Sammy Miller scoops top honours at star-studded Salon Privé Concours

This fabulous 1951 Moto Guzzi racer owned by Sammy Miller MBE was one of three bikes that scooped top honours at the 2021 star-studded Salon Privé Concours.

Held in the grounds of Blenheim Palace, with judges including TV’s Henry Cole and ex-racer Steve Parrish, Salon Privé is the most prestigious concours event in the UK and features some of the most beautiful and coveted cars and bikes in the world.

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The Guzzi Bicilindrica 500cc V-twin scooped top honours in the Competition Motorcycle Class ahead of a 1973 Yamaha TZ 350 entered by the Sawford family of St Neots.

Topping the Exceptional Motorcycles class was a 1975 MV Agusta 750 Sport, with second awarded to a 1973 Rickman-Metisse Cafe Racer. While the Duke of Marlborough Award was presented to a 1901 Triumph ¾hp Minerva, the very first Triumph made, as restored by Dick Shepherd.

“The Bicilindrica 500 had the longest career of any racing bike ever,” said Parrish. “Actually, Ducati in some ways copied the engine configuration to make the successful racing bikes we see nowadays. It was way ahead of its time in terms of technology.”

Alongside the concours entrants was renowned motorcycle builder Allen Millyard displaying his beautifully-engineered Kawasaki Z1 ‘Super Six’ while custom builders Thornton Hundred Motorcycles also displayed their 202bhp ‘World’s Fastest Bobber’ as previously featured in MCN.