Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2018 i Scootering

New Year, new opportunities! I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to the scootering year of 2018. The past two years of being editor have taken up a lot of my time in ‘repositioning’ things here at the magazine but I can now honestly say, Ifeel things are quite balanced at the moment, not perfect… but balanced. So I want to now focus on the year ahead, and see what new challenges we have to look forward to. I don’t want to give too much away at this point, but two recent projects I’ve been putting in the groundwork on have been particularly enjoyable for me, especially due to my soft spot for tech-stuff. The first project was to be invited down to Replay Scooters by owner Paul…

These six years have been a rollercoaster ride to say the least; the highs have been high and the lows have been low. We, a scooter club of unorganised and, at times, erratic youths, have won the BSRA Club Championship – twice! That, for sure, is something we will always be extremely proud of. We have also had the pleasure of DJing at several of the big rallies, ruffling many a feather along the way. Last year we completed our first European adventure, touring the low countries, visiting Scooter Centre Köln and attending the final, legendary Venlo Rally. Most importantly for me though, is I had the good fortune to meet my partner of four years, Lydia, through the club. From my own point of view for the last three…

“This book has stood the test of time in many ways and you still find it being referred to by racers and tuners today 33 years on.” If you were remotely involved in scooter tuning or racing in the 1980’s or 90s then you almost certainly had a copy of the Lambretta Tuning Manual by Dave Webster. Undoubtedly the best tuning work ever written for the Lambretta scooter, it had facts, figures… “a wealth of information” as the cover told us, and a wealth of information it definitely was! The manual had started out as a collection of articles in the fanzine type scooter magazine produced from home by Norrie Kerr in the days when we didn’t have a newsagent scooter mag. Ever the businessmen, Norrie and Dave put together…

Name: Andy Impey Job: Scaffolder. Scooter club: Innocents Scooter Club Cambridge. When did you first become interested in scooters: 1978 Mod revival. What is your favourite style of custom scooter: Full blown ridden. First rally or event: Yarmouth early 80s. How did you get there: Rode with group of mates – it took forever. What’s the furthest you’ve ever ridden on a scooter: 2006 Euro Lambretta, France – 1200 mile round trip with Ray & Scott. Name of scooter & reason: Can’t Get Over These Memories (top tune). Scooter model: Li150. Inspiration: I always wanted a full blown custom and I love northern soul. Engine spec: Performance tuning 250cc engine, Mugello Mk3 bored to 71mm, re-plated and ported to fast-road tune spec with boost port modification, old school 90s reed…

Name: Gary Dickenson Job: Tool maker. Scooter club & town: Solihull. How did you first become interested in scooters: I’m not ashamed to say that watching Quadrophenia on Betamax in the early 1980s was the catalyst but seeing all the scooters parked up outside a local pubs in Wythall and Birmingham was the turning point. What is your favourite style of custom scooter: I’m very open-minded on that subject, everything from a trick but well-engineered chop to a Series 1 with a selection of period and tasteful enhancements. First rall: Isle of Wight 1983, on the back of a mate’s GP200. What’s the furthest you’ve ever ridden on a scooter: More than 700 enjoyable miles through northern Spain a few years ago two-up with Alison (the wife). Favourite custom scooter…

In 1967 a three-page article in the short-lived publication Practical Scooter and Moped featured one of the first ever racing Lambrettas in Britain. Built by Supertune, the Croydon-based shop run by Malcolm Clarkson, it was innovative and way ahead of its time. In an era when the only other purpose-built machine by a dealer that bore any resemblance was that of the Arthur Francis ‘S Type’ it was uniqueness personified. Not only was it tuned but for the first time, the chassis considerably altered by lowering the front end. Labelled the Supertune Low Line Special, it was pioneering and paved the way for Lambretta tuning and modification as we know it today. Having spent several years being raced at circuits round the country, it disappeared altogether sometime in the mid-1970s.…

Most clubs don’t need an excuse for a gathering and social occasion whatever the weather or destination, and we’re no different. However, 10 years of club scooting, and happy antics was surely a golden opportunity not to be missed for organising a club celebration and an ideal reason to party. Founded by Michael Clark in 2007 in a small Oxfordshire town, our club has bought together members from Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Aberdeen! Some Kites fly away for a while, but they always have a habit of returning, if only for a brief moment. Thame Snooker Club was bursting at the seams with 120 eager Kites and fellow feathered friends, eager and enthusiastic to celebrate our anniversary bash, commemorate the end of the scooter season and help raise funds for Oxfordshire…

