Sommaire pour April 2019 de Scootering

Although it’s served me well, the DL’s front drum brake is really only a way of letting the scooter know I’d like to stop at some point, preferably in the near future. As I’m expecting around 25bhp from the Quattrini, I need an upgrade. Unfortunately I also want to keep things looking standard, after all, that’s the charm of my DL. Having considered the options and my riding style I’ve plumped for a standard cable operated inboard disc. If that sounds unusual I’m taking my cue from Pat at Saigon Scooter Centre who runs his Targa Twin with that set-up and it seems to work well for him. Finding a suitable unit was something of a challenge and it was Pat who came to the rescue during my Vietnam trip.…

Ever since Arthur Francis first produced the ‘S Type’ in the mid-1960s, it has achieved cult-like status. When Ray Kemp took over the company a decade later, he further enhanced the brand and, if anything, made it even bigger. Often overshadowed by all of this is the AF Rayspeed Team Lambretta. Ever since it was created in the 1980s, its timeless design has been copied on many occasions. Keen to see it stays in the limelight and receives the attention it deserves, Ray and the team have embarked on producing a limited edition run in celebration of its rich history. Teamwork The design first came about when Ray himself was persuaded by racing friends Jem Booth and Andy Francis to set up a race team in the 1980s. Taking up…

Hoi An - tough choices There are few prettier places in Vietnam than Hoi An. Once a thriving port, it benefitted from rich patrons and international traders. Unfortunately, when the river silted up the wealthy took their trade elsewhere and Hoi An became a backwater. In 1999 this unique example of a 15th century trading port was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. I should have made more of our visit than drinking cold beer by the river, but there was a difficult choice to make. It had taken us 10 days to travel half the distance to Hanoi, but we’d always known that the pace would quicken after reaching Hue. From then on we’d be riding a highway that was completely devoid of attractions. Put simply, we’d…

Over the past decade Pat and his team have developed areputation for high-quality restorations. Unlike the dangerous ‘Nammer’ re-builds, Pat’s restorations were built to European specifications using only the best parts available. When asked about rumours that he was out of the restoration business, Pat paused before making his reply. “That’s not strictly true, but we’re now concentrating on supplying the local market. The Vietnamese Government tries to discourage imports on goods that can be made locally, and as a result import taxes are high. As arule of thumb a part that costs £100 fitted in the UK costs £200 here. That applies to anything imported, whether it’s fasteners or a performance kit. Although labour costs are lower, the cost of project scooters is now on par with those  in…

Despite warnings in print and on line, people are still falling for Vietnamese scams. “I get calls every month from people asking if I know dealership ‘x’ as the scooter they’ve ordered hasn’t arrived. Unfortunately, I have to tell them all that they’ve usually lost their money. I’m proud to say that we are the only 100% foreign-owned and fully licensed scooter shop in Vietnam and are not affiliated to any other business. If people choose to go elsewhere, I’m afraid I can’t help when it all goes wrong.”…

We introduced this 2-part series last month, to help with the technical aspects of getting your scooter through an MOT, as well as busting some of the urban myths surrounding the process. Hopefully you digested that all ok, and are ready for round two. Before we go any further, remember that the MOT test changes regularly. There may be further slight modifications in the near future, so any advice on what will and won’t pass is much like the MOT itself – only really valid on the day it’s given! That said, the principles remain largely the same and it’s usually just the fine print which changes. Originally, the MOT was a test of the roadworthiness of a vehicle, making sure that it was safe to use on the roads.…

The beginning of the 1980s was a turbulent, but none the less exciting time within the world of scootering. The mod revival, which had been created by more than just Quadrophenia, had faded away as quickly as it had exploded on to the scene. What it left behind was something that in a way no one knew what to do with. Overnight, scooter ownership had gone from a fragmented entity into something which was gripping the entire teenage nation. Of course, there had always been areas where it had never stopped flourishing, such as in the northern counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire. Even down south, there were pockets where it had survived. Now, however, it was a mainstream force across the entire country, and it needed joining together. Those that…

