HISTORY - 70s/80s

Cristian Fittipaldi, 100 Junior in Jesolo (I), 1986

At the beginning of the seventies, Birel presented a chassis which was destined to leave a very deep impression on the history of karting: the Targa.

This very simple chassis immediately appeared extremely competitive, mainly thanks to the excellent rear wheel smoothness. In 1973, Terry Fullerton won the World Championship in Nivelles, Belgium, on an evolved Targa with modified rear end.

The following year, Birel and IAME, the manufacturer of Komet and Parilla engines, formed an official team with future Formula 1 drivers Riccardo Patrese and Eddy Cheever. The World Championship race took place on 13 October 1974 in Estoril and was a one-two victory for the team from Lissone: Patrese first, Cheever second.

Mike Wilson, 1981, 1982, 1983 World Champion with Birel

All the outstanding karting champions raced with the Targa, like the Italian Gabriele Gorini and the Belgian François Goldstein.

The chassis was also driven by numerous drivers who were soon to debut in Formula 1: the late Elio De Angelis, Stefano Modena and Corrado Fabi. Umberto Sala died of cancer on 15 June 1976.

His sons Oscar and Ermanno took control of the company but the loss left a gap that could not be filled, both in Birel and the karting world. On the day of his funeral, all the people of Lissone lined the streets to pay their last respects to the man who had brought international fame to their little town in Brianza.

A new family in the Targa chassis series, with 30 millimetre tubes and double-bearing axle, was created in 1977.

The double-bearing Targa debuted with Corrado Fabi in the 1977 World Championship in Parma. It was very fast, but a contact in the eliminatory heats and another misadventure in the finals barred his chances of success. Birel tried again the following year winning the World Championship with American driver Lake Speed on the Le Mans track. In 1978, Birel won the Junior World Championship with Stefano Modena.

Conte Nero, the first Birel chassis specifically designed for 125, was created in 1979. Until that time, the Birel chassises competing in the gearbox class were actually modified 100 models. Conte Nero was constructed around the engine made by Gianfranco Baroni, many times European 125 champion. With Conte Nero, Baroni won he Italian Championship straight away but failed to conquer the European title. He tried again in 1981, given Birel the first international 125 class win.