IoW MOD

CIES
TION OF THESPE
THEEVOLU

Rally with former editor Madness

Report! Gareth Brown in Brighton!!
SARY
VER
NI 19

AN
- 20
1989

BROWN
BY GARETH

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S t il

pecial
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£4.30
No.400 October 2019
zine!
n
Editio Maga

o o k i n g
L k 60
Scootering Years
through of the S2
the years Lambretta
L
US

■ Atllantic Go
old custom Vesppa ■ Oddballs Rally Report
PLU

■ LM
ML Factory Closure Pt2 ■ Kev Walsh & The JetSet
■ Te
ech Torque ■ Readers’ Riides ■ Show Us Your Scooters ■ Letters ■ Scootter T
Trader
d ■ Events
THIS
IS IIT!
Latest bgm V4
Lambretta Big Box
· In all points improved quality
· Quieter
· Better fitting thanks to new bracket
· Broad power band
· Lots of torque
· Most versatile Clubman available
bgm is a Scooter Center GmbH trademark.
www.scooter-center.com +49 (0) 22 38. 30 74 30
Editor: Dan Clare
Email: dan@scootering.com
Publisher: Tim Hartley
Publishing director: Dan Savage Welcome to the 400th
edition of Scootering!
Designer: Chris Abrams
Picture desk: Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield
Production editor: Mike Cowton
General queries and back issues:

Tel: 01507 529529 24hr answerphone
Lines open Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm
help@classicmagazines.co.uk
www.classicmagazines.co.uk
Archivist: Jane Skayman 01507 529423
Email: jskayman@mortons.co.uk
Subscription: Full subscription rates (but see page
34 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and
packing) – UK £49.20. Export rates are also available
– see page 34 for more details. UK subscriptions are
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Subscription manager: Paul Deacon
Circulation manager: Steven O’Hara
Marketing manager: Charlotte Park
Commercial director: Nigel Hole
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Tel (01507) 529417
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Divisional advertising manager: Zoe Thurling
01507 529412, zthurling@mortons.co.uk
Group advertising manager: Sue Keily
ADVERTISING DEADLINES
The advertising deadline for the
next issue of Scootering (November 2019)
is Thursday, October 3, 2019
On sale in newsagents
Thursday, October 24, 2019
SCOOTERING (USPS:020-245) is published monthly
by Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle,
Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ USA subscriptions are $60 per
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SCOOTERING is published by:
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Group Ltd © 2019 All rights reserved. No part of this
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Printed by: William Gibbons & Sons, Wolverhampton
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Member
T
his month's a ‘big one’ for
Scootering magazine, so we’ve
included a few rather poignant
articles, images and references
throughout the edition, to help
draw it all together. I hope you enjoy reading
this edition as much as I've enjoyed putting
it together.
Amidst the work the team and I have put
into creating this celebratory edition, I took a
little time out to reflect on the fast-paced
digital age we are all now engulfed in. As I
pondered the various digital platforms, from
dot.com booms through social media, one
thing which stood out like a sore thumb is the
poisonous element of Facebook. When I
thought of all the websites which popped up,
way back when, as various businesses first got
a chance to share info and sell services/
products over the web, I viewed that in a
positive light. Despite owning a website, then
costing a fortune, it was a progressive step. As
things moved into the ‘My Space’ era,
individuals and groups became more
connected, so again, I saw this as a positive.
Then came the forums, and by heck… there
were plenty of them! They were fabulous for
clubs, enthusiasts, businesses and individuals
alike. As you are no doubt aware, I founded
the Scooterotica forum, and it quickly became
the UK’s No1 classic scooter forum. The
information, discussion, friendship and
cameraderie which came out of it was
fabulous. To be fair, even the arguments and
minor conflicts were largely constructive and
interesting, or at least entertaining. Anyone
remember the ‘Sticky vs Randall’ saga?
Brilliant. Now Instagram and Twitter have a
popular place in the digital arena, I don’t care
for them myself, but many do. They serve a
function at least. However, Facebook… well,
that’s a different beast altogether. I’ve never
seen anything which has so many positive
aspects to it, be used (and abused) for such a
large amount of vile, hate-spreading,
vindictive, small-minded, disinformation and
abuse. The arguments, opinions and
comments that reel down the screen like
pre-soiled toilet roll are just mindboggling.
The topic could be a post about politics, or
which way round the toilet paper goes on its
holder, the resulting nonsense (and usually
abuse) is always the same. So when hordes of
the scooter community, with all its illustrious
history, rich tapestry and many facets, get
online (in the usual tribal manner) it's often
soul destroying to read. My hope is that,
outside the virtual screens of negativity,
Scootering magazine offers readers a
refreshing oasis of joy amidst a raging digital
storm. A real, tangible, solid, familiar and
reliable platform, which leaves the digital
discourse firmly outside the door. I view the
mag as an old friend, to be picked up and put
down when the mood takes me, something to
get lost in for a while, to escape the online
madness… and, for me, it works. I hope it
does for you too.
The last thing I want to mention, before
you dive in and enjoy this special 400th
edition, is the one-year anniversary of the
death of scooter legend Kev Walsh. It’s been
a pleasure to run the 'Kev's Chronicles'
series, and though it’s soon ending, we still
have a few cheeky secrets up our sleeves yet
to be unleashed… so keep your eyes peeled
on that front.
Anyway, that’s enough of my ramblings, it’s
another belter this month… so please enjoy
this, the 400th edition of Scootering
magazine in particular.
Dan

S C O O T E R I N G WA S B R O U G H T T O Y O U W I T H T H E H E L P O F. . .

Stu Smith Nik Skeat Paul Green Stuart Owen Dave Oakley Big Stan Sarge
Vespa & Lambretta Vespa P-range Vespa & Lambretta LCGB ‘life member’, Riding and building 80s scooterboy turned With over four decades
owner, scooter obsessive, well- scooter enthusiast, 100mph Lambretta Club scooters since 1983, long-distance rider. of riding, rally-going
obsessive, amateur travelled rally rider BSSO professional and owner and scooter Dave has been a Be it local, national and competing on both
home mechanic, rally since the 80s, founder general good egg. Our restoration expert to contributor to or international, he’ll Lambretta and Vespa
goer, Mod sympathiser, of the notorious Paul has a long history boot. Scooter rider, Scootering since the ride anywhere in his scooters under his belt,
music lover and Scooterboy World of scootering both on rally-goer, restorer 90s. His builds include quest to bring you this former Freddie
general all-round good forum. He’s also a the road and on the and author. Reaches chops, cutdowns, the tastiest scooters, Mercury lookalike is
egg. He writes your brilliant beer-brewing track, with the the parts other scooter street-racers, autos best roads, trade still going strong.
rally reports, be nice bearded Scootering breakdown bills and journalists just and the most infamous interviews and He’s a top DJ too,
to him. feature writer. crash scars to prove it. can’t reach. custom of the 80s! hidden gems. don’tcha know.
 CONTENTS
03Welcome
Editor
letter from the featured in Scootering’s first edition.
Four hundred magazines and 34 years
A warm welcome to the 400th edition of later the breed is still strong.
Scootering.

06Kickstart
The upfront section with all the
latest news, views and product reviews!
64 Kevin’s Chronicles
Part 10 of our homage to scooter
legend Kev Walsh. After decades of hard
work, building an institution up was a
proud achievement, but having it all

16 Feature Scooter:
Atlantic Gold
taken away was a bitter pill to swallow.

For over a decade it was one of the UK’s

most popular custom Vespa scooters and
now Atlantic Gold is back, reinvented for
74 Club Do’s & Events
Your essential guide to the scene
– What, Where & When!
a new era.

78
16
Scootering Words &

22 Rally Report: IoW

The Isle of Wight Rally is both the
largest and most commercial rally in the
Sounds
The best of Scootering words and music
as reviewed by Nik and Sarge.
world, but in Stan’s view it’s still one of
the best.
82 Rally Report: Brighton
Mod Rally

28 Rally Report: OddBalls

For those that prefer to get on their
scooters and actually ride them, OddBalls
August Bank Holiday weekend is,
invariably, the most profitable,
with thousands upon thousands of
IoW
Rally
Report!
with former editor
Gareth Brown
MOD
Madness
in Brighton!

Stil
l

rally provides a real-life nostalgia trip in scooterists descending on the much-

al
Speci

th

the real world. loved south coast resort of… Brighton! gazi
Edition Mag
ne!

32 Mailbox
Readers’ letters, laughs,
feedback and fury – get it off your
88 Dealer Profile: MSC
It’s one of the best-known names
in British scootering, and as Stan
ng
Looki k
Scootering
through
the years
pa Oddballs Rally Report
60
Years
of the S2
Lambretta

old custom Vesp

Atllantic Go Kev Walsh & The JetSet er Trader Events

US
ML Factory Closure Pt2 Letters Scoote

PLU
LM des Show Us Your Scooters

chest man! discovered, Midland Scooter Centre is

Never miss from
Rid

only
ech Torque Readers
Te

still setting standards.

34Subscriptions is s u e £20
an
Get your mag delivered to the
door, earlier than newsstands, and save 92 Tech Torque: Lambretta
clutch issues
money… cool. Plus – gain access to all Keeping a Lambretta in original factory
Subscribe today
on page 34
the benefits of the ‘Scootering Extra’ condition is saving its history for future
subs-club. generations. Customising it will mean
the history is gone forever, so which to

36 Show us your scoots!

The best of our readers’ rides as
choose?

sent in by you.
100 BSSO Double bill
The best of all things fast

42 400 and not out!

As Scootering magazine celebrates
its 400th edition, we take a nostalgic look
and furious from Pembrey and Three
Sisters.

back to the very first issue to see how

much things have changed. 104 Feature Scooter:
Wigan Casino
There are plenty of Northern Soul

50A quick one

Gareth Brown, former editor of
Scootering, takes a look back in time as
themed scooters, but the theme of
Wigan Casino, ‘The Heart of Soul’, is
probably one of the most inspirational
well as giving his opinions on the scene in and thought-provoking.
more recent times.

52 LML - Then and Now

Last month we broke the news that
115Scooter Trader
Sales and Classifieds section.

LML’s factory was being dismantled. This

month we take a look at both the good and
bad times.
128Revvin’ Fun
Quick Ride: High

Some scooters cry out to be ridden hard

and as Stan discovered, this

58Feature Scooter: DTC

The original Rosa Bianca
RB-powered Lambretta is more than
willing to oblige.

4 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

42 88

58
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 5
 KICKSTART
SCOOTER WORLD 2020 SCOOTER WORLD TROPHY LIST 2020
Below is a list of the entry categories for 2020. All
More trophies, more monetary prizes! scooters on display in the show are eligible for judging,
but obviously some will only fall into certain classes.

BEST SCOOTER IN SHOW

plus £100 and 1 year’s mag subscription

BEST SCOOTER DISPLAY

plus £100 and 1 year’s years mag subscription

BEST NEW BUILD CUSTOM

Th S
The Scooter
t W World
ld h
halls
ll return
t tto
Newark County Showground over the
weekend of January 11-12, 2020 to
form their part in the Carole Nash
sponsored Classic Bike Guide ‘Winter
Classic’ event.
Since its inception in 2013, Scooter
World has expanded over the years,
culminating in 2019 with what was
arguably one of the largest scooter
shows in the UK with 145 scooters
on display.
Plans are already moving forward for
2020 and this includes the expansion
of the Scooter World Custom Show with
more entry categories – plus a monetary
prize to go with every single trophy!
LEVELLING THE PLAYING FIELD
One of the criticisms we often hear
about scooter custom shows is that it’s
always the same custom scooters doing
the rounds and winning the ‘Best
Custom’ trophy (obviously they win it
for a reason). Not wanting to dampen
the enthusiasm of someone who has
entered their pride and joy for the first
time, we are proposing a split in the
‘Custom’ class by breaking it into two
categories – ‘Best New Build Custom’
and ‘Best Old Skool Custom’. Please
make us aware which one you’re
entering when returning your entry form
(incorrect declarations will
be disqualified).
(recently built custom scooter that hasn’t won any
trophies yet)
plus £50 and 1 year’s mag subscription
BEST OLD SKOOL CUSTOM
(custom scooter that has previously won trophies)
plus £50 and 1 year’s mag subscription
BEST LAMBRETTA
plus £50 and 1 year’s mag subscription
BEST VESPA
plus £50 and 1 year’s mag subscription
BEST SCOOTER STREET RACER
plus £50 and 1 year’s mag subscription
BEST ORIGINAL LOOKING
plus £50 and 1 year’s mag subscription
BEST ENGINEERED
plus £50 and 1 year’s mag subscription
BEST MOD-STYLE
plus £50 and 1 year’s mag subscription

BEST RAT/RUSTO
plus £50 and 1 year’s mag subscription

SCOOTER WORLD SPECIAL AWARD

plus £50 and 1 year’s mag subscription

10 ‘Highly Commended’ rosettes also to be awarded

WANT TO ENTER YOUR SCOOTER?

An online entry form can be found at the

following link:
www.newarkclassicbikeshow.com/private-
booking
Get your entry in now!

SCOOTERS INDIA, ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST?

As we continue to showcase the final days of LML’s factory in
Kanpur, it seems that news from Lucknow isn’t much better.
If local news reports are to be believed, it appears that the
Government of India’s patience with the loss-making concern
is all but exhausted. Although it’s decades since complete
scooters rolled off the production line, the factory has
continued to produce spares and three-wheelers. Having
failed to secure a private buyer, it seems the Ministry of
Finance may order the factory to cease operations in the very
near future.
The Government, which owns 97.7% of SIL shares, has a
preferred option of selling off the plant and machinery, but has
also indicated that it may be prepared to dispose of ‘non core
assets’ to improve cash flow. A report has been submitted to
the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management
and a decision is expected shortly.
Although SIL has always struggled to be profitable, its recent
problems are part of a broader downturn in the Indian
automotive sector. With the Government’s patience running low
and investors unlikely to gamble on an industry in decline, the
future for SIL’s Lucknow plant doesn’t look bright.
Thanks to Manish Mittal of UniAuto for the update.

6 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

LEGAL Q&A
This information is provided by Stephen
Hattersley of WildWood Legal, a firm of
solicitors specialising in claims for
injured scooterists. Stephen, a qualified

STYLE FROM
solicitor for 25 years, has been riding
scooters for over 30 years, and has acted for injured riders across the
UK. He knows the tricks and pitfalls that insurers use and pulls no
punches in his dealings with them. He rides to work every day and
understands the challenges you face out there.
BIKE TO
Q. I was knocked off my bike and badly
injured. I am self-employed so I am not going to
earn anything for a while. I know claims take a
need for money on the victim’s part. It
should be enough to tide you through the
early stages whilst you are unable to earn any
STREET
long time. How am I going to pay my bills in money. If the claim takes longer than
the meantime? expected, further requests can be made for
additional payments. It is not uncommon at
A. Sorry to hear that and hope you recover all for there to be several during the lifetime
soon. The good news is that your solicitors of a complex case.
could and should be asking the defendant’s If you need advice on a scooter-related
insurers for what is called an ‘interim legal question, email stephen@
payment’. This is a payment made early in wildwoodlegal.co.uk. The best Q&A will be
the claim in cases where liability is clear-cut, published in Scootering magazine in
the injuries are significant and there is a confidence.

ELUSIVE ‘LENBRETTA TWIN’ CAPTURED

Last month we featured a report on the final event to be held at the former Len’s of Shipley
site. As part of that report Stan appealed for any photos of the elusive ‘Lenbretta Twin’.
Built years before the factory prototype was uncovered and when Tino Sacchi could only
dream of bringing the technology to market, this home-built 400cc oddity was cruising the
streets of Shipley.
Plagued by overheating problems and in the absence of modern CAD engineering or
computer modelling the project fizzled out, becoming lost in the midst of time. One of those
to recall the twin is Lee Clift, who took these photographs during a visit to Len’s in the early
1980s. Admittedly they aren’t the best quality, but they may just be the only surviving images
of this Yorkshire legend.

STEALTH HOODIE
£119.99
BLACK / S - 5XL

T 0117 971 9200

E info@thekeycollection.co.uk
W www.thekeycollection.co.uk

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 7
 KICKSTART
OXFORD HOLWELL JACKET
This classic styled wet-waxed cotton jacket is produced by British levels. It has a big YKK zipper at the front, hand-warmer pockets
Millerain, a company which harks back to a day when goods were and a short connection zip for adding pants. There is provision for a
transported by wind-powered ships. Their sails were made from back protector of your choice, and CE Level 1 protectors to shoulders
cotton, which was waxed to protect against the ravages of the and elbows as standard. The whole jacket is CE approved to level A.
sea. The material consequently found its way into the clothing Available in red or green.
which sailors wore to protect themselves from the same weather. www.oxfordproducts.com £199
Respectful of the material's heritage, designers have employed
traditional tailoring methods to assemble the outer garment. For
example, pockets are pleated in order to lie flat when empty, but
provide space to expand when full. The collar and accompanying
belt are designed and cut in three dimensions, rather than as
simple, flat panels, and the resulting fit is spot on. The triple-
stitching employed in all the key and critical impact areas are
both pleasing to the eye and highly protective. The result is a
highly protective jacket, which looks and feels great.
Inside, it has a breathable membrane for added protection
against the weather and a classic Oxford lining. The collar features
corduroy facing on the inside, as do the cuffs, adding to comfort

MALOSSI REED VALVE CRANKCASES

The Malossi VR-One MHR crankcase, for
the Vespa PX200, provides the ideal
foundation for your next performance reed
valve engine.
Manufactured in Italy, this high-quality
crankcase has been designed to withstand
increased power with reinforcing webbing
in key locations, and is supplied with
main bearings for the flywheel side and for
the drive side, which both use balls
instead of rollers, and offer greater radial
load tolerance and an additional
resistance to axial loads, which is not
possible with the original roller bearings.
Dedicated seals are also supplied. The
transfer ports have been machined to
‘match’ the range of Malossi PX200
cylinder kits, saving both time and money
on porting work. Supplied with a reed
valve manifold suitable for carburettors up
to 30mm in size which has been designed
for a much larger reed block (included)
that is equivalent in size to a 6 petal
block. Gone are the M7 bolts securing the
crankcase halves together, and in their
place M8 allen bolts now feature. Malossi
have also redesigned the mating face to
remove the need for a central gasket,
(sometimes a cause of problems on high
power motors), allowing the use of a
gasket sealant in its place. The crankcase
is supplied with engine mounting rubbers,
cylinder studs, crankcase bolts, drain
plugs and washers, reed valve inlet
manifold, crank bearings and oil seals.
With Malossi’s heritage in Vespa tuning,
the new crankcases are sure to be a very
popular starting point for performance engine
builders looking for excellent reliability, with
an outstanding quality of finish.
More info: www.ve-uk.com

NEW PINASCO 122CC

CYLINDER KIT
This kit is a more modern and performance based reinterpretation of the
historic 122cc model for Vespa Small Frames. Many changes have been
made to the new cylinder kit, starting with the number of ports from 3 to 7,
a larger exhaust port, the 8-stud head and the new high-performance
single-ring piston. The new Pinasco 122cc cylinder kit combines classic with
modern, and thanks to the displacement of under125cc, it allows
homologation in countries where possible.
Product Name: Cylinder Kit 122cc Item: 25030790
Suitability: Vespa Small Frame More info: www.pinascostore.com

8 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

 KICKSTART
WAX ON, WAX OFF MALOSSI GEAR KIT
After the journey home from the Isle of Wight, Stan’s GTS
seemed to have half the insect population of the south baked on
to his legshields. An ideal opportunity to try Silkolene’s ‘Wash
Off’ cleaner. This promises to ‘rapidly remove all types of dirt
from metals and plastics with minimum effort’. Although
Silkolene suggest spraying from the bottle and then hosing off,
Stan used the traditional sponge and bucket method. With only a
few seconds’ soaking time, Wash Off made light work of all the
accumulated debris, including one insect that must have been
the size of a small sparrow!
Although it’s not a true degreaser along the lines of Gunk, the
spray also made light work of accumulated two-stroke oil on his
GP, together with some fairly heavy brake dust deposits. We’ve
still to try their silicone ‘Pro-Prep’ spray, which is suggested as a
follow on to maintain a ‘factory fresh finish’, but for now Wash
Off is highly recommended.
Approx £7.50 per litre
www.silkolene.com

With many owners of Vespa GTS/Primavera/Sprint 125 iGet

models finding that they are hitting the inbuilt rev limiter,
Malossi have developed an upgraded gear kit to achieve better
performance than standard. The gear kit utilises Malossi’s H.T.Q.
process, developed using their 20 years’ experience in
manufacturing gear sets for competition and road scooters.
Featuring straight-cut teeth to minimise losses through friction,
this, in turn, helps to reduce the stresses placed on the gear
supports within the gearbox. The new gear kit has a tooth count
of 15-41 with a splined coupling specifically machined to mate
with the existing gearbox assembly.
More info: www.ve-uk.com

SAD LOSS
'Yate and Sodbury' Scooter lighting up any occasion, and
Clubs, and the Bristol his death leaves a big void
scooter scene, have sadly lost for his partner Sue, his
a well-known and well-loved family, friends and club
Mod and Scooterist Duncan members.
Evans, who passed away
suddenly and unexpectedly
on September 2.
Duncan was well known in
the area and on the
scootering scene for his love
of all things Mod, and
making sure his Lambretta
and Vespa scooters were
always polished and
immaculate, suitably and
tastefully adorned with
lights and mirrors. He had
a zest for life and laughter,

10 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

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B
efore our launch in1985 the
only way of knowing what was
happening, or so it seemed,
within the scooter scene was
by way of Scootermania
magazine. I remember quite often
someone would get hold of a copy on a
rally or from a scooter-related shop and
bring it down the pub on club night. By
the time it had been passed round and
had beer spilled on it, there wasn't much
of it left to read if you actually got the
chance before closing time. It was the
vital link connecting us all with what was
happening, or which dealer to use by way
of the adverts inside. When news broke
that there would be a national magazine
available from the local newsagent, it was
a breath of fresh air. Not that
there was anything wrong with
what was on offer already, just
the ease at the way you would
be able to source important
information in the future.
When it did hit the
newsstands it was a revelation.
Not only did you have up-to-
date information on rallies and
events, but reports on them as
well. Throw in features on the
latest custom scooters, and
editorial knew they were on to
a winner. Starting off as a
bi-monthly publication, the
wait for the next edition was agonising at
times. Club members would bring their
own copy to the weekly meet sometimes,
everyone possessing one. It didn't matter
as each page would be read in fine detail
and then opinions shared of what had been
written. The magazine had the power and
ability to bond scooterists together.
Slowly, over time, the magazine’s content
altered as editors and writers either left or
joined. What remained the same was the
format and layout, which were proving to be
a winning formula. So much so that it is
similar even 34 years later. Things have
changed dramatically over that time, so
there are differences in how or what is
reported, that taken aside are the original
values of why the magazine was perceived
12 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019
It’s time to say
thank you
When Scootering magazine reached the
milestone of 400 editions it was a proud
moment in its history. We would like to say
thank you.
to be different. Perhaps that’s why it still
going strong, because it can still connect
with its readership. There have been plenty
of rivals come and go over that time, but
competition makes you stronger.
Let’s not forget the battle against the
internet and social media that have
changed the way we source our
information. Any magazine, regardless of
its subject matter, has had to fight this
modern revolution and some, in the end,
have succumbed to it. Luckily there is one
advantage a printed magazine has on its
side. Amazon with the ‘Kindle’ tried to
make us all see it a different way by
placing books in an online format. While it
works for some it sort of doesn't exist as
such. Perhaps in the future we all will
Here's to the next 400 editions...
read this way, but trying to change
hundreds of years of tradition isn’t going
to happen overnight. The majority of
people, whatever they are reading, still
want a physical copy in their hands.
My own personal involvement, apart
from buying it, of course, was by having a
scooter featured in the late 1980s. When
that happens it makes you feel proud you
have achieved something, a feeling felt by
many owners over the years. As time went
by my involvement grew bigger by being a
source of contributing material feature
writers often used. On the very odd
occasion I even got the chance to write a
piece, even though it hardly got noticed.
When the offer of being a regular feature
writer was put my way it didn't take long
to decide to accept. Now it was my time to
switch from being in front of the camera
to being behind it, feeling very honoured
in the process.
Ironically, I’ve just finished my 40th
edition of being actively involved, so a
tenth of the magazine’s illustrious life.
Over that time I have met many people
and characters who grace the world of
scootering, many of whom are happy to
share memories and tell their story.
Without sounding patronising, all of them
are vitally important because without them
there would be nothing to tell, whether it's
a dealer showcasing a new product,
someone building a custom scooter, a
promoter putting on a rally, or those in
attendance. Each and every person plays a
vital part within the scene. The
magazine's job is to collate all
that information and present it
in a suitable manner for the
reader to absorb.
That's why a magazine is so
vital and, in my opinion, it is
required. Not everyone who
owns a scooter reads Scootering
magazine, but on the other
hand not everyone is on social
media either. It's a combination
of everything that makes it all
work. That is why everyone at
Scootering magazine does the
job to the best of their ability to
give the reader the information they want.
So to all the people who have told me
their story and all those that have helped
with creating them, may I say thank you,
because without you, it couldn't happen.
Most importantly though, is the
magazine itself. Though sometimes people
may think it’s not required, I bet at some
time over the last 400 editions all of us
have either read an article or looked up
information or an advert within it. If you
have, then it's done its job successfully.
Though over time editors and contributors
have come and gone, and ownership
changed hands, the magazine is still
there, in high demand, and hopefully
always will be, as none of us are bigger
than the magazine itself.

Y
ou know the kind of thing…
you’re riding to a destination
and it’s raining. It’s raining
really heavily, that is until it
turns to sleet, anyway. Your
visor is steamed up, the rain has long
since gone through those jacket seams
and you’re amazed at how wet your feet
can be whilst they are supposedly hidden
behind your leg shields. The gloves that
you bought because they were
‘waterproof’ turn out to really just be
showerproof (at a push). You can’t see a
thing through the visor so you’re riding
with it partially raised, but now your eyes
are streaming and sore from the wind.
Your journey is seemingly endless and the
whole situation just seems grim, really
grim. There’s no other word for it really.
The miles pass slowly and the traffic gets
ever slower. Perhaps stopping for a coffee
would help get you warmed up and more
lively for the next 60 or so miles. Pulling
up at a McDonalds for a break, you just
want to go to the toilet, but you’ve got to
battle a ‘waterproof’ layer, then get your
jacket off, followed by those bib trousers
that seemed a good idea at the time to
block those draughts on your back.
Carrying your helmet and sopping wet
gloves to the toilet and then battling all
those layers is getting you pretty hot
under the collar as you drip water
everywhere and leave a pool behind you.
Then at the counter you’re fumbling trying
to get a card out your wallet with those
cold, red fingers that have actually started
to shrivel up as they have been wet for so
long. Good job the vinyl seats in McD’s
are waterproof, as you leave that trail of
water everywhere. The napkins you try to
dry your visor with are pretty useless as
your fingers go through it as breaks up
into a mush when it’s wet. I bet you can’t
wait to put that soaking wet helmet back
on in 20 minutes’ time, followed by
easing those cold, wet gloves back on over
your now warm fingers!
So yep... that’s definitely Type-Two Fun.
It is most definitely NOT fun at the time,
most definitely not. No. But as time
14 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019
‘Type-Two Fun’
The sort of ‘fun’ which is actually only fun at a
later date,, a much later date!
Oh how we laughed when we realised it had holed a piston in the
passes, weeks later, you’re in the
sunshine outside the pub regaling that
dreadful journey to your pals over a pint.
Even managing to now look back and
laugh about it! In fact, it will probably
become like the proverbial ‘fisherman’s
tale’ as it goes along. It was quite an
adventure that journey really, the stuff
of legends.
Of course, there is the other Type-Two
Fun when the journey becomes a
catalogue of errors, disasters and
breakdowns. Yes, for sure that time when
the rear suspension snapped, sending you
across two lanes of motorway to the
central reservation with your heart in your
mouth and a stain in your underwear.
Three hours waiting on the hard shoulder
for a recovery to arrive, only to find they
are taking you six miles down the road
where another vehicle will come and
recover you home. It’s going to take
hours. Social media allows you to share
the pain, but the guy who lives down the
road and can bring you a rear shock on
any other day is away on holiday. Bugger.
Or maybe it’s that time you holed your
piston on that moors road absolutely
miles from anywhere, for no obvious
mechanical reason. Your mate can come
d k night,
h re, on a dark
middle of nowhe i the rain.
i ht in rain
and pick you up in the van when he
finishes work… in another four hours.
Once he’s found you that is, being as
even you’re not entirely sure exactly
where you are. Oh yes, and your phone
has just 18% battery power left in it.
Deep joy! Still, it could be worse (maybe).
So yes, Type-Two Fun is really not fun
at the time… only later on, usually ‘from
the warm fuzzy glow of your favourite
armchair and when holding a beer’
amount of later. The more you ride, the
more chances you have to experience
Type-Two Fun. Some people get the
chance to experience it more than other
people, or at least that’s how it feels to
you. Or perhaps you’re the one who
always seems to be experiencing it.
People riding certain types of scooter get
to experience it more often. Lucky devils.
Then there is always the chance that
you could have more than one person in
your group experiencing Type-Two Fun on
the same journey. Just when you think
your fun is over, someone else starts to
experience it too. That’s when the journey
really becomes the stuff of legend and
you are not sure whether to laugh or cry
at any given time. It could be fun… just
not right now.
 P u re
G o l d

16 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

 Nothing has escaped
the engraver’s scribe

For over a decade it was one of the

UK’s most popular custom Vespa
scooters and now Atlantic Gold is
back, reinvented for a new era.

