3 Interview with lifelong Montesa trial mechanic Paco Mateo |
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How long did you work in the Pampola factory ?
I work at this place from 1957 until 1962. The factory go to Esplugues earlier but the prototype department stay at the same location in Pampola.
Which floor at the Pampola factory were you based on ?
I work at this place from 1957 until 1962. The factory go to Esplugues earlier but the prototype department stay at the same location in Pampola.
Which floor at the Pampola factory were you based on ?
Me in Pampola, no. In Pampola I work in another place outside of the factory. Here is the factory Pampola and here in the department prototypes. There is one big door in green. Today it is still in green. Today still many times I have dreams of being at this place.
An aerial photo of the Pamplona factory on the right, with the 2 doors to the Francisco Bulto's competition and development department on the left.
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A 1962 photograph of the Pamplona Montesa racing and development department, where Paco worked, managed by Francisco Bulto.
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2015 photos of the same Paco Bulto workshops where Paco Mateo amongst others worked.
Here I stay from 1957 until 1961 and 1962 when this place close. The streets around the factory were the place where the bikes were tested. At this place where I work there is 2 floors. In the middle was one big door and one elevator for the bikes not the person, only bikes. In the ground floor they have the heavy machines to engineer the metal parts. Here they have the lathes and the machines to make the cylinder bore and also the machines to stamp the parts from metal sheet. Everything was there to make the moto. Much of the bikes were made by hand, not so many machines. The dyno was on the ground floor.
How many people work in this place ?
2 maybe making the drawings and designs. 2 making the welding, 4 pilots work from this place. Also there were 3 persons to try the engines.
What did you do, what was your job ?
My job was to try the engine to get them working good. But here, not for to long because I was so young. After in Esplugues much much more work here.
Was there ventilation in this place for the engines to work and not gas you ?
Yes, oh yes.
As there were 4 riders working from this prototype shop. How did 4 riders stay busy ?
The drivers go to the mountains and on the roads for much time and spend not so much time here. They come to the factory to assemble the bikes and then they go the races and for try using the bikes for many days at one time.
Was the factory a very dirty and smelly place ?
No no nooo. It was very very nice. Very interesting work because when you are at home in the bed you are thinking what shall I do tomorrow, now this is different.
And you worked with Montesa all of your life ?
Yes, from 1957 until 1999.
When I go to Espluges, I was first the mechanic to Pedro Pi in motocross. He started motocross in Spain. Pi and me go Belgium, Italy and France and we go in one car with the motorcycle in vehicle also.
How many people work in this place ?
2 maybe making the drawings and designs. 2 making the welding, 4 pilots work from this place. Also there were 3 persons to try the engines.
What did you do, what was your job ?
My job was to try the engine to get them working good. But here, not for to long because I was so young. After in Esplugues much much more work here.
Was there ventilation in this place for the engines to work and not gas you ?
Yes, oh yes.
As there were 4 riders working from this prototype shop. How did 4 riders stay busy ?
The drivers go to the mountains and on the roads for much time and spend not so much time here. They come to the factory to assemble the bikes and then they go the races and for try using the bikes for many days at one time.
Was the factory a very dirty and smelly place ?
No no nooo. It was very very nice. Very interesting work because when you are at home in the bed you are thinking what shall I do tomorrow, now this is different.
And you worked with Montesa all of your life ?
Yes, from 1957 until 1999.
When I go to Espluges, I was first the mechanic to Pedro Pi in motocross. He started motocross in Spain. Pi and me go Belgium, Italy and France and we go in one car with the motorcycle in vehicle also.