Sommaire pour October 2018 de Scootering

Just as I sat down to write this month’s welcome column, I was faced with the sad news that scooter luminary and LCGB legend Kev Walsh had passed away. Normally this column is the editor’s chance to frame some of the current content for the reader and convey the ethos of the edition. I was going to wax lyrical about the brace of Nosferatu customs we have, the ‘quick rides’ series Stan has started, the SCK factory race rep, and certainly Wild Thing being back with a bang. But none of that somehow seemed to matter at the time of writing, not with the news of Kev’s passing. A few months ago Scootering writer, and close friend of Kev’s, Stu Owen set to work on a collaboration with Kev, to…

Keeping rust at bay while maintaining patina is a constant battle for owners of original paint scooters. It’s two years since Stan completed his DL ‘rusteration’ project and so far Rust Bullet has prevented any deterioration. Although it’s available in different colours, ‘Clear Shot’ is probably most interesting to Scootering readers. Applied by brush, roller or spray gun it has a clear, high gloss finish that’s exceptionally hard. Although it can be applied directly over rust, the surface needs to be spotlessly clean as any dust will tint the product. There aren’t too many tins of paint that come with seven pages of instructions but trial and error suggests the best way to apply it is by a ‘dry brush’ technique, covering areas of rust with…

Regulations were introduced by the Government banning the sales of battery acid to the public in July 1, 2018. So from now on, only those holding an Explosives Precursors and Poisons (EPP) licence will be able to handle the substance. This means that if you are buying a battery for your scooter it can only be filled with acid by your local dealer. If you a buying a battery from them that is no problem. However, if you buy one from an online internet site it will only come dry charged. This will mean you will need to take it to a dealer to get it filled up before being able to use it. Under the new laws, sulphuric acid has been reclassified as a regulated substance. From now on…

Name: Dene Longstaff Job: Decorator. Scooter club: Darlington Scooter Club. How and when did you first become interested in scooters: First interest in ’78/’79 during the Mod revival, God that sounds a long time ago. What was your first scooter: First scooter a Vespa 125 Primavera – used it to ride around the streets with no licence, well you could in them days. First rally or event: Scarborough, on the bus I was 14. Got butchered off me mam n’ dad when I got back as it had been on the news and there’d been trouble. Funniest experience with a scooter: Funniest experience was coming back from Colwyn Bay back in the Eighties – no mobile phones or breakdown recovery in them days. Had a great weekend and set back…

Class (Sponsor): WinnerFirst Time Entrant (Crusader Promotions): Brain FreezeMod/Accessories (Lexham Insurance): Twisted SoulVintage Lambretta (LCGB): GAS 143 S1Custom Lambretta (Scooter Restorations): Majestic RealmsRestored Lambretta (LCOC): LD150 BetsieVintage Non Vespa/Lambretta (SWSC): The BeastBest Ridden Scooter (Northern Gary Cordon Memorial): Rule BritanniaStreetRacer Lambretta (Lexham Insurance): Duckhams TV175Mural (Lexham Insurance): Start Me UpVinyl/Graphics (Classic Racks): Soul SurferBest Auto (On 2 Wheels): Sparticus GTSEngraving (SIP Scooter Centre): Majestic RealmsDisplay (Colchester DVLC): Top BananaChampion of Champions (VFM – J Bolland Memorial): Start Me UpCutdown (BSSO): Rat FinkOriginal Scooter (Photography UK): GS150 VDL 243Vintage Vespa pre-72 (Classic Scooterist magazine): GS150 338 UYXCustom Vespa (All Or Nothing SC Coventry): The SentinalRestored Vespa (VCB): GS160 BDL 43BBest Chop (Distant Echoes SC): Old SkoolBest Oddity (Macca & Dobbins Scooter Repairs): Top BananaVespa Street Racer (Vespa Owners Club): Rossi ReplicaBest…

BLOA to LCGB 1970 to 1977 When Bob Wilkinson left Lambretta Concessionaires, Peter Davis became the new club secretary for a short period. In 1970 Rex White took over as the club secretary running it mostly in his own free time. When he took over the reins he changed the JetSet to a new larger size for the year he ran the club. Unfortunately he had to stand down at the end of the year because of his heavy commitment to Suzuki. During the year a full programme of events was organised. Just before the club’s AGM Rex and Bob asked me if I could form a committee at the 1971 AGM to take over the running of the club when he stood down. At this time I was a…