T
here are few scooters that really sum up an era, but
Atlantic Gold is one of them. Bursting on to the
1980s custom scene it was an instant crowd
pleaser, but its story is complicated. In fact, as
owner and creator Jason Taylor explained, it’s
actually the history of two machines.

Track one
“Many people remember Atlantic Gold from the 1980s,” began
Jason. “That was sprayed by Maca at Down Town Custom and
picked up plenty of trophies at rallies up and down the country. It
was always a ridden scooter and unfortunately that was the cause of
its demise. A car pulled out of a side street and side swiped me.
The scooter was too badly damaged to repair and was scrapped.”

Track Two
With fond memories of his favourite steed it wasn’t too long before
Jason hatched a plan for Atlantic Gold 2, and that made its first
appearance at the Bridlington Custom show in 2001. “I was really
pleased when it picked up ‘Best in Show’, a title it retained for
three years running.” Although few would dispute that decision, it
was the 2003 VMSC Show that produced Atlantic Gold’s most
controversial accolade, ‘Best Engineered’. “I never saw that
coming,” said Jason, who’s still obviously bemused at the decision.
“There was a really strong field of choppers in the show and I can
sympathise with their builders feeling put out when Atlantic Gold
won, but in its defence there’s a lot of very subtle engineering in the
build.” Although most people rarely see past Si Clarke’s stunning
artwork, Jason’s very accurate in his assessment. Pay close
attention and there’s plenty to feast upon. The base of the build is a
1990 PX200, which was first carefully de-seamed and fitted with a
bespoke tailpiece. Next to receive attention were the indicators
which, after their factory fitments had been welded shut, were
hidden behind hand-cut slits. This was carried over to the rear light
and together they create an effect that would suit any street racer.
Get down to ground level and the attention to detail in this build is
apparent. Almost any surface that can be engraved has been, and
those that don’t naturally lend themselves to such treatment have
been adapted. Custom CDI cover anyone? Even areas that are
 Solid Gold

Attention to detail is staggering

routinely neglected have been lavished
with attention as few ‘full blown’ Vespa
customs have fuel tanks with murals.
Another component that may have
influenced the judges’ decision was
Atlantic Gold’s sound system.
It doesn’t take a genius to work out the
inspiration behind Atlantic Gold’s scheme.
Both engraving and murals feature great
names associated with the legendary
record label. As Jason eagerly points out:
“It’s impossible to have a scooter about
music without music.” Ignoring the
frame-mounted radio console that was so
commonly fitted in the 80s, Jason
originally concealed a CD player in the
seat. However, Atlantic Gold’s recently
been refurbished and the sound system,
together with other components, has been
radically upgraded.
“About 18 months ago I walked out to
the garage and realised that she was in Seat with a story
need of a rebuild. A decision to put her
into temporary storage had turned into
10 years of neglect. It was a case of now
or never, and I couldn’t bear the thought
of losing her.”

Track three
Although the paint had survived
surprisingly well, the same couldn’t be
said of the brightwork. Most of this was
dispatched to Karl Russell at Quality
Chrome, who worked his usual genius
whilst preserving Ady Clark’s engraving. “I

18 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

 Paint is almost
20 years old
knew that this time round I was more
interested in riding her than in showing
her, so areas that take a lot of
maintenance have been powder coated.
I’ve also upgraded the rear light to LEDs.”
Returning to the subject of music, the CD
player’s been consigned to history and in
its place is a state-of-the-art bluetooth
system, which works from an app on
Jason’s smartphone linked to a waterproof
JBL speaker that’s been discreetly
mounted under the toolbox. Adapting the
seat to the 21st century technology meant
1 1A
MAN & MACHI
MACHINE
Owner: Jason Taylor
that the seat had to be refinished and Home Town: Wakefield
interestingly it was workwear specialists Scooter: Vespa PX200EFL (1990)
Xamax Clothing who secured the contract Name: Atlantic Gold
to re-embroider the cover. Engine: Malossi 210
The final part of Atlantic Gold’s rebirth Exhaust: Sterling
was to bring her performance up to date Paint: Si Clarke
and that’s been achieved with the addition Engraving: Ady Clark
of a Malossi 210 kit. Plating: Quality Chrome
Back in October 2011, Dave Oakley
used his Nostalgia Column to ask where
machines such as Atlantic Gold may be
1. Horncast grill mirrors the rear light cut-outs
hiding away and speculated as to whether
2. Powder coat has replaced some plate
we’d freshly ever see them again. It’s eight
2 2A
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 19
 ye
ears later and we now have the answer.
Attlantic Gold’s still with its original owner,
re
efurbished, keenly ridden and ready to
pllease the crowds again.
Words: Stan
Photographs: Gary Chapman

I knew that this

time around I was
more interested in
riding her than in
showing her, so areas
that take a lot of
maintenance have
been powder coated.
I’ve also upgraded
the rear light to
LEDs.

Drum brakes lend themselves to engraving

 £ 229

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 IoW
Don’t Stop the Carnival
The Isle of Wight Rally is both the largest and most commercial rally in
the world, but in Stan’s view it’s still one of the best.

Making a weekend of it, Jo, Ed, Lisa and Andy
from Hampshire
L
ast year I gave the Isle of Wight
Rally a miss. There’s no doubt
that it’s the largest Scooter
Rally in the UK and quite
possibly the world, but it’s also
the most commercial. I’d grown tired of its
small-wheeled excess, but sometimes it
takes a break to realise just what a gem it
is. It was obvious on the journey down that
the weather forecast was, for once, going
to be spot on. The further south I rode,
each petroleum stop saw another
baselayer removed and by the time I was
filtering along a gridlocked M25 my
summer gloves were out. A repeat of last
year’s mud-caked rally site and rained off
ride out definitely weren’t on the cards. At
this point I’d like to explain why I didn’t
camp this year, and I’d like to say that
there was some pressing journalistic
reason for not doing so, but the truth is I
simply didn’t want to. It’s the first time
I’ve ever used a BandB for the Festival
and it gave me an entirely different
perspective on the event.
F’in great
Keen-eyed readers will have noticed the
first appearance of the ‘F’ word and yes,
the IoW rally is a Festival, so from now on
that’s what I’ll call it. Even VFM have
recognised that the event is bigger than its
BSRA National status and a subtle change
to the flyer listed the Smallbrook site as
the ‘Rally Hub’. It’s a small change in
branding, but suddenly the message is

Yes it’s commercial, who cares?

22 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019


that National isn’t just for die hards, it’s
the centre of activities and everyone’s
welcome. Adding to this sense of
community is the Main Arena’s transfer
from the large shed at the top of the hill to
a marquee near the race track. This makes
for a more compact site and a
fantastic atmosphere.
Let your heart dance
Having dumped my gear at the BandB I
headed down to see Friday’s headline act,
Secret Affair. In truth I was never a big
fan, but if someone had interrupted
14-year-old me dancing to ‘Time for
Action’ at the school disco to tell me that
No one complained about this car on the campsite
Not taking it too seriously
40 years later not only would I be working
for an international scooter magazine but
I’d also be covering a Secret Affair gig, I’d
have laughed in their face. It wasn’t just
me who felt that warm glow of nostalgia
and I’ll save the blushes of several
‘hard-core’ scooterists by not naming
those who could be seen rolling back the
years on the dance floor. For
entertainment value the band were hard to
beat, and Ian Page’s voice has stood the
test of time. Some I spoke to said that
their heroes hadn’t weathered well but,
newsflash, few of us have. Flying the flag
for a new generation on Saturday night
were Smoove and Turrell, who received
Tasso and
his cut-down
Royal Alloy
Hidden treasure?
Phil and Damon with a spot of ‘Routine maintenance’
universal acclaim. Proof again that the
VFM can scoop the best of both new and
established talent.
As I tucked into my full English on
Saturday morning and reflected on what a
lovely night’s sleep I’d had, the
temperatures were already rising. With the
sun enticing riders out onto the road even
before the Custom Show had opened,
Smallbrook was packed. Anyone waking
up with a raging hangover could have been
forgiven for thinking they’d lost a day
somewhere as the sun brought out the
crowds and the number of scooters on site
matched some post ride out Sundays. As
ever the Custom Show drew in some
e
This gem didn’t hang
around for long
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 23
 Shanklin,
Sh kli hhome off Pl
Pluto
t ((nott th
the cartoon
t dog).
d )
RY D E O U T
The Rally’s traditional climax is the
Sunday Lunchtime ride out. Whether or
not you choose to take part in this clutch
destroying adventure is immaterial. This
is one of the great spectacles of
scootering to be found anywhere in the
world and as a result unmissable. This
year marks the 75th anniversary of D-Day
and as a tribute to the Island’s key role in
the Invasion of Europe, the parade was
led by a pipe band several veterans and
the Armed Forces Scooter Club.
24 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019
incredible examples of British scootering.
Many were first-time entrants and
although Gary Wickham’s superb ‘Breaking
Rocks’ was capable of scooping almost
every ‘Best of’ trophy, it was nice to see
the judges spreading their love and
pressing trophies into the hands of some
surprised, but very deserving entrants.
Perhaps it’s because I stayed off site,
but this year the rally seemed different. I
spoke to many visitors who’d combined
the weekend with a longer stay. For them
the National was part of the experience,
not the whole reason for visiting. A trip
around the island is always worth the
effort. The riding and sights are
comparable with anything Europe has to
offer, and as I took my annual tour I
noticed how widely dispersed people
were. The campsite at Smallbrook was
busy, but clearly I wasn’t the only one to
have taken the BandB option. With Ryde
seemingly booked solid for the Bank
Holiday weekend until at least 2064, I
stayed a little further afield in Shanklin
and, although no one’s proclaimed it as
the centre of the island’s night life,
scooters still lined the streets and were
parked
k d outside
t id seafront
f t bars.
b
It was the same wherever I rode,
evidence that although VFM has done a
superb job of revitalising the Smallbrook
experience the rally, sorry, Festival, has a
life of its own.
The final countdown?
Although it’s impossible to imagine a rally
season without it, there were the usual
rumours that this would be the last Isle of
Wight National. Although there’s nothing
new to such speculation, this year they
may have some substance. The long-
planned redevelopment of the Smallbrook
site seems to have gained momentum
and a community group has been formed
to coordinate funding bids. If the local
newspaper is to be believed, a completely
new facility that offers ice skating and
tennis courts, amongst other attractions,
could be open within 12 months.
We’ll all have to wait until the BSRA
meeting in Southport to see whether
this news means business as usual, a
new site on the island or a completely
fresh National venue. Two things are for
certain: firstlyy the traders on the island
 DRINK IT ALL IN
Anyone who confines themselves to the twin sites of Ryde Green and Smallbrook is
missing a trick, the Island has some fantastic roads and is well worth exploring. This year
I stumbled (not literally) across the Adgestone Vineyard. Here it’s possible to take a self
guided tour of the vineyard and then sample the wines produced from the very vines in
front of the building. With live music ever weekend in the summer it’s the prefect
destination for a club excursion. If being in the saddle means that alcohol is off the menu
there’s also a range of cream teas and snacks to be taken in the garden.
www.adgestonevineyard.co.uk

will want us back, and secondly even if
the National was to move ‘off island’,
the Festival would continue. The Isle of
Wight may be the scooterist equivalent
of a theme park, but whilst I may
occasionally tire of Disneyland’s
rampant commercialism, I still go back
for more. I, for one, hope that August
on the IoW continues for many years to
come. If you’ve not been for a few
years, give the IoW another chance. If
you’re looking for fun by the sea you’ll
never find a better way!
Words Photographs: Stan

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 25
 C AT E G O R Y W I N N E R
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26 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

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 Oddballs 5
Nostalgia is even better than it used to be. Certainly, if the content of
some social media sites is to be believed. Those proverbial rose-tinted
specs are working flat out.

T
he 80s scooterboy era is
arguably more popular now
than it actually was back in
the 80s! For those who prefer
to get on their scooters and
actually ride them (instead of spending
countless hours chained to a keyboard,
pouring over grainy images, reminiscing
and pontificating), the Oddballs rally
provides a real-life nostalgia trip in the
real world. Reminiscent of a typical
scooter rally from the scooterboy years, it
embraces most of the good parts but few,
if any, of the not so salubrious elements of
those heady days, plus a more
contemporary twist adding emphasis to
the fun factor. Over its five-year existence,
Oddballs hasn't just grown, it’s exploded
in both size and stature. At this year's
Oddballs rally, I'd estimate there were
more than 2000 scooterists along with a
small number of friendly bikers in
attendance. Host venue, Abingdon Rugby
Club, is easily accessible from the A34,
one of the UK’s main transport arteries.
In the clubhouse there are proper
showers and facilities, along with a
well-stocked bar, supplemented by a
cash-only beer tent operating when the
live acts are performing inside the
wristband-only access, official
entertainment arena. 1980s psychobilly
outfit The Highliners were the Saturday
night headliners, ably supported by King
Hammond, with Oddballs faves The
Corsairs topping the bill on Friday night.

28 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

Theme for this year’s Friday after (live)
show party was Studio 54, and rally-goers
were invited to dress the part in 70s fancy
dress. Needless to say there were plenty of
subscribers. At every Oddballs so far there
has been an overall theme, this year being
the Wild West, with a fancy dress
competition on the Saturday afternoon.
There were plenty of takers on site
sporting cowboy outfits, with frontier
pioneers, hillbillies, Tex -Mex amigos and
native American-inspired attire.
Breakfast served in the clubhouse in the
mornings was supplemented by plenty of
food stalls on site offering a huge range of
food. A trader village offered all manner of
clothing (new and vintage) and scooter
spares, with all kind of goodies to tempt
rally-goers, Both sides of the area were set
aside to host Saturday's custom show,
which attracted a vast, varied and vintage
range of machines, and had just about
everything to appeal to every taste.
Full-blown customs glistened in the sun
with rusteration creations, all manner of
radically engineered steeds, chops,
cut-downs and bike-engined scoots sitting
alongside bog-standard classics, mod-
styled as well as the weird and the
wonderful, all lined up together with
awards given for the winner in each of
the categories.
Typifying the fun factor that Oddballs is
about, this year 'runners-up' were notified
similarly, with an amusing ‘Almost a
winner, look what you could have won'
sign,
sign inspired by television's Bullseye
programme. As always, a leisurely stroll
around the vast camping area revealed as
many interesting scooters that hadn’t been
entered in the show. It was good to see
some previous Scootering featured
machines in evidence at Oddballs, too.
At previous Oddballs there have been
chilli (eating) challenges. Moving up a
gear this year was the aptly titled Stinky
Fish challenge!
There are few rules at Oddballs... No
fires, BBQs are fine, but not on the grass
(it's a rugby club, after all), and you’re
welcome to bring your own beer/alcohol on
site, but (obviously) not into the
entertainment arena. Basically, leave any
negative vibes at the gate, come on in and
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 29
 Scootering Serena Says…
It’s August, I’m in Abingdon, it must be
that ODD time of the year again! Greeted
at the gate by Andrew Stacey sporting a
fetching pair of rainbow crochet shorts
confirmed that I had most definitely
arrived at my destination. The Gate
Keeper later changed into a pair of disco
hot pants complete with a sequinned
boob tube, and by Saturday afternoon
had morphed into Laura Ingalls from
Little House on the Prairie. Oddballs
Rally has become renowned for ‘anything
goes’ and dressing up is positively
encouraged and most definitely
embraced.This year’s rally theme was
Wild West with no shortage of cowboy
hats, saloon gals, squaws and sheriffs.
Friday night was Studio 54 with
bumping, grinding disco tunes spun by
Oddballs DJs Chris Abrams and Kevin
Beynon. There were DJs galore all
weekend, including Wilko and Levi in the
Northern Soul Room. A total of eight
bands graced the stage this weekend,
including No Lip, Jack the Lad, Dakka
Skanks, King Hammond and The Rude
Boy Mafia. Oddballs favourite ‘resident
band’ The Corsairs took the marque by
storm on Friday night, with two band
members suitably dressed for the
occasion as Batman and
Robin (remember – anythin goes)
whipped the crowd into a p chobilly
rockabilly frenzy with a tou of punk
and ska too (and why not). eckin Ejits
and The Highliners finishe he weekend
in style on Saturday night nging the
crowd to a wreckin’ frenzy.
The Custom Show was ra med with
quality scooters and bikes, flecting
rally campers favoured choi e of two
30 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019
wheels. Oddballs Rally actively offers a
cheery welcome to scooterists, bikers,
camper vans and car owners (not
everyone's cuppa tea I know – but it
genuinely works), embracing a fun-
packed weekend with an enthusiastic
approach for partying, raising cash for
the Teenage Cancer Trust and Clic
Sargent (childhood Cancer). Fellow
campers raised more money by
encouraging head shaving, offering
walkabout shots (of the liquid kind – not
pistols), pics on scoots and a grand
finale beard shave for Vince Wooloff
himself, which alone raised £325 for the
coffers! Bouncers worked FOC and
stallholders donated to the charity cause.
Weekend fun and games took place in
the arena, conveniently situated by the
open bar (yeh) with one lucky winner
being the recipient of the Raffle Vespa
Scooter, customised and painted by
Gatch. Without a doubt, the crowd-puller
was the Stinky Fish Challenge. I didn’t
get close enough to check out the
contents of the fermented herring, but I
could smell it! Well done to the plucky
six who took part, with bonus points and
a trophy to the winner, Spencer Dyke.
Next year’s date for Oddballs 6 is
August 7-9. 2020. Confirmed bands,
Demented Are Go, King Kurt, Band
Called Malice, 2 Tone All Skas, Filthy
Spectacula, No Lip, Shakin DTS and, of
course….The Corsairs. What a line-up!

WE SPOKE TO...
Name: Shane Hayter
From: Gosport
Scooter Club: British Forces Scooter
Club
Scooter: O'Fortuna, full-blown custom
Lambretta
How was the journey?
It took us about 3 hours. It was a nice,
steady ride up. We chose the back
route instead of main roads, which
tend to be packed this time of year.
Travelling on the back roads meant we
could really enjoy the journey.
Have you been to Oddballs' before?
No, it’s our first time at Oddballs.
Heard it was great from lots of people.
I've ridden up to Oddballs this year to
experience it for myself.
What are you looking forward to at
Oddballs?
As a club, BFSC turn up en masse at
one southern and one northern rally
every year. Oddballs is our chosen
southern rally for a bit of a get-
together this year. Personally, to see
and be a part of what people have
been talking about since last year, for
myself. And to see The Corsairs play
live... I love ‘em.
have a good time. Participate and/or
spectate as much or as little as suits.
If chilling with mates, talking scooters
and putting the world to rights, with a
few 24 packs appeals, or partying hard
all day and night is your preference, take
your pick. For those with the party
animal tendency, Oddballs is a home
from home.
It was created by Vince Wooloff as a
fundraiser for charity, specifically, (but
not exclusively) the Teenage Cancer
Trust, in memory of Vince's pal, Ron
Morgan. To date an impressive £30k has
been raised, with another sizeable
donation to be added after this year’s
event. As well as money from admission
fees, a Gatch-painted P-Range, with parts
donated by Beedspeed, built by volunteer
scooterists, was up for raffle. Other
fundraising happenings on site, to add to
the total, included organiser Vince having
his beardd sh
havedd offf. Three Word
ds Tatttoo
Atelier generously donated takings of
£400. There were a couple of
unconnected scooterist stag and hen
parties, who had chosen to mark their end
of freedom, Oddballs style.
Due to the volunteer stewards and
marshals being required on site, there
was no ride out this year, not that it was
missed. However, it will be back next
year with a local club marshalling and
planning the route. The spirit of 80s
scooter rallies are alive and thriving at
Oddballs, which must be one of, if not
the best, regional rally in the UK. It’s
fun, as well as a fundraiser, and it’s as
full on or as laid back and chilled as
suits the individual. It’s everything and
more that makes a great gathering. See
you there next year for more of the same.
W
Words & Photographs: Sarge
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 31
 MAILBOX
Letters&emails&correspondence&questions&personals&thank-yous&more
Feedback, Scootering Magazine, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ or feedback@scootering.
★ STAR LETTER ★
Rusty Vespa? Don’t despair!
Anyone who's ever owned a post-1995
Vespa PX, unless perhaps they live in
California or Montpellier (or have won a
lifetime supply of Acf-50), knows about a
rusted seam down the back of their front
mudguard. It is as inevitable as the soles
splitting on their well-cared-for (relatively
new) ox-blood Doc Marten boots. The
reason? Inferior materials and/or bad
workmanship. There can be no other
explanation. But it hasn't always been that
way. Time was when your Docs would last
forever, as would your hardy and ever-
reliable 1980s PX. So what went wrong
and how did Piaggio allow their flagship
model to fall into such disrepute? And I'm
not just talking about rusted mudguard
seams here. That is just the tip of the
iceberg or, rather, the disintegrating hull of
the submerged Titanic.
I admit that my own 2006 PX lives
outside (I have no choice unfortunately),
and is therefore (as I live in the northwest
of Lancashire) no stranger to the elements.
Nevertheless it has, I would like to think,
been well looked after and has been the
recipient, in the 12 or so years I've owned
it, of much (to coin a phrase) time, trouble
and money. And after all, it is a scooter, not
a boat or canal barge requiring regular
waterproofing and blacking. Or is it?
A couple of weeks ago, upon removing
the protective rubber mat from the
NSU Prima
Dear Dan,
It was a pleasure to see a picture like my
old NSU Prima Scooter in May’s edition,
and wanted to write in because I have not
seen one anywhere else before and it
brought back lots of fond memories for
me. I bought my yellow and black scooter
way back in 1959 when I was 19 for
£198.06, but sadly no longer have it and
at the time I didn’t realise what a little
gem was under my bum.
There were many adventures over the
few years I had it, travelling from
Cumbria in the northwest, over to the
northeast with a friend, but in those days
we didn’t even have helmets for
protection, which was silly of us.
Although I still have all my hair and long
sideburns, I would trade those in to have
my wonderful NSU back again. My
winkle pickers and Teddy Boy clothes,
such as my lace tie, still make an
appearance, but I would love to own
32 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019
footboards so that I could give my much
loved Italian icon a wash and wax, I
noticed some bubbling to the paint
between the runners. Giving it a gentle
poke with my finger to assess the
seriousness of the problem, imagine my
horror as said finger went right through the
metal (or whatever it is Piaggio uses to
make scooters with these days). Same
thing happened on the corresponding
footboard so, it being a sunny day, I laid on
the ground to check out underneath and
then spent 10 minutes picking and peeling
off pieces, sometimes sheets, of factory
applied silver paint to reveal – you guessed
it – RUST! Then too, I couldn't ignore nor
quite believe the huge rusty gash along the
middle of the floor pan above the exhaust.
On closer inspection of the scooter as a
whole I noticed bubbling paint on several
other random parts of the body, and really
do fear the worst.
On a Lambretta, of course, none of this
would matter so much with its sensible
interchangeable, Meccano-like body parts.
But on the multi-troublesome monocoque
Vespa frame, as we know, this is not so
easy to remedy.
There might, however, be an upside to all
this – a silver lining. Remember the subtly
beautiful, yet affordable Alfasud of the
1970s and 80s made by Alfa Romeo?
(Another fine and respected Italian motor
company that should have known better.)
Really great looking cars. Go and have a
look at one on the internet if you don't
believe me. If you want to see one, that's
The writer of our Star Letter wins a pair of
Weise ‘Tundra’ Jeans. Find out more at
www.thekeycollection.co.uk
where you'll have to look I'm afraid,
because you will rarely (if ever nowadays)
get to see one in the flesh. Why? Because
they were made of cheap Russian metal
that was not fit for purpose and so have
sadly rusted themselves into (almost)
extinction. They are certainly an
endangered species. A half-decent Alfasud
goes for silly money now when one surfaces
for sale, for that very reason.
So if you have the misfortune to be the
owner of one of the later rust-bucket PXs,
don't despair. You might be sitting on a
gold mine and not even know it… if it lasts
that long!
Wayne Auty from Lancaster
a
another NSU. The gears were by my
feet, which made it more special to me,
s I am wondering if anyone knows if
so
these models are still produced
a
anywhere? I have not had much luck
trracking one down.
Regards
Carl Kemp
French adventures
Hi Dan,
We are currently doing a week in the south
of France near Perpignan through the
Pyrenees. Here is our photo of Barry Hart,
Tony Amos, Peter Fuller, Tibbs, Gav and
myself on the Spanish side of the boarder
in the Pyrenees.
Regards
Rob Walker

Where are you MSC?

Hi Dan,
I read with interest your article about
Midland Scooter Centre opening their new
showroom in Nottingham city centre. As I
was going to Nottingham soon I turned to
their advert on the back page, but it was
still their Pasture Road address. Not to
worry I thought, I’ll go to their website,
and guess what – there’s no mention of
the new showroom on it either. So come
on MCS, where are you?
Regards
David

Hi David, Gareth Jones, Rhyl, reading Scootering in Charlie Clifford of Old Claytonians SC,
The Pasture Road premises are still active, Gran Canaria, 2018 Bradford, reading Scootering magazine
but the new address is Colin Street, in 35° at Lara Beach, Turkey
Nottingham NG1 7EQ. Parking is down
the right side of the building as you look
at it from the main road. Just ride up to
the glass doors and they’ll
open automatically!
Regards
Dan

My wife Jackie Fouracre reading my Shaun Williams taking some time out in
Scootering magazine in Benidorm Crete reading Scootering Al Nicko in Khao Lak, Thailand

D5O1
Vintage
OPEN FACE / XS - XL

£69.99
style with a
modern edge. T 0117 971 9200
E info@thekeycollection.co.uk
W www.thekeycollection.co.uk

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 33
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Show
us your
WIN a smart
Scootering
Scoots
T-shirt with your photo

Pepper Brodie, sent in by Gary Brodie.

For your chance to win a stylish Manu Piazza, from Belgium, sent this in of
Scootering magazine T-shirt, email us their LML 125 from 2008.
your HI-RES pics to: suys@scootering.
com or post your pics to Show Us Your
Scooters, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs
LN9 6LZ, and the least crap snap wins!
For full terms and conditions,
visit: www.scootering.com/comptc

DATA: Protection of your personal data is important to

Mortons. Your data will be stored securely and only be
used for the purpose of processing the competition and
notifying the winners. Data will then be destroyed.

