Charles Sgonina was a child born into the world of combustion; he grew up in Wales, where his family ran an engineering company in the motor trade, and once the war had simmered down, he started to race.
Sgonina became a works rider for Triumph, testing the four-valve Ricardo Triumphs at Brooklands, and in 1921 he took part in the Isle of Man Senior TT and later in the French Grand Prix, where he finished a respectable third behind Alec Bennett and Tommy De la Hay – both on Sunbeam machines.
In the early 1920s Sgonina created an advanced DOHC racer, dubbed the “Sgonina Special”. The cylinder head was of his own manufacture mounted on a Norton bottom end with bevel-driven cams, and the motor was housed in a Sunbeam Sprint frame. It was road tested early one morning down Allensbank road in Cardiff and clocked an eye watering 86mph!
Sgonina ran his Special with a matter of success in hillclimbs and speed trials, including Margam Park, Weston and Penarth, and at Pendine. It was constantly modified, and Sgonina even attempted to supercharge it, but gave up after a number of vexing fires engulfed the engine. Sgonina was taken by the four-wheel club, a shame as he had incredible talent and promise in the world of motorcycles. Nonetheless, there is no denying that this is one beautiful looking motorcycle!
Thank you to Jochen for the photos of this very unique machine.
an article by The Girder Club
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