Picture the scene. It’s the mid 1980s and at the Automobile Association’s headquarters, senior management is meeting to discuss the latest statistics. One figure stands out from all others... the AA Rider Club. Created as the two-wheeled equivalent of the regular AA recovery service, it seems that on some weekends in the Summer it can’t cope with demand. There’s arisk to profits and something must be done. The problem’s quickly identified as a bunch of young scooter enthusiasts, whose ageing machines keep breaking down, with only a handful of patrolmen with the skills to repair them. The obvious answer is that management favourite – a training course. With cheque book in hand, an ageing member of staff is despatched to locate a suitable training aid, and duly returns with a…

I'm pretty sure anyone who owns a Lambretta has had either the head or fan cowling come loose at one time or another, having to fix them any way possible to get home without one or the other falling off, and more importantly, making sure that the engine doesn't overheat due to lack of cooling. They work by both cowlings creating an enclosed space, allowing cool air from the fan to be forced around the barrel and head. If one does come loose, then the efficiency drops leading to a rise in engine temperature. A lot of the problems arise from the design created by Innocenti in the first place. Even on a standard machine, the small bolts are not secure enough and are prone to coming undone from vibration.…

Opening By February most of us are chomping at the bit to get out on our scooters. Situated early on the scootering calendar the Burton Brewer’s event always gives us that opportunity, and allows us to brush away the dark winter months, which have mainly been used to make upgrades and adjustments to our scooters ready for the season ahead. The ‘do’ was held at the usual venue of the National Brewery Centre, Burton-upon- Trent, which was pushed to capacity for the day. In the week prior to the day of the event the weather had been promising, but it rose to a higher level on Saturday, which could have been Steve’s smile shining down… New layouts Dealers and traders occupied the Worthington Suite, the main rear courtyard area and…

Buoyed up by the success of other events events such as the Clitheroe weekenders, The First Kick Scooter Collective of Morecambe decided that a revamp, repush and general rejuvenation of an event based within this great bastion of scootering history was well overdue. So as soon as I got whisper something was in the offing from July 12-14, I wanted to know all about it, and the chaps who were creating it. So I grabbed a word with some of the guys from ‘First Kick’, namely Bobby Keit, Paul Kelly, Mark Dugan, Tyrone Lewis, Jon Wallbank, John Hoey. How did ‘The Collective’ come about? The First Kick Scooter Collective started as a Lambretta club, asmall number of mates who got together for drinks and ride outs, but after a while…

War drove innovation in the skies. When the likes of the Hurricane and Spitfire were in combat defending the skies over Britain, they reigned supreme. It was not only down to British manufacturing skills, but also to the men that flew the aircraft and the crews that maintained their battle readiness. The aircraft bred a new type of hero, and the fate of the nation depended upon a handful of young men who were willing to put their lives on the line to preserve our freedom, which is something we must never forget. Dave ‘Biggles’ Bignell’s themed Lambretta Li Series two is a tribute to the brave men that flew during the Battle of Britain. It’s also a scooter which is the closest you’ll probably ever get to finding a…

A couple of months ago I featured the very tidy French cutdown Le Bic, originally built by scooter ‘artiste’ Nico Lebreton. Anyhow, whilst researching it, and speaking to the builder, I realised that this wasn't the only memorable machine that Nico had built. A couple of years later he had also opened up a whole new scooter customising genre with his 'wideboy' stunner, ‘Bad Man, which was on the front cover of this magazine’s number 193 issue. I knew it had been sold on, but had no idea where or what condition it was now. After a quick email I was back on its trail, tracking it down to wildest Wiltshire and new owner, Chris Aspinal. I’m looking forward to seeing this beauty again once all the updates have been…

It’s faster than you think There are some very fast road scooters but it takes a special skill to manhandle a scooter through bends at ridiculous speeds with a knee skimming the track surface. Most first time spectators whether they are scooterists or not are blown away by the cornering speeds being reached. You won’t see scooters being ridden as fast around bends as they are in UK scooter racing. Open access You can get to meet and speak to the riders and mechanics. All circuits have open paddocks and the racers will be more than happy to talk to you about their race scooters, sign autographs and let you take pictures. But please just pick your moments - they are competing in a British Championship so whilst its all…