Three of Girvan SC (Alan Stevenette, Stephen

Flanagan and Scott Wilson ) outside Turnberry
hotel. Sent in by Alan Stevenette. Tony Card with grandson Frankie
on grandad’s LML auto.

Paul Barry’s Vespa PX200E by

Ballycotton Lighthouse, East Cork, Paul Greenway’s 85 Douglas winning Best
Sent in by Skee. Ireland. Vespa at recent Mad Dogs Rally.
Taken at Kelso Scooter Rally 2015,
pictured from left to right are: Bill
King, Paddy Corbett, Ian Greenhalgh
and Dave Harrison. Sent in by Ian
Greenhalgh.
LML Star with a PX125 and Molossi 177 kit. Sent in by David Roberts.

Dave Wrenn’s GTS 125 at Chatham Docks.

Great day at Freshwater Bay. Sent in by Scomadi time with my girl. Sent in by Rod
John Elkins. Conway.

Alan Fitzgerald’s trip back from Euro

Lambretta in Abejar. Stuart Grice’s scoot, Billy. Sent in by Alan Murray.
 Scoots
Show
us your

Tom Eldred’s PX 125 on top of Combe Gibbet.

Shane Hutchinson’s son, Oliver, on Shane’s Helen Speak’s Lambretta GP125. Li150 and original orange SX150 built and
Series 2. rode by the owner, Colin Moore.

Sedge and Woody at the IoW Rally, 2018. PX150 and T5 scoots. Sent in
by Steve Hallett.
Peter Reid of Scooter Moda sent this in
of Tony Humphreys. Peter lent Tony his
1967 Vespa sidecar unit for his wedding
to Tina, and donated the money he paid
to the Rosemere Cancer Ward charity fund
that they support.
Frank (Mick) Collins on a Vespa GS160. Sent in by Mark Collins.

Geoff Adkins spent four days in Brighton out and about on scooters. The weather was good
Mark Collins on his Vespa PC, Isle of
and they had a nice ride up to Beachy Head. He also headed out to Chicago and Detroit, and
Wight.
is pictured with the Roadrunners Scooter Crew.

Least crap snap

THIS MONTH’S WINNER: Taken at the 2

Toots ride to the Island, an annual char
run to Lindisfarne in Northumberland. Sent ity
Some of the Old Gits SC. in by David Tompkins.

F
illing up your scooter at the
petrol station always
required one important task.
One that if you didn't
adhere to signalled trouble
for the engine, filling up with oil. For
those that owned a Vespa, certainly one
of the new fandangled ones, this didn't
matter so much. They had a fancy auto
lube system that mixed the oil for you
from a separate tank. For hardcore
Lambretta riders it was different
though, requiring you to do it yourself.
The problem came with getting the
measurement exactly right.
The Lambretta petrol tank didn't hold
that much, being just shy of two
gallons, and there were two types of
methods when it came to mixing
the oil. One was simply to pour
some directly from the bottle. For
those a bit more sophisticated, it
required measuring it exactly with
smoke emanating from his
what was often referred to as ‘the exhaust now began to
dunce jug’. Simply tipping it in
quite often meant the scooter
resemble a Saturn-V
would billow smoke as it went down rocket launch.
the road for the first few miles in
an attempt to burn off the excess oil. It
wasn’t doing any harm as such, but
would often foul the spark plug and
cause the exhaust to coke
up unnecessarily.
If you did measure the oil correctly
and smoke continued to be present,
then quite often it spelled the dreaded
news that the drive side oil seal had
failed. Yes, the engine would run, but it
meant at some point a full strip-down
was required to replace it. It was part of
Lambretta ownership, but when it
happened that feeling of deflation when
knowing what it was always took over.
When travelling in a group to a rally it
was a common sight to see a cloud of
two-stroke fumes following the gaggle of
riders like some poisonous cloud. No
one ever seemed bothered, as long as
there was nothing untoward.
That was until the time of the first
trip by Lambrettas en masse to the
Smoking
two-strokes
No one ever wanted to see excessive smoke
from their exhaust as this spelled trouble. It all
depended on where it was coming from, though
Euro Lambretta. There were lots of
small groups making their way into
mainland Europe all to the same
destination, Strasbourg. The majority
would be camping and this meant not
only having to carry enough clothes for
the week, but also camping equipment.
By the time everything was shoved on
to the scooter there wasn't much room
left to sit on it. Some though had found
digs near to the rally, meaning they
didn't need to carry so much luggage.
One of those was Colin, a regular rally
attender and always on a tidily turned
out Lambretta. Colin’s whole
appearance was one of looking smart,
dressed in the best designer clothes.
Even after a long journey by scooter, it
The steady stream of
looked as though he had just ridden
round the corner. His Lambretta was a
real head-turner, painted by Maca at
DTC and featured in all the magazines
of the time. He always wanted it to look
spotless, so if pulling up for fuel, the
flies or dirt off the road that had
adhered themselves to the paintwork
would be subjected to a cloth to remove
them. There was nothing wrong with the
approach of tidiness and organisation,
and that was reflected in the
appearance of his scooter at all times.
As the small groups of riders all
congregated into one big convoy just
outside the city, it was a sight to behold
for any enthusiast of the Lambretta.
The same couldn't be said of the
weather, raining on and off, making it
even more tricky for the 200 or so
riders. In all the confusion the cloud of
two-stroke smoke seemed to be getting
even thicker as everyone constantly
blipped their throttles through the
mayhem of the traffic. In the middle
was Colin, his tuned Lambretta coping
quite well with the conditions.
Traveling behind him, it became
more and more noticeable that his
Lambretta seemed to be smoking far
more than everyone else’s. In the damp
conditions and continuing two-stroke
could fall-out, it was not always clear to
see. However, it soon become apparent
that there was something drastically
wrong with his scooter, the steady
stream of smoke emanating from his
exhaust now beginning to resemble a
Saturn-V rocket launch. More to the
point was that the smoke had changed
into something more alarming... flames.
Fellow ridders began to wave their
arms furiously, telling Colin to pull
over. To start with he took no notice,
seemingly oblivious to the potential
disaster unfolding behind him. Once
he did look round, it took about a
second for him to stop and jump off
his Lambretta like a rat out of a
trap.
We all pulled over to help and,
more importantly, put the fire out. In
the ensuing chaos, Colin had forgotten
to turn the ignition off, so the machine
was still running. To everyone's
surprise, both the engine and scooter
seemed fine. What wasn't fine was his
luggage bag, which was by now in
desperate trouble. Colin feverishly
unstrapped the bag from the tiny sprint
rack on the back of the frame and threw
it on the floor, where it continued to
billow out smoke. Carefully unzipping
it, out came designer tops, jeans and
even trainers, all with huge holes burnt
through them. The culprit was a failed
bungee cord that had popped off, which
had allowed the bag to hang over the
exhaust. The hot gases coming from it
now sat directly underneath the bag,
which was slowly burning its way
through like a hot blowtorch. Colin
really did have a smoking two-stroke,
but not the way he had intended.
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 41
 Scootering
magazine:
400 editions
and counting!
As Scootering magazine celebrates its 400th edition
we take a nostalgic look back to the very first issue to
see how much things have changed

I
n the early months of 1985 rumours began circulating
within the scootering ranks that a new magazine was on
the horizon. At the time there were other alternatives in
the shape of Scootermania and The British Scooterist
Scene, but they were different. Only available from
certain outlets such as scooter-related businesses or on rallies, it
made getting hold of a copy slightly awkward. The supposedly
new magazine would be different as it was going to be sold
nationally through newsagents and retail outlets. This meant two
things: one was that it would be far easier to obtain a copy, and
the other was that it signalled progress of the scene.
By now scooter rallies were reaching their peak and plenty of
entrepreneurs were making money from it all, so perhaps that had
already happened. News of the impending first edition was welcomed
by both scooterists and dealers alike. Now there was a national
platform from which to advertise from or read about what was
happening on a regular basis. No one ever doubted the decision and
this was exactly what was needed at the time. From now on if you
wanted to read what was happening in the world of scootering all you
had to do was simply go to your local newsagents and pick up a copy,
or perhaps even easier… have it delivered to your door.
When it came to celebrating this important milestone in the
magazine's history we thought we would do it in a different way for a
change. Rather than just highlight some of the events that have
happened over the last 34 years, instead we decided to go right
back to the first edition, going through what was reported and
exactly how the scooter scene was at that time. To help, some of the
interesting pages and topics have been laid out with actual images
that were taken that year, a sort of illustrated history showing just
how much things have changed. Apart from one thing... the passion
we all have for scooters, which has always been the same.

42 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

1) The inside of the front cover was a 5) Adverts were 8) The first rally report was from
huge advert for DISC 85 held at Donington plentiful, even Morecombe, where two things could
Park. The weekend’s events would see though it was the always be guaranteed – damp, wet
various custom shows as well as bands first edition. Do weather and run-down
performing. It was topped off with scooter you remember old slot machine
racing and showed just how diversified a this: ‘Scootering arcades. Never the
rally could be when held in the right World’, a less it had some great
location. magazine that venues and drinking
survived for just establishments, and
one copy? Spread was one of the
across the front cover was one of the favourites on the rally
all-time greats, ‘Italian Stallion’. Back calendar throughout
issues were being offered here for just the 1980s.
£1.50 and were a collector’s item,
according to the print. They weren’t
wrong, with copies selling for over
10 times that amount in the early days.

2) Pages four and five were full of news,

but if anything were rather blandly laid out.
Amongst other things such as rally dates
and club news, a report that Allspeed were
expanding their premises. Remember them,
the importer of the Spanish Serveta, which 9) Undoubtedly the top custom chopper at
by this time was suffering from poor build the time was ‘exile’ built by Russell
uuality. Hardly Mitchell. Even so, there were plenty of
urprising as one other good examples providing strong
week the factory competition. Though the Lambretta was
mployees would be by the far easiest to convert, there were
building sewing plenty who proved you could do the same
machines, followed with the Vespa. Russell later moved to
by scooters the week America where he runs the successful
after, allegedly. company Exile Cycles.
6) It seemed that many of the paint shops
around back then were keen to be seen in
3) The Lambretta Club Great Britain the magazine. After all, this was the 10) Taking up residence on the back
announced it was holding its first major height of the custom paint revolution that page were Midland Scooter Centre run by
custom show at Telford that summer. was sweeping the scooter nation at the Dave Webster and Norrie Kerr. Staying
Making its debut at that show was none time. One such advertiser was ‘Sweet loyal to the magazine, MSC have
other than ‘Sign of the Snake’, the dreams, whose paint artist was none remained there ever since. The premises
stunning Lambretta built by Mick Howard. other than Paul Karslake, son of at the time of the advert was based at 13
It picked up awards for Best Lambretta Lambretta legend Mike. Having painted Station Road, but they moved soon after
and punters’ ‘dazzle’, the top custom scooter at the to 61/67, shown in the pictures.
choice becoming time, they were keen to cash in on the Dominating the scooter racing
one of the hottest fact, even though the advert looked like it championships at the time, their on-track
custom scooters had been cobbled together in a few success was mirrored in the shop. Norrie
on the circuit seconds with a stencil set. left at the end of the 1980s and today
that year. owns VE UK.

7) Page 32 would belong to the first

custom Vespa ever featured – ‘The
4) According to sweetest feeling’. Popular on the show
hhe article, the circuit that year, it was painted by Maca,
first scooter to be who proved that his allegiance lay with
eeatured was one Vespa as well as the Lambretta.
belonging to a
chap called
Brendan McNallyy.
I m prettyy sure we all
a know
no him better as
legendary painter Maca of DTC fame. Thee
Lambretta in question was his Rosa
Bianca GP, which has been one of the
most iconic and copied race paint
schemes of the last 35 years. At the time
Maca was more interested in racing it
than anything else, though.

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 43
 H O W T I M E S H AV E
CHANGED – TUNING
AND PERFORMANCE
Back when the first edition came out, Lambretta tuning was a
different entity to what it is today. Back then stage tuning was
all the rage, with stage six being supposedly the most
advanced for a road-going machine. Everything was based
around extensively porting a cast barrel. In 1986 all that was
thrown out of the window with the launch of the TS1. With its
aluminium body and reed valve induction, it revolutionised the
tuning industry. Though cast barrel tuning is still done here
and there, it is regarded as old school these days.
Back then hours upon hours were spent by tuners painstakingly grinding out
the ports on a cast iron barrel
Converting the Lambretta toolbox into a petrol tank to give it more range
when fitted with a 30mm Amal or Dellorto carburettor
The must-have item every tuned Lambretta had back in 1985 was a Fresco
expansion pipe. Usually, the only way to fit it was with a hammer, as the
mounting holes never seemed to line up correctly
44 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019
CHOPPERS AND CUTDOWNS
It wasn't 1985 when choppers and cutdowns first appeared,
but it seemed it was the year they were at their most popular.
This is reflected in the adverts of the first edition with several
offering extreme fabrication services. At the time cutting up
an old frame was all the rage and with a huge availability, was
easy and affordable to do. Towards the end of the decade,
owners were trying to do the opposite as restoration began to
take hold. I’m sure many of us were guilty of taking a hacksaw
or angle grinder to a perfect Lambretta frame. Those that now
think they shouldn’t have done it at the time needn’t dwell on
it too much. Look at it this way – you were creating scooter
history with those creations, so much so that even Wikipedia
has a page specifically for the scooter cutdown.
The general rule of thumb for a cutdown was simple enough. Usually this
entailed cutting the back end off and removing the majority of the panel work
Choppers certainly looked the part, but were never the most com orta e o
things to ride
 S T R E E T R AC E R S
Back in 1985, it seemed street racers were in their infancy. Not
actual engine tuning that was as popular as ever, but in the
general layout of the scooter itself. Compared to what's on offer
currently, certain items such as suspension and brakes were
fairly primitive. Even so, the creations back then had a
subtleness about them that still give great appeal today.
Perhaps a lot of this is down to the fact that there are so many
extras now from which to choose from. Paintwork too, is far
more flamboyant nowadays and no one can argue that there are
stunning examples built on a regular basis. Trying to capture
the spirit of how they were done back in the 1980s isn't as easy
as it looks, in all probability because there is a tendency to
over-complicate them by trying to out do the competition.

The Lambretta street racer in 1985 had clean lines and one thing for certain – a hole for the carburettor on the left-hand side. In 2019 they are far more striking as
the competition these days is so much greater

Exactly the same can be said of the Vespa, but in a way it only reflects the natural progression of technology

To prove the point the front end of two Lambrettas, 34 years apart

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 45
 N O T H A N K S – T H E V E S PA E T S
The first road test to be featured was
for the Vespa ETS. In the big
two-page advert, the slogan claimed
‘Its New’ ‘It’s Fast’ ‘It’s Vespa’. What
should have been put underneath all
that was ‘It’s not very good’. At its
launch, loyal Vespa owners far and
wide disliked not only the design, but also its performance.
It had a striking resemblance to the PK series with its squared-off, box-looking shape,
a far cry from the more classic line of the PX. It only lasted two years in production
before being replaced by the T5, which was far superior. The mainstay of Piaggio’s
success was undoubtedly the PX range and even though the MK 1 had been replaced
with the slightly less appealing Arcobaleno, it was still the most popular choice. Did you
know some dealers still had one or two of the MK 1 PX in stock when the magazine first came out? They were few and far between
by then, but could be picked up for around £700 as dealers wanted to shift what to them was outdated stock.

THEN AND NOW

Many of the adverts either showcased
services or items that are very rarely
advertised, if not at all theses days. Can
you remember rear set kits, ace bars, stage
tuning, Kawasaki conversions, reverse cone
Frescos, Pitone exhausts, Bradford back
rests, exchange chrome, pike and dome
nuts, Maltese cross and tombstone back
lights, chrome cable covers, side stands,
folding kickstarts, bead blasting, 10 spring
clutches, sun dance grips, quick action
throttles, headlamp stone guards, high
comp heads, etcetera? To top it off, if you
ordered by phone then the one service all
shops use to offer was cash on delivery.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW

Many of the businesses featured in the
first edition were and still are regular
household names within the scooter
scene, businesses like AF Rayspeed, PM
Tuning and Chiselspeed to name just a
few. But what became of the lesser-known
ones? Believe it or not, Route 66 is still
going strong all these years later. Though
not known for their scooter work these
days, at the time they did radical
fabrication on many custom scooters. The
business is still in the same location and
has the exact same sign above the shop.

46 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

 R AC I N G
Scooter racing featured in both adverts with an article on
Maca’s Group 4 machine. When the magazine first started,
racing was on the verge of its peak, with over 400 riders
licensed to race. The more there were, the greater the
competition became. This, in turn, encouraged development at
a fast pace. A group six Lambretta back then would still use a
cast barrel like the one shown, this one being Taffspeed
tuned. Even so, it still kicked out plenty of power and was
capable of speeds close to 100 mph. Roll on 34 years and it’s
clear to see that technology has advanced significantly. Speeds
now are easily in excess of 100mph on a modern group six
machine. It would be interesting to put both up alongside each
other in a race to give a real comparison and see just how far
scooter tuning has moved on since then.

A group six Lambretta in 1985 was effective in performance, but rather Present day, it is clear to see what more than three decades of development can
cluttered looking achieve, but just how much faster is it?

S C O O T E R I N G M AG A Z I N E T I M E L I N E T H A N K YO U
1985: May of that year saw the first magazine to Mortons Media Group and Since edition number one was first
edition produced by Myatt McFarlene Martin ‘Sticky’ Round becomes editor published, there have been well over
with Mike Roberts as the editor. for just one edition. He is promptly 55,000 pages written, designed, edited
1987: After the sad passing of Mike replaced by Andy Gillard, who and printed by us on the subject of
in 1987 the new person in charge continues the role for another 13 years. scooters. Over that time there have
would be Gareth Brown. 2016: The magazine goes through a big been several editors, many writers and
1989: Having seen rival magazine transition. Dan Clare of Scooterotica a whole host of photographers, all of
Scooter Scene begin to build up a fame is bought in to be the new editor, whom have played their part. Also, not
big readership, Myatt McFarlene and establishes a refreshed writing forgetting the designers, printers,
bought them out. Its editor Stuart team, whilst also retaining long-term ad-sales team, and general staff who in
Lanning was put in charge, and later contributors such as Richie Lunt, Nik one way or another have all played a
bought Scootering magazine from Skeat, Mark Sargeant and Dave Oakley, part in getting the magazine published.
McFarlene. Lanning continued to amongst others. It's no easy task!
publish the magazine himself in to 2019: Scootering magazine Then there are the businesses, the
the millennium. celebrates its 400th edition after dealers and traders who have
2003: Stuart Lanning sells the 34 years of publication. advertised within the pages, some of
them since the very beginning. Without
them, it would be hard to survive in the
unforgiving environment of magazine
VA L U E F O R M O N E Y publishing. We also thank the people
who have supplied information, news
The first edition of the magazine went on sale for just £1.20, which at the time and stories, the owners of scooters
seemed value for money... or was it? The first six editions were bi-monthly, usually which have been featured, and
black and white sections, and each one only 48 pages in total. Compared to today organisations and clubs that have put
where the magazine is monthly, full colour and over 130 pages… often with free on rallies, which the magazine has
supplements, calendars, wall planners and various cover-mount gifts included. reported on.
It must be remembered, the magazine was only on trial to start with and once it Most of all though, we thank you...
became apparent that sales were strong enough, it soon moved to a monthly the reader. Every one of you who has
publication in the spring of 1986. With figures adjusted for inflation, today purchase a copy, a subscripion, or has
Scootering magazine has stayed in line and at the current price of £4.30 offers great contributed a story over the years.
value for money. Over the last 400 editions, or to put it another way… 34 years, Without you, none of this can happen,
many scooter-related magazines have come and gone. If you looked at all two- so from all of us here at Scootering
wheeled magazines since then many have started up, but not lasted the duration of magazine, we thank you for your
time. Every person who has worked on Scootering, been involved in it along the way loyal support.
since issue number one, or quite simply bought a copy, should take a bow. Each SC
person has played an important role in the success story that is Scootering magazine.

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 47
CELEBRATING OUR 400 TH ISSUE

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We are proud to be an original advertiser
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Congratulations Congratulations
on your 400th Scootering on
edition from all PERFORMANCE
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 A Quick One with
Gareth Brown
Scootering magazine has reached the landmark of 400 editions, so we
caught up with the man who was arguably responsible for it starting up.
Former editor Gareth Brown takes a look back, as well as giving his
opinions on the scene in more recent times.

G
oing back to the beginning,
tell us how you first
discovered the scooter scene
and your input into how
Scootering magazine began?
I'd been heavily into the growing mod
revival scene in 78, pre-Quadrophenia,
and my first experience of a rally was a
Lambretta event in Southend. In the
South between Southend 78 and
Brighton 81 there was no basic structure,
it was all quite mod inclined. Although I
didn't realise it at the time, there was a
different, stronger scooter scene up
north, which had been evolving for years.
1982 for me was when the two blended,
specifically the Easter rally in
Scarborough 82. It was cold and it
snowed over the weekend. I felt like an
intrepid explorer. I went to Scarborough a
mod and came back a Scooterboy. I met
Martin Dixon there, and ended up writing
a few pieces for Scootermania, also The Georgie Fame (far
frie nd San dra after a Geo rgie Fame gig, pictured with
Gareth and (then) girl Sea, circa 1980/81
Ralliest. At the time I was doing my
ked ly brilliant dru mm er. Barron’s MOD Club, Leigh-on-
right) and his wic
engineering apprenticeship. Myatt-
McFarlane had their biker lifestyle
magazine Back Street Heroes out. At that One of my most memorable and proudest
time it was only a few issues old. I wrote achievements, while I was involved with
to them several times about having a Scootering, took place before I became
scooter-inclined section or features, or editor. Both myself and the first editor of
even to consider a dedicated scooterist Scootering, Mike Roberts, rode from
magazine. When the first issue of Land’s End to John O’Groats on scooters.
Scootering came out I bought a copy and Mike, bless him, was a lovely bloke, but
wrote to them, basically saying they he was more used to bikes than scooters.
needed a scooterist writing first-hand We reached a point on the journey where
rally reports. To cut a long story short, I I decided to press on, leaving Mike with
was commissioned to cover Clacton rally the back-up van following him, travelling
and they would see what I submitted. at a more leisurely pace. I set a time of
They must've liked what I did as I was 23 hours 23 minutes – under 24 hours!
then commissioned to cover Yarmouth. – which is still a record time, I believe,
Scootering went from bi-monthly to for one rider, one bike, Land’s End to Gareth on his firstt scooter: a Vespa 90cc,
monthly in 1986. I was still only John O’Groats. Going from freelance in 1979.
commissioned for one forthcoming rally contributor to staff writer to editor all
at at that point, but changes to that were happened in quite a short time. From glossy A4 magazine Scooter World. I
just on the horizon. covering national rallies by commission, became editor of Scootering after Mike
I was asked to become a staff writer, (Roberts) sadly died in an accident.
You went from freelance contributor to which meant relocating to the north- There were talks at the editorial office
staff writer, to Editor in a relatively short west. Shortly after moving up there I regarding Mike becoming editor of a title
time, what are your recollections from found the original letters I'd written to they were hoping to acquire, which
that period and what are standout Back Street Heroes and Scootering, didn't happen in the end, and Mike's
memories from your tenure as Scootering along with correspondence from Pete untimely passing saw me
Editor? Sherwin, who produced the one-off becoming editor.

50 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019


Gareth and a few fellow Prize Guy SC members. Scarborough National Rally, 1983.
What are your retrospective opinions
regarding the various incarnations of
Scootering magazine?
Right from when the first issue of
Scootering was published it was viewed
as a bit corporate. I loved British Scooter
Scene when it first came out, even more
so Scooter Scene. There was a friendly
rivalry between Scootering and Scooter
Scene early on. We were all mates from
the scooter rallies, exchanging a bit of
banter between those who were writing
for either title. I left Scootering in 1989,
and shortly after, in the same year,
Scooter Scene and Scootering merged,
initially under Myatt McFarlane before
Stuart (Lanning) took overall control,
until 2002, which is when Mortons took
ownership. When social media became
commonplace in everyday usage, around
2010, Scootering was the social glue
that held the scooter scene together. If
you wanted to know what was on and
what was happening it's how you kept in
touch. It suffered criticism, especially
before social media… some fair, most
not really so. People complain and like
to slag the magazine off but still go and
buy it, more so if there's a picture of
them or their mates in any particular
edition. The way I see it, Scootering has
always been a vital tool to both the
British and international scooter scenes,
promoting the scootering lifestyle.
S C O O T E R B OY S 3 0 T H
A N N I V E R S A RY E D I T I O N
Gareth Brown wrote the original Scooter Boys book. First
published in 1989, it sold over 2500 copies over three
decades. Recently it’s had its final update, with some new
additions for what will be its 10th reprint. Watch this space
regarding the forthcoming 30th anniversary edition of
Scooter Boys.
Price: £14.99
Out: 11/10/19
Pre-order: www.mortonsbooks.co.uk
There was a shortish period a few years
ago where Scootering seemed to be
distancing itself from some of the more
(scooterist) lifestyle elements, but
thankfully that part of the spectrum has
returned to the magazine. I think all
elements of the scene have validity and
therefore should be covered in the
biggest scooter magazine there is.
Scooterists, in general, like to have a
moan and complain. Scootering is an
easy target. After 400 issues it must be
doing something right, as it’s still the
biggest dedicated Scooter magazine.
As a scooter scene veteran, still active
today, what's your overview of how the
scene is today and in recent times?
I'm much less active these days. I just
have the one scooter now, along with my
Harley. I sold my GP back in 2007 when
my third kiddie arrived out of the blue
and we needed to equip the nursery. I've
got my Kegra Malossi Vespa PX and a
few weeks ago, along with a few from
Prize Guys SC we went up to Great
Yarmouth; some great memories from
the 80 and had a nostalgic pint in The
Barking Smack, my hostelry of choice
when in Yarmouth. One of my favourite
events is the annual Mods N Rockers
rally put on by HA in Kent, I alternate
what I ride there each year, Harley one
year, Vespa the next. Love the banter, all
Gareth and Si having an ‘arresting time’.
IoW National Scooter Rally, 1983.
good-natured, between scooterists and
bikers there. It does seem to me that the
scene in general, certainly in the UK,
has something of a moddy leaning in
recent times. Fair play to them, I'm not
too fond of lights and mirrors myself.
That said there's a localish group of
youngsters, Rittle mod Squad. They ride
their scooters everywhere, fair play to
them, too. I'm a scooterboy who loves
Northern Soul, but to each their own, if
people are riding scooters and enjoying
themselves, that keeps the scene alive
and healthy. I don't have any problem
with those who've come on to the
scooter scene later in life, in the 90s or
noughties, As far as I'm concerned they
are as welcome as everyone else. What
does wind me up a bit are the
pretenders, the bullshitters who've
joined the scene late on, but claim they
were around earlier. To me all are
welcome, but don't bullshit, and don't
try to rewrite history you were never a
part of.
Finally, what are you up to these days?
These days I'm a school teacher, I teach
history and provide cover. It can be
taxing at times as I teach problem kids.
I'll never be rich, but I enjoy what I do
and sometimes other than financial
rewards it can be as satisfying. Last time
I was interviewed in Scootering (2004),
I was a bank manager, a job I did for a
few years and absolutely hated it.
I do a bit of writing on the side, most
recently for Airgun World, as I do a bit
of shooting in any spare time I have.
I've got my Harley and my Vespa, which
I try to ride as often as I'm able. I
rrecently did the final update to my
Scooter Boys book. One thing I
S
absolutely love is the anonymity I have
a
tthese days. I'm just a tall, bald
sscooterist these days, no longer Gareth
ffrom Scootering.
Words: Sarge
Photographs: Gareth Brown
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 51
 LML,
Then and Now
Last month we broke the news that LML’s factory was
being dismantled. This month we take a look at both the
good and bad times.