During the 80s and 90s scooter customising branched out from the usual ‘safe’ themes to a myriad of subjects. Alternative bands and even controversial subjects such as war and religion were soon to adorn the panel-work! Now, when this scooter first appeared, Iremember it raising a few eyebrows. A scooter based on God! Why? Was there a deeper meaning? Now, I’m not sure of the answers but that’s just it – scooter customising for me is about challenging the status quo, making people think and in some cases actually have an opinion. Personally, I think the subject is an excellent one, and let’s be honest you’re never going to run out of research material and artwork are you? Another bonus is you’re also not going to have some ‘expert’ roll…

Stu Smith Vespa & Lambretta owner, scooter obsessive, amateur home mechanic, rally goer, Mod sympathiser, music lover and general all round good egg. He writes your rally reports, be nice to him. Nik Skeat Vespa P-range obsessive, well-travelled rally rider since the 80s, and founder of the once notorious Scooterboy World online forum. He’s also a brilliant beer-brewing bearded Scootering feature writer. Christian Giarrizzo From Italy to Australia, this man get the miles in and has ridden some serious roads in his time. A dedicated journalist who meets the most interesting characters along the way. Stuart Owen Life member of the LCGB, 100mph LambrettaClub owner and scooter restoration expert to boot. Scooter rider, rally-goer, racer, restorer and author. Reaches the parts other scooter journalists just can’t reach. Darrell Taylor Two-stroke…

FAMINE AND FEAST There’s no doubt that 2017’s been a difficult year for dealers who service the needs of Britain’s scootering community. The ongoing legal battle between Royal Alloy and Scomadi, the ongoing struggles of LML and discontinuance of the PX by Piaggio made for a perfect storm. Yet when I bumped into Norrie Kerr at EICMA he told me that scootering was “in a period of renaissance”. It took a while for me to digest his words but Norrie’s right. Vespa are pushing the boundaries of clean engine technology and others are nipping closely at their heels. The Lambretta brand is being relaunched while Scomadi and Royal Alloy are pursuing their own product lines. Owners of classic scooters shouldn’t feel left behind as CAD technology has brought high specification,…

The Mod revival of 1979 had seen a massive resurgence in scooter ownership with many choosing to resuscitate abandoned scooters from the 1960s. There was always the option to buy a brand new Vespa PX, but if choosing the Lambretta route then second-hand was the only real choice. However, from time to time when the Spanish Serveta factory managed to get their act together there would be a fragmented supply of machines make its way to the UK mainland. The Jet 200 was based on a sort of crossbreed between the Li and SX range. Though at the time it didn’t carry the kudos of the Innocenti built machines, it was still well made and offered those that did want a Lambretta the chance to purchase new. Local to us…

King Mojo There For You / 5th Time Around (Zuffle) Hailing from the North East of England, Middlesbrough to be exact, King Mojo now with this, their second single, have created a bit of a stir with a number of movers and shakers in the know. Hardly surprising as King Mojo have a sound that is not only reminiscent of 80s Medway garage punk – it is also something of a revival. Of course, having recorded in Ranscome Studios in Rochester, Kent with Graham Day (The Prisoners, Prime Movers, Mighty Caesars, Gaolers) on production duties, plus Medway punk band Wipeout’s Jim Riley guesting on the recordings, nothing less would be expected. Both the EP and vinyl single are precursors to King Mojo's debut album which was due out late…

This is the fourth Ride of Remembrance with each one getting bigger. At the meeting point the pavements and road were totally filled with scooters and people. The ride then set off into central Manchester with Deansgate coming to a standstill from all the scooters. More than 400 scooters turned up from across the north-west, some having travelled from as far away as Stoke, Burnley, Bradford and Shrewsbury! As soon as the service finished it was engines kick-started and the smell of two-stroke was everywhere, Greater Manchester Police kept Albert Square closed to allow the scooters to ride through to the cenotaph, the crowds waved, cheered and applauded the scooterists. The procession stopped at the cenotaph, to observe the two minutes’ silence, the last post played and brought Manchester to…

Some scooters live fast and die young, others seem to go on forever. This particular Vespa is the embodiment of modern styling but parts of it have been around for decades. Although the engine’s been treated to a new set of Pinasco casings, most of the power dates from the 1987/88 racing seasons and originally engineered by our very own Sarge. “The engine started out as a Scooter Scene magazine project sponsored by Malossi,” explained Sarge. “We used a Rally 200 lump, 210 kit, primary gears, and exhaust. “I raced it in the FBSC Group 6 class, which I won in the first season it was introduced. With the Malossi deal concluded I was allowed to keep the engine. The barrel had some serious port work done and I modified…