Name of scooter & reason: Just A Boys Dream – Armandos replica. Scooter model: P-range Vespa. Inspiration for project: I always wanted an Armandos when I was younger. Engine spec: Malossi heavily ported. Case: Pinasco casings, heavily ported and matched. Flywheel: Vespatronic. Exhaust: One off hand-made. Clutch: Readspeed spec. Gearbox: Readspeed Spec. Carb: 30mm Dellorto. Dyno: 32bhp by Readspeed. Describe engine performance, power delivery and scooter handling: Best and most powerful Vespa I’ve ever ridden. What was the hardest part of the project: Finding the money (ha ha). Is there anyone you wish to thank: Craig Scooter Paint Shop, everyone at Readspeed and my wife. Kev Roberts at Gold Soul Promotions for making me a resident DJ at every major soul event in the country.…

When Piaggio revealed their Sei Giorni in 2016, some saw it as a marketing ploy to sell more GTVs; others felt it was a worthy tribute to the legendary 1950s racer but for Scooter Center’s Alex Stroh and Frank Winkel it didn’t go far enough. “We wanted to create something that was a combination of both modern and classic Vespas,” explained Alex. Having secured an accident-damaged GTV the pair set about transforming their ideas into reality. Foaming at the mouth After studying the original 1950s Sei Giorni, the pair realised that the original’s distinctive features were increased fuel capacity and improved streamlining. The question was how to incorporate these into the project. Lacking the ‘clay room’ facilities of a major motor design house, Alex and Frank resorted to the next…

Night Trains Lovesick 1987-2017 (Acid Jazz) Acid Jazz records celebrate their 30th anniversary this year, as a part of what will undoubtedly be a multitude of happenings and releases to mark this milestone, Night Trains have released a compilation album. Centred around bassist Hugh Brooker, who is also an internationally renowned DJ, Night Train are in effect a fluid collective of musicians who have over the decades co-collaborated on various Night Trains musical projects. Since 1987 they’ve released singles and albums via Acid Jazz as well as through other labels too. Night Trains were one of Acid Jazz’s earliest signings, originally an instrumental five-piece outfit in the early days they built their soul, jazz, funk and Mod sound around a twin-pronged sax and Hammond attack at the Acid Jazz…

Name: Fynlay Kirby Job: Apprentice mechanic. Scooter club & town: Donald Trump Scooter Club. Leicestershire. How and when did you first become interested in scooters: Mum and dad have always had scooters. Dad (Robin ‘Dobin’ Tidd) repairs them. What was your first scooter: PX125 (unfortunately in scooter heaven due to my accident). What is your favourite scooter model: Lambretta Li 150. First rally or event: Skegness 2015. Any stories: The crash! Favourite rally: My favourite has always been the Isle of Wight, I love the atmosphere of the scootering scene and people on a closed site. Funniest experience with a scooter: Allowing scooter mechanic Ian ‘Macca’ Mackie to ride my scoot at WoT rally 2016 and punctured both wheels! What’s the furthest you’ve ever ridden on a scooter: 240 miles…

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. Paul Green Vespa & Lambretta scooter enthusiast, BSSO professional and general good egg. Our Paul has a long history of scootering both on the road and on the track, with the breakdown bills and crash scars to prove it. 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…

VE (UK) now supplies clutch drive gears for the Vespa large frame, six- and seven-spring clutches, in several tooth counts. The new clutch drive gears allow you to either replace a worn/damaged drive gear or alter your overall gearing ratio to allow for further tuning modifications or to allow better performance. The six-spring clutch drive gear has a backing plate size of 96mm, while the seven-spring versions have a 108mm backing plate. To view the complete range of clutch products available from VE (UK)... Visit: www.ve-uk.com…

Name of scooter & reason: Torque of the Town. Always loved the name – I was going to buy the bike at one point and it had been in our club in the early days. Inspiration for project: I’ve had two copies of a DTC and always wanted a Maca original. Time to build & by who: About 18 months on and off by me, really at some points it has felt like it didn’t want to be built. Engine spec: TS1, race crank by Scotty. Mikuni 35mm carb, stainless Devtour exhaust, clutch AF. Gearbox Italian LI 150 14/47 sprockets. Describe engine performance, power delivery and scooter handling: Engine sounds really crisp. If it’s as good as the motor in my S-Type built by Scotty it will go like stink!…

Once a year our club made the trip by Lambretta to the highest pub in England. It was an annual event and though the facilities were nonexistent, somehow it didn’t matter. With plenty of room to camp, that was about all it had to offer. Luckily the lack of amenities was made up for by the huge stocks of alcohol they kept, making sure the bar never ran dry. The rally was always held in the month of July, mainly due to the weather. With it being at such a high altitude though, even in the summer the clouds could close in at any moment making it extremely cold and wet. It was because of this possible scenario we were shocked when the rally was moved to the middle of…

