A detailed interview with Oriol Puig Bulto + full access to his photo gallery and Trial records.
Ironically Oriol Puig Bulto started his riding career and love of motorcycles with Montesa.
What can you remember of your first days with Bultaco ?
When Bultaco was first founded and the first motorcycle was being built i remember mainly going to firstly San Antonio and then to the factory at San Andreas . I remember testing the prototype of the Tralla 101 which was the premier motorcycle of Bultaco . At this time I remember mostly testing the bike with the team , Jose Sol. He was from LLeida.
When Bultaco was first founded and the first motorcycle was being built i remember mainly going to firstly San Antonio and then to the factory at San Andreas . I remember testing the prototype of the Tralla 101 which was the premier motorcycle of Bultaco . At this time I remember mostly testing the bike with the team , Jose Sol. He was from LLeida.
Two advertisements for the 1959 Bultaco Tralla 101 and one of the better external factory photos that exists.
A detailed interview with Oriol Puig Bulto www.retrotrials.com
A detailed interview with Oriol Puig Bulto www.retrotrials.com
|
A detailed interview with Oriol Puig Bulto www.retrotrials.com
|
I also remember going to the 24hour race Monjuic in July 1959 with the Tralla and Jose Sol. I rode with Jose , who was team mate. At the time there were only two riders per team and he was a very good tester for motorcycles as he had a very good feeling for the engine and for testing at this time. Of course we had no computers for testing to see the carberation and other things so everything was by the feeling ha ha ha .
You had been to the Montesa factory many times and then the time was for you to stop going there and go the San Andreos Bultaco factory . How was the comparison and tell me about your first impression of the Bultaco factory .
Well I can only compare the Bultaco factory with the Montesa factory in Pamplona ,as I have not been to the factory in Esplugues because this factory was after my time .
You had been to the Montesa factory many times and then the time was for you to stop going there and go the San Andreos Bultaco factory . How was the comparison and tell me about your first impression of the Bultaco factory .
Well I can only compare the Bultaco factory with the Montesa factory in Pamplona ,as I have not been to the factory in Esplugues because this factory was after my time .
Oriol with his Bultaco rider at the famous Monjuic race , on the roads in the centre of Barcelona.
A detailed interview with Oriol Puig Bulto www.retrotrials.com
What I saw in Bultaco and what I remember of Bultaco , is the spirit, the creative spirit and the enthusiasm. Montesa was more established but it was more of an industry already. Of course Bultaco was really a workshop and it was very small, but it was growing ,but in the very beginning it was just a cover with some posts supporting this cover and a test bench there. Many many hours were spent testing under this simple cover in San Andreas. I remember that this area was totally open on all sides to the wind and the rain ha ha ha , because of course this was an old Farm from Mr Josep Narbon from Talleres Narbón . Narbon was already working for montesa as as as as a supplier. He supplied the gears and gearbox components to Montesa. His factory was based in San Adria and he was a very good friend of the Mayor of San Andria , so he looked for Paco and Bultaco for a viable place that could be used as a place to work with motorcycles.
The new Bultaco company keen to obtain a factory in readiness for production for its premier model , the Tralla 101. It adopted a farm on land known as Mas Caselles in San Andria, Barcelona as its factory in 1959. It was set next to the Barcelona-Mataró train line ,which was the busiest in Spain. The small farm was soon extended in several places , to fill its plot to capacity. Social and economic changes had engulfed Spain since the death of Franco in 1975 and the formation of new left wing side to politics with stronger Trade Unions led to long strikes at Bultaco. Despite this the company moved into new premises nearby (photo far right) at the start of 1976. This factory was located nearby on Avenida Almirante Carreo Blanco. As this road was named after a general of Franco's the name of the road was later changed to Onze de Setembre. The factory is no longer present and the area has been completely revitalised with new housing.
This is an accurate representation of the San Andria Bultaco factory layout
A detailed interview with Oriol Puig Bulto www.retrotrials.com
It was a farm, but but it could be used for industry. So because there was potential we bought this small piece of land . If you go to San Andria now i cannot locate the place of the first factory the area has changed completely. There is a park there with trees but everything has disappeared , but I think the railway is still there and the factory was next to the track.
And was the paint spraying done in San Andreas ?.
Yes yes in the old Farm. Ha ha ha. today of course this would not be acceptable and would not pass.
And was the paint spraying done in San Andreas ?.
Yes yes in the old Farm. Ha ha ha. today of course this would not be acceptable and would not pass.