I
t is two years since LML filed for
bankruptcy and since then owners
and traders alike have speculated
about the factory’s future. Last
month we published the first set of
images to emerge of the factory’s current
condition and they made for a depressing
sight. The production line stands empty,
whilst both abandoned scooters and
components lie discarded under a thick
layer of dust. Make no mistake, not all
tooling will survive the attention of
scrappers and that which survives is being
purchased by various buyers. It’s highly
unlikely that Piaggio has any intention to
revive the PX, so once LML’s tooling has
been removed from the site there’s no
prospect that production of complete
machines will be resumed.
The Indian Government has set a tight
timescale for the site to be cleared and by
the time these words are read the
demolition gang will be poised to reduce
the remaining buildings to rubble. What
was once a thriving community is no
more, but thanks to images taken by
Manish of UniAuto, who’s been a recent
visitor, and Ulf at Scooter Centre, who
visited in 2015, we can present a unique
look at the factory, as it was then and how
it looks now before disappearing forever.
Words: Stan
Photos: Manish Mittal, Scooter Centre Koln

Complete 2t units were widely sold into the trade

52 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

 WELCOME
Located just outside Kanpur, in the state
of Uttar Pradesh, the LML factory was an
important local employer. The factory’s
driveway that once welcomed visitors
from around the world now stands
derelict and strewn with litter.

Feew shots were taken of Star Lite production

old technology – the ‘Select II’ being a prime example.

Like Serveta before them, LML tried their best to refresh

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 53
 PRODUCTION LINE
Production of the PX and its derivatives
were a problem for both Piaggio and
LML, as their assembly was a labour-
intensive process. No doubt Henry Ford
would have spun in his grave had he
seen how four-stroke production was
managed. Whilst the two-stroke assembly
line moved on a belt system, with
machines moving between the different
stages of assembly, the 2015 images
show that 4ts were mostly built by hand.
Major assembly took place in one
location, with components being
delivered as required. Only final
assembly took place on the moving line.
Today the assembly line stands waiting
for the scrap man’s cutting torch.
Paint being hand finished.

Four-stroke scooters had their own assembly

Production is halted forever. methods.

Spray booth. Ever wondered

who machined
your clutch
basket?

Flywheel
‘balancing’
(of sorts).

Panel pins, each one made by hand Great additions to any man cave. Where are they now?

54 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

 FACTORY SPECIALS
The Innocenti factory was well known for adapting
production machines for factory purposes and the
ambulance is now a favourite exhibit at Vittorio
Tessera’s museum. The LML factory also made some
local modifications, including a four-wheeled,
four-stroke articulated unit. Unfortunately, little more
than the cannibalised skeletons of these unique
machines have survived.

In the factory’s heyday it exported globally.

Back in 2015 these ‘Hawa LML’ frames were
The first many British scooterists knew of LML was in destined for the Egyptian market.
the early 90s when Taffspeed imported a ‘grey’ batch
of Indian-built TX200s. One of the buyers was our
very own Stan, who recalls that his introduction to
LML electrics was “unpleasant”.

FLEET
Practicing what they preached, LML were
an enthusiastic user of their own products
and maintained a large fleet of NV
four-strokes. There’s were registered in
the UP78TC**** range, but most appear
to have been cannibalised and now
lie abandoned.
FOUR-STROKE FOLK
If the news for PX parts is optimistic, sadly the same can’t be said for four-stroke
components. Before going any further it’s worth pointing out that there’s no public
record of who’s bought what and whether it’s destined for sale, scrap or re-
manufacture. Even with that caveat it seems that news on the 4t front isn’t good.
Looking at images of the factory, there’s no shortage of abandoned scooters and the
overwhelming majority appear to be engineless 4t models. Unfortunately, this suggests
that LML’s stock of 4t spares was such that the only way they could maintain their own
fleet was by a gradual process of cannibalisation.
Amongst those ‘picking’ at the factory, the most desirable items are those that are
compatible with the Vespa PX. With hundreds of thousands of those machines still in
daily use, there’s a steady global demand for suitable components. Unfortunately,
LML’s 4ts were produced in far fewer numbers and from a business perspective there’s
no point having the monopoly on a LML 4t ‘widget’ if worldwide demand is small. The
costs involved in production, storage and distribution simply don’t add up. The best
advice for 4t owners is to keep an eye on both dealer and auction sites for any NOS
parts being offered, as they’re likely to be the last available from LML’s tooling.

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 55
 Machinery once used to clean castings
PRESSING MATTERS now rots outside.

Metal bodied scooters need heavy presses

and LML produced most panels on site. The
Spiertz equipment is German in origin
whilst those manufactured by Schuler are
French. These are most likely a remnant of
LML’s early European collaboration in the
manufacture of textile machinery. Whilst
the presses themselves are antiquated and
most likely destined for scrap, it’s
understood that the moulds for many major
components have new owners.

That’s what we call a frame jig!

Why did PX production end? The costs involved in producing a machine that was essentially unchanged since the 1950s were uneconomic.

56 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

 Get
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WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 57
 o s a B i anca
o r ig i n al R in g ’s fir st
The i n S c o oter
featuredFour hundred later
edition. es and 34 years
magazind is still strong.
the bree

I’d always
wanted a DTC,
but it’s only
recently that could I
turn the dream into
reality. The ‘New
Breed’ schemes are
smart, but in my eyes the
originals are pure class.

58 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

 Mick and his heart’s desire

GP in a bar, not an everyday sight

O
ften imitated but never equalled, Maca’s
classic Rosa Bianca schemes have
timeless appeal. They also seem to attract
a certain type of owner, one who likes to
ride their machine hard, and Mick ‘Grebo’
Robinson’s no exception to that rule. Having grown up
in Leeds, the spiritual and physical home of DTC, Mick
had grown up with the sight and sound of Maca’s work.
“I’d always wanted a DTC,” began Mick, “but it’s only
recently that could I turn the dream into reality. The
‘New Breed’ schemes are smart, but in my eyes the
originals are pure class.”
Having secured his place in
Maca’s diary, Mick had some
decisions to make. His would
be Rosa Bianca number 19,
but there’s no ‘cookie cutter’
approach to Maca’s work.
Each example is unique and
Mick was in no doubt how to
go about that. “I’ve lost three
good friends over the years
and wanted to remember
them, hence the tool box lid
tribute.” There are other
subtle enhancements to the
classic design, including the
classic white rose mudguard,
which now reflects that of
Yorkshire’s pride, the Rosa Bianca

No prizes for guessing Mick’s birthday

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 59
 Ld fuel gauge is a nice touch

the Rosa Bianca Elite Scooter Club, of
which Mick is a long-standing member.
Anyone fancying their chances against
Mick’s DTC at the lights is in for a
surprise. In a nod to the base machine’s
origins as a 1971 Innocenti-built 125,
Mick asked Maca to badge it accordingly.
Under the panels it’s a very different story,
with a 225cc TS1 providing the necessary
power for Mick to travel the country in his
role as VFM crew. Keen-eyed readers will
notice that the carb hole is slightly
misaligned. This is due to Mick’s ongoing
love affair with both Amal and Mikuni
carbs. The hole is cut for Mikuni, but at
the time of our shoot he was in an Amal

The truth is that my wife travels almost

everywhere with me and we’ve yet to find a
sports seat that’s comfortable for us both. I
keep telling people the plan is to go full 1980s
and fit a flip over back rest!

60 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

 MAN & MACHINE

Owner: Mick ‘Grebo’ Robinson

Hometown: Leeds
Club: Lambretta Club Great Britain, Rosa
Bianca Elite
First involvement with scooters: 1987

Model: Innocenti GP 125 (1971), an original

British registered scooter
Inspiration: Absent friends – ‘Mr Duck’, Mark
McKenna, Jeremy Elphick
Engine: TS1, 225cc
Carb: Mk 2 Amal 34mm (or Mikuni!)
Exhaust: Chiselspeed ADS
Gearbox: SX200
Paint: Maca
Powder Coat: Midas Touch

Thanks to: My wife Maria, Maca, Martin at

Chiselspeed

1 1A 1 1A 1 1A

Seat is practical, not pretty On British roads since 71

Mick’s dream, now a reality

1 1A 1 1A
1 1A

Rayspeed tank adds range

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 61

frame of mind. One thing that sets Mick’s
DTC apart from the crowd is the seat. “I
get a lot of stick about that,” he laughed.
“The truth is that my wife travels almost
everywhere with me and we’ve yet to find
a sports seat that’s comfortable for us
both. I keep telling people the plan is to
go full 1980s and fit a flip over
back rest!”
It’s taken a long time for Mick to realise
his dream of owning a DTC racer and now
it’s a reality he’s lost no time in clocking
up the miles. “I’ve even had to break the
news to Maca that there are a few stone
chips!” he grimaced. The DTC owner’s
club is a select band. Not only do they
own some of the most iconic scooters ever
produced, but also they aren’t afraid to
use them. Thankfully, Mick’s no exception
to that rule.
Words: Stan
Photographs: Gary Chapman
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Quirky’s offer a brewery tour, at the
conclusion of which participants can
blend and brew their own beer. This can
be taken away on the night to mature in
the bottle, or Quirky’s will nurse it in the
cask and await your return visit.
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 Gone were the days of being in charge at the AGM

Kev's Chronicles: episode 10

K
After decades of hard work, building an institution up
was a proud achievement, but having it all taken away
was a bitter pill to swallow…

I
n 2009 it was 30 years since Kev
had become general secretary of
the LCGB. Though he was only part
of a group who had revived it in
1977 he finally become its
recognised leader just two years later.
From the moment he took control there
was only one thing he ever wanted, a club
to unite all Lambretta enthusiasts, one
they could enjoy being part of and feel
involved in. It was an uphill battle from
the outset, but no matter what obstacles
lay in his path Kev would clear them to
make the club even stronger. Not even he
thought it would become as big as it did,
which created yet more problems.
The more people that joined, the more
administration work it entailed. Rallies
and custom shows had to be organised
correctly to give the members value for
money when attending. The club magazine
needed to be on time and full of up-to-
date information. It was okay saying Announcing winners of the club’s trophies at the presentation
afterwards
everything would be done, but one person
on their own couldn't possibly sort
everything out. That's what the committee
was for, to designate people to do the right Funds were swelling in the club’s
job. Thankfully, there were enough people
ready to give up their time to make
coffers to the point where there was a huge
this happen. surplus after operating costs.

64 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

 Paid role his day job and continue to run the club
As the club became bigger it soon to the level which was required… certainly
became apparent that those doing as the membership was continuing to
the work voluntarily couldn't cope. increase monthly. Something had to give,
Some would retire due to the fact and quickly, to alleviate the pressure he
that they had little spare time to was under.
carry their duties out. It was For a while, the talk of paying someone
common for one or two committee to run the club had been discussed. The
members to quit now and then, but club was much stronger financially now
there was always someone ready and and to a certain extent there were funds to
willing to replace them. Thankfully, make this a reality.
this meant at least the pressure Kev told the club that he was in a
would be off for the time being. This position to take voluntary redundancy and
was the end of the 1990s and in doing so the financial package would
Lambretta ownership was going leave him better off. If the club now paid
through a resurgence. As it did, the him to do this job, the wages required
membership began to swell even wouldn't be so great. It was put to the vote
further. Gone were the days of a few and passed. From then on the general
hundred members, as this figure was secretary's job would be a paid role.
now in the thousands.
Many members were beginning to Emergency meeting
question where Kev found the time to
q The first year in which he was paid to run
complete all the duties required for
c the club was 1998. With everything in
him to run the club smoothly, while place and nothing else to distract him,
at the same time hold down a day job
a everything would run much more
and spend time with his family. It
a smoothly. There was a problem though,
ssoon became apparent that he was because the vote on paying someone to
sstruggling with it all. It was down to a run the club wasn't an overwhelming
lot of things, and having time off work majority. Many members disliked the fact
due to being ill with stress and
d that club funds were being used in this
The person leading the way in their finest
depression wasn't helping. By 1997
d way. The problem was that the job was
achievements
there was no wayy he could hold down now too big for anyone to do it on a
voluntary basis. For a while club affairs
continued, but there were rumblings in
the background. Finally, it all came to a
head in 2000 at an EGM where Kev was
close to being booted out of the club.
The result of the meeting meant he was
no longer to be paid for his role and he
would go back to a normal day job. This
was fine for keeping the members happy,
which to him was the most important
thing, but where was the time to run the
club going to come from? The reality was
they had spent three years going round in
a big circle and were now back in the
same situation they had started with in
Now a new era beckoned for Kev with parts fairs like Wicksteed Park the first place. Though Kev would still
devote all his spare time, he now had to

Organising club rallies

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 65
 earn his living elsewhere, so couldn't be
constantly at the club’s beck and call.

Beginning of the end

The fall-out from the EGM had left him
very upset, but he vowed to fight on. After
all, as a group, they had achieved great
things and it seemed a shame to throw it
all away. Keen to find a quick solution and
with the committee down in numbers,
Kev's idea was to recruit new people…
long-term and loyal members who had put
their shift in when asked in the past.
People who had been there in the hard
times when the club was struggling.
It didn't take long, as a new era of
committee members hungry to succeed in
what they were doing began to help shape
the future of the LCGB.
For a while everything seemed fine. Kev
was at the helm steering the ship, reliably
supported by those who worked with him.
As they did, membership began to grow to
unprecedented levels, along with a
healthy bank balance. Funds were
swelling in the club’s coffers to the point
that there was a huge surplus after
operating costs. Being in such a strong
Most important of all was time to relax and enjoy life, leaving
it to others to attempt to
financial position was what everyone
follow in his footsteps wanted but the question was… What
should they do with the leftover budget?
Ideas quickly began to circulate, from a
museum with headquarters to buying
As far as he was concerned he had put huge collections of vintage Lambrettas.
the club before himself and he was bloody The problem then was, rumours began to
proud of the fact. spread that money was being sanctioned
without everyone being informed.

Rallying the troops when the going was tough

66 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

 Being the spokesperson for an institution he had helped create

Kev was well aware of the fact and did

his best to calm the situation. As far as he
was concerned, no money would be spent
outside of the daily running of the club
unless it was decided on by the members.
The museum idea was always thought to
be a good one and had been supported
since the days of the LPS being
disbanded. Ways of raising money in the
past had been thought of with members
becoming patrons. That was beset with
many problems and had been dead in the
water for quite a while. There was the
failed attempt at a museum with Eric
Tudor, and Kev still hadn't forgotten the
resentment that came his way when he
presented the idea at an earlier AGM.
The problem is, though, that when you
have a lot of money to hand, the
temptation to spend it becomes greater. At
the end of the day it was the club’s money
and the members were part of the club, so
it would be a combined decision if and
when it happened. It was beginning to
cause a bit of friction, which was quite
ironic. After years of wishing that the club
one day would be in a strong financial
position, now it was, there was a tone of
unhappiness about it all.

Breakdown Being the head of the national club at the Euro Lambretta

Personally, for Kev, it was not a great time

in his life. Still struggling with stress,
depression and a breakdown in his
marriage, things were taking their toll on
him both physically and mentally. This all
saw him taking his eye off the ball when it
came to club affairs.
He began to feel the committee starting
to take over from him and make decisions
on matters without him.
Slowly Kev gathered his life back
together, but as far as he was concerned
there was a split beginning to form
between him and some of the main
committee members. In his mind, he felt
they were trying to take full control and
push him out. While he was still there
nothing could happen, but the internal
battle would soon begin to affect the club
as a whole. Kev then made a decision,

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 67
 one which he often later reflected on by
saying: “I have regretted that outburst
ever since and will do so for the rest of my
life.”. Things had come to boiling point
and at an ill-tempered meeting, he
personally pointed his finger at those he
wanted to be rid of from the committee.
The problem was, Kev had shown his hand
so they knew what was coming at the next
AGM. In his mind this would give them
time to rally enough support, possibly
preventing them from being removed. The
tension between the two sides escalated,
with Kev being on his own. It cut a frosty
atmosphere between them and personally
he was very upset that it had become like
this. It now meant a power struggle for
control of the club and he knew in his
heart it would be damaging.

Hardest decision of his life

In the summer of 2009, Kev thought very
hard about his next move. Knowing the
looming AGM could tear the club apart,
he made the decision to stand down as
general secretary. He believed it was the
right thing for the club he loved so much,
but felt his hand was forced by the
animosity of others. The resignation was
done in the summer months through the
pages of the club magazine and came as a
complete shock to each and every
member, I'm sure. This way, Kev hoped
there would be no in-fighting, no splits
between supporting groups and hopefully
a new beginning, one that he would not be
part of any more. After 32 years at the
helm his time was done, handing over the
reins to the committee he had welcomed
in only a few years earlier.
He was devastated that something that
had become such a major part of his life
would be no more. It seemed hard to
believe that it had ended this way,
y but
Celebrating with former leaders of the club as he was now one himself
Prize giver to winning members
there was no going back on his decision.
As far as he was concerned he had put
the club before himself and was bloody
proud of the fact. He wasn't going to give
up his membership and if he didn't like
their decisions, he could now challenge
the committee as an ordinary member.
He knew the club inside out and what
made it work, so it was easy for him to
pick holes in what they were doing. He
could become a social commentator on
affairs of the LCGB, knowing many
supported
pp his comments, even if nothingg
changed. From now on he was free of
responsibility regarding what happened to
the LCGB, even though he would watch it
like a hawk.
Not finished, just yet
Not one person can say they are
responsible for shaping the scooter scene
over the last 40 years. Kev, whether
anyone thinks to the contrary, was
responsible for a major part of it
becoming what it is today. He wasn't after
admiration or medals, he just wanted it to
be good for the masses. Even today
arguments wrangle over whether he was
treated unfairly and question him
standing down. Perhaps he should have
fought to the end, but as usual he put
others before himself.
Not running the LCGB had left a big
hole in his life, and perhaps others in his
position would have simply bowed out of
the scene. Not Kev, he was a fighter and
swiftly made a move. He had set up a new
business, Kev Walsh Promotions, and was
now running parts fairs, including the
jewel in the crown, Wicksteed Park. A
deal had been agreed and he now had
sole control of them with no one being
able to interfere. It wasn't easy, they were
hard work and some didn't turn a profit.
They made him a living though, and also
made him feel part of the scene he had
helped create. Though he would never get
over what had happened with the LCGB
committee, he was happy with his life,
which was all that mattered.
Next month: The legacy that is Kevin
Walsh.
Words: Stu Owen

68 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

 Sixty-year love affair
The Lambretta
Series 2
The original press release by Lambretta
Concessionaires announcing the arrival of the TV
175 series 2 in the spring of 1959
A
s the 1950s came to a
close and the new decade
was welcomed in, it was a
time when Innocenti was at
its greatest. Sales of the
Lambretta had reached new levels both
home and abroad and it seemed that
nothing could stop their domination of
the two-wheeled market. A new model
was on the horizon and if it was a good as
predicted then this would make the
company even stronger. Labelled simply
as the series 2, it would be made
available in three different variants,
starting with the budget Li 125 followed
by the standard 150 and finally the most
powerful of all, the TV 175.
The design was a natural progression
from the series 1, but it offered far more
than just a few upgrades and involved
70 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019
1959 would see the introduction by Innocenti of
the Lambretta Series 2. In what would be the
company’s glory years this machine led the way.
Pre-delivery inspection of the Li 150
at the factory in Croydon before being
dispatched to dealers
several significant changes. The most
notable was the design of the headset. For
the first time ever on a Lambretta, the
headlamp would be housed in the
headset. More importantly, it would turn
with the handlebars. Up till that point, all
Lambretta headlights were in a fixed
position below the headset. This new
design would allow far greater vision when
driving at night and was deemed an
important safety feature. Other
improvements were to the engine with a
revised cylinder layout on all models to
increase power slightly.
Though there were other slight changes,
none were as drastic as the headset.
Innocenti, it seemed,didn't want to alter a
winning formula too much and upset their
customers. Though the series 2 was an
improvement over its predecessor it wasn't
that much different in its appearance. A
clever move, as it has been proven over
time that changing something too much
can drive the public away.
Launch
Innocenti first announced details of the
series 2 to the Press on March 9, 1959. A
week later Lambretta Concessionaires
followed suit as first news broke in the
UK. What surprised many was the one
chosen to be launched first, the TV 175.
This was the highest specification model
and by far the most expensive. More
worryingly for dealers were its technical
specifications. Alarm bells were quickly
ringing throughout the industry as it soon
became apparent that there were vast
differences between it and the TV series
1. Upon closer inspection virtually every
component was different. Many dealers
who had been told previously to stock up
with a huge amount of spares for the TV 1
were up in arms as it was now an obsolete
model. There was little that they could do
apart from vent their anger.
The only saving grace was that the
Lambretta was so popular their order
books were full for the new machine even
before it had landed on UK soil.
Thankfully, the 125 and 150 variants
remained the same so there was no extra
worry where they were concerned.
Innocenti had lost out hugely by making
the TV 1 unique in its engineering. This
had been stopped by making all models in
the series 2 range compatible and would
remain this way throughout production
right up to the Grand Prix.
s the subject of the
The Series 2 Lambretta wa
g campaign, bought
‘Lambrettability’ advertisin
any saw as plagiarising
about due to what the comp
ll-known rivals
of their adverts by other we
The TV 175 series 2 would go on sale
in the UK in May 1959 and would cost
£189.10.0. This was followed in the
summer months by both the 125cc and
150cc variants. The Li 150 with its
competitive price tag of £20 less would
become by far the most popular selling
model, so much so that by the end of the
year the Lambretta would become the
biggest selling two-wheeled vehicle in the
UK. Even the big motorcycle
manufacturers like BSA and Triumph
couldn't compete.
It wasn't the series 2 that had created
this statistic. That was down to all the
hard work over the last decade. It was This factory demonstration picture shows tightening
there at the right moment in time though, up of the exhaust. The two securing studs used 6mm
and its popularity had made the threads, which were not strong enough. These were
Lambretta a world leader. upgraded to 8mm when the series 3 was introduced
Sa
aturation point
At a time when sales of the Lambretta were
in the thousands each week, to keep
puushing the brand even further required
heeavy investment in advertising. This
meeant far more than just road tests in
maagazines and the odd advert here and
there. Almost every public vehicle,
billboard or outdoor advertising space
woould have a Lambretta on it and the
model on show a series 2.
Magazines would be full of adverts for
th
hem as well as national newspapers. To
toop it off a huge television advertising The Rallymaster based around the Li 150 Series 2. The
campaign would make the series 2 the only time a true sports Lambretta was ever produced
most
m viewed Lambretta ever by the UK
A bowling green doesn’t seem quite the right
place to demonstrate the versatility of the
series 2, but no one seems to be that bothered
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 71
 An Li 125 being lined up for factory promotional
shots. Note the circular lion shield badge on the
right-hand side. Originally fitted by Lambretta
concessionaires on the Series 1 and discontinued
with the launch of the Series 3

public. Eventually it would reach
saturation point, but not until the series
2 had sold in the tens of thousands.
Racing pedigree
Though scooter racing and to a large
extent tuning were still a few years off,
the series 2 would be the first Lambretta
ever to have a tuned engine from the
factory. This wasn’t created by Innocenti,
but by Lambretta Concessionaires in the
shape of the ‘Rallymaster’. Only available
to the UK market, it was seen as the first
ever purpose-built sports Lambretta and,
in fact, the only one.
Though tuning was basic and according
to the official release ‘stage two tuning’,
it showed what was possible. There were
other added extras, most notably a rev
counter to make it more appealing to the
sports enthusiast. The model was based
around the Li 150, but unfortunately no
production figures were ever made
available. Neither Lambretta
Concessionaires or Innocenti failed to
capitalise on its short-lived success so
the series 2 will go down in history as the
only Lambretta to have a sports model.
‘Slimline’ range
By 1961 Innocenti was well into revising
the Lambretta design with the series 3.
This was totally different in its styling and
would be known as the ‘Slimstyle’. With
its sleeker looks and profile, it would bear
little resemblance to the series 2. Even
so, many of the technical aspects such as
the engine would use the same format.
Though it didn't become available until
the later part of 1962 it signalled the end
of the series 2, the last ones rolling off
the production line in the latter part of
1961. According to official figures over
300,000 were built, of which the Li 150
made up over half of that amount.
As soon as the ‘Slimstyle’ range was
introduced it made the series 2 look
rather outdated and this showed in its
second-hand value. Many dealers would
take them in as a trade-in against the
newer model, but the price they would
offer was detrimental, even if the
condition was good. The problem was
compounded by the fact that it had sold
so well in the first place, meaning that
there were now thousands flooding the
second-hand market.
Currently, the series 2 has a loyal set of
devotees amongst Lambretta enthusiasts.
Those that are see it as the last properly
built Lambretta before the introduction of
inferior materials used in production
such as plastic.
Whether or not that statement is
entirely true doesn’t really matter,
because what’s more important is that
after 60 years the Lambretta Series 2 is
still going strong. Happy birthday.
Words: Stu Owen

72 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

 The Dual control series 2 based around
the Li 150 and first introduced in 1960

Showing its true properties,

D I D YO U K N OW ? a two-up touring machine

1) During early production of the TV 175

Series 2, a ribbed seam was welded
along the centre of the frame tube. This
was due to Innocenti being worried that
the frame may not cope with the extra
power. It is referred to as the ‘ridgeback’,
but it is unknown just how many had
this modification.

2) The Series 1 was still available in some

variants during the majority of 1959, which
was referred to at the time as the crossover
period. Dealers expressed their concerns
over the matter as they felt embarrassed at
having to sell what to them was an
outdated model compared to the Series 2.

3) Originally the first batch of TV 175

machines to reach the UK were only
available in glacier blue. Shortly
afterwards they would be offered in straw
yellow (commonly referred to as ivory)
and would become the primary colour
choice.

4) The initial Press release in the UK

quoted the top speed of the TV 175 as
between 65 to 70mph.

5) The Li 150 was originally offered

with the choice of nine different
colours for its side panels. The TV 175
only three, the choices being
Winchester blue, red and coffee.

