Les 2 Roues Racer — L’Officiel du cycle, 2 October 1954, from « Deux-Roues » 1955

From L’Officiel du cycle, du motocycle et du camping, 2 October 1954, the paper’s special number before the 1954 Paris Salon du Cycle et du Motocycle, page 151: the survey “Deux-Roues 1955” on the Racer two-wheelers of the Besset works: Mistral and Vap cyclomoteurs, vélomoteurs and motorcycles, and a closing mention of its cycle tubes and frames. The title, headings, captions and lists are transcribed as printed; the text is summarized in Ebykr’s words, and the page images carry it in full.

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★ Les 2 Roues RACER

[Ebykr summary; the article’s text is not reproduced. The opening sentence says that among the standard models the reader will notice first the Mistral and Vap 55 cyclomoteurs, which come in two versions, A and B, and the sentence continues on the next image.]

[A short text-only strip cut from the head of the article. The heading “Les 2 Roues RACER” runs across the line in large bold sans-serif capitals and lowercase, preceded by a small solid black star, and the word RACER is in capitals. Two lines of lighter roman text follow, with the second line indented slightly less than the first. A heavy vertical rule shows at the left edge and a thinner rule at the right. There is no drawing, signature or address.]

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[Ebykr summary, continuing the first paragraph of the article; the article’s text is not reproduced. The two Mistral and Vap 55 presentations come without and with a telescopic fork. These belt-drive models are marked by the classic RACER form: a cradle frame with pure lines, a 3-liter tank at the rear, and the suspended engine protected by heavily enveloping covers. They come in one color, almond green. The author says the maker wanted to keep an impeccable presentation even in these models, with drum brakes and carefully finished accessories.]

[Ebykr summary; the article’s text is not reproduced. RACER also supplies a second series of cyclomoteurs with Vap B and G and Martinet engines. These are very finished models fitted with luxury accessories and well enclosed in fairings: chromed exhaust pipes, Wilman silencers, Saker grips, chromed telescopic forks and mudguards with flaps. In the Vap models the special tank at the front holds 4 liters. The machines are delivered in four colors, so the buyer has a choice.]

[Ebykr summary; the article’s text is not reproduced. In light velomoteurs RACER has stayed faithful to the Lavalette 3 CV engine. The author calls it a well-known model, used for long outings and everyday riding, with a special frame, a carefully studied front suspension and a chromed tank of 7 liters. The machine is described as irreproachable and very well equipped, with 600 x 65 tires, very enveloping mudguards, a 150 headlamp, 120 drum brakes front and rear and a horn. The very wide saddle, the motorcycle-style handlebar and the adjustable footrests give a very pleasant seated position. From now on RACER also offers a Lavalette “Randonneur” model with a large fairing, which will be a novelty at the Salon.]

[Ebykr summary; the article’s text is not reproduced. Among the larger-displacement models the firm delivers 125 and 175 cm3 motorcycles with A.M.C. four-stroke engines in a very luxurious presentation, with a German Tiger fork, a modern frame, a chromed tank, rear suspension and very deep round mudguards. The closing paragraph says these motorized machines are added to the traditional products of the Établissements BESSET: tubes, cycle frames and children’s bicycles.]

[A full column of text only, with no drawing, photograph, signature or address. The type is a lightly spaced roman set justified in one wide measure, with paragraphs marked by a short indent. The article’s last paragraph ends on a short line, “clettes enfants.”, at the foot. The firm names RACER and BESSET are set in capitals within the running text.]