All trophies donated by Mental Engineering Best in Show: Midnight Oil Pre 69 Vespa: Dave Gotch SS180 Ladies’ Choice: Lady Luck Vespa: Griff Vespa 150 sidecar Chopper: Lammy/Vespa hybrid Lambretta: Ray Dredge S2 Motorbike: Rob Brittle Harley Pre 69: Ray Dredge S2 Restored: Lambretta Ld Cutdown: Psycho Social Lammy Rat: Rogue Vespa Mod: Bill Jones GP200 Club Display: Lambretta Chopper OC Special awards:  Imogen’s Image Award for Best Paint: Midnight Oil - Chubbs Ron Morgan Memorial picked by his Widow Carol Morgan: Gas Monkey Rachel Parsons Memorial for Team Scooter: Series 2 –Ray Dredge Winners of Raffle Scooters:  RPM Scooters - Oddballs (by Gatch): Tim Richmond Project Cancer Lambretta: Dave Onions Crabtree…

Category (Sponsor): WinnerVespa (Yarcostores.com): UTU53M Lesley WebsdaleLambretta (Chairman Tony Lubsby): AVG 342D Kelvin SmithAuto (Andy McDonnell Doors Plus Ltd): LJO9VGU NobbyOddity (Flatlanders SC): ALV360X Kieran SmithCustom Vespa (Ovenblitzer East Anglia Ltd): G773XRT Mike KershawCustom Lambretta (Sugery Stapes Rude Girl): EKHXRT Gary BowgenClassic (Norwich Splinters SC): 482UYX K BodellBrightwork (Sidewinders SC): DL1 David KerrBest of Show (Lions of Norwich SC): 727UYM Paul LeaderPaintwork (Shoreline Bathrooms): EO51XGL Kevin WilliamsRusteration (Original Rudeboy): GDE446D John TurnerRidden Rat (ECSC): GDE446D John TurnerPunters (Paul Crackers McCracken): CRM 182V Richie JonesUnder 15 (Sidewinders SC): Mini Mods Matching Pair.Furthest (Colchester DVLC): Johnny Betts Chorley LancsFurthest (U25) (Bootboy Radio): Brian Varey Selby, YorksTurned Out Club (Smart Radio): Norwich Splinters SCThe raffle raised £475 for charity.…

Name: Keith Turner Job: Garage owner. When did you first become involved in scooters: 1980 Mod revival. First scooter: Li150 Series 3. Favourite scooter model: SX200. Favourite style of scooter: Standard. First rally: Bournemouth 1980. Name: Wild Thing 2. Type: GP200. Built by: Pietro ‘Waz’ Wasyliw, refurbishment by Ell’s Speed Tuning. Paint: Ian King/Martin Sparks/Graham at Resolution. Engraving: Peter Robinson. Brightwork: Peter Robinson/Quality Chrome. Engine: GT200, Stage 4 tuned with bespoke exhaust. Anyone you’d like to thank: Waz for selling me the scooter and Andrew at EST Tuning for returning her to her former glory.…

Least crap snap…

Owner: Ramie Stewart Scooter club: Dundee Stars n Stripes SC. Your first scooter: PK100. Favourite style of scooter: Cutdowns and chops. First rally: Morecambe ’86. How did you get there: Vespa PX150. Funniest experience with a scooter: Going to rallies in the 80s and a few of us going into garages and filling up and driving off without paying. Once we did it and we drove off only to discover there was a bloody traffic jam on the main road and we couldn’t get out of the forecourt… Furthest you’ve ridden on a scooter: Margate, Brighton. What do you dislike about rallies: Too many people busy slagging others off for what the wear or what they ride, even how they got there. If you’re there… support the scene! Life’s too…

Name of scooter & reason: AF Replica. Scooter model: TV Lambretta. Inspiration for project: Always wanted an AF S type. Engine spec: Super Monza 250 additional porting and matching. Flywheel: Casatronic. Exhaust: Franspeed race spec. Clutch: Cassette Clutch. Gearbox: Super Monza. Carb: 35mm Mikuni Dyno: 35bhp Readspeed. Other: Japanese con rod, BGM shocks, Casa cylinder head, SIP speedo. Is there anyone you wish to thank: Craig Scooter Paint shop, Chalky at Replay, my wife for putting up with me and my toys.…

