the TEHUELCHE

	The TEHUELCHE "Brave Indian of the Pampas"

	Here are some pictures of the Tehuelche RF 100, a real racing bike. It was derived from the standard Tehuelche road bike, made in Argentine. The factory was located in San Martin, Buenos Aires, and two young joung expatriate Italian technicians, RAFFALDI & FATORINI, were responsible for the development. Knowing this and having a closer look at the Tehuelche engine you can imagine were the inspiration came from: it was the prewar Benelli OHC "Monoalbero" engine, the two emigrates had in their mind. Their first product was the production bike, the standard machine for normal street use, and the they used it as a base for a real racer which enabled a lot of private racing pilots to win numerous races: the RF 100 ! They had to battle the three off icial bikes of the Zanella-Ceccato Team racing the marvelous Ceccato OHC 75cc and then there was a single Bassoto 100, however used by pilots like Armando d'Arminio, Sandro Tamburri, Teodoro Galleli and Alberto De Gregorio. The privateers on the RF100 managed it very often though to be on top of the podium and they won many races, beating the official Ceccatos again and again. Great engine performance and chassis handling made the Tehuelche RF 100 to THE great racing bike of theb South American scenery of those days. My father Anteo and myself discovered one of these great unforgetable bikes unrestorated, but in perfectly condition, ready for racing again which is depicted here in all of its details. Rodolfo & Anteo Fratini, Victoria, Buenos Aires, Argentina Info: rofratini@hotmail.com





“South American Motocycle Racing in the 50ies”
Marzilio Chizzini One of the most important racers on the Tehuelche RF 100 was Italian born Marzilio Chizzini, a great driver in all categories, being his own mechanic and tuner for all his career. Then he became Gilera dealer in the fifties, then he was Ducati dealer in the seventies & eighties. He was president of the Argentine Federation F.A.M. for some time. He acquired the Ducati Desmo twin from Andrea Hippolito (Mentor of Jonny Ceccoto). Marzilio Chizzini was my neighborn and my teacher for about four decades. Marzilio presently lives in Miami Beach, aging 88. A true Italian gentleman!			Marzilio Chizzini with General Peron on the podium
			The Chizzini family on the cover of the Argentine motocycling magazine “Motociclismo”
Ferrucio dalla Fusine from Venezuela on a Ducati Desmo Twin	Marzilio Chizzini on a Gilera Piuma 500 leading two competitors	Marzilio Chizzini on the ex-Cristofero Fatori Motobi 175	Marzilio Chizzini on the Ducati Twin acquired from Andrea Hippolito
Le Mans-type start of a long distance race	Armando d’Arminio on the works Ceccato	A Tehuelche leading a Sterzi in the 75 cc class	Marzilio Chizzini - Tehuelche RF 100
	Number 90: Hugo Rimasa