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 73
74 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019
CLUB DO’s & EVENTS
SHOWS, PARTIES, Rallies & RUNS.
If your scooter club is holding a do or event just drop us a line for some FREE advertising.
Unfortunately we can ONLY accept details by post or via the website due to workloads. Please keep
wording to a minimum and be warned that listings may be edited due to space restrictions.
SEPTEMBER
20-23 National BSRA #7
Woolacombe
20-21 Blues SC, 40th
Anniversary do. Arties Mill, Brigg,
N. Lincs. DN20 9LF £10 adv,
£15 otd
21 Cambridge Ska Festival 4,
wth Big 10, The Two Tones and
The Gangsters at Cambridge
Junction.CB1 7GX. £14. 01223
51151
27-29 Jersey rally, Westhill Hotel
nr St Helier. See FB
28 Amberley Museum Classic
Scooter day, Arundel BN18 9LT.
www.amberleymuseum.co.uk
27-29 Buchan Coasters,
Pitlochry Scooter Weekend.
McKays Hotel PH16 5AG. See FB
27-29 Ribble Valley, scooter
weekend, Clitheroe, Lancs.
Weekend of bands, scooters and
stalls. Ride in from The Cross
Keys, East Marton, BD23 3LP at
12.30 Saturday, meet from 11am.
OCTOBER
4-6 Clacton Weekender, Martello
Caravan Park, CO15 2LF
5 Scooters |In The Square,
Merthyr Tydfil
6 Wicksteed Parts Fair, Kettering.
NN15 6NJ. Lammygirl1982@
outlook.com
11-12 Scootermaniacs SC
Annual do, Minehead, West
Somerset.
19 Crossfire Allnighter, London.
9pm-6am @ 229 The Venue,
Gt Portland St. £12. 3 rooms
of musical perfection. www.
newuntouchables.com
24 Blow Up 25th Anniversary,
at The 100 Club, London.Guests
Stereo Total, Big Boss Man and
Baltic Fleet. (see main advert)
25-27 National BSRA #8
Southport Trade & Custom
NOVEMBER
1 The Circles 40th anniversary
with support plus DJs. 8pm till
2am, St Anne’s club, Alcester
Street, Digbeth, B’Ham B12 0PH.
Tickets £8.00 or £10 otd. 07854
620386
Friday 1st November 8pm-2am
With DJ’s
Tigger - Tony Reynolds
Playing All The Best In Beat - Reggae -
Northern South - Classic - Indie - R&B etc
BCNU there Okeh!
Info: 07738 758348 & 07854 620386
£8 Admission or £12 on the door
8-9 Southern Scooter Shakedown,
Winchelsea Sands Holiday
Park, www.southcoast-scooter-
shakedown.com/booking
9 Scooterists Charity Night, by
AON SC at Standard Triumph
Club, 1130-1140, Herald
Avenue, Coventry CV5 6UB. The
Jam DRC live on stage with DJ
support from Jimi Quinsey, Paul
Roberts and Andi Poole.Tickets
£10 adv (£12 OTD subject to
availability) Doors 7.30pm .
www.aonsc.co.uk
15-18 Great Eastern, Mablethorpe
(see main advert)
21-25 Skamouth, extended
weekend of live act with
accommodation at Vauxhall
Holiday Park, Great Yarmouth
www.skamouth.co.uk (see main
ad)
23 New Untouchables 22nd
Anniversary, Party. @ Orleans,
259 Seven Sisters Road, London
N4 2DD. NUTs DJ’s and special
guests from 10pm-6am/ Adm £8.
www.newuntouchables.com
24 Walsall Parts Fair, Bloxwich
Active Living Centre WS3 2DA.
Lammygirl1982@outlook.com
29 Nov-2 Dec Warmwell, SWSC
Winter Warmer rally, Warmwell
Holiday Park nr Weymouth, Dorset
DECEMBER
7 Mousetrap Psychedelic
Allnighter, Orleans 259 Seven
Sisters Rd, Finsbury Park, London
N4 2DD (10pm-6am). Primest
and all of the
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 75
Garage/Freakbeat and Psych on the
planet! Resident DJ Dr Robert +
guests. www.newuntouchables.com
31 Le Beat Bespoke, presents
Rock And Roll Circus New Years
Eve Party. 9pm-5am. Paper Dress
Vintage, London E8 1HR www.
newuntouchables.com/tickets
2020
JANUARY
26 Bradford Parts Fair,
Richard Dunn Sports Centre,
Roobey Rd, Bradford BD6 1EZ.
Lammygirl1982@outlook.com
FEBRUARY
6-9 Scooterist Meltdown, The
all-inclusive rally at Wunderland,
Kalkar, Germany. www.scooterist-
meltdown.de
15 AON SC 35th Anniversary Do,
Standard Triumph Club, 1130-
1140, Herald Avenue, Coventry
CV5 6UB. The Three Sixties live
on stage with DJ support from
Sam Evans. Tickets £10 adv.(£12
OTD subject to availability). Doors
7.30pm
MARCH
6-9 Modrapheniacs, Sandford,
Dorset..20th Anniversary event.
27-29 Teignmouth, SWSC rally.
APRIL
8-13 National BSRA#1
9-13 London International Ska
Festival,
CLUB DO’s & EVENTS

‘Normous
Newark Autojumble

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Also: Nov 17, Dec 8
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Call 01507 529593 Email info@newarkautojumble.co.uk

76 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

MAY
1-3 Mid-Cheshire Charity, rally,
back with a new venue. www.
heartfest.co.uk
8-10 Skegness scooter rally, main
venue is The Suncastle. 8-10
National BSRA #2
8-10 Troon Mod weekend, Troon,
Scotland
15-17 Phoenix Nights, Hinckley,
Leics.
22-25 National BSRA #3
JUNE
4-7 EuroLambretta, Libramont,
Belgium
12-14 Sleaford AllKnighters SC,
Sleaford RFC, Lincs. NG34 8SP
JULY
2-5 Vespa World Days, Guimaraes,
Porugal
3-4 Tramore Scooter Show, by
Waterford SC, O’Sheas Hotel,
Waterford, Ireland
3-5 Kilbirnie 20/20 SC, Mad Dog
rally, Lochwinnoch PA12 4JB.
£15
10-12 Hellcat Run, Torrington FC,
Devon EX38 7AJ10-12
k
Scunthorpe Silhouettes SC, Time,
Trouble & Money 2, Brumby Hall BLOWUP.CO.UK
Sports Club, Scunthorpe
10-12 Morecambe Rides Again,
First Kick Collective
24-26 Weymouth National,
BSRA#4
24-26 Devizes rally, Rowde,
YEARS OF
Wilts. SN10 2QW
25 AONSC 35th Anniversary,
rally. www.aonsc.co.uk
31 Jly –Aug 2 Messy 6, Lucarlys, CLUB • ReCoRd LABeL • MUSIC PUBLISHING
Cleethorpes LIVE GUESTS
31 Jly-Aug 2 Salford Knights,
Rally On Regardless
31 Jly – Aug 2 Solent Cougars,
20th Anniversary.
BIG BOSS MAN
AUGUST
BALTIC FLEET
7-9 Oddballs, rally. Abingdon
RFC, Oxfordshire.
21-24 Wangerland Summer
Meltdown, Germany. The new
Summer all-inclusive rally from DJ PAUL TUNKIN
Scooterists 84.
THURSDAY 24TH OCTOBER 2019
SEPTEMBER
100 oxfoRd StReet LoNdoN W1d 1LL
4-6 Mersea Island, Colchester
DVLC ADVANCE TICKETS : WE GOT TICKETS / GIGANTIC / TICKETWEB / SEE TICKETS
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 77
 Scootering
Words & Sounds
Contained in music somehow more than just sound...
The Total Rejection – Everybody Knows What You Don’t Know – Raving Pop Blast (Vinyl LP)
While Stone Roses had a five-year gap between their first and second albums, and the legendary PP Arnold had a 39-year and
then 12-year gap between solo album releases, The Total Rejection have their follow-up to their excellent debut Wrapping
Yourself in Silver Foil Won’t Protect You from the Blast, written, recorded and ready to go in under 12 months! Not only does their
new offering, with a baker’s dozen of blistering tracks, pick up where its predecessor finished, it propels their blend of raw ‘n’
raucous 60s garage, 70s punk and 80s Medway delta tinged sleaze, with more than a hint of Art rock, too. Opening number Slip
It To Me sets the bar high as a statement of intent of what is to follow – a slice of scorching punk-infused power pop. Title track,
well sort of, Hawky (Everybody Knows What You Don’t Know), draws heavily from 60s garage punk, 15 Miles Out of My Mind
employs a clever use of feedback in a manner not heard since late 60s art-rock pioneers Creation were at their peak. Shook Up!
Is an unrelenting, psyche-tinged workout that takes no prisoners and leaves no survivors as it lays everything in its path to waste.
It’s not all sub three-minute assaults on the senses. TTR go all epic in
track length, by their standards, on the sweaty ‘n’ grimy workout Take a
Step Outside (party 8). Closing track on side one is Bridget (song for Billy
Childish), a homage of sorts to the iconic Medway musician. Elements of
rock ‘n’ roll meld with garage punk on side two’s opener Reflections,
complete with ‘yeah, yeah, yeah’ backing vocals, that hook into the
subconscious. Strangely Strange is overflowing with snotty-nosed attitude,
while Maureen! Maureen! Maureen! evokes pubescent red-blooded male
thoughts. Contrast to the epic track on side one is the sparse, near
spoken word, a short snippet of a number The Girl Who Loved the Flower
Priest. Stamping down hard on the overdrive for the breathtakingly manic
Circles in the Sky, which is followed by the sheer punk-pop brilliance of
How Can I Luv You? before Chilly chilly brings this delightfully and
intentionally lo-fi album to an incendiary conclusion. All tracks have been
penned by the prolific Andrew Arthur Jarrett. Look carefully on the album
artwork, because within the collage is a GP Lammy with rider and pillion
on board. Don’t be surprised to see TTR’s third album following this one
in the near future!
Sarge

The Skatonics – Hope Street/Valentine – Ska’d Stiff Records

The Skatonics have been around for a good few years
now, functioning primarily as a covers act, performing
the classic 2-Tone sound to appreciative audiences.
With that in mind, I was somewhat hesitant to give this a
spin. I felt I wasn’t sure that the world was ready for yet
another band riffing on the sounds of the past.
I shouldn’t have worried. All that time playing together has
given them a solid base to create their own sound that
acknowledges what has gone before, but doesn’t owe it
anything. This double-A side single captures a band
confident in their abilities, meshing together with practiced
experience. Opener Hope Street is very much in the modern
take on 2-Tone style. Bouncing keyboards drive the track
along while the brass haunts that background, coming to the
fore when needed. It doesn’t have the punk of many bands
these days, giving a much smoother sound than I had
expected, making it the more radio friendly of the two tracks.
Valentine is a very different animal. A soulful experience, the
female lead gently pulls you into a laid-back skank that has a
vague connection to some of Madness’ sound, but the
overwhelming feel is almost that of Dexy’s Midnight Runners
at their gentlest. Two very different tracks, both with an eye
on what’s happening on the modern ska scene, yet not really
drawing from it. Hopefully there will be an album of original
material to follow this, but it’s a good benchmark they’re
setting themselves with this release.
Nik

78 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

The Touch – Lost And Found – Touching Flames Records – CD album
Rewind 40 years, The Touch were very
much a part of the mod revival of that
time. Their rising star shone brightly, albeit
briefly, from the summer of 79 until very
early 81. Their legacy was their collectable
and rare album, (The Mods) Lost Touch,
which, largely down to the detective work
of Dizzy at Detour Records, was finally
reissued last year. First release of their
debut album inexplicably had ‘The Mods’
prefixed by their record company at the
time. Detour with the reissue put the title
as it should’ve been. The Touch original
line up reformed for a reunion show in
Brixton in August 2018, to coincide with
Detour reissuing their original album. The
band members discovered they still had a
spark between them, and after a few
messages were exchanged they were back
in the studio cutting 14 tracks, nine of
which were from their glory years, plus five
‘new’ tracks, the result being the Lost and
Found CD album, which is out mid July via
Touching Flames Records. Given The Touch
were a 79 revival band, and the majority of
the songs hark back to that era, the feel of
the album is very much of that time.
Stand-out tracks from an impressive
collection of original songs are And I Fell,
unmistakably influenced, if not inspired by
early material of both The Jam and The
Who, with a hint of The Chords too;
Twilight Golden draws from storming 60s
soul, with a nod in the direction of The
Action in there for good measure; Grey Day
comes with more reference points towards
The Chords, as well as a touch of The
Buzzcocks. It not all crashing power chords
and buzz-saw riffs, albeit many of the
tracks are, as Walk in the Park, with a
psychedelia-flavoured leaning. Also, the
emotive Melanie demonstrates The Touch
had more than one string to their bow. Well
crafted and equally well delivered songs, in
the main, but not exclusively, power pop
79 style. Its 40 years since the mod
revival. The Touch couldn’t have picked a
better time to unleash their second album.
Sarge

One Way System 1981-84 – Captain Oi!

Although One Way System were formed in the
small Lancashire town of Fleetwood at the back of
the first wave of punk bands, originating in late 79,
it took them another two years to release their first
material. By this point they had become leading
exponents of what is now known as the UK82
sound: short, three-chord walls of sound
underpinned with sledgehammer drums and
topped off by pointed lyrics. No time for intricacy
on these tracks, just plough through in a race to
the end, an amphetamine-fuelled assault on the
ears and the very definition of what most people
think of as punk rock. Although best known for
their anthemic track Jerusalem, they released a
couple of albums and a handful of 7” records in
the next three years, meeting with various levels of
success. Captain Oi! have brought these releases
together on a three-disk box set. The first two disks
contain their debut album, All Systems Go, and
follow-up long player, Writing On The Wall, while
the third is probably the most interesting side of
the set, containing non LP singles such as Stab the
Judge and Give Us A Future alongside their
appropriate rework of Slade’s Cum On Feel The
Noize, and a handful of demo tracks. One of the northwest’s biggest contributors to the early punk scene, this collection is well
overdue and reminds us that it wasn’t just southern cities that had a thriving punk scene. It truly was a national phenomenon.
Nik

RAF Mod Band - Want You To Know/Get What You Get - Time For
Action Vinyl 45
While originally a British subculture during the 60s, Mod, now heading into its
sixth decade, is, withoutdoubt, genuinely an international phenomenon. By
example, this powerhouse double-sided vinyl 45 is released via German-based
Time For Action Records. RAF Mod Band are American, with the two contrasting
sides both influenced and inspired by British 60s music. Get What You Get revisits
and revives the instant pop appeal of early 60s Merseybeat, with a superbly
crafted and delivered RAF Mod Band original. Contrastingly, drawing from the
mid-60s comes the equally strong Want You To Know, which nods in deference to
The Yardbirds’ evergreen For Your Love, yet retains a freshness as well as its own
identity. Both sides wouldn’t sound out of place played alongside classic 60s
originals. This is a scorching double A-side single with huge dance floor appeal.
Sarge

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 79
 Morecambe Rides Again...
Kicking off in Morecambe. It’s not like it used to be… thank God!
T
he First Kick Scooter
Collective organised
‘Morecambe Rides Again’
over the weekend of July
12-14. First Kick’s main
objective is to put Morecambe back on the
map. If you’ve not been there for a while,
you’ll be in for a shock. It’s having more
than a face-lift, it’s had Botox,
liposuction, nose job, boob job, buttock
implants – the lot! Even the Almighty had
laid on cracking weather. Your tenner
wristband bought you a whole weekend of
entertainment and a campsite pitch, too.
This was indeed a bargain, whether you
took up the offer of tenting it or not. First
Kick are ambitious, and their mission is to
catch the eye of the big boys in order to
80 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019
‘Make Morecambe great again’, to get it
back on the National Runs map.
Morecambe is an entirely different place
to my first foray as a fresh-faced V90 rider
back in 83. There’s no heavy police
presence and no pitched battles through
the town, a change for the better and no
mistake. First Kick have taken the task on
seriously and professionally. No, it wasn’t
all bells and whistles that you’d expect
from a National, but it didn’t pretend to
be. It’s a neat venue and it was well
organised. There was a nice mix of sounds
from bands as varied as The Skapones to
Marquis Drive. Yes, there were cover
bands, but this raises questions, too. Are
the bands to be blamed for doing covers,
or are the attendees to be blamed for not
giving original new creators a fair hearing
because ‘they don’t know it’? If the latter
is the case, then the scene will end up
disappearing down its own plug-hole.
Fact. One cracking idea First Kick did was
the fold-up leaflet, which outlined the
whole event, with the venues, maps, artist
times and the like all in one tidy small
piece, brilliant for a no direction Herbert
like me. It helped when you bowled up and
thought, ‘Looks a bit busy in there, I’ll try
elsewhere.’ There were a goodly number of
traders too, and those I chatted to all
agreed (on the whole) that this year had
been the busiest yet… there’s something in
the wind, eh? The Vespa Club of Britain
held a ‘Sign up here’ stall in the Platform
Venue itself, and there were a number of
the usual suspects with pitches, too. One
particular trader slipped me the wink on a
new product which I’ll be toddling down to
cover for the mag very shortly, so watch
this space.
Whilst Bobby of First Kick Scooter
Collective played tracks and kept the crowd
entertained outside ‘The Platform’, the
Collective handed out trophies for various
categories of scoot.
Naturally, the standard of machines
entered is increasingly high; it’s getting
more and more difficult to judge these
things (nice problems to have). During the
ceremony, I bumped into Dave Lucky and
he remarked that it was only a few years
ago that he felt the scene was turning a bit
stale, but he’s been proved wrong.
We agreed that the ‘custom’ end has
become more varied and detailed than
ever. No longer is it how much gold plate,
engraving and murals can you chuck on a
scoot, but these days there has to be some
nuance, too.
I don’t think Morecambe is ready for
a National… yet. But that’s for folk
loftier than I to decide and create. Do I
think the place has got legs to sustain it
as a go-to place? Definitely, but then
again, I’m totally biased as I’ve always
had a soft spot for it.
Rose-tinted specs aside, the town is
being developed and is now a lot more
welcoming to scooters (on the surface at
least) than it ever has been, venues are
re-opening or being created anew, and
the whole town feels ‘fresher’. First
Kick, five stars and more power to you.
As a final positive end note, I managed
to grab a pic at the car park of ‘The
Platform’ of a decidedly young dude
gripping on to a PX.
God bless ’em and let’s hope their
brainwashing becomes complete, for
there’s the next torch bearer for the future
scene, right there.
Words: Rik
Photographs: Rik and Paul Kelly
CUSTOM SHOW
RESULTS
Best Vespa: Phil Niblock – So Soulful
Best Lambretta: Philip Brayshaw – 1969
GP200 yellow ochre
Best Scomadi: Jamie Kerr – No.13
Scomadi TL300
Best Auto: Chereth Bebb – Vespa S
125
Best chop: Bob Bewley Smith – On Fire
Best Mod: Keith Gilbert –1961 VBB
mk1 VTT
Best Custom: Marsey – Junk Yard Dog
LD225
Furthest travelled: Michael Howarth
Best Attended club: Ready Steady Go
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 81
 Brighton Mod Rally 2019
Sixties mod-god, the late Pete Meaden, coined the phrase ‘clean
living under difficult circumstances’, to describe what being an
original mod meant.
A
lthough said quote was made
decades ago, it could've been
made to describe what being
of the mod persuasion
meant, and applied to
August Bank Holiday weekend, Brighton
2019. The tired, iconic Victorian seafront
architecture along Madeira Drive has
supposedly been undergoing refurbishment
for several years. Instead of any visible
progress, more areas along the seafront
have been closed off, while parts of the
town centre are undergoing extensive (re)
building works. Dirty, drab and distinctly
unwelcoming are accurate descriptions of
Brighton Bank Holiday 2019.
That, my son, is Brighton
August Bank Holiday mod rally has been a
fixture on the calendar for some time,
certainly since 2014 as many thousands
82 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019
visit Brighton for the August mod rally. It's
blossomed into the second biggest
gathering of scooters, anywhere. It almost
goes without saying that the injection of
mod money provides a significantly sizable
boost to the local economy. For the first
time that I'm aware of, instead of
welcoming those in town for the weekend
gathering, Brighton traffic wardens
declared open season on scooters parked
up in the town, issuing £70 parking
u the South Coast resort.
ttickets to scooters parked up around bars,
pubs and eateries away from the seafront.
p I hear there's a
What a lovely welcome Brighton council
gave with that policy! Last time a similar
welcome was given to scooterists there
was the one National rally that took place
in the 80s, when all scooters arriving were
in effect impounded at the far end of
Madeira Drive. Brighton needs cash to
fund restoration of the historic seafront.
Officiously coming down like a ton of
bricks on visitors is not, I'd say, the way to
ensure return business! Rightly or wrongly,
Brighton has been elevated to the ultimate
mod mecca. A certain film released 40
years back has had more than a bit of
influence on Brighton's mythical status.
Many local businesses and outlets have
tailored their enterprises to target
Brighton’s inextricable link with the mod
movement for visitors all-year round.
August Bank Holiday weekend is,
invariably, the most profitable, with
thousands upon thousands descending on
few mods about
Centred around New Untouchables
'official' mod rally locations of daytimes at
Volks Bar on Madeira Drive, and nights at
Komedia on the edge of The Lanes,
August Bank Holiday weekend has grown
into an event of epic proportions. Live
original bands, along with covers and
tribute acts, are in abundance from
Thursday through till Monday, as are
specialist DJ events, with entrepreneurial
promoters looking to, usually successfully,
grab a slice of the mod pound. A good
barometer, a way to gauge how many are
in Brighton for the mod rally being
numbers attracted to the free DJ night at
The Dorset. One of the regular door
supervisors at that venue informed me
that he had never experienced as many
people people in and around the popular
bar as he had this year! In addition to the
aforementioned, there were a couple of
spectaculars held over the duration, with
the charity fundraiser Grand Experience
held at the Grand Hotel on the Friday
night, plus Gary 'Spider' Shail's
Quadrophenia 40th celebration on the
pier on the Sunday, which was a
fundraiser for Brighton's homeless. Both
were well subscribed and added to the
numbers visiting Brighton over the
weekend. Contrasting with last year’s
washout (Sunday), like most of the UK,
Brighton experienced a mega heatwave,
scorchio being a gross understatement.
Brighton August Bank Holiday weekend
by tradition is all about peacocking,
posturing and promenading in your best
finery, while showing off your scooter.
Mods and those of a mod leaning are
no different to most UK residents, as
when a bit of sunshine arrives, they
sstrip down to shorts and flip-flops,
exposing parts of the body that
certainly, in some cases, shouldn't be
revealed in public, the result being
lobster-coloured skin, which really isn't
helpful if you're planning to be wearing
immaculately tailored vintage attire
later. Any material coming into contact
with sunburnt flesh tends to bring a
tear to the eye!
I don't wanna be the
same as everybody else
Original 60s mods were about being
ahead of the game in everything –
clothes, records, scooters and the like.
Staying ahead of fast, ever-changing
ffashions and styles was an all-important
ffactor to any young modernist. From very
much a British youth subculture, the
m the same destination from Brighton
basic spirit, ethos and aspirations of mod
hasn’t changed much over the ensuing
decades, although there is a formulaic
uniform appearance for the differing retro
mod styles these days. Mod in the second
decade of the 21st century is global, and
is reflected in the Brighton August Bank
Holiday gathering, with many nationalities
represented. Brighton mod rally was
created by New Untouchables, who
initially held their August Bank Holiday
gatherings on the Isle of Wight.
The first NUT Brighton mod rally was a
two-day affair, attracting a few hundred
NUT members. Fast forward to 2019, and
Brighton mod rally unofficially runs from
Thursday to Monday, attracting many
thousands to the south coast resort. While
NUT events are at the epicentre of the
weekend, just about every interpretation of
what constitutes mod can be seen and
catered for over the duration.
Daytimes involve maybe a trip around
the Lanes vintage shops, or a visit to Jump
the Gun, at some point heading to the
seafront. Volks Bar hosts a vintage market,
with NUT DJs providing a suitable
soundtrack. Meanwhile, both sides of
Madeira Drive have row upon row of
scooters parked up both sides of the road,
glinting in the sunshine. If you're planning
on meeting someone in Brighton, the
seafront around Volks Bar is where they'll
be at some stage.
Lost... and found
Late morning to mid-afternoon on the
Sunday is peak time for the mod rally,
with the annual scooter show followed by
the ride out. After being washed out last
year, this year saw over 500 scooters
eventually set off, albeit after running a
clutch-burning, single file quarter-mile
gauntlet of people heading towards
Beachy Head. Maybe instead of targeting
scooters for parking in the town centre,
Brighton council should consider safety
factors and dispatch a few wardens to the
seafront to marshall traffic and
pedestrians? Saturday afternoon saw two
separate groups of scooters head off for
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 83
 seafront. By all accounts, both the Grand
Experience and Quadrophenia 40th were
successful, as were most events aimed at
the mod influx over the four days.
As part of the Quadrophenia 40th, a
Brighton Walk of Fame plaque was
unveiled on the pier to mark the
anniversary of the film. It was reportedly
stolen a few hours after, but after a social
media campaign, it turned up several dayss
later. Thankfully, it wasn't in several
pieces at the bottom of a cliff, as some
suggested! Eddie Piller's live Modcast
event also 'lost' a sizeable banner from
outside their event, with no news to date
regarding its safe return.
All in all it was, in the main, another
superb mod rally in Brighton, aided and
abetted by the weather, of course.
Words & Photographs: Sarge

84 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

 Into The Valley –
British Vespa Days
Llangollen 2019
In the 37 years that I’ve been riding scooters, I’ve
never got around to trying a national owners club
event. But, in the interests of trying something new, I
broke my duck with the VCB National Rally in the
beautiful Welsh town of Llangollen.

I
n that same period of time, I’d also
never attended a rally on an auto,
despite having owned a couple, so
when a friend offered me the use of
his I leapt at the chance. As it turns
out, it wasn’t the best idea…
On the Friday the rain was already
coming down quite heavily and I set
myself in for a long, wet ride across
country. Years of experience of struggling
with spray on motorways stupidly
convinced me that it would be a better
idea to cut across the Peak District. In the
pouring rain. And strong winds. In the
dark. On an unfamiliar scooter.
Predictably, I had a ‘moment’ as the front
wheel washed out, which led to me
making an apologetic phone call to the
owner the following morning. No major
damage, thankfully, and a lesson learned.
Motorways next time then. After a
five-hour journey, I finally arrived at the
site in Llangollen.
The following morning broke way too
early, but thankfully bright and cheerful,
and a complete change from the night
before. It also brought with it the
realisation that my plans for following the
rideout to the Horseshoe Pass weren’t
going to happen as my shoulder and
knuckles had stiffened up after my spill,
and I wasn’t riding anywhere immediately.
With this in mind, I watched around 300
of the 450 people who’d arrived by this
time leave the site in an orderly and
leisurely manner, wishing I was tagging on
behind. As I wasn’t going anywhere, I took
the time to have a wander around the
well-appointed venue. A magnificent
marquee-like structure dominated the site.
Plenty of level grass made for a great
campsite, with a few smaller areas hidden
away making for an interesting layout with
excellent facilities.
The afternoon’s activities were soon
underway, but sadly these seemed largely
under-appreciated. The games struggled to
attract more than three teams, with
Cockwombles having some very suspicious
tactics in the wheelbarrow race, though
taken in good humour by their opponents,
Valley S.C. Similarly, the talk from Norrie
Kerr perhaps didn’t attract as much
attention as he deserved as it seemed by
now that half the attendees had wandered
off to discover the area (and it’s drinking
houses), whilst most of the others were sat

WW.SCOOTERING.COM | 85
WW
 in the blazing sunshine swapping stories
and relaxing. Settling down to chat to
fellow my Vespisti, it took me a while to
work out why the rally felt different to any
that I’d attended in previous years. It
wasn’t until I realised how quiet the site
was that it dawned on me. No kids running
around, no dogs trotting up and down, and
no ‘Scootering’s Greatest Hits, Vol 1 and
2’ blaring out of cars blocking up the
campsite. Just scooter owners enjoying
each other’s company, something that was
commented on regularly by other VCB
virgins that I met over the course of the
weekend. It certainly made for a very
pleasant experience. Another which stood
out, was the sheer extent to which the GTS
(and to a lesser extent, other auto Vespa
models) have succeeded in becoming the
rally-goer’s vehicle of choice, with easily
50 per cent of the scooters there being
this model. That’s not to say that there was
a dearth of other models – the P range still
proving a popular model, and if you looked
closely there were representatives of most
other variants scattered around the site,
but all were outnumbered by the big autos.
How things have changed!
As a part of the price of the ticket,
alongside all the bits in the goodybag, was
a sit down, three-course meal. Around
500 rally attendees attended, and received
a very Welsh menu of leek and potato soup,
followed by braised lamb with local
vegetables, and bara-brith for desert,
washed down with local beer, all of which
made for another pleasant change to the
usual routine, especially when
accompanied by a harpist. Slightly surreal,
but in a good way. At the end of the meal,
the grand raffle was drawn. First prize was
a brand new Vespa Primavera Touring 125,
purchased by the club out of funds as a
way of giving something back to the
membership. Winner Tony Attwood looked
completely stunned as he went up to
collect his prize, and I’m not entirely sure
he grasped what had just happened at the
time! I caught up with him later, and he
said that he almost refused the ticket that
you got as a part of your goodies. I think
it’s safe to say that he’s glad that he didn’t.
The weekend wound up, as any scooter
rally does, with music. In a change from
the usual selection of soul/indie/ska/reggae/
punk/etc., the DJs from Woolybacks SC
played nothing but 70s material, and all
from original vinyl. Many attendees made
the effort to turn up in 70s-inspired
clothing, reminding us just how lousy the
clothes were back then! Apart from the
complete lack of restraint, many of those
walking round must have been a severe fire
risk from the static they were generating.
Glam 45 put on a brilliant live show, taking
quite a wander down the hits, and
occasionally lesser remembered songs of
the era while capturing the feel of an era
long gone. As the night went on, the music
got cheesier and cheesier until last orders
were called, meaning that there was only
one place that the music could have ended.
The band that, for many of us growing up in
that era, pretty much defined the era.
Altogether now… ‘Remember, member,
member, what a Womble, Womble, Womble
you are’. Wise words, and ones to live by.
Words & Photographs: Nik
Many, many thanks to Paul & Trish for the
loan of the GTS250. I’ll try not to damage
it next time!

