more photos there. Then we put the moto onto the truck and we are gone and go to montesa and then we get spares and then carry the bike in the car and go to Scottish.
How many montesa riders were at the Scottish that year?
Four. Tony Smith, Charlie (Don) Smith, Christain Rayan and me. This was so nice.
Did you have mechanic?
How many montesa riders were at the Scottish that year?
Four. Tony Smith, Charlie (Don) Smith, Christain Rayan and me. This was so nice.
Did you have mechanic?
No, just one person who was friend for a little translation .Tony Smith greet the journalists and all of the people and would always put the bike up high for everyone to photo and see. When the bike was a little dirty from the trial he would find a little water from the stream and clean and then put there for photo. He was great, fantastic. He was really a nice man.
Later I develop the first folding footrest in the world on the cota. |
Before I put the tube in the petrol tank so that the tank could get air. This was the first ever. We make many of the first improvement in the world. Before the breather, all of the caps had small holes inside and then when the petrol moves its no problem on this street. All the bikes for the street are good. When we begin jumping in the motocross the petrol would come out everywhere. We test many things to make this better. We put plates with in the tank and also layers in the cap but still no good. Then one day it is simple to us and we place the tube coming out of the tank and no more problem.
Where did the saying viva come from?
Yes, in America we have a dealer who is a partner of montesa. This was montesa motors in Los Angeles. Mr Kim Kimble. Mr Kimble was very special and he says ok I must ask American company to make a slogan and he finds one company to do this for him. |
They say simple and come up immediately with the name viva Sabata. This is a Mexican revolutionary man. Sabata is his name. When he kills someone in the night he makes the “viva” name in the wood of the door.
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He becomes very famous as this is there re films of him. This American company think Spanish and think “Viva Montesa”. Mr Kimble no talk with montesa Spain about this and then when I make trips to America see the shift of Mr Kimbles men and I see “Can I get one for me?”. They say “yes of course” and they have in the store different colours and I get this shirt. I get in green and go home. I come America on many trips and next trip I buy the shirt in one of each colour and they sell to me and I take home. I then bring back home and we produce in Spain. This is the history of Viva Montesa. We make here Spain. |
Pere Pi showing us i think his favourite photo
Why were you going to America at this time?
I was riding montesa, promoting montesa, talking about montesa, selling montesa, going to dealers and business men. Everything. I think the first time is because montesa, Mr Permanyer make one enduro bike for American market and Mr Permanyer says ok “go you and test this bike and tell what needs making better on this bike”. I remember I go there to USA and take the bike and get opinion on this new bike. I remember that the gearing was very slow and the bike goes too slow. For the desert it is to slow. Mr Kimble try this bike on the street and he is changing gear very fast, first, second, third, fourth full gas gas ha ha ha. Like you go in 2nd or third and he goes so fast. I make also a school in America and I also compete in the trial de espania. Then I make a school two times. I remember Bernie Schreiber was there in the school and he was sitting there on the bike. He was sitting down on the bike and keeping the balance well. I remember this. I remember after some years he is world champion. |
Pere Pi demonstrating the first Montesa Trial in 1968 at the Saddleback park , California.
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Montesa have long had a relationship with tyre manufacturers. Even to this day Michelin's official trials tester is Amos Bilbao. However years before now Pere Pi developed the first Pirelli Trials and Motocross tyres
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