Eraldo Ferracci 

2025's Vintage Festival Grand Marshal

Ferracci began his journey as a preteen working at a local dealer in his hometown of Pesaro, Italy. Within a few years, he was crewing for Gilera factory racer Libero Liberati. Ferracci soon began competing himself, racing Ducatis, Gileras, Motobis, and Moto Morinis, eventually winning an Italian 175cc title in 1958 and the 125cc-class crown in ’63.

In the late 1960s, Ferracci was instrumental in bringing small-displacement single-cylinder Benellis to an emerging American motorcycle market through mail-order catalogs. Always a competitor, Ferracci soon discovered drag racing. Combining his riding and tuning skills, he found success in a straight line hopping up multi-cylinder Hondas.

Ferracci and his family ultimately settled in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia suburb, where in 1980 he established “Fast by Ferracci,” the brand’s tricolore oval soon recognized worldwide for its range of high-performance products. When Ferracci moved into road racing, he quickly developed a reputation of building reliable machines that won races.

Ferracci has touched lives on both sides of the pit wall. Doug Polen, during an exceptional three-year run, scored back-to-back FIM Superbike World Championships and the 1993 AMA Superbike title on Fast by Ferracci Ducati 888s. In 1995, three-time world champ Freddie Spencer won his final AMA Superbike race riding a Fast by Ferracci Ducati 916.​​​​​​​​​​

​​When Josh Herrin wrapped up his 2024 MotoAmerica Superbike title, Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC team and Ducati North America honored Ferracci by unveiling special “Fast by Ferracci” graphics on Herrin’s Panigale V4 R reminiscent of the livery applied 30 years earlier to Troy Corser’s Ferracci-fettled AMA Superbike-winning Ducati 888.

Barber also has a special relationship with Ferracci. With 1991 AMA Pro Twins GP2 champ Stephen Matthews at the controls, the Barber’s Dairy Race Team won three AHRMA titles on a Fast by Ferracci Ducati, as well as the 1993 WERA Unlimited Twins Expert National Championship. Matthews’ winning 888 Corsa is part of the museum’s permanent collection.