A QUICK WORD
WITH… JOHNNY
VANBOLLEMONT
From?
Oostend, Belgium
(Blimey, that’s a long way…)

Riding?
Vespa GTS 250 ie with 92,000km on
the clock. A great scooter!

How was the journey? I assume it was

pretty long?
Two days!! Ostend to the Eurotunnel,
then across to Bristol, before heading
up to Llangollen. All lesser roads, no
motorways. Rain nearly all the way, but
here safely. Got much the same journey
going back, hopefully in better weather.

Have you done many VCB events this year?

Vespa World Days to Hungary, Alp
Days in Italy, many others too. This is
why I’ve 96,000km on the scooter.

86 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

 A QUICK
WORD WITH…
ED AND
SERENA JONES
How far have you come?
Stoke-on-Trent (Inbetweeners SC)

What are you riding?

GTS 300 and a Vespa VXL

How was the journey?

We had a good, if short ride over from
Stoke. Heavy rain meant that it took a
couple of hours, but beer was waiting
when the tent was up, so not all bad!

Do you do many VCB events?

We try to do as many Vespa Club events
as we can, including Hungary earlier
this year. We love the friendly
atmosphere, and get to meet new
people from across the
Vespa community.

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 87
 MIDLAND, L
DEA ER
THE SCOOTER
CENTRE PO T
It’s one of the best-known names in British Scootering
S

TLI G H
and as Stan discovered, Midland Scooter Centre is still
setting standards.

S
tart a discussion about the great
names in scootering and it
won’t be long before Midland
Scooter Centre is mentioned.
Hark back to the 80s and it was
the shop of choice for both racers and
road-going scooterists alike. Although the
legendary Dave Webster passed away in
2015, it’s still very much a family-run
business with Dave’s widow, Roz and son
Andrew firmly at the helm.

Moving on up
Today the business occupies two sites and
is one of Piaggio’s prestigious Motoplex
dealers, but as Roz explained, this is all a
far cry from the company’s early days.
“The first premises were in the gatehouse
of an old factory on Long Eaton. It was
absolutely tiny, but very cheap!”
Fortunately, the gamble paid off and they

88 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019


quickly
i moved to an old terraced house on
Station Road. In 1986 it moved to a
former Honda showroom, but as Roz
explained, it wasn’t long before another
move was required.
“Dave and I knew that we had to grow
the company,” said Roz. “Initially I
managed the accounts, but quickly
became involved with all aspects of the
business. We were still renting the old
Honda dealership, which didn’t make
commercial sense, particularly as we had
a difference of opinion with the landlord.
We thought that a roof should be
watertight, but he disagreed!”
In 1990 MSC purchased its own
premises in Stapleford on the outskirts of
Nottingham, and it’s this showroom which
remains MSC’s main hub of activity to this
day. “We’ve never really thought about
moving anywhere else,” said Roz.
We’ve kept our
relationship with
Malossi, but can also
supply parts from
Pinasco, Polini and
SIP.
TRADE
PO
TLI G H
T
S
CITY SLICKERS
Earlier this year MSC added a completely new showroom on Colin Street in Nottingham
city centre. Although the existing Stapleford shop remains a critical part of the business,
this venture enabled Roz and Andrew to rethink how a showroom can look. Although it
offers the full range of MSC stock and services, it’s a very different environment to a
traditional motorcycle dealership. With the floorspace more associated with a car
showroom, the scooters and motorcycles have room ‘to breathe’. Life-size images of
Nottingham landmarks adorn the walls, park benches are strategically placed, and
ornamental trees add to the impression of this being an outside space. The aim is to
attract not only die-hard enthusiasts, but also the next generation of riders and, of
course, to entice commuters on to two wheels. It’s a spectacular concept that
demonstrates how it’s possible to be forward thinking, whilst simultaneously caring for
loyal customers. Thankfully, thanks to free undercover customer parking, it’s also easy
for riders to visit. A trip is highly recommended, if only to be reassured that the future
isn’t so scary as many imagine!
“Stapleford is close to the motorway and enthusiast. Much of the credit for bringing
being in the Midlands we are, by MSC into the 21st century goes to
definition, halfway from anywhere!” Andrewv who matches his father’s
enthusiasm with keen business acumen.
Forward vision “Although we stock a full range of original
Since its creationv MSC has prided itself Piaggio sparesv we also offer a wide
on building relationships with its selection of after-market parts,” began
customers. Back in the 1980s its open Andrew. “We’ve kept our relationship with
days were legendary and regarded as ‘mini Malossi, but can also supply parts from
rallies’ in their own right. Although it’s Pinasco, Polini and SIP. The workshop
some years since engine tuning was a
routine activity, MSC still offers a full
team has a wealth of experience in both
two-strokes and autos, whilst on the sales
range of services to suit the discerning front we always have a wide range of both
MODERN LIFE
Although MSC usually has a selection of selected used two-strokes in stock, the business
has more recently specialised in four-stroke autos. All at the company have been
impressed with the Royal Alloy range’s build quality and after-sales support. Few dealers
have committed to the GTS more fully than MSC. In fact, they’re probably the only shop
that currently offers Dealer Specials of this popular machine. Schemes and accessory
packs vary, so it’s always worth keeping an eye on the website to see MSC’s latest
offerings, all of which are supported by their nationwide delivery service.
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 89
 TRADE

PO
TLI G H

T
S
DAV E W E B S T E R , R AC I N G G E N I U S

The reason why Dave Webster was probably
the most successful scooter racer ever is a
simple question to answer. Not only was he
a good engine tuner, but his riding style and
track knowledge were impeccable. Having
a powerful and fast engine is not enough to
win you a race. You need to be able to get
the maximum out of the machine on the
track. That’s what Dave could do, no matter
which circuit he was at.
It was a time where the grid was at the
fullest and the competition very strong.
Even if he had a poor start off the line
Dave had only one thing in mind, namely
getting to the front, and more often than
not that’s what he did. Campaigning in
groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 wasn’t an easy task,
but somehow he achieved it at every
meeting. Dave knew he was the man to
beat and sometimes he was, although his
mere presence put the fear into others.
The Lambretta now stored at MSC is
Dave’s group 4 Lambretta. It was raced
by him for many seasons and is probably
the most famous of all his race-winning
machines. Together they were a
formidable package in an era when he
dominated the sport.
Stu Owen

new and used machinery on offer.”

Although best known as a Vespa
specialist, MSC also stock Royal Alloy and
the V- Special Lambretta, together with a
wide range of e-scooters from Super Soco.
The latter may not be at the forefront of
enthusiasts’ minds, but the range is
proving very popular with Nottingham
commuters and serves to illustrate MSC’s
determination to keep moving forward.
It’s a long way from its origins of the
small gatehouse where MSC began, but its
mission remains the same, providing the
best range of products for both enthusiasts
and commuters alike. Long may the
Websters continue to reign.
www.scooters.co.uk
Words: Stan/Stu Owen
Images: Stan/Stu Owen

90 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

 ACTICA
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L
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G
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T E RI N

LAMBRETTA
PRESERVATION: PART 1
Keeping a Lambretta in original factory condition is saving its history for
future generations. Customising it will mean the history is gone forever,
so which to choose?

F
inding an old Lambretta or any
scooter for that matter in an
old garage or shed is a dream
we all have. To some it does
become a reality, but it raises
the question of what should be done with
it. Should it have a total restoration from
bare metal upwards or perhaps left as it is
from the day it came out of the factory?
Many factors make up the final decision.
Is the paint free from rust and the majority
of it still intact? Does the engine turn over
or is it seized solid? Is everything still
connected ready to work after cleaning
up? If the answer to these questions is yes
then preservation is by far the best option.

Why should you preserve

rather than restore
The last Innocenti Lambretta rolled off the
production line almost 50 years ago. Since
that time the amount left that are still in
We all dream of barn finds like this. They are out there if you look hard enough
original untouched condition has rapidly
declined. Many thousands of examples
since having being restored. No one can
be blamed for this happening. Who was to
know that the Lambretta would gain such
popularity after production had finished?
These days if one is found how it left the
factory then it seems everything is done to
preserve it. This decision is dictated by
the fact that its value is greater than if it's
restored, certainly for the rarer and more
sought-after models.
More importantly than the financial gain
by keeping it this way is the fact that
Lambretta history is been saved. Once the
paintwork has been removed and the
engine changed there is no going back.
It's impossible to avoid that cliché, ‘it's
only original once’… but the fact is, it's
true. The Mona Lisa has been cleaned and
preserved, but no one would ever say let’s
touch the paint up or go over the faded
areas again. So that's how Lambretta Despite wishing to preserve Lambretta history sometimes you have to surrender to the inevitable and realise a
preservation should be looked at, like a full restoration is the only option
priceless painting that must remain as is.

92 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

 CTICA
RA

L
SC

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T E RI N

This SX 150 does have rust spots on the paintwork,

even more noticeable where it’s white. Even though it
may be tempting to touch it up it should remain as it is

scene where some owners would hardly

The series two on the left is in the ideal state for preservation, as is the GP, even though the factory paint has
been sprayed over at a later date
No one is saying you can’t clean one up
and sort things that need repairing
because that’s what this series is about.
What you don’t want to do is take it too far
and remove history unnecessarily.
Deciding if it's
good enough to save
The first thing you have to ask yourself is
whether the Lambretta in question is good
enough to save? If you have found a
proper old barn find then more than likely
it will have stood idle for decades. If left
uncovered then there will be years of dust
laying on top, even in a garage
environment. One thing to note is that
Lambretta paint is pretty hardy stuff and
though on the surface it may look bad, it
does clean up well. Most of the problem
stems from whether or not it has rusted
badly and a lot of the paint has come off.
In saying that, some owners like it when
the paint has gone and there is just bare
metal. This fashion first started in the VW
have any of the original paint left. Special
waxes are now available where the bare
metal can be treated and preserved.
Even if all the paintwork is intact, there
will be the odd rust spot. This will be
along with scratches and paint scuffs. To
find one without any marks is almost
impossible, even if they are only minor.
Don't let that worry you. If it was near
perfect then somehow it wouldn't look
quite right. The odd mark and dent help
show a vehicle’s true age. The other thing
to look at is whether the scooter in

This rare SX 125 Unfortunately, the rear

looks perfect from footboards and side panels have
the front in its original been resprayed taking its originality
factory paint with the away. At the same time making it look
odd mark here and there. rather odd as the painted panels are to perfect

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 93

Above and Left: Two unrestored examples that don't require anything more than
polishing the paintwork to keep them clean. Taking them apart to do so is unnecessary
Though a lot of paint is missing from the TV 175, the owner has left it that way to
keep its originality. Often referred to a rusteration
question has been painted some time in
the past. If so, and for argument's sake it
was done in the 1960s, then perhaps that
too should be preserved. Edition 379 of
Scootering magazine featured one such
example of a Supertune Lambretta.
Whether it was a famous dealer special or
even a home done paint job from that era,
they all contain history from a bygone age.
The next thing to look at is the engine.
Assuming the bodywork is good, then in
all probability the engine will be also. It
will need overhauling regardless, and
attempting preservation without stripping
the engine is not recommended. The
problem with the engine comes when it's
Replacing wholesale parts of the
bodywork is perhaps taking it a bit too far, but
if there is a genuine reason for something to be
replaced then do it.
94 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019
CTICA
RA
L
SC
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T E RI N
Though annoying, some of the paint is missing don’t be tempted to touch it in,
as you will never get it to blend in correctly with the rest of the paintwork
been left in damp conditions and if the
spark plug and drain plug have been
removed. If they have then corrosion and
rust will be present. Even so, it is possible
to replace badly damaged parts with good
second-hand Innocenti items. This will be
covered fully later in the series. What you
do need to remember is that an engine
can be saved, even when it looks bad. So
don't write off a preservation job because
the engine looks too far gone at
first glance.
The same can be said of the wheels,
hubs and running gear. No one should try
and save a tyre from the 1960s as it will
be too dangerous to use on the road. Old
tyres should only be used for shows or
display to give a period look. Items such
as the forks or hubs can retain most parts,
except items such as bearings and seals.
Other parts like bushes in the fork links
can be kept as long as they are not worn.
Regardless, all these items will need
striping and thorough inspection when
doing a preservation project.
Missing parts
One of the most annoying situations
when you find an old Lambretta is that
something is missing. This can be
anything from a side panel or footboard
to perhaps the headset top. Something
like a headlamp or light lens is not so
bad, as an original replacement can
usually be found. When it comes to
bodywork this is far more difficult. A lot
of people try to save original paintwork
items and it’s surprising what you can
pick up. The question is then asked:
 CTICA
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This TV200 shed find was taken to bits in the

late 1960s. Thankfully, all of it was kept
together and can be put back to how it was
before being taken apart

should you, for instance, use a pair of
side panels from another source and fit
them on your Lambretta if they are
missing? The answer to that is yes. If
that's all that is missing and a pair that
have the correct colour original paint are
available, then why not?
Look at it this way. If a piece of
bodywork was damaged years ago and
replaced at the time, no one would know
when the Lambretta is discovered in the
present day. Therefore, if you have found
genuine replacements and they are from
that period, it doesn't matter. Replacing
wholesale parts of the bodywork is
perhaps taking it a bit too far, but if
there is a genuine reason for something
to be replaced then do it. The same goes
with engine parts. If the barrel and
piston are too far gone, but replaced with
original items of the same specification,
so be it. If they had been damaged back
then they would have been replaced.
Perhaps you may find a perfect, well kept
original Lambretta that only requires
minor preservation work. Even then you
don't know everything you see in front of
More recently
there has been a
Facebook group set
up for original paint
items to be sold or
exchanged. This is
ideal if you are
searching for that
elusive part
you is what left the factory together.
Some time during its life part of it may
have been replaced, you just don't know.
Being sympathetic
As already mentioned, it may be that some
of the paintwork is damaged or rusted. This
is more frustrating when the majority of the
paintwork is perfect, only to be let down
perhaps by one part. It can be very
tempting to respray that part to make it
blend in. The problem with this (often
referred to as sympathetic restoration) is it
looks too good for the rest of the paintwork.
Even if the colour match is perfect, it looks
odd because there are no marks whatsoever
on the newly painted piece.
Quite often this method is exercised on
the wheel rims and hubs. Both of these
parts usually have paint chips or areas
missing, and certainly on the aluminium
of the hubs. By painting them and leaving
them looking perfect, they stand out like a
sore thumb on a preserved Lambretta. If
you can't stand looking at an area that has
paint missing or damage regardless, don't
be lured into painting it as it will look
totally out of place. The other option is to
hide it by perhaps placing a rack over the
area or, believe it or not, a strategically
placed period sticker. What they do is take
the eye away from the main area of
damage, making it look less noticeable. Of
course, this depends on where abouts the
damage is on the bodywork, but works well
when the method can be implemented.
Biding your time
It may be that you need to find a
replacement piece of bodywork with the

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 95
 CTICA
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Complete or apart but hopefully with no pieces missing.

When you come across an original example
Lambretta there are two ways you will find
it, either as a complete machine, which is
the most or common, or taken apart. It
would appear that some owners back in the
1970s, after the demise of the Lambretta,
decided to keep theirs, but in the process
take it to pieces.
Odd ones found this way were usually
stored away in the loft or a room in the
house. Whilst the benefit is that everything
is well preserved, the problem is that some
of it may be mislaid.
If you do find one this way then it's
perfectly salvageable, but always check you
have everything that is there. What you will
end up with is a huge Lambretta jigsaw,
If it is a complete example then
sometimes they are so good they only need
a general clean. It seems pointless
stripping the bodywork if there is no need
to. The outer paintwork can easily be
polished if your example is perfect.
Finally, it's up to you how far you go in
cleaning your Lambretta. Some choose to
leave all the years of dirt and rust as it is,
as long as everything is mechanically
sound, whereas others try to remove every
blemish possible in an attempt to make it
look perfect. Whichever route you choose
to go down with your preservation is
entirely up to you, and hopefully this
series will help with that decision.
Words & Photographs: Stu Owen

An electric start version of the LD. Changing

anything on it after surviving more than 60 years
untouched would be sacrilege

same colour match of original paint, or

perhaps an original light lens or genuine
part. They don't always turn up at the
time you want them during the
preservation work. Don't worry about it,
and if you have to put a modern-day
replacement on for now then do so.
When you finally find the correct part
you can then change it. What you don't
have to do is leave a part missing, Hand-painted in the late 1970s and
perhaps something that is stopping you off the road ever since, this GP has
from taking your Lambretta out on the a certain bit of nostalgia about it.
road. Just be patient as you will find Some owners would rather keep it
what's missing in the end. this way once cleaned up

Sourcing the impossible

So where do you find that left-hand side
footboard with the same colour match of
the original paint, or perhaps original leg
shield trim which isn't scuffed? The
answer a lot of the time is your local
scooter dealer. Quite often they are
requested by the customer to restore a
scooter, regardless of its original
condition. Some will save paintwork items
if possible, depending on whether a
customer will allow the parts to be
exchanged. Most of the trim and
consumables will be removed and usually
kept, so this is the ideal source. The
majority of the time during restoration the
seat cover is replaced. If yours is beyond
saving, it’s surprising how many dealers
have a good original example in stock.
More recently there has been a Facebook
group set up for original paint items to be
sold or exchanged. This is ideal if you are
searching for that elusive part (www. Even later examples like this original condition Jet 200 are becoming harder to find. Perhaps worth more than
facebook.com/groups/ if it were restored
194910367526896).

96 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

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WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 97
 Faro Basstardo
Hubs are
convincing
overlays
Not being able to afford his dream scooter wasn’t going to
stop Graham Rhodes owning it. He just built his own.
G
raham told us: “I’ve had
scooters for years, but
somehow the Faro Basso had
completely escaped me. A
couple of years ago I
stumbled across a photograph and
instantly fell in love. There was something
about its lines, the naked handlebars and,
of course, the mudguard mounted
headlight which really appealed.” Working
in engineering, Graham’s more than
capable of taking on a rebuild and with a
Basso in his sights the trawl for a suitable
project began. “The prices were eye-
watering,” he laughed. “There was no way
I could justify the cost of even a rough
specimen and as my knowledge of the
type increased, the more I realised how
different it was to the PXs I’d worked on.”
Budget Basso
At this point most people would have
given up on their dream, but Graham’s
made of sterner stuff. Whilst trawling the
internet in the search for an original
machine, he realised that there were a
host of reproduction parts that could be
used to convert a PX, and the cogs in his
mind began to turn. “The starting point
was sourcing a suitable frame,” he
explained. “The look meant no indicators
98 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019
OOTERIN
C
G
RE
AD
E R S RI D
E
and that meant finding a frame from
before August 1, 1986, as after that date
it’s illegal to remove factory-fitted
indicators. Fortunately, a 1985 frame fell
into my hands and the project was on!”
Being a thrifty Yorkshireman there was
no way that Graham was going to buy a
new set of the GS/PX bodywork. It took
patience, but by carefully monitoring eBay
and various forums he slowly assembled a Kick start and quadrant are from a Sprint
full kit. Unfortunately, his frugal ways
didn’t always pay dividends. “I saw a set
of LML casings advertised for just over
£150, including shipping from India. At
that price I knew they’d need work, but
wasn’t prepared for just how bad they
were. None of the gasket faces were
finished; they’d been cleaned with a wire
brush, but that was it. The machinist at
Reproduction handlebars bolt straight on
work cleaned them up, but then we
discovered that the cylinder mouth was
out of square. We could have adapted it, ‘Nammer seat set
but there comes a point when something
becomes more trouble than it’s worth.”
The LML cases were consigned to scrap
and replaced by a set of original Piaggio
items. On to this Graham bolted a 177
Parmakit barrel, a 28mm Dellorto and a
lightened flywheel. A close-ratio gearbox
also lives inside the casings, whilst a TSR
revolver provides a very similar look and
sound to the classic Frescos of years gone
by. According to Graham, the Parmakit
was very fussy to set up, but although it
hasn’t yet been fully run in, Graham’s
pleased with its performance as after all
this build was always more about looks
than performance.
Another critical part of the Basso look
are the ‘car wheel’ hubs. Having dismissed
the logistics of reverse engineering PX
components as too complicated, Graham
adopted a far more practical solution. “We
machined some bolt-on plates, and other
than tapping them out for fastenings the
original hubs are completely untouched.”
One of the few parts that Graham could
neither source as used nor recreate in the
workshop were the handlebars, and these
were purchased as a complete unit from a
supplier in Belgium. These reproductions
bolted straight on to the Rally forks and
also facilitated the fitting of another key
Basso feature – namely cables, which
emerge from the frame tube.
LUSCIOUS LOW LIGHTS
Contrary to popular belief there’s no such model as a Faro Basso. Roughly translating
Brotherly love as ‘Low Light’, it’s a term applied to most Vespa models produced in the 1940s and
Having secured all the necessary early 1950s that feature a mudguard mounted headlight. Thanks to contemporary
components, Graham was in no doubt as British lighting regulations, Douglas never produced a low light model, being obliged
to who would apply the paint. “My brother to move the headlight on to the leg shields. Fortunately, times have changed,
is a sign-writer and offered to paint any opening the door to the latest in Vespa’s Faro Basso series, their Sei Giorni GTS.
scheme I chose. The plain Vauxhall green
doesn’t do his skills justice, but it’s
exactly what the Basso look requires.” As modified the fan cowl and laser cut the enthusiasts, but on a summer’s day it
with all great builds, it’s attention to detail stainless trim.” brings a smile to the face of strangers.
which completes the effect. “At first I Unlike the dangerous copies emerging Other than the single seat “which took
didn’t cut the panel, but soon changed my from the Far East, Graham’s Basso isn’t some getting used to”, Graham’s pleased
mind as it’s such a characteristic of the intended to deceive and he freely admits with his budget build. “I wanted the look
early Vespas. Unfortunately, on the dry that he’s made no attempt to recreate the and I got it.” Faro Basstardo proves that
build it just looked like a gaping hole. Basso’s finer details. As the scooter’s with imagination, anything’s possible.
Fortunately, John Thornton at Bronte name implies this is a mongrel, but a very Words: Stan
Engineering came to the rescue. He both good-looking one at that. It may not fool Photographs: Gary Chapman

Waiting for Audrey Hepburn

It’s all about the light

MAN AND MACHINE

Owner: Graham Rhodes
Job: Engineer and electrician
Inspiration for project: Lack of money!
Name: Faro Basstardo
Model: Vespa PX (1985)
Paint: Andrew Rhodes
Engine: Parmakit 177, close ratio gearbox
Carb: 28mm Dellorto
Exhaust: TSR Revolver

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 99

A
s usual there was timed
quailing for grid positions
followed by three races over
the weekend for each class.
Many riders took the
opportunity of reduced cost second races
to campaign two machines, or enter a
smaller cc scooter in another class to give
themselves some very economical extra
track time and experience.
Group 4 only had a couple of entries
and it was SRP rider Jason Metivier who
took all three races on the track, being
easily the fastest scooter on track in the
standard classes.
Group 4 Evo is now a regular feature
and getting established, offering a
relatively easy way to gain extra power and
speed from the Production Class. Pete
Molkenthin continues to develop his skills
100 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019
A nervous wait
and took 2 class wins, but was beaten in
the final race of the weekend by James
Lancaster, who made a welcome return to
racing after some time out. His racing
style was immediately recognisable and on
an engine that was rather cobbled together
at the last minute, it probably won’t be the
last time we see him this year.
Production Class saw Graham Tatton
start the weekend in great form with a
flag-to-flag win, but was really pushed all
the way by Justin Price, swapping
positions until he dropped off the pace on
the last lap having spent the whole race
under a second apart. On Sunday it was a
different story with Justin Price being on
top form to take two wins and further
consolidate his position as class leader.
Price and Tatton are really dominating the
class, but behind them is a group of four
Chasing Nikita
riders. Shaun Nickells, Justin Offland, Bob
West and Rob Fielder are all battling for
position on the very evenly matched
production class machines.
Automatics saw Nikita McNally again
take three dominant wins from veteran
Mark Shirley on Zip 80cc automatics in
the standard Group 10 classes, but
Stephen Hamilton and Tom Shaw also
raced bigger cc autos on a Gilera Runner
and Scomadi. The automatic scooters are
a great way into the sport for all ages and
can be raced very economically.
Geared Specials were the fastest class
on track and there are some very trick and
well engineered machines which make the
most of the more open tuning and
development opportunities that the class
presents. Moving from Autos to geared
specials has been no problem for Warren
 Wilkinson and he is leading the class this
year, taking the fastest lap of the weekend
and three class wins.
Behind him, old school racers Stuart
Day and Steve Wright continue to push
and show that experience still counts for a
lot. They were in podium positions in all
three races, waiting to punish any slip
or mistake.
Although Wilkinson suffered a bad start
in the third race, he was virtually in last
place before cutting through the field,
taking only three laps to find the front.
Chiselspeed’s Chris Cook made one of his
sporadic appearances and had a solid
weekend of finishes just off the podium.
Auto Specials have provided a huge
talking point of the weekend and with good
reason. Chiselspeed have put together a trick
special class version of a Piaggio Zip for the
only current female scooter racer, Nikita
McNally. She certainly put the new machine
M chuck a standard RB barrel on to get
tto good use and used the additional power
aand speed to put herself in fourth place on
tthe track, lapping only just off the times of
Wilkinson, Day and Wright, and is certainly
W
sshowing she has a natural talent. I’m sure
tthere are plenty who would love to see Nikita
oon a geared scooter before too long!
Despite lower rider numbers, once again
tthe BSSO series provided some absolutely
brilliant scooter racing, held as always with
b the third race on Sunday and was
a fabulous camaraderie between the racers
aand team supporters with some great
eentertainment in the paddock once the
rracing was over for the day.
More info: www.bsso.co.uk
Words: Paul Green
Photographs: KRC Photography
A thing of beauty
James Lancaster on his return
to BSSO racing
It was good to see you back on track.
What prompted you to race at Pembrey?
After having a few years out of racing
and scootering in general. I missed just
riding a bike and went to Spain a few
times doing trackdays on the bikes with
other scooter racers and quickly got the
bug back. On my return circumstances
changed and I had more free time, so
what better to do than go back racing.
What was the engine spec... it was
cobbled together quickly?
RFS tuned me a 4e engine, which
showed good potential on the dyno, but
sadly while strobing on the drive the
ring peg came out and wiped out the
barrel. Three days to go we had to
out on track, so the only difference
between this and a production spec
engine was the 34mm Dellorto.
How did it feel to be back and in the thick
of things?
It was great to not only be out on track
again, but also racing against the usual
front runners. I even managed a win in
leading the second race until Pete
came past me with two corners to go
and managed a second after having a
great race with Justin, Graham, Nikita,
Hammy, Stuart and Pete. Also getting
RFS tuning their first win as well, so I
was happy for them.
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 101
 Scooter Racing Comes Home
BSSO riders have a love/hate relationship with Three Sisters. Its tight, twisty
and a great leveller, where riding skills count as much as engine power.

