PROJECT DRAGSTER 50cc 2014
Bologna Contact with Italy was quickly established, and the Italians were also enthusiastic about Mashi’s creation. Extensive email communication followed, and in September, Mashi decided to head to Bologna. With an almost perfect Dragster and one of his earlier projects, he drove south. A visit to the Italjet headquarters in Ponte Rizzoli would be the crowning achievement of all his work. Being involved with one type of scooter since he was ten years old and then being received in Italy by the son of the creative mind behind the Dragster—what more could you want? Well, Mashi knows exactly what he wants. He would love to contribute to the styling of a potential new Italjet Dragster. Unfortunately, the prototype introduced in 2011 is still not in showrooms, and it’s uncertain if it will ever be released. The market for sporty scooters is entirely different from what it was in the nineties. Whether or not there will be a new Dragster, it would be wonderful, but Mashi has already made his choice. With a beautiful collection of Dragsters at home and a visit to Italjet, including a photo shoot and a personal meeting with Massimo Tartarini, he has nothing to complain about. However, he does have some wishes because Mashi has plenty of ideas. He would love to restyle the entire bodywork of the Dragster. Not by removing material but by giving it a completely new look, more in line with current trends and equipped with modern LED lighting. Unfortunately, you need a bit more than a marker and tape for that, but Mashi won’t give up. If you’re this passionate about the Dragster and have already achieved so much, the rest will come too.
So it was moved to a safe place, and the bare Italjet was ready for a complete transformation. In previous projects, Mashi only made adjustments to the bodywork, but this time the frame was radically modified. A centrally placed rear shock absorber had to be realized, which was no easy task. It required a lot of thinking and fitting, but the result is impressive. The Dragster now seems balanced. It looks as if it should have rolled out of the factory like this. Mashi knew early on what color it should be. The Lamborghini Aventador in Grigio Estoque served as the inspiration, not just for the color. Mashi wanted to incorporate the sharp lines into the Dragster, and he succeeded. Furthermore, the Dragster is packed with special parts, and what wasn’t available, he made himself. The handlebars are a unique creation. Mashi was not satisfied with the existing seating position, so he had to change it. Besides a custom handlebar, the dashboard is also completely different now. The Dragster now has various gauges, including a tachometer, temperature gauge, fuel gauge, and an oil level meter. There’s also a mount for a smartphone. To complete the handlebars, Mashi hid the cables in specially made tubes. The modifications to the damping and suspension are not just for show; the custom-made shock absorbers for the Dragster are fully adjustable, and according to Mashi, the handling is improved by 100%. Lastly, the complete lighting at the front and rear has been thoroughly revised. The front is equipped with extra lighting, and everything is adjustable. The rear has been bentirely replaced with LEDs and an extra taillight. It gives that little extra, and for show, there is a double laser beam that shines on the ground. A very successful creation, and to complete his dream, Mashi contacted Italjet in Bologna to show his Italjet Dragster to Massimo Tartarini.
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