Here’s another item our old friend Martin ‘Sticky’ Round sent in for us to test and review. This kit contains all the items you need to accurately measure and set both your ignition timing, and/or cylinder port timing. A very useful and accurate tool indeed, every serious club/home mechanic, and trade operator should own one. The four-way engine mount tool will fit directly to the flywheel and in most cases can be used without you having to undo the flywheel nut. The tool comes pre-cut with four different threads so is suitable for use with a variety of different motorcycles and scooters, including our beloved Vespa and Lambretta scooters. The Buzzwangle-o-meter allows you to measure a full 360° within 1/10th of a degree accuracy around the centre axis of the…

For your chance to win a stylish Scootering magazine T-shirt, email us 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! Closing date: April 9th, 2019. 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.…

One of Pat’s most successful lines is a body kit, which cosmetically converts the humble PX into a classic GS. Only the headset is made of fibreglass. All other components are pressed in steel. Surprisingly, the major market for the kit is much closer to home than the UK. “British scooterists are fortunate in that they can import used scooters. That’s illegal in many Asian countries, and has been for years. I sell a lot of kits to countries like Singapore and Hong Kong, where the supply of classic scooters dried up some time ago. It’s astraightforward fit and quickly gives the appearance of a classic, whilst still conforming to modern regulations.”…

Some enthusiasts may still struggle with the concept of four-stroke autos, but there’s no doubt that they’ve become an integral part of the rally scene. A common complaint is that the autos lack character, something that Royal Alloy are doing their best to dispel. Although the metal-bodied GP was launched last year and there’s genuine promise of a 300cc version before too long, it was the GT that brought the brand to the attention of British scooterists. Currently available in 125 and 200cc versions, the GT will soon be joined by a 50cc model, which it is hoped will attract younger riders. Historically, it’s the 200cc class that’s been most important to rally going scooterists, and it was the liquid-cooled GT200 that was waiting for Dan and I to test…

Lights and other electrical components The MOT only tests to the minimum standard. Anything outside this isn’t a testable item, other than for being mounted securely. We’ll look at the so-called ‘Daytime MOT’ elsewhere. This is the requirement for a full, unconditional test. Headlight The minimum requirement for most scooters is to have a single lamp with a dip and main function. With twin headlights, either or both can have these functions, as long as they work. Headlights should be fitted symmetrically around the centre axis of the scooter – normally one headlight at the top of the forks, though twin headlights can be fitted above each other or parallel, either side of the forks. The bulb can be white, yellow or white with a slight blue tinge. No other…

Kev Cocklin's subtle yet striking green and black Turismo Veloce, TV, street racer Lambretta is genuinely different from most examples of Innocenti's one-time flagship model. Broadly speaking, most tend to follow a restored to factory specification or an unrestored path. Popular variants on the aforementioned often include a 60s-inspired street scooter paint job, with or without either a few or a number of period accessories. Conversely, and also in vogue, was the introduction of an appearance which suggests a classic old Lammy liberated from years of neglect in a derelict outbuilding or an overgrown part of a backyard. Kev’s Series3 TV fits neither template. Although not totally unique, it is unusual for a TV 175 Lambretta to be the metal canvas for a custom creation. Its transformation took place over…

The other of the pair was The Truth, who formed after the original incarnation of Nine Below Zero had, at the time, run their course. Dennis's career started off in South London under the name of Stan's Blues Band, building themselves a following on the local pub rock circuit with their brand of energetic blues/rock. At a show at the Old Kent Road pub venue, the Thomas A Beckett, musician Mickey Modern offered to become their manager. After accepting the offer, aname change ensued, the band becoming Nine Below Zero, which was lifted from a Sonny Boy Williamson number. Through his association with A&M Records, Mickey Modern took some demo tracks that he'd produced along to the label. He persuaded the label to set up a subsidiary, M&L. With Modern…

