1955 Jawa 500 Z-15 Grand Prix
This 500cc racing Jawa, Built in the
fifties, shows clearly that in the years immediately after world war II,
Czechoslovakia was still a major industrial power. The same year, Jawa launched
the "15", an excellent road going bike with a single overhead camshaft engine
derived from the DOHC Z15. A year later, the "15" picked up its own
DOHC.
The Z-15 enjoyed great success, particularly at the national
level, and was seen both as a solo machine and with a sidecar. Its rivalry with
other great Czech name in cycling CZ, resulted in some classic races. On its
first time out, in the Czech Grand Prix of 1950, the Z-15s of Frantisek Stasny
and Gustav Havel took second and third places in the World Championship behind
the un-catchable MV Agusta of Gary Hocking.
Last of the
Line
Unfortunately, the last Z-15 had left the factory three years earlier,
so Jawa gained little from this victory. This magnificent line of parallel
twins was the final generation of Jawa four strokes; since 1966, the firm has
devoted itself exclusively to two strokes with which it enjoyed some success
during the eighties.