Name: Lucy Shergold How and when did you first become interested in scooters: My mum in her younger days was a classy Modette who made her own clothes. In her teenage years she used to help run The Shoreline in Bognor Regis with Mike Read. What was your first scooter: Vespa 50 Special with a 135 kit. What is your favourite scooter model: SS90. I don’t think I could actually ride one as I don’t think my arms are long enough – the tank and spare wheel would get in the way. First rally or event: IOW 1986. Two-up on the back of my boyfriend at the time. Excited and nervous because my dad believed I was staying in a B&B (sorry dad). The vibe was amazing and I had…

Stone Foundation are unquestionably one of the hardest working as well as prolific bands anywhere in the world. Their previous album Street Rituals, recorded at Paul Weller’s Black Barn studio, was a top 25 hit in the UK national chart and the first taste of their new material, Standing On Top, was officially unleashed on August 10. Stone Foundation will be backing the new album with a full tour, the first leg of which (in the UK) commences in October. Stone Foundation’s main songwriting duo Neil Jones (guitar, vocals) and Neil Sheasby (bass, backing vocals), aka Jonesy and Sheas, took time out from their schedule for an exclusive chat. SC: When did work start on your album Everybody, Anyone? Jonsey: The end of October to early November was the beginning,…

Name of scooter & reason: ‘Evolution’. This is due to my accident and being a reference to a survival of the fittest. Scooter model: PX125. Date purchased & cost: April 2018 and the frame cost me £100 (saved from my apprenticeship wages). The rest of the cost of Evolution came from the generous donations of friends and the scootering community. Inspiration for project and theme: Mark ‘Milky’ Watkins and the talented Gatch Rivett have been my inspirations from the start of the project to the finishing touches. Definitely the experts in the know with plenty of advice regarding murals. Time to build & by who: From start to finish, one month! All paintwork by Gatch Rivett and engine rebuild from scratch by Robin ‘Dobin’ Tidd and Ian ‘Macca’ Mackie. Engine…

Name: David Greenwood, aka ‘Dodgy Dave’ Job: Antique dealer. Scooter club & town: Totally Unstable / Downham Market. How and when did you first become interested in scooters: 1981. When I was 14 years old and used to hang out with the rest of the Mods outside the Owl and Pussycat pub, we all decided to buy a scooter between us. What was your first scooter: SX 240. I brought it from Dave Webster (in at the deep end). What is your favourite style of custom scooter: Street-Racer, just love that look, it does it for me. First rally or event: Morecombe Bay 80s. How did you get there: On a scooter. Vespa 150 Sportque. Any stories: Was at Morecombe Rally built a fire next to a tent, the next…

Name of scooter & reason: ‘Patriot’ and the reason is that I’m a patriot of this country. Inspiration for project and theme: When the referendum happened I had to put it to paint, it’s the best thing that's happened to this country. Can’t stand the laws from Europe telling us what to do. Bollocks to them. Time to build & by who: Two years by myself and my good old mates Arron and Tony. Any specialised parts or frame mods: All the bodywork is fibre glass by Chris at GRP Scooter Parts, Leicester: fits perfectly. Fuel and choke levers in the shape of England by K2 customs. gold sovereign horn badge by me. Front disc brake pepper pot. Leather bag by Hooligan Leather. Scomodi rear light. BGM front dampers. SIP…

Finding a good example of any British registered scooter can be a challenging task; finding one intact is unusual but finding one with a full history is almost unheard of. “I’ve known this scooter, off and on for most of its life,” began Simon Turner, the man responsible for this stunning restoration. “Incredibly it’s never roamed outside of Bristol since being first registered and when I bought it in 1997 it had been dry stored for about 12 years. I have to admit that I did nothing with it and it moved between various sheds and garages until 2012 when a tree fell onto the roof of where it was being stored. I knew then that it was ‘now or never’ and told my wife I was going to restore…

As we reported a couple of months back, a change to MOT regulations was leading to completely standard scooters failing their test due to an obscure clause which meant that their rear indicators were too close together. After this was queried by Scootering magazine and MOT stations across the country, an update was issued which claimed that the original change was a mistake, and that an update would be issued. That change is now in place, and it’s pretty much a return to ‘as you were’. Front indicators remain at 300mm at the front and 180mm at the rear. Furthermore, there is no requirement for testers to get the tape measure out unless there is a strong suggestion that the indicators are placed much too close…