SUBSIDISED SCOMADI RACING Following a decision made at the recent BSSO Annual General Meeting, Scomadi has announced a single make class of racing for the 2018 season. The Scomadi Cup 200 challenge is aimed squarely at newcomers to racing and as an incentive a heavily subsidised package is being offered via Dave Wilson at Retro Tech Racing. The package includes a fully race prepared Scomadi 200 TL200, tuning kit, wet and dry race tyres, spares support and a dyno run at PM Tuning. Scomadi’s Paul Melici told Scootering: “The full package has a value of £5700 but riders can take advantage of our subsidy to purchase it for £3764.” Providing the scooter competes in two thirds of the meetings the machine will become the property of the racer, with an…

Name: Neil Castle Scooter club & town: Cheltenham Blue Diamonds. How did you first become interested in scooters: Dad had a GS. Your first scooter: Primy. Favourite scooter model: GS. What is your favourite style of custom scooter: Smallframe (at the moment!). First rally or event: Isle of Wight 1982. How did you get there: Primy. What’s the furthest you’ve ever ridden a scooter: 200+ miles. What’s your favourite Scootering magazine feature: Custom feature scooters. Your favourite custom/featured scooter of all time: IBBO’s Series 1, Bettie Page. Name of scooter and reason: Castle’s Rocket (as in Stephenson’s Rocket). Steampunk and ’kin fast. Scooter model: Vespa 90/Quatrini 200. Inspiration for the project: I like steampunk stuff, luckily so does Sam Cave at ReBorn to be Wild. Both Sammy and John let…

Paul Brierley has always had a passion for scooters and most notably the Lambretta which is where his real interest lies. He got his first scooter as a young teenager in 1980 and today successfully runs one of the biggest businesses in the industry. During the intervening years, he was responsible for being one of the instigators of the Indian revolution that has helped thousands of Lambretta owners keep their machines on the roads over the years. Clear out I first met Paul some time in 1989 on an open day at Midland Scooter Centre. Our paths had crossed due to the fact we had both been clearing the old stock from Lambretta dealers around the country. This was where he first told me about a trip he had made…

Name of scooter & reason: Talk Talk (the 80s band, not the phone company). Scooter model: A rusty 1993 PX200. Inspiration for project: Like the old style Vespas, I wanted to do something which had a ‘hot-rod’ look to it. Time to build and by who: Built over two years of spare time and weekends, 99.99% by me. Technical machining, hand pinstriping/lettering and seat covering I’ve had done. Any specialised parts or frame mods: The frame has been lengthened by four inches. Front body widened one and a half inches. The rear body I hammered the PX corners out, hammered the old style under seat shape in, and also narrowed by two inches. Top of the body is lowered and moved forward by two inches, I’ve then remade the curve…

DECEMBER 23 S-o-T SC Xmas Bash, Our Bar (Jollies) 279 London Road, Stoke, ST4 5AG. 7pm - late £2 on the door 30 Aussies Festive Special, a night of Ska, Mod, Two Tone, Northern Soul etc with DJ Doddy at Swinton British Legion, Cheetham Road, Swinton M27 4UQ. 7.30 - late,. £5 in advance, incl supper. Aussie 07421 368344 or John 07966 316414 29 Shoreditch Got Soul, at Blues Kitchen, 134 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3AR. 9pm-2.30am (free before 9/£6 after) Live Soul Revues. DJ Dr Robert + Guest. www.newuntouchables.com 30 End Of Year Banger, Perkins Sport & Social Club, Tixall Road, Stafford, ST16 3UB. 7pm onwards with Marquis Drive playing live. See FB for more info 31 Le Beat Bespoke, New Years Eve party, The Rocksteady 574 Kingsland Road,…

The legend George Hamilton starred as iconic American motorcycle daredevil extraordinaire Evel Knievel in the 1971 film of his career up to that point and cemented the larger-than-life legend of the man. During the opening scene, Hamilton stands beside a red, white and blue Harley-Davidson XR-750 wearing Knievel’s trademark star-spangled white jumpsuit and speaks directly to the camera: “Ladies and gentlemen, you have no idea how good it makes me feel to be here today. It is truly an honour to risk my life for you. An honour. Before I jump my motorcycle over these 19 cars – and I want you to know there’s not a Volkswagen or a Datsun in the row – before I sail cleanly over that last truck, I want to tell you that last…