I
t’s the first time in a few years that
scooter racing has been to the
northwest’s Three Sisters Circuit.
Since the last visit it now has a new
company running it, and has been
resurfaced and had a general tidy up all
round. For many riders it was a first visit
to the spiritual home of scooter racing, but
for others it was a return to a place they
knew very well. Three Sisters can have a
habit of throwing up a few surprises, one
of which was the return of sibling rivalry in
the form of two of the Conneely brothers
back for a play, and the talented Nikita
McNally out on a new special class
Zip scooter.
Groupp 6 Geared Sp pecials was the
biggest class, again benefitting from
production class bikes getting more track
time. Former champion Darren Conneely
came back for the weekend and with the
first race being held in extremely wet
conditions, he showed his class and the
strength of his replay race scooter, and in
the two races he finished he ran away,
gaining over a second a lap on the rest of
the field. Behind him, Chiselspeed’s Chris
Cook was back out and picked up two
third places, with Warren Wilkinson taking
two second places. In the third race it was
DSC veteran Steve Wright taking the win
by under a second from Warren Wilkinson,
showing that age and experience is a great
asset around this tricky circuit. SRP Stuart
Day must have completed several
thousand laps of Three Sisters in his 30
years of racing, and he put in a solid
weekend with a second place and two
fourth places to show for it. Darren
Conneely naturally posted the fastest lap
of the weekend with a 1min 3sec lap.
Group 6A Auto Specials was battled out
by Nikita McNally and John Woods, and
was 2-1 in favour of Nikita at the end of
the weekend.
It was great to see Stephen Hamilton
out on an auto. You just can’t keep that
man away from scooter racing and the
familiar grin was never far away.
Group 4 benefitted from the Conneely
brothers’ return and with the first two

Round the outside goes Graham Tatton

Legends have
broad shoulders
– Bob West

DSC vs SRP

102 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019


races being (very) wet there was an
interesting mix of results. First surprise
was that although in a different class,
Nikita McNally was very close to matching
Darren Conneely’s lap times in the first
race and took a second place overall,
splitting Darren from Jason Metivier, with
Steve Conneely following them home. This
was after several riders had helped with
D I A R Y O F A R O O K I E R AC E R :
LY D D E N H I L L & P E M B R E Y PA R K
Meeting number four of the season for
Justin Offland as a rookie racer would
see him make the trip down south to the
notorious Lydden Hill race circuit. This
is a track like no other with its huge
hairpin hill and corners, all of which run
on a camber. Justin openly admitted to
being nervous, so was happy to take
advice from fellow SRP teammate and
experienced racer Stuart Day for exactly
what to look out for. Thankfully,
conditions were perfect with it declared
a dry race. With a lap being quite short,
he was hoping to qualify in a time of
under one minute and in the end he just
made it with a time of 59 seconds.
Though towards the back of the grid his
progress towards the front soon came,
and by the finish of the weekend did a
best lap time of 58.2 seconds.
This now leaves him third overall in
the production class and once again his
vastly improving style is causing ripples
in the paddock. Both man and machine
performed flawlessly, but he did admit
that going flat out down the long hill was
Here I come,
ready or not
brushes sweeping standing flood water off
the track! In the second race Steve
Conneely had found his sea legs and took
the win by 0.85secs from his hard-chasing
brother, showing that his wet weather
skills are still there.
Group 10 Auto Standards was a
runaway for Nikita, who quickly got to
grips with things and was battling right at
a slight worry as the engine screamed
underneath him.
Pembrey Park in South Wales would
be the host venue in the next instalment
of Justin's spectacular debut season, a
track with long straights and some
high-speed corners offering different
challenges. Final qualifying left Justin
with a best time of 1.23mins towards the
middle of the grid. Best race time was
exactly the same, but gave him a
third-place finish in the production class.
What was more noticeable was that he
beat several group 4 riders in the
process, reaffirming his consistent
improvement at each track visited.
Commenting that some of the sweeping
corners were taken flat out in top gear
and that he was wringing the neck off, it
proved this was the best he could
achieve.
In the final race of the weekend,
everything was looking good until
handling at the rear was becoming an
issue, and an abrupt stop on the side of
the track was required. Upon inspection,
it became apparent that the rear hub had
split and detached around its entire
circumference. Justin’s progress
continues, as his experience grows!
Words: Stu Owen
the
h sharp
h end,
d showing
h i she h h has very
natural wet weather talents, no doubt
honed by her motocross background.
Production Class Auto saw DSC’s
Stephen Hamilton take a clean sweep on
the team’s Gilera Runner. Tom Shaw
piloted the Scomadi to a second place in
the first race, but unfortunately didn’t
feature in other races.
Production Class Geared saw the usual
intense and entertaining battle between
Graham Tatton and Justin Price, and once
again it was Price who just came out on
top 2-1, with two of the races being under
a second gap over the line, showing just
how well matched these two riders are,
locking out the first two places in each
race. Dave Delaney campaigned his small
frame Vespa to two third places. It’s
always good to see a small frame Vespa
swooping round Three Sisters, echoing the
memories of Norrie Kerr and Terry
Frankland doing the same thing in years
gone by. Justin Offland continued his
ever-increasing speed and took a fourth
and a third place from the weekend.
Group 4 Evo was another class with
different winners over the weekend. First
win of the weekend was for Pete
Molkenthin, who saw off Stuart Day by
just 0.2secs across the finish line, but
then Stuart Day got himself sorted and
took the remaining two race wins. Drew
Duncan took a solid set of third places,
pushing back James Lancaster into fourth.
With the season coming to a climax it
was a fabulous weekend for scooter racing
despite the weather. Even a few riders
who normally have a grumble about Three
Sisters were smiling at the end of the
weekend after some great racing, despite
the thrills and spills that the weather
caused. The final two rounds of the 2019
season will see scooter racing at Cadwell
Park, but then the season finale at Lynden
Hill will be a month later than usual,
bringing the season to a close at the end
of October.
More info: www.bsso.co.uk
Words: Paul Green
Photographs: KRC Photography
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 103
 Wigan Casino
The Heart of Soul
There are plenty of Northern Soul themed scooters, but the
theme of Wigan Casino, ‘The Heart of Soul’, is probably one
of the most inspirational and thought provoking…

Authentic flyers Inner legshield artwork

N
orthern Soul was
developed in the North of
England from its roots,
which had been set in
Mod culture, Motown
and R&B in London. As Mod culture
phased out in the mid to late 60s the
music moved towards an influence of
love and psychedelia, which probably
wasn’t a fitting scene for the hard-
working grit of the Northern mind-set.
Northerners wanted more; they wanted
fast-paced music developed from
Motown, and the DJs of the time went
Stateside in search of it. The latest
hard to find records were sought out
and these records were then ‘broken’
for the first time at Northern Soul
clubs’ all-nighters.
Wigan Casino ran from 1973 to
1981 and when it closed it broke a lot
of people’s hearts. It was considered
the end of an era,
but it certainly
wasn’t the end of
Northern Soul. With a
lot of young ‘Soulies’
getting into the scene,
it’s probably now fair to
say that Northern Soul is
possibly more popular than
it’s ever been. The records
played these days are nearly all

ENDORSEMENT
The bridge piece of the scooter was
autographed by Russ Winstanley when
Darryl met him at a Northern Soul
function. Also, Russ came along to the
photoshoot to add his endorsement.
floor fillers, as over the years the wheat
has been sorted out from the chaff and
the quality of the music delivered at
Northern Soul events is also probably the
best it’s ever been.
Darryl Braga has always been a
passionate true ‘Soulie’. “I grew up with
Northern Soul. I used to listen to the
Closing year
1 1A
music with my brother and my mate. Once
the music gets into your veins you can’t
escape from it; it stays with you, and it
gives you a buzz that only a ‘Soulie’ can
explain. My first all-nighter was at the
Queen’s Hall Swimming Baths/Leisure
Centre in Derby in 1979. After I’d been to
that I was hooked and I wanted more. I’d
heard the music and I’d now seen the
dancing in action; it was infectious!
“I first went to Wigan Casino in 1980.
We got a mini-bus from the Beau
Brummel pub in Derby to Wigan. When we
got there it was out of this world and
Northern Soul had been taken to a
different level. DJ-ing that night was the
creator of the Wigan Casino all-nighters.
Russ Winstanley and the tracks he was
playing were all one after another
floor fillers.
Inspiration
“I got into scooters a while after I’d been
into the Northern Soul scene, but when I
got into scooters it was clear that the two
sub-cultures were very well connected. I
mean, there’s nearly always a Northern
Soul room at every scooter rally you go to.
With my love of scooters and Northern
Soul, and having experienced the
Custom seat
1 1A
influence of Wigan Casino, I knew I had to
develop a Wigan Casino tribute scooter.
“I wanted to ignite people’s memories.
For the people who’d been into the
Northern Soul scene since it started I
wanted the scooter to take them on a trip
down memory lane.
“For those who were newer to the
scene, I wanted the scooter to tell the
story of Northern Soul and give them a
taste of the excitement of the day. And for
those who’d never heard of Northern Soul,
I wanted the scooter to tell them a bit
about the history of Northern Soul and
inspire them to listen to the music.”
The scooter
“Most Lambrettas which deliver a lot of
custom artwork are usually based around
the lines of a GP, but I didn’t want to use
a GP for this theme. I’m aware that the
model was around at the time that Wigan
Casino was at its height, but for me the
sporty appearance of the GP conflicted
with the way I wanted to deliver the
theme. I decided that the more curvy lines
of the SX would be more fitting to the
music and would carry the emotion of the
music better.”
Having chosen the model of scooter,
K2 choke and petrol taps
1 1A

‘Soulies’ make the journey
to the club by mini-bus
P L AQ U E
The Grand Arcade Shopping Centre in
Wigan now stands on the ground where
the original Wigan Casino building once
stood. There is also a plaque on the wall
in the place where the doors to the
club were.
Russ and Darryl
which would form the canvass for the
paintwork, artwork and graphics, Darryl
had to decide how he wanted the subject
to be presented. “This process was
critical to the success of the delivery of
the theme. The theme is massive; the
options were numerous and they had to
be put into an order which would
deliver the story correctly.
“To complete this I had to
meticulously go through a lot of media,
photos, posters and flyers and put them
into an order, which truly reflected Wigan
Casino’s influence on the scene.”
Having decided on the images and the
graphics for the artwork, Darryl now
needed to decide what the base colour of
the scooter would be. “I chose to have the
scooter mainly white but with red touches.
The white would allow the artwork and
graphics to stand out and the red would
add presence to the scooter. And of course
the two colours were the colours of the
Wigan Casino logo and background.”
With the paint and artwork decided
upon, Darryl contacted ‘Phoenix’ to
complete the initial phase of the artwork
and then a secret contact of his
OWNER DETAILS
Name: Darryl Braga
Job: Service Engineer
Scooter club & town: Mercia S.C.
Your first scooter: Lambretta SX200
replica based on an Li150
Favourite scooter model: Classic Vespas
‘Faro Basso’ etc and Lambretta TV
Series 1 & 2
Favourite style of custom scooter: ‘Mille
Miglia’ Sir Stirling Moss tribute
Lambretta Series 1
First rally or event: W.o.T rally
How did you get there: Scooter
Funniest experience with a scooter:
When I was a kid I used to ride them
around on the fields just for the laugh!
What do you like about rallies:
Bargains!
completed the artwork inside the
legshields. The combination of the
artwork, graphics and paint works
perfectly and causes the theme to be
delivered with precision and interest.
Unique custom addition
As well as creating a fantastic custom
scooter, Darryl wasn’t going to stop there.
“I knew I would be showing the scooter a
lot at rallies and at Northern Soul events,
so this gave me the idea to create a
themed show/display stand. The stand was
fabricated by hand and it’s reinforced to
carry the weight of the scooter. It has a lot
of Northern Soul flyers and patches on it,
and it works with the scooter to support
the whole presentation of the theme and
makes it more eye-catching.”
It’s clear from the thought, time, effort
and presentation of this scooter that all
the elements of the theme Darryl was
hoping to deliver have been achieved.
When I first saw this scooter on its
display stand at a custom show it looked
amazing. When I started to look round it,
it re-ignited my memories of the days
when I was at school discos and Northern
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 107
 Soul was played; and that’s the endearing
thing about this scooter.
“Although I never went to Wigan
Casino, looking over the graphics and the
artwork it took me to a place where I
almost felt as though I could have been
there. For me, that’s what makes this
scooter probably one of the best Wigan
Casino/Northern Soul themed tribute
scooters on the circuit.”
Acknowledgement: Scootering The story begins
magazine would like say a special
thank you to John Sanson, Gill Sarath
and all the staff at the Grand Arcade
Shopping Centre, Wigan, who helped
with the photoshoot and allowed us
the use of the premises.
www.grand-arcade.co.uk
Words: Stu Smith
Photos: Gary Chapman

Neat original front The shoot attracts

wheel set up a lot of attention

Opening year The scooter and

club memorabilia

1. Gently does it

2. An interested shopper watches Gary Chapman in action

1 1A 2A
2

Ghostly figures
from Wigan
Casino admire
the scooter
 Dealers
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visit www.uk.vespa.com
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 109
 Tel: (01384) 637168 | Email: scootersales@qbmotorcycles.co.uk | www.qbmotorcycles.co.uk
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110 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

 Here for the day and showing support

Prodigy Scooter
Collective Resurrection
Rally:
yT The Second Coming
Start your scooters for a super fun-filled party in a field,
organised by a group of 20 to 30-year-olds who are
bringing an inspiring mind set to the old skool style rally.

T
he Ashton-on-Mersey rugby
club was the venue made
ready for the weekend’s
activities. With the banners
set up on the gate and the
team gazebo at the entrance, the event
saw a steady flow of weekend campers
arriving to pitch their tents on the
campsite on Friday. By early afternoon the
DJs had got themselves set up in the
clubhouse and were delivering a flow of
scooter tunes. In the meantime, more
arrivals who’d waited until Friday evening’s
rush hour had died down were now turning
up and pitching their tents.
That evening, Danny Firth came on
stage and delivered an electric/acoustic
set of indie songs from the 90s and 00s.
After Danny had completed his set, DJs
Terror and Matt carried on the party until
midnight and then things moved over to
the silent disco. Due to some unforeseen
circumstances the silent disco wasn’t able
to be delivered in the clubhouse as
planned. However, with a bit of initiative,
and after some creative thinking the team
found some plug sockets in the changing
rooms and had the silent disco outside on
the patio. When the rain came, they
moved it inside into the changing room
area; the lights were turned off and were
replaced by multi-coloured lights.
English breakfast checked out what was going on inside, I
Saturday morning saw some tired faces, returned back to the campsite and chatted
but from first thing the clubhouse was on with some of the rally-goers. The main
hand to serve up some eagerly awaited full message that I picked up from them about
English breakfasts and butties. After a the rally was that its main appeal is that
steady start to the morning, more arrivals
were greeted at the gate by the friendly
team and were quickly directed on to the
campsite to get themselves settled in. In
the meantime, a small traders market was
being set up by the entrance to the
clubhouse. By lunchtime the clubhouse
bar opened and whilst smooth Reggae
tunes were played on the P.A., a warm
atmosphere was developing. Having
FANTASTIC
IC CUSTOM
CUSTO SHOW TROPHIES
The custom show trophies were all unique and were very well appreciated by their lucky
winners. It was also clear from the fabrication of the trophies that a lot of thought, time
and effort had gone into developing them.

WW.SCOOTERING.COM | 111
WW
 WE SPOKE TO:
Shaun Salmon, an independent rider from
Stoke-on-Trent. It was Shaun’s first Prodigy
Collective rally and he was making the
most of the weekend. “I’m a rally-going
scooterist and I’m here supporting my
generation of scooterists! I’ve known Matt
and the team for about six years and I think
it’s a great thing they’re doing.”
Tim Girvan, who’d ridden in on his custom
‘Prodigy’ themed Vespa from Wisbech.
“It’s around 160 miles each way.
I set off at 8am on Friday and had a couple
of stop-offs on the way, one of which
included a big pub dinner! I was here by
2pm, ” smiled Tim.
Friday night’s ‘patio’ silent disco
112 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019
Salford Knight’s S.C., who’d ridden in for
the day. “We’re supporting these kids with
this rally. We think it’s a great idea and it’s
great to see the younger end getting
involved. We’ve got our rally next weekend
and we’re looking forward to that as well.”
All were in good spirits and were riding a
wide variety of scooters.
w award
Tim Girvan receives the Best in Sho
Darryl Hill of the British Forces S.C., who
managed to emerge from his tent just
before noon on Saturday. Darryl had ridden
in the day before from Stevenage on his
German built Vespa. “The scooter’s a
standard P200E, but I’ve got a Pinasco
exhaust, 28mil carb, and YSS shocks on it
to stiffen it up. Before I changed the
shocks it was like sitting on a rocking
chair! The scooter was originally built by
Ted Perry for his wife, Urte, who are the
proprietors of ‘Style of 69’ and sell
Skinhead and Mod clothing.”
2019 Rally pattchh
Service with a smile Kate and Lyndsey
Team Prodigy Scooter Collective
Headline band Indie Division
it’s delivered by a team of young
scooterists who have a keen appetite for
the scene. Also, the different style of
music offered throughout the weekend was
another significantly positive attraction.
Forming up
The custom show scooters had started to
form up next to the traders’ stands, and in
spite of the weather the custom show
attracted a healthy line-up of scooters.
The custom show awards covered 13
categories and the trophies had been
personally handcrafted by friends of the
collective, Liam Simm, Lloyd Watts and
Jake Cox. The judging of the custom show
started just after 1pm and a couple of late
arrivals just made it into the competition.
Meanwhile, inside the clubhouse warm
food was being served and the music had
changed over to Manchester and Indie
sounds. The custom show results were
announced and Best in Show went to Tim
Girvan’s superb custom Vespa.
The evening’s entertainment started
with the DJs and then the live band, Indie
Division, played a cracking set of tracks by
the Stone Roses, the Smiths, Joy Division
and others. After Indie Division had
completed their set the DJs took over, who
were then followed by the silent disco,
which was this time held in the clubhouse
and went on into the early hours.
Passion for scootering
Matt Howarth of the collective said: “We
hope we’ve delivered a successful event
that everyone’s enjoyed. We’d like to thank
SMART for the weekend’s security, T O P R E S U LT !
Lyndsey, Josh and staff from the rugby
club, the bands, and everyone that’s Having recently completed the Dutch
supported us with the rally. We’re a group Lions Rally and a 1200-mile round trip to
of 20 to 30-year-olds who are balancing the South of France, Jacko Jacks and his
our careers and education with our son Tommy were at the event. Jacko won
passion for scootering, and we’re trying to best Rat/Cut-down with his scooter, ‘Pig
do something different. Iron’, and Tommy won the Youngest
“As well as the existing scootering Scooterist award. When Jacko received
community, we also hope that our rally will his trophy, which was in the shape of an
attract younger people to the scene and angle grinder, he smiled and said: “I’ll
show them what’s on offer.” have this wired up and working when I
Words: Stu Smith get home!”
Photos: Stu Smith & Matt Howarth

CUSTOM SHOW
Best vintage, Rhiannon Donnelly’s Li150
RESULTS
DJ Matt
Best Lambretta: Li – RCA 486B (Billy
Grimes) Pitched for the weekend
Best Vespa: ‘Prodigy’ Vespa PX (Tim
Girvan)
Best Vintage: Lambretta Li 150 – WSV
395 (Rhiannon Donnelly)
Best Auto: Stealth GTS (Andy Williams)
Best Oddity: Lambretta S2 – 344 UYT
Hardy souls brave Saturday’s weather
(Accys)
Best Other: Honda CBR Gulf Racing
Café Racer (Jake Roberts)
Best Rat/Cut-down: ‘Pig Iron’ (Jacko
Jacks)
Best Street Racer: Servetta S-Type – VEF
248M (Tim Drummond)
Best in Show: ‘Prodigy’ Vespa PX (Tim
Girvan)
Best Turned Out Club: Manchester Night
Owls
Furthest Travelled: Paul Jackman (239
miles)
Youngest Scooterist: Tommy Jacks
Punter’s choice: Lambretta GP – A865 TAG

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 113
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NATIONWIDE DELIVERY AVAILABLE

Your Official
Vespa Dealer in
*Terms & conditions apply NEWCASTLE
SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS UPON TYNE
UK Award Winners for
outstanding sales & Service
Just a few of our Pre-owned Machines
Vespa PX200 Series Speciale, T5 Classic with disc brakes, ex

PX 125 2003, lots of SIP extras, 2010

BRAND NEW Registered
Malossi ...................................£3995
PX 150, 200 engine, immaculate
cond, blue and silver .............£3000
1997 T5 Classic, silver, original
condition.................................£2500
condition ...............................£3000
PX200 Disc, silver, 2003 ...... £3700
Vespa PX125, 2000, in blue . £1999
2003 Vespa GT200, metallic orange

£4995 otr
Vespa PX200, 2001 ..............£2999
1980 PX200 E, white .............£2500 ................................................£1300
1985 T5 Mk1, blue, ex condition 2008 Vespa PX125 in white, lots of
................................................£3000 accessories ...........................£3000
Available in Red • White • Black LOTS MORE USED STOCK AVAILABLE
FULL RANGE OF PIAGGIO • VESPA • GILERA • APRILIA - VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR FULL USED STOCK LIST
114 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019
SCOOTER
TRADER
Scooter Trader s
t .

Looking for a scooter?

Then look no further!
el r

WWW.SCOOTERTRADER.COM
SCOOTER TRADER
BAMBINO SIDECAR
vgc, was on Lambretta TV175, completely
restored inside & out, Rimini crash bars
front & rear, fittings for attachment to
bike, £2200 Tel. 01322 559623.
LAMBRETTA
Silver Special, great condition, good
runner, all original, well maintained,
13,100 miles, £4200 Tel. 07957 600669.
LAMBRETTA FT125T
2017, stored in the garage, only 517
miles, top box, on Sorn, great looking
scooter, sold as seen, £750 Tel. 07534
540349. Norfolk
LAMBRETTA LD125
1958, full nut & bolt restoration in the
UK, engine & frame numbers all correct,
£7950 Tel. 07802 346652.
LAMBRETTA LI150
1965, Silver Special, restored some time
ago in Italy, 15,110 miles, £4400 Tel.
07402 832733.
LAMBRETTA LI150
Special, reg as 125, Italian import, all
original condition, side panels resprayed
professionally, age related number, runs
flawlessly, £3900 Tel. 07794 029749.
116 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019
HEINKEL TOURIST
103-A1, 175cc, 1958, new tyres, batteries
& locks, only 36,000 miles, solid rust free
bodywork, V5, £3500 Tel. 07812 208444.
LAMBRETTA
full nut and bolt restoration, six digit
number plate with dating certificate from
Lambretta Owners Club, £3500 Tel.
01329 826638.
LAMBRETTA GP125
modified to 200cc, MoT, good runner,
many extras indicators Union Jack side
panels, front mudguard and horncasting,
Tel. 07500 774663.
LAMBRETTA LI125
1960 Classic, Series 2 Elbar, currently on
Sorn, comes complete with spare wheel,
mirrors and Lambretta toolkit, £3900 Tel.
07856 553090.
LAMBRETTA LI150
Silver Special, concours, 1964,
32,038km, £6450 Tel. 07581 245540.
LAMBRETTA LI150
fully refurbished, reg Lambretta in V5C,
fitted with a stage four 225cc LTH Reed
valve engine that still needs running in,
£4750 Tel. 07415 170865.
LAMBRETTA
Series 2 with mild tune RB200 kit, AF
crank, MB bearings, Viton oil seals,
Dellorto 34mm carb, LI150 gearbox,
£4000 ono Tel. 07551 154273.
LAMBRETTA
Series 2 with mild tune RB200 kit, AF
crank, MB bearings, Viton oil seals,
Dellorto 34mm carb, LI150 gearbox,
£4000 ono Tel. 07551 154273.
LAMBRETTA GP150
original British turquoise, owned since
1996, very rare original paint battery
model, always been dry stored, £5500
Tel. 07887 500385.
LAMBRETTA LI125
vgc, original Italian with matching frame
and engine numbers, restored two to
three years ago, runs superb, new tyres,
£4250 Tel. 07941 387767.
LAMBRETTA LI150
Eibar, 1963, recent engine rebuild and
respray, lots of new parts, engine runs
well, no tax or MoT reqd, £3995 ono Tel.
Dave 01622 862101. Kent
LAMBRETTA SX150
1969, full nut & bolt restoration, matching
numbers with dating certificate from
Lambretta Owners Club, full engine
rebuild, £5495 ono Tel. 07971 551798.
LAMBRETTA
restored by an enthusiast, £1500 Tel.
07857 789430.
LAMBRETTA 150
Series II, imported from Italy with all
paper work and nova, restored few years
ago and never used, £3950 Tel. 07971
551798.
LAMBRETTA GP200
1969, yellow ochre, 200cc, 4 speed, 495
miles, 3 in 2 rear carrier, £2995 Tel. 07497
858571.
LAMBRETTA LI125
Series 3, fully restored to original spec,
including original factory colour for the
model, rides superb, £3995 Tel. 07973
450556.
LAMBRETTA LI150
1963, Italian import, restored, registered
150cc, bored to 180, V5, lots of new
parts, 6V AC Clubman exhaust, £4200
ono Tel. 07904 427519. Lancs
LAMBRETTA SX200
1966, only six miles on the clock, starts
every time and runs smoothly, £10,000
Tel. 07709 645031.
 www.scootertrader.com
LAMBRETTA SX200 LAMBRETTA TV/GT200 LAMBRETTA TV185 LAMBRETTA LI150

1968, excellent condition, Italian standard 1964 frame and engine numbers are 1963, beautiful fully restored to a very Special, 1966, Pearlescent white and
200 engine with a 22mil carb, sterling correct, paint work is good but not high standard, very good condition, maroon, 175cc engine, BGM ignition and
exhaust, £12,000 Tel. 07484 770549. showroom, tax & MoT exempt, lovely £6995 Tel. 07837 566253. new exhaust fitted, 3400 miles, £3995
Hertfordshire example, £10,800 Tel. 07976 586846. Tel. 07775 525057.

PIAGGIO PIAGGIO PIAGGIO ROYAL ALLOY GT200

Liberty 125, 3V scooter, 2015, two lady 300cc, can be ridden on a car licence, Beverly 2013, Sport Touring, 350cc, only nearly new, immaculate, ABS brakes,
owners, low mileage, excellent condition, comes with a 2 x helmet top box, service 500 dry miles, top box, as new, £2400 very low mileage, all keys, books etc,
MoT, £1250 Email. woodys48@hotmail. history, MoT & service, £2695 Email. Tel. 07968 187505. Bristol £3295 Tel. 01623 721337.
com georgeottley@gmail.com

SCOMADI TT 200 TGB R50X VESPA VESPA

400 miles only, cream - Old English white, 2016, new condition, dry-stored all its life Sprint Douglas 150cc, barn find, 1966 reg, 1975, Super Sprint, had this bike three
immaculate showroom condition, one in a garage, only 246 miles, air-cooled frame & engine number all match, square years, it’s been in storage since, 2010
and half years warranty left, £3700 Tel. 2-stroke 50cc engine, £1295 Tel. 01278 head lamp, 10” wheels conversion, miles, £2500 Tel. 07917 453078.
07929 337789. 448690. £2295 Tel. 07957 966723. Kent

VESPA VESPA VESPA VESPA

1979, originally 125cc engine, now 2003 Vespa PX200E Series Special No T5 engine, Sito Plus, T5 front, SIP Rep Douglas 152 L2, genuine British built
fitted with 150cc engine, Vespa helmet 125, 1999 Vespa PX200E, 27,247 miles. seat all attached to cutdown frame, at Douglas factory, original paperwork,
included, MoT, £2495 Tel. 07555 352337. 1984, Vespa PX125E Douglas needs new rings (1K), all working, £700 Email. looks great and excellent runner, £3500
restoration, £4500 Tel. 07624 496622. bodthemod70@yahoo.com Tel. 07974 366815.