Name: Richard ‘Richie’ Jones Club: Norwich Splinters SC Scooter: Lambretta GP ‘125’ Street Racer I’ve been on the scene about 40 years now, still doing the rallies, still loving it. My favourite period was the 80s, less organised back then, turn up, have a laugh, get drunk, and ride home, wedidn’t care back then. These days rallies are more of a get-together, ride there with mates, meet up with old friends, and meet different people with a similar outlook. It’s adifferent way of life, cliched it may be, but to me, it is actually. Great Yarmouth is my local rally, I’ve been coming here for scooter rallies since 1980. I’ve been coming to Sidewinders rallies at the racecourse since they started. I love the venue, the people running it, the…

With a career lasting more than 50 years, he was regarded as one of the most influential people of all time within the scooter scene. Most will remember him as one of the group who helped resurrect the Lambretta Club Great Britain in the late 1970s. Later on he took up the role as its general secretary and successfully made the club grow into the institution it is today. There was far more to Kevin than that though; as a key member of the NRC he played an important part in how scooter rallies were transformed during the 1980s. Up to the present day, he was still on the committee of the BSRA – always putting the needs of scooterists before his own. Though a lifelong Lambretta enthusiast, he also…

Name: Mick Taylor Scooter club & town: From Nuneaton, was in Collybosher SC Birmingham. How and when did you first become interested in scooters: 1979 as a young Mod I was fascinated by them and it hasn’t changed since. What was your first scooter: Vespa PX125. First rally or event: Brighton CCI Mod rally 1986. How did you get there: On my PX125. Favourite and worst rally/event: They were all too good for words, no bad ones, CCI and Untouchables were the best days ever. What do you like about rallies/ events: I don’t go so much now because my crowd don’t go.…

SEPTEMBER 21-24 BSRA National 8, Woolacombe 21-23 Ribble Valley weekend, Clitheroe, Lancs. 28-30 Aviemore rally, Scotland PH22 1RL 29 Mousetrap R&B Allnighter, Orleans, 259 Seven Sisters Rd, Finsbury Park, London N4 2DD (10pm-6am) Northern Soul, Ska, Motown, R&B and Boogaloo with resident DJ Rob Bailey & guests. www.newuntouchables.com 29 Amberley Museum Classic Scooter day, nr Arundel BN18 9LT (see main advert) 29-30 BSSO scooter racing, Cadwell Park Race Circuit, Lincolnshire. On-site camping 29-30 Series 1 Lambretta meet, Salo, Lake Garda, Italy. €70 including new S1 book (signed), model, museum visit, breakfast, aperitif and buffet www.milanolambrettaclub.it OCTOBER 5-7 Clacton 11 by Underground Groove, Martello Beach, Clacton, CO15 2LF Featuring El Sid plus support. For wristbands call Rob 07840 695245 and for caravans call Sue 01255 820372. Raising money for Saint Luke’s…

The good news was that the BSSO riders were going to get six races for each grid – the most track time of the year. The bad news was they were very wet and cold races! Here’s how the groups fared this time out… Scomadi Cup After early season promise the Scomadi class has settled down and an on-track pecking order seems firmly established led once again by Stephen Graves. He seems a total natural in the wet and doesn’t seem to slow down for it. In the first wet race he was beaten only by the faster Group 4 bikes and was some five seconds quicker than anyone else in his class. He kept his form even as the weather improved over the weekend to take a clean sweep…

Serious Fynlay is an apprentice mechanic who has a bright future ahead of him. But on May 16, 2018, this was all nearly shattered when he was riding to work on his beloved scooter and he was hit head-on by an uninsured driver. The driver drove away from the scene and left Fynlay lying seriously injured in the road. Fynlay was rushed to hospital where he received immediate life-saving medical treatment. The serious nature of Fynlay’s injuries meant that even though he made it through a five-and-a-half hour operation, he was left with rods and plates from his hip to his knee and a plate in his wrist. After the initial operation Fynlay then spent eight days recovering in intensive care with his mum Paula and dad Robin by his…

Based on the 1920s German Dracula-inspired silent movie, you know the one with the creepy skinhead Count Orlok, Ifirst saw this scooter right at the start of my scootering journey in the mid 80s. At atime when most people and their scooters were going through the Mod/ scooterboy transformation it stood out because of its livid paint and uncluttered lines, it was in fact very ahead of its time. Like the theme it has kept appearing throughout the last 30 odd years, but I never got to speak to the owner. Then while watching the Mersea fun and games I was sat next to a couple who I remembered from various shows and rallies over the years. We got talking and yes I found that they had owned and ridden…