So, where to start with the mechanical upgrades? Well, my first job was to dry fit the engine, to see how much room we had, and what needed trimming. It was immediately apparent that the engine mount lugs were wider than standard, but I couldn’t figure out why. Regardless, Tino supplies a specific engine mount shim/washer combo to take up the slack… which left the engine perfectly centred, albeit tightly squashed in between the two rear footboard hangers. The footboards would need trimming, and the battery tray removing, the only problem being, in the new shed I couldn’t find the angle-grinder! I was relegated to a tiny cutting disc on a Dremel 3000. Luckily, one disc was just enough to cut off the battery tray and trim both footboards before…

Hammers It stands to reason that when a football fan is passionate about his football team and his scooter, then the outcome will be delivered to a high level of precision. Add in a Punk band and the cocktail is set for a fast-paced, wicked blend of intricate detail. Stand by for Mark Rogers’ ‘Bonzo’ West Ham United themed scooter. As I wasn’t too familiar with West Ham FC, Mark explained that the club was founded in 1895 as the Thames Ironworks and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. They moved to the Boleyn Road ground in 1904, which remained their home for more than a century until the club re-located to the London Stadium in 2016. Punk Mark explained that his favourite band is the Cockney Rejects, who…

...the man behind the promo video for the new film The Scooterist. If you attended the 7th Scootering Meltdown in Kalkar earlier this month, you may have noticed a couple of bearded fellas wondering between bars and custom show, and invading your personal space on the dance floor with our cameras and gimbals. Sorry if we got up in your face but judging by the smiles and friendly banter we think we were welcome. The best thing about scooter rallies is how much people want to talk about their passion for scooters with complete strangers. The enthusiasm for the film within the scootering community has been massive. Not long after the trailer was released I was invited by Meltdown organiser Marcus Broix to attend this year’s event, giving me the…

Croft is the premier circuit in the North East of England, is based around an old airfield but has been developed and over the years has hosted a variety of racing including touring cars, British superbikes and rallycross. Racing has been held regularly since the late 1940s once the bombers had left their home. The current circuit is just over two miles long and is a real test with a variety of bends from fast sweepers to a very tight hairpin opening into one of the longest straights. Being quite bumpy in places it can be a real test of race set up and handling and on gusty days you can see the riders using the shelter of the start straight pit wall to slipstream and get out of the…

East Fortune, which is run by the Melville Motorcycle Club, has only recently become a full-time circuit. Located next to Scotland’s National Museum of Flight, it’s another former airfield. Only a few miles away is a scooterists’ favourite, the seaside resort of Dunbar, while the seaside town of North Berwick is also only a few miles away if you want to make a weekend of it in Scotland. The circuit is quite remote though, and be aware that when you park in the car park you have to access the paddock and the best viewing places by a gate going over the track into the centre. This can only be done under marshal control between races, so you will need to bear this in mind, especially when leaving, as if…

Pembrey is a very long way into Wales... past Newport, Cardiff and Swansea and keep going! It’s scenic though, so keep an eye open for speed cameras – of which there are plenty. The ‘Home of Welsh Motorsport’ is still relatively new, having held its first race meeting in 1990. The circuit, like many, was developed on one end of a former RAF airfield and has generally been better known for various forms of car racing than two wheeled racing. In years past it was regularly used for testing by the McLaren Formula 1 team and even has a place in F1 history where Ayrton Senna and Ron Dennis had ‘discussions’. Senna did some extremely fast laps there. The circuit has a range of fast bends as well as some…

I’m pretty sure many people have seen the images of Lambrettas taken outside the old Innocenti factory in Milan. Now empty and slowly decaying, the site is used by those paying homage to its history, and as the ideal photo opportunity. Those pictures paint a sad story of a great empire that once was. The huge buildings once housed a thriving production line for Lambretta scooters, but those days are long gone. The question remains as to how and why it was allowed to happen? Innocenti had been around for a long time before the company even considered producing scooters. The company had been involved in heavy machinery and scaffold production, and only became interested in the idea of scooters after the Second World War. It was a plea from…

