Laverda Museum - Interview with Marnix van der Schalk

While Laverda is a motorcycle brand that was born and bred in Italy, it’s been surprising popular in the Netherlands, as evidenced by an 81-bike Dutch collection that formed the basis of a new Laverda museum, while the world’s top expert on the Laverda SFC, Marnix van der Schalk, also comes from the Netherlands.

In this special interview conducted at the opening of the ‘Museo Moto Laverda’ in Breganze, Italy, this past July, van der Schalk discusses his passion for Laverda and why the brand became so popular in the land of clogs and tulips.

When and how did the passion for Laverda start for you?

It was in the summer of 1972 when I saw a Laverda 750SF in the streets of Terschelling (an island off the coast of the Netherlands) during my summer vacation. When I heard the owner fire it up with an incredible bark from the exhausts and take off with his legs stretched to the rear - as if the acceleration was too much for them - I was instantly hooked and knew that one day I was going to own such a machine. It was a life changing moment for me...

I then started to collect everything I could find about these machines, until I could buy my own Laverda SF2 in 1976.

How did you become the #1 expert worldwide for Laverda SFC models?

Not long after I discovered the Laverda 750, I saw a picture in a magazine where there was this orange 750 racer in the background. From that moment, I wanted to know everything about these machines.

In 1990, there was a fantastic SFC rally held in Breganze, so of course, I had to be there. I contacted the custodians of the International SFC Registry, Canadian Larry Strung and Tim Isles, and started to correspond with them, exchanging knowledge. Due to a lack of time on his part to put into the Registry, Larry made me the new custodian, sending me everything he had. I had nice contact with Tim Isles and we met several times.

Sometime in 1993, Tim and I started to write everything we knew about SFCs. This resulted in the printing of a book ‘750 SFC’ that we launched in 1995 and which is still regarded as the reference for these machines.

In 30 years, the number of SFCs in the Registry has grown from 180 to 475, and the number is still increasing, but at a slower pace.

I’m still learning new things about these fascinating machines, which keeps the custodianship of the SFC Registry interesting and exciting.

What has been your contribution to the new museum in Breganze?

I shared information with Werner (Ricciolini, founder of the museum), gave advice and supplied many photos. Also, two of the SFCs in the museum were restored by me.

The ‘orange brand’ is almost a religion for Laverda fans - even more than Ducati and Moto Guzzi. Do you have an explanation for that?

Laverdas attracted different types of people. Laverda riders are not mainstream - a bit against the grain, maybe. In any case, they are attracted by these machines and are aware of the fact that they are extremely powerful and rewarding to ride, once you get the hang of them.

What’s the reason for the popularity of Laverda in the Netherlands?

That was the Dutch importer, Raymakers, who had a very good relationship with the Laverda family and tempted them to come racing in the 24 hours of Oss that was held for the first time in 1969. The success Laverda had generated tremendous publicity in the Netherlands, and everyone wanted such a machine. The Laverda 750 was the best-selling superbike in the Netherlands in the period 1969-1972.

For the full story on the Laverda Museum in Breganze, click HERE.

Words and Photos: Klaus Nennewitz