Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2005 13:07:23 -0800 (PST) From: David Patrick
Subject: Re: [CR]Merckx Record bike and Pino Moronni To: OROBOYZ@aol.com
I have to heartily agree w/Dale on this one, as Pino had a quality about him that was almost like a carnival barker, touting his genius to anyone that would stop & listen. Personally, I always thought there was great entertainment value to be had when listening to Pino. I remember calling him once, after not seeing him for a few years, as I wanted to go over to his house for a visit and see how he was doing. His reply was "Ah, so you want to come over to see Pino, huh? You want to find out about all of the lastest and greatest inventions taking place in the bike industry? You want to see this with your own eyes? Well, you come and talk to Pino then, ok? I will show you what I have been working on and we will talk". Now how can you resist a soft sell like that?
Dave Patrick Chelsea, Michigan USA Planet Earth
OROBOYZ@aol.com wrote: In a message dated 3/4/2005 1:40:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, heine93@earthlink.net writes:
<< So why did Merckx/Colnago go to Pino Morroni for this stuff, when it appears Campagnolo/OMAS were working on similar projects already in Italy? I don't doubt any of what you say, but I wonder who inspired whom.. >>
I really have no direct knowledge of what exactly happened here except to say that rather than Merckx and Colnago going to Pino, Pino probably went to them!
He was the most energetic forceful tenacious promoter of his brainstorms you can imagine! He was ever so proud of his work and his drive was not to be withstood.
My last memories of him were his pushinging/alternatively riding around the bike show (in Anaheim, Cal? Or NYC?) a bike with Cambio Corsa derailleur system, showing it off to almost everyone he bumped into. I was not fully tuned into vintage stuff at that time (!) and I am sure that some part of it was some brilliant invention of his,...but whatever it was, he would go on and on explaining about it to whoever would listen.
I am embarrassed to say I said Hi and then slide away, not wanting to become bogged down with his spiel. How time changes one's perspective and now I wished I had given him all my attention instead of rushing off to see the newest whatever it was that year! Sort of a sad memory as I reflect on it......
Dale Brown
cycles de ORO, Inc.
1410 Mill Street
Greensboro, North Carolina 27408
336-274-5959
fax 336-274-6360
cyclesdeORO.com
ClassicRendezvous.com