Regàs Oriol, Elizalde Juan "Tei", Vernis Enric, Marsans Rafa, Maristany Manuel (w3416)
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- Description: In late 1961, Catalan adventurer and publisher Oriol Regàs conceived "Operació Impala" - a motorcycle crossing of Africa from south to north - as a marketing initiative for Montesa's forthcoming new model, the Impala, designed by Leopoldo Milà. The five-person team comprised four experienced rally and racing motorcyclists - Regàs himself, Juan "Tei" Elizalde, Enric Vernis and Rafa Marsans - and writer Manuel Maristany, who joined as photographer and chronicler despite having no motorcycle experience. Sponsored by Montesa and lubricant brand Wynn's, they departed Cape Town on 15 January 1962 on three 175 cc pre-production Montesa prototypes, with a Land Rover support vehicle named "Kiboko" (Swahili for hippopotamus). After 100 days and 20,000 km through southern, central and North Africa, they arrived in Barcelona on 16 April 1962, having demonstrated the reliability of the new motorcycle under extreme conditions. The model was subsequently launched as the Montesa Impala, winning the ADI-FAD Gold Delta prize for best industrial design in 1962. One of the three original prototypes is on display at the Museo de la Moto de Barcelona. The journey is documented in Maristany's book Operació Impala and in a documentary film produced by Bausan Film in co-production with TV3 and Montesa-Honda
- Alias-Pseudonimo-Pseudonyme: Operació Impala
- Nationality-Nazionalità-Nationalité: Spain, Spagna, Espagne
- Birth/death-Nascita/morte-Naissance/mort: -
- Means of transport-Mezzo di trasporto-Moyen de transport: Motorbike, Motocicletta, Moto
- Geographical description-Riferimento geografico-Référence géographique: -
- Internet: https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operaci%C3%B3_Impala
- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11939383
