A detailed interview with Oriol Puig Bulto + full access to his photo gallery and Trial records.
I had made contact with Oriol Puig some weeks before our actual meeting. We had planned to connect on my next trip to Barcelona which was in April 2017. So it was on this journey that my good friend Josep Argerich drove us both as we fought the mid morning traffic of Barcelona to arrive ahead of time , keen not to be late.
n fact we were quite early and once again were victims to the lure of the Spanish coffee shops , where we killed time , and fought the temptation to drink more than we could cope of the strong black stuff, that is so common in these parts. The inner city area where Oriol lives was clearly very exclusive. It was a tapestry of elegant tall buildings, signature architecture and secure apartment blocks in an area that i remember as being a haven of small boutiques ,expensive restaurants and underground private car parks.
Once the time came we approached the apartment intercom and pushed the intercom , which was quickly answered by Oriol. He answered quickly and buzzed us into a very chic wooden panelled communal hallway. We were quickly intercepted to passing elegant ladies who looked us both up and down, wondering what we were doing and where we were going. In fact the whole scene and surroundings reminded me of Mrs Robinson and the classic film the Graduate. We found our way to a private lift taking us directly up a few floors to Oriol's front door where we knocked and stood.
An athletic young lady with a Swiss accent answered the door who i expected to be perhaps Oriol's grand daughter , but in fact she explained that she was his physiotherapist and that she had been treating Oriol's leg that he had hurt. Thankfully she was expecting us and escorted us though to the living room where she asked us to take a seat, telling us that Oriol would be with us shortly.
The L shaped room had a wall of windows , from which you looked at the other side of the street. The solid wood floor room was decorated in white and was furnished what i can only describe as thoughtfully and expensively. An old map was framed on the wall, a large oil painting and a wall of what looked like art from the far east.
n fact we were quite early and once again were victims to the lure of the Spanish coffee shops , where we killed time , and fought the temptation to drink more than we could cope of the strong black stuff, that is so common in these parts. The inner city area where Oriol lives was clearly very exclusive. It was a tapestry of elegant tall buildings, signature architecture and secure apartment blocks in an area that i remember as being a haven of small boutiques ,expensive restaurants and underground private car parks.
Once the time came we approached the apartment intercom and pushed the intercom , which was quickly answered by Oriol. He answered quickly and buzzed us into a very chic wooden panelled communal hallway. We were quickly intercepted to passing elegant ladies who looked us both up and down, wondering what we were doing and where we were going. In fact the whole scene and surroundings reminded me of Mrs Robinson and the classic film the Graduate. We found our way to a private lift taking us directly up a few floors to Oriol's front door where we knocked and stood.
An athletic young lady with a Swiss accent answered the door who i expected to be perhaps Oriol's grand daughter , but in fact she explained that she was his physiotherapist and that she had been treating Oriol's leg that he had hurt. Thankfully she was expecting us and escorted us though to the living room where she asked us to take a seat, telling us that Oriol would be with us shortly.
The L shaped room had a wall of windows , from which you looked at the other side of the street. The solid wood floor room was decorated in white and was furnished what i can only describe as thoughtfully and expensively. An old map was framed on the wall, a large oil painting and a wall of what looked like art from the far east.
After 2 minutes Oriol arrived and apologised for keeping us waiting. He sat down on the seat opposite us
Thank you for coming to see me later this afternoon we have dinner nearby with our brothers and sisters in law because on Saturday we are going to Geneva until June or maybe the end of May my wife is a translator and she works at the United Nations.
Thank you for coming to see me later this afternoon we have dinner nearby with our brothers and sisters in law because on Saturday we are going to Geneva until June or maybe the end of May my wife is a translator and she works at the United Nations.
I had met Oriol briefly once before on May the 17th 2014 at the impressive St Pancras Renaissance hotel in London for the Bultaco World Premier , when i was introduced to him by Sammy Miller. Here is a short video from this time.
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As with all Retrotrials interviews , this is written here word for word , placing you in the fortunate position of hearing from Oriol directly rather than editing ,editorial, paraphrasing or a reduction in text etc. Any words from the writer are in blue and the interview is in back text.
Now onto the interview .This is interspersed with photographs from Oriol's personal collection , which he allowed full access to Retrotrials.com.
This collection contains hundreds of never seen photographs and is astounding. It will significantly contribute towards the records of and ultimately the legend of Bultaco.
Now onto the interview .This is interspersed with photographs from Oriol's personal collection , which he allowed full access to Retrotrials.com.
This collection contains hundreds of never seen photographs and is astounding. It will significantly contribute towards the records of and ultimately the legend of Bultaco.
The interview with Oriol Puig Bulto
I have prepared many questions so I apologise for the number of questions I have. We will have to make some progress.
I admire the people involved today in the world of classic motorcycles especially when this is Bultaco and Montesa and they keep alive the memory of the Spanish motorcycles. You know for example Estanis Soler who has the Barcelona and the Bassella Motorcycle Museum and collection. We have common friends. Oh you know my assistant Estanis . Estanis worked with me for many years in Bultaco. He was my my right-hand man. It was fun and simply fantastic when we worked at Bultaco. Ok we must move on to the questions I think. |
Please can you tell me about your time as a child and growing up ?.
I was One of six . There were three sisters and three brothers and I am the youngest. Whereabouts were you born ? I was born here in the Barcelona and was born in December 1935 . The Spanish Civil War started in July 1936 so we stayed for a few months here in Barcelona but then it became dangerous to stay here so my family made the decision for my mother and two of my brothers to go to the port and we sailed by ship and then went by train to a place called San Sebastian and we stayed in San Sebastian for three years away from the troubles. |
Spanish Civil War, (1936–39), military revolt against the Republican government of Spain, supported by conservative elements within the country. When an initial military coup failed to win control of the entire country, a bloody civil war ensued, fought with great ferocity on both sides. - Source Wikipedia
When the Civil war was finished we came back to Barcelona. When I arrived back in Barcelona I was 4 years old and for all of my life since I have lived in Barcelona.
What did your mother and father do for work ?
Well my father had a textile factory that was founded by my grandfather. There were many industrialists within the area at the time and my father had a factory in the town below Montserrat mountain. The town is by the river and the dam. There were other textile companies that were close to my father's company back in those days.
What did your mother and father do for work ?
Well my father had a textile factory that was founded by my grandfather. There were many industrialists within the area at the time and my father had a factory in the town below Montserrat mountain. The town is by the river and the dam. There were other textile companies that were close to my father's company back in those days.
This interview will be interspersed with photographs provided by Oriol. Commentary on these photos is by Oriol in many cases. Just note the colour of the text.
An exhibition at the “Salón de la Infancia” in Monjuic, Barcelona.