VESPA VESPA 125 VESPA 125E VESPA 125PX

great commuter, never gave me any 1979, Primavera ET3, original paint, fully restored, 125 on log book, kitted 2016 immaculate, MoT, SIP tubeless rims
issues and it has a great motor, comes imported from Italy 1997, last used 2005, Polini 177, resprayed, new seals & & Continental Whitewalls, SIP 2 sports
with a top box, 13,544 miles, £800 Tel. now on Sorn, in storage ever since, bearings, new tyres, cables, sound exhaust, £3400 Tel. 07788 217014.
07960 354797. 25,040 miles, £850 Tel. 07837 467785. engine, MoT, £1800 Tel. 07439 502728.

VESPA 50 VESPA DOUGLAS VESPA VESPA

Special, 1972, 4 gears, V5B3T, got it in really good restored condition, but not 1975, been stored undercover, recently Primavera small frame, orange,
2015 in Sicily, Italy and imported it into perfect, 12V electronic ignition new serviced, £1995 Tel. 07977 817936. purchased six years ago as a nuts & bolts
the UK in Feb 2018, £1000 Tel. 07847 switches (lights & rear brake), £3500 Tel. full restoration, £3200 Tel. 01924 200069.
483689. 07912 201452.

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 117
SCOOTER TRADER
VESPA GS150
VS5, not an import, some of the paint
needs a bit of tidying up, totally original,
full engine rebuild, not yet run in, £6900
Email. Richardlondon2019@gmail.com
VESPA GT180
1968, vgc, hardly used, 1283km,
barely run in, fitted with a 150cc rebuilt
Sprint Veloce engine, £4795 Email.
kevinmanzie@hotmail.co.uk
VESPA PK125
full engine rebuild, new seals & bearings,
new tyres, cables, new carburettor, MoT,
V5, great condition, no rust, sound body,
£1650 Tel. 01427 372510.
VESPA PX166
Malossi 166, kitted with Malossi pipe,
reg’d 125, 15,023km, £2500 Tel. 07908
048099.
VESPA PX200E
Piaggio, 2003, vintage green, 3875 klm,
owned since 2004, recent service & MoT,
vgc, both keys & handbooks, Datatag,
£2450 Tel. 07912 680512.
VESPA TX200
1988, runs and rides as it should,
everything works, will easily pass UK
MoT, lived in Alicante all of its life, £1295
Tel. 07413 116296.
118 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019
VESPA GS160
1962, original Italian, Mark 1, brought as a
collectors piece in 2002 and was the focal
point in our reception at work, £6800 Tel.
01398 351575.
VESPA GTS125
2011, 5060kms, screen, rear carrier,
removable decals, MoT, new oil, filter, plug
& battery, two keys & handbook, good
condition, £1500 Tel. 07599 545854.
VESPA PX 125
4721 miles, beautiful bike, starts with 2
kicks of the kick start, S.I.P race exhaust
with D-Cat, years MoT, £2300 Tel. 07453
448842.
VESPA PX177
2003, reg as a PX125, has a 177 polini kit
with matching casings, 26mm carb & a
SIP Road 2 exhaust, 12,400 miles, £1395
Tel. 07493 981672.
VESPA PX200E
non runner, needs new pipe, possible
new shocks, in good condition, 2003, one
owner, £1400 Tel. 01689 619250.
VESPA VBB
150cc, restored a few years ago fitted
with a new LML engine that hasn’t been
run in yet, UK log book, tax and MoT
exempt, £2500 Tel. 07551 246439.
VESPA GS160
vgc, original engine & genuine scooter,
new chrome rims & tyres, new exhaust,
no rust & runs well, £4650 Email.
ebrowne38@yahoo.co.uk
VESPA P200E
1982, Mark One, in very straight and
rot-free condition, starts and rides well,
everything works as it should, £1450 Tel.
07413 116296.
VESPA PX150
70th Anniversary Special, only done 446
klms, Road Sip 2 exhaust fitted, original
exhaust comes with it, vgc, £4000 Tel.
07738 354155.
VESPA PX200
Series Speciale, MoT, No 184 of 400
produced, collectors item, vgc, modied
up crash bars, lights etc, £5300 Tel.
01322 559623.
VESPA PX200E
rebuilt and resprayed last year with new
parts and disc brake added, no rust or
rot, everything works as it should, £1525
Tel. 07413 116296.
VESPA VBB
150 reg as 125, vgc, tax and MoT
exempt, lots spent including complete
new wiring and 12V conversion, 2929
miles, £2800 Tel. 07951 403491.
VESPA GT125
VNL2T 1967, rare scooter, all original,
historic vehicle reg, fully rebuilt last year,
presently on Sorn, £3500 Tel. 01909
568349.
VESPA P200E
Mark One, excellent road going condition,
everything works, runs as it should, spent
its life in Valencia, £1350 Tel. 07413
116296.
VESPA PX150
very good condition, good runner, one
owner from new, 10,000 miles, £2500
Tel. 07974 366815.
VESPA PX200
2002, Series Special, vgc, number 352
of 400 comes with commemorative box
book & watch, Sip tubeless wheels & Sip
2 exhaust, £3500 Tel. 07988 402129.
VESPA PX200E
1999, 27,247 miles, totally standard,
starts 1st or 2nd time, engine runs like
a dream, needs tlc, £1500 Tel. 07624
496622.
VESPA VNB
1964, 125cc, 3 speed, running and
registered, V5, painted in green rainbow
flake metallic, £1400 Tel. 07527 488288.
 www.scootertrader.com
LAMBRETTA LI Special Series 3, 1965, VESPA GTS125 2014, ABS model front VESPA PRIMAVERA excellent condition,
Automatics Italian for restoration complete not seized, shocker and front hub, £80. Original £2000. Tel. 07539 898741.
PIAGGIO 601V, 1980-90 trike engine and buyer collects some spares as well, £850. exhaust as new, £95. Spare wheel, new
gearbox, windscreen, side glass, offers Tel. 07803 322268. tyre, £45. Pair rear shockers, £40 Tel. Wanted
invited Tel. 01724 733996. Lincs. LAMBRETTA SX150 1968 1968, one 07541 234684. West Midlands. INFORMATION ON tracking down
SCOMADI 125TL one owner from owner from new, fully restored 2010, VESPA GTS300 2014, blue, low mileage, remains of my Vespa Rally 200 reg
new, low mileage, side panel stickers upgraded to a 12V electronic ignition, rear excellent runner, great condition, non ABS,
number SBL 98M last known in the
removed, colour is black, new rear tyre, backrest, spare wheel & front windshield, ceramic coated exhaust, Vespa top box,
Dereham, Norfolk area, £250 minimum
new battery, good condition, £1500. Tel. £6000. Tel. 01792 702586. Swansea. Florida bars, Oxford heated grips, Faco
07377 671385. extending full screen & standard Vespa full reward Tel. 07941 614998.
SCOMADI TL200 2016, done about 1000 Lambretta Parts screen, handlebar muffs, modified footers LAMBRETTA TV175 Series 3 frame
miles had a new speedo, painted in candy FLORIDA BARS with blue gems, and original foot pegs too, small scratch wanted with Nova, others considered
red, comes with two new spare tyres, purchased these circa 1997, they are on LH sidepanel where I dropped my keys why? Tel. 07738 468866.
£2500. Tel. 09770 645298. remakes of 1960s/1970s Florida Bars for once, apart from that it’s lovely, £3250 WANTED FOR Vespa 50 Special,
SCOMADI TT200 2019, immaculate Lambretta, paid £150 at the time and they ovno Tel. 07963 482875. complete set of front forks including front
showroom condition, only done 360 miles, have had little use, very good condition VESPA LX125IE 2010, bronze metallic hub Tel. 01403 264776. West Sussex.
still under manufacturers warranty, originally and just need a polish to bring them paintwork with chrome nudge bars, WANTED TRIUMPH T10 SIDE PANEL
bought from Scooter Moda Preston for back up to pristine condition, £49.99 Tel. MoT till Oct 2019, two previous keepers, for a Triumph T10 scooter please, not a
£4500, selling due to not getting used 07748 171012. alarmed, full set of keys, £1175. Tel. Tina one they don’t fit, mines a 1965 Tel.
enough, metal bodied scooter with slimmer LAMBRETTA SEATS front and rear 02082 811803.
07508 447892.
design, Angel eye LED headlight & LED rear single seats nearly new, £160 when VESPA P200 1979, T reg, MoT & tax
light, new design digital speedo, fold out bought new, asking £80 Tel. 07738 exempt, no expense spared restoration, Miscellaneous
rear foot pegs, no part exchange, can be 714647. ready to show or use, you won’t be
viewed in the Rotherham area £3899. Tel. RALPH SAXELBY 205 Suzuki engine, disappointed, £2795. Tel. 07950 455498. SCOOTERING MAGAZINES in binders
07929 337789. custom built Lambretta engine, one of the VESPA PIAGGIO 50cc, white, good 2013 onwards, collection only, free Tel.
SUKIDA COMMANDER 125cc, Chinese best available, done approx 1500 miles, runner, electric and kick start, MoT til July 07951 290106. South West London.
scooter, 2006, 21,000klms, complete powder coated black, fitted with BGM V4 2020, small signs of corrosion nothing
good body work, engine ran, non starter, exhaust, has spare MSC Micron, and or major, £999. Email. mchiarizia@msn.com
chrome exhaust, good tyres, buyer JL4 done 600 miles, engine is in scooter, VESPA PX touring, silver, 180 kit fitted,
collects, cute small scooter silver/blue, can be tested before purchase, call Barry excellent condition, full new MoT, very
£80. Tel. 07415 655100. Herts. for more info, £2500. Tel. 07922 643022. fast, £3100. Tel. 07789 644609.

SCOOTER
VESPA PX200E 2002, metallic green,
Lambretta Vespa 100% mechanics, a few marks, spare
LAMBRETTA GP125 modified 200cc, VESPA 125 Super GTI, low mileage, no seat, new spare, new stainless carrier,
good runner, full MoT, indicators, all
moded up, £3750. Tel. 07500 774663.
MoT, original Vespa back rack & original
Vespa half screen, some scratches to the
£1200. Tel. 02086 682364. Surrey.
VESPA PX200E metallic green, totally INSURANCE
LAMBRETTA GP200 1976, Monza 240
engine, Sip wheels, speedo, blue/white,
side, £2600. Tel. 07951 000058.
VESPA GT300 only done 1200 miles,
original, just been MoT’d, in great condition
and works perfectly, recent new exhaust,
0800 781 9287
very fast scooter, well looked after, 15ltr excellent condition, comes with all books owned for one year and is a very reliable Carole Nash Insurance Consultants Ltd is
authorised and regulated by the Financial
stainless tank, ring for details, £5500. and manuals plus two keys and all MoTs, machine, disc brake version with electric Conduct Authority.
Tel. 07746 114017. Lancashire. £2600. Tel. 07746 911148. start, £2150. Tel. 07921 818576.

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120 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

 SCOOTER TOURS / HOLIDAYS

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CELEBRATING OUR
400 TH ISSUE
SCOOT
69 RETRO SCOOTERS & SPARES
P&D
MOTORCYCLES

89 MILL STREET | OTTERY ST MARY Wakefield,West Yorkshire

DEVON EX11 1AJ 01404 813853 01924 372907
www.brownsmotorcycles.co.uk www.panddmotorcycles.co.uk
 Sabrina:
Soul Rebel
A scooter created on a shoestring, but built and ridden with
a passion. Christian explores the story behind... Soul Rebel.

I
t was a hot day in Roma when Sabrina and I
met in the centre of Monteverde suburb, a
big smile welcomed me and my notebook,
eyes hidden behind a slight touch of
make-up were looking with apprehension and
possible questions. I had the feeling Sabrina was
waiting for such an encounter her entire life,
because as we joined a table inside a ‘Gelateria’
her conversation was quick and nervous. Music,
Lambretta lifestyle, travel, joy of riding, you name
it… she discussed it. Endless information
seasoned along with quotes, winks and giggles
released in less than five minutes while I had
barely the time to write a single note about my
first impression.
The coastal storm in which I was trapped ended
up being so strong that I pressed toward
scheduling a new appointment within her house,
fifty km North Roma. “Christian, I want to be clear by a front door, a black ‘n’ red machine was waiting to
with you, I am not a gal who wants ‘Pin-Up’ pictures, greet me. “My scooter adventure began at 15 years
I use my Lambretta daily with no mercy, but I make old when I had not a clear idea about myself in the
sure she returns inside my kitchen after every trip,” two-wheel community. Everything changed because of
she reported. There it was, the glimpse of a story to a friend of mine,” Sabrina narrated as we passed
follow. A few days later I travelled near Cerveteri- nearby the Lambretta parked in her kitchen. “A
Ladispoli to meet again with the owner, designer and turmoil moment occurred when we first met. He was
rider of Soul Rebel. Next to an outside alley, protected riding a scooter fitted with dozens of mirrors and when
we met I mocked him at the first sight. I
was wearing a studded jacket, and he a
green Parka. I must admit that his figure
had something curios and interesting
which made me reflect back during the
following weeks. Most important of all
though, we liked different music… and in
that period of my life, music comparison
was my method of evaluation. This factor
was, to me, a matter of deep study. We
slowly began to read and get informed on
related topics. Clash, Rolling Stones
versus The Who, The Beatles and
Northern Soul were my internal eddies for
a while.”
Surrounded by walls covered in scooter
pictures, I wondered how bad this girl
wanted to share her personal two-strokes

122 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 123
 adventure. So I decided, for that time
only, to embrace the information which
was about to thunder over my head and
kept my mouth shut, I posed no
questions. Coffee was served and she
continued: “It’s incredible how a random
encounter changed my life, the famous
movie too (needless to say which one),
because from that moment on I
perpetually loved and welcomed the
Lambretta world. My hair changed,
wardrobe refreshed and ready for the most
important feature, I sapped all my savings
– from tons of random jobs – and bought
for 150,000 Italian Lire a pea-green Li
Lambretta, which to me was the most
marvellous thing ever. Step-by-step trips
to the hardware store began to grow,
proportionally to the will of customisation.
I was poor and coming out from a social
services house so spray painting my steed
was exciting enough to call me a scooter
girl. I hated the so-called ‘modette’.
Riding behind the handlebars, and not
behind a boy’s arse, was my first clear and
cardinal idea, which at the same time was
a weak point due to a total
technical incapability.”
Despite Sabrina avoiding eye contact for
most of the time, she stared at me for this
one piece of information, as if desiring a
certainty in my comprehension. “It was
1987 and Rimini rally was about to
happen. Since the destination was pretty
much the only one in whole Italy where
scooter boy, mods and skinheads were
attending, I fought the roads from Roma,
biting the ‘Via Aurelia’
dust toward Emilia
Romagna. Street map
124 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019
in hand, my trip companions and I got lost
a hundred times and faced the troubles
with a smile, minimal money and a
sleeping bag. Drugs were part of the
equation as well.” A shadow darkened
Sabrina’s face and her piercing nestled
beneath the lower lip danced a bit as if
titillated by some shadows past. “This was
a milestone in my scooter life. As a matter
of fact, it turned in an endless will to
attend, and participate in, scooter rallies.
Somebody reported the time as the Italian
golden era, scooter boys regrouping from
afar were considered heroes, and nobody
wore ‘event-bracelets’ like these modern
‘village vacations’. Later my life permitted
more freedom to explore the custom spare
part dilemma, so I took a flight and landed
in London. There were no custom dealer
shops in Italy then, and if they did,
nothing counted for real. I spent my first
three salaries on juicy bits. Only problem
was counterfoil in which I had to pay my
parts. Back home the postman lost the
receipt and he could not read English,
despite I had payed already he demanded
money. A pickle that generated a semi-riot
between me and the Central Post Office
where I went to protest.”
Sabrina continued: “The climax to
higher and higher scooter achievements
reached a peak and then it all suddenly
stopped due to my marriage and the
decision to become a mother. This was my
first scootering ‘standstill’. My daughter
came to light and life went on for a while
dealing with money issues and usual
parental predicaments. Presenting myself
to the world as a mother was a unique
experience, though. The later scooter
revival was blissfully unexpected, the
magic being condensed in two peculiar
moments. First, during a job-related visit
to a notary I noticed a few Lambretta
pictures in his office and asked for
information. The man was puzzled by my
curiosity and mocked me, as if being a
woman was the ceaseless condition to
remain in the shadow of the scooterism.
His regard was so great that we eventually
visited the garage. Under his nose I listed
all the tech detail concerned. I then
spotted a Golden Lambretta. Unexpectedly
I was asked to take the machine as a
gift… along with the solemn promise to
ride and care for the scooter daily.”
Perplexed, this reporter was at first
uncertain to believe or not to this part of
the story; a single tear slipped away from
Sabrina’s control, and sight of her
quivering hand made me embrace her
version and frankly showed me what the
notary saw in her eyes that day. “The
second fact made our encounter possible,
Christian... the ‘Soul Rebel’. I had a
dream to design a steed by myself, at
least on paper, so I bought a Serveta Lince
for just 600 Euros. I must admit, I
manage such a sweet deal using a trick to
the previous owner, to whom I concurred
to use the machine as a countryside mule,
aimed to transport wood and general
goods.” Sabrina hidden behind her
tattooed arms started to laugh loudly then
continued. “Would you call yourself a
scooter boy, if your only route would be to
go to a custom garage and cough up
10,000 Euros for the final product? No,
me neither! Starting from the bare
machine, and thanks to my best friend, ‘Il
3 3A
3 3A

Despite the great

attention Sabrina put into
the machine, her connection
with the Lambretta was even
more obsessive, since on
every possible occasion she
gazed at the red creation.
 Bassa’, who actually did a tremendous
amount of welding, we crafted the idea
together. A dozen return tickets from
Roma to Ferrara were necessary and bit by
bit, shaping her outline with a permanent
marker we created my dream scooter
which had to be not only a beautiful
object to look at, but a reliable machine
too, safe for rallies and commuting.
Another problem was my low budget, so
thousands of visits on the web market
were a must.” Sabrina claimed that the
bright red (Blood Kandy by Houston
Colours) Soul Rebel was showing off
outside represented the best picture of
herself. Therefore, the dark black scooter
interior, protected by the mudguard and
panels, were the reflection of Sabrina’s
complicated ‘inner reality’. Very few shiny
parts took place in the modification by
Bassa and Sabrina. Welcoming, warm and
exciting appearance to a surface look…
but very dark, complicated and rough
inside, that explained the Line-X paint
job. “We rebuilt the back end to
accommodate the rear lamp structure,
which remained hidden under a white
grill. This was a nightmare Bassa dwelled
on for weeks. I wanted a general 60s
hot-rod mood, so we removed part from
the front mudguard and the front
legshield. A few centimetres lower was my
cup of tea since I am not a 1.80 metres
tall modette. A metal flake 15 and 30
grain completed the project.”
Time was running fast in my clock so I
explored the mechanical parts by myself
while Sabrina managed to cook pasta: A
‘Mugello’ based kit and a 28mm PHBH
Dell’Orto, breathed through a PM pipe and
were fuelled from an 18-litre tank.
Varitronic ignition provided the
7 7A
7 7A
126 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019
electronics, and after a few pasta bites my
knowledge went deeper, discovering a
5-plate clutch kit, IWIS chain and CASA
chain tensioner. Despite the great
attention Sabrina put into the machine,
her connection with the Lambretta was
even more obsessive, since on every
possible occasion she gazed at the red
creation. More interesting of all was her
relationship with the possible technical
problem. “See Christian, I know that
Vespas are more reliable in the long run,
but travel is more about the journey
instead the destination to me. Due to
huge technical ignorance, I cannot deal
with a major breakdown, but sometimes
when Soul Rebel won’t start, I remove the
plug, clean it, screw it back again and…
you guessed it, she will start again.”
Courage was one of the most prominent
characterisation of Sabrina’s core, not the
usual crazy nonsense courage, but driven
by hardcore passion. A small village
latched on a brown rock named Ceri was
the photo location. Sabrina kicked hard
the starter, pushed her beauty outside the
kitchen and wore sunglasses. From that
moment on, a smile grew shiny under the
helmet. While leaving her house behind,
focusing on the next article, I wondered
how many girls would like to share their
fierce scooter stories. Maybe we, men, are
afraid to find out that proper scooter girls
would beat us badly in passion and
resilience. At the end, when you really get
down to the nitty-gritty of your innermost
self, happiness and dreams are the most
important gamble to take because if you
reach them and grab their tremendous
powers, you will learn to fight back
troubles in kind.
Words & Photograpy: Christian Giarrizzo
7 7A
7 7A
CELEBRATING OUR
400 TH ISSUE
 High
Revvin’ Fun
OOTERIN
Some scooters cry out to be ridden hard C

S
and as Stan discovered, this RB-powered

G
Lambretta is more than willing to oblige…

UI
C K RIDE

Q
O
riginally built in 2012 by tuning
supremo John Balcomb, this Indian
GP was first featured back in
edition 308. Although it wasn’t
intended, its stunning paint
scheme would inadvertently become JB’s ‘house
scheme’. Thankfully, the paint remains
untouched, but that’s about all that’s left from
its previous incarnation. Although the spanner
work is mostly by Brad, the hand of JB can still
be felt throughout the machine so it’s still very
much a JB ‘Dealer Special’.
The heart of this beast is, of course, the engine
which reads 33bhp on JB’s dyno. Built on Indian
casings, the whole system revolves around an
RB25 kit which JB has fettled to his own recipe.
The addition of a LTH 62x116 crank boosts the
kit’s cubic capacity further, and a 35mm flatslide
Mikuni feeds in fuel via a set of V-Force 4 reeds.
A Bullet exhaust manipulates the burnt gasses
and a Rimini Lambretta Centre Cyclone 5 gearbox
transmits all that power to the road via a cassette
clutch. There can be no doubt that it’s an
impressive specification, but what’s it like to ride?

Keep on Runnin’
Once kicked into life the first thing I
notice is the crisp exhaust note. The
Superstrong clutch is obviously high
performance, but the effort required to
activate sits just on the right side of
comfortable. One test of a well-set-up
engine isn’t just how it performs at the top
end, but also how easy it is to ride at low revs,
and this RB is surprisingly docile at low speeds.
Once on the open road it’s a different matter.
Snap open the throttle and it responds instantly,
a real ‘thump in the chest’ experience. When I
stop to talk to Brad I’m grinning from ear to ear,
but he asks why I’m taking things gently. With
his assurance that the engine doesn’t stop until
10,000rpm he tells me to “Give it the beans”
and I oblige. The SIP speedo shows crazy
numbers, but the engine’s happiest at around
8,500rpm and easily pulls 5th gear. The Cyclone
Grin factor 10/10

128 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 2019


35mm Mikuni is surprisingly frugal
Getting ready for the off
gives crisp gear selection and movement
on the twist change feels similar to that
of a four-speed box. If I’ve any criticism
it’s that the gap between third and fourth
feels slightly long, but that really is
splitting hairs. This is the first scooter I
can recall riding with Tino Sacchi’s Targa
Line suspension both front and rear, and I
was impressed with the smoothness of
the ride. The shocks also gave just the
right amount of feedback to let me know
exactly what was going on. I noticed a flat
RB manifold
RLC Cyclone has been trouble free
Targa line shocks gave
an impressive ride
spot at around 4500 revs, but the motor
had more than enough torque to pull
through it. After the test, JB suggested
fitting a Casatronic ignition and Brad says
this has eliminated the flat spot
completely. That man Balcomb knows
his stuff…
Something for
the weekend?
Prior to the test Brad told me that he
GPS’d the RB at 85mph, in 4th gear, on
MAN & MACHINE
Owner: Brad Preston
Club: LCGB
Scooter: 1975 Lambretta GP
(Pushpak)
Engine: RB250 (260cc)
Carb: 35mm flatslide Mikuni
Crank: LTH62x116
Clutch: BGM Superstrong
Gearing: 19 x 46
Gearbox: RLC Cyclone 5 Speed
Ignition: BGM
Exhaust: Revolver
Simple yet stunning scheme
the straight at Monza… just as he was
changing up to 5th! I’m usually sceptical
of such claims, but however hard I tried it
was hard to make the engine complain, it
just wanted to rev and then rev some
more. Long-distance touring isn’t this
engine’s natural environment, it’s just too
energetic for comfortable mile crunching.
However, as a weekend screamer it’s hard
to imagine any engine more willing to
please or a scooter that’s more fun to ride.
Words & Photographs: Stan
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 129
 ETS
Reunited
S
imon Rickers purchased an ETS
in bits from a local Telford lad
who was having a garage
clearance. The scooter was
complete. However, it came with
the engine cases split and in boxes of parts.
Having paid £120, Simon had the intention
of rebuilding it as a first scooter for his
eldest son, Ben, then aged 16. “The scooter
languished in my garage for months without
any progress. Then myself and Ben came by
a complete and road legal Vespa that we
bought for him to use as his first scooter. I
wasn't very clued up on Vespa small-frames
so decided to part with the ETS, giving it to
a mate of mine to sell at Kettering parts fair.
My mate sold it on for £140 and I was £20
up!” However, immediately after Simon let
the ETS go he subsequently became aware
of the scarcity of the ETS small-frame and
started to regret the decision. “The ETS
model then became something of an
obsession of mine!” he explained. Having
recently turned 55, Simon took advantage
of a private pension option, so with some
extra cash he began looking again, and
eventually one popped up on-line. “It was
local, being located only 20 miles up the
road in Dudley. I got straight on the phone
to the seller, and started making inquiries
about the scooter. As he was describing it to
me, it became apparent that it was ticking
An amazing on-line find Patina
130 | S T E 0
all the boxes and it was advertised with a
reasonable price! I hit ‘buy it now’ and a
deposit was agreed. The seller promised to
send me more comprehensive pictures and
a video of the scooter running, which he
promptly did.”
Years before, a friend of Simon’s gave
him a house-warming card to mark the
occasion. “The card had a painting of a
Vespa on the front, so I kept it. Over the
intervening years I wrote the registration
numbers of all the scooters owned in the
card, the last entry being a Lambretta GP I
purchased in summer 2018.
“When the pictures of the ETS and video
from the seller arrived on my phone I
scrolled through them, becoming more and
more pleased with my purchase. I then
played the video. The seller, Craig, started
the scooter up and did a ‘walk round’ it
showing it in all its original condition. It
had all the correct patina signs of aging and
had all the correct factory-fitted decals,
seat, exhaust, etc... Amazing!
“As Craig passed over the back of the
scooter with the video the number plate
came into view... my heart skipped a beat
and the hairs on the back of my neck stood
up! Amazing doesn't describe the feeling.
Could this be the exact same ETS that I’d
sold all those years earlier? A quick trip to
my garage and a rummage through my
Reliable engine set up
Re-united
OWNER
Name: Simon Rickers.
Scooter club & town: Telford Shropshire,
no club at the present. Telford Tigers
back in the day.
What was your first scooter: J125
Starstream, field bike!
First legal: P125X.
First rally or event: Scarborough 1982
Easter Rally.
Favourite custom scooter of all time:
‘Revenge’ and ‘Little Rascal’.
Thanks to: Previous owner Craig for selling
it to me and understanding what it meant.
boxes of scooter paraphernalia and the
house-warming card was located, I could
barely believe it! It was the scooter I’d
owned! The scooter is now my pride and joy
and is sitting along with my other scooters
in my garage. Its in an original, unrestored
condition and the patina is perfect. It rides
beautifully and the engine set up is
testament to Craig's ability as a mechanic.
When I got the scooter it needed running in
and I found every possible excuse that I
could to get out on it! I’ve always believed
that you shouldn't purchase a vehicle with
your heart, as it can often end badly.
However, I think you'll agree, I just had to
buy this scooter!” Simon smiled.
Words: Stu Smith and Simon Rickers
Photos: Simon Rickers
Aged with
time and
adventure