Name: Pat Joynt Home: Wigan Main Ride: Lambretta GP Specification: Targa Twin 275 (Engine #24), R1 rear shock, ‘Tino’ Clubman Exhaust Major repairs: Nil Opinion: “I’ve had the Targa engine for around a year, but this is its first major outing. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the performance, although the gap between second and third is too large and I’m considering a 5-speed gearbox to address that. The clubman’s abig improvement on the twin pipe. It’s far more tractable and there’s ahuge difference in ground clearance. I’ll keep the twin pipe for when I want to publicise its a Targa, though!”…

This year Saigon Scooter Centre celebrated its 21st birthday, yet outside of the trade it’s relatively unknown. Putting things into perspective, if a classic scooter has been re-built in the last decade it’s highly likely that some of the components used were sourced or manufactured by its British owner, Pat Joynt. The story of how he came to settle and work in Vietnam would fill a novel, but it all began with a family holiday to Morecambe. “I grew up in Wigan,” explained Pat. “I was in my early teens when we went to the coast on holiday. The town was full of scooters and I got talking to some of the lads. They explained about scooters and scooter rallies, and I was hooked. Back home, I tracked down an…

The question of whether the V-Special is what Innocenti would be producing had they stayed in business is one that can never be answered. Enthusiasts will point out that although Vespa’s GTS has almost no relationship to the Rally, it does share a corporate heritage, and that’s something that the new Lambretta simply can’t claim. It’s a question that’s not lost on the V-Special’s designers, but instead of simply focussing on what Lambretta was they’ve also considered what Lambretta has become, and that’s global fashion brand. Whilst manufacturers were arguing about who owned rights to use the Lambretta name on motor scooters, others were forming a multinational franchise, which sells everything from bags to watches. It may not sit easily with readers of Scootering, but there’s an entire generation that…

Mod revival outfit Squire applied that approach back in May 1979, and for them it paid dividends. Originally a trio, Squire took their name from the name of a shop (Squires) that they rehearsed above in their early days. All three original members of Squire went to the same school as Paul Weller. To start with they performed covers, which changed in June 1978 when guitarist and singer-songwriter Anthony Maynell joined the band. A short time later, Squire opened for The Jam at what was a local show for both bands, at the 1000-capacity Guildford Civic Hall. Once having joined, Anthony changed the band's direction from performing covers to originals in a relatively short time. A demo recorded in late 1978, ‘Get Ready to Go’, released in 79 via the…

Making scootering great again Micky Bates, Mark Porter, Damien Bates, Tom Macken, ‘Kev’, Mark Gibson, Teresa Bates and Grant Bates of Donald Trump SC. “The Brewer’s do is always a good one. It always helps us find out early in the season if any of our scooters are going to break down,” explained Mark Gibson. The club’s ‘Commander-in-Chief’ Adam Gray was unable to attend. Mark explained that as a result he’d been sworn-in as leader for the day. “It’s abig responsibility,” he laughed.…

This year was the seventh time that the Spirit of 84 Scooterists has organised the Scooterist Meltdown at the decommissioned nuclear power plant Wunderland, in a small town called Kalkar, in Germany. Your family and friends may think you’re mad when you say “I’m riding to Germany on my scoot” – and they might be right. Not that the distance is a problem. Kalkar is only 120 miles away from Rotterdam Europort; we’ve all travelled further to rallies in the UK. The time of year made it a little rough, it was extremely wet and windy, otherwise, I'm sure it would have been an easy ride. On the plus side, for the five of us who were mad enough to ride over, we didn’t have one break down. That’s always…

Kev Williams always knew that the theme of this scooter would be controversial. However, having served in the Forces and coming from a family with a strong mining history, Kev isn’t afraid of confrontation. The name of the scooter, ‘When Two Tribes Go to War’, could be interpreted as being divisive, but the name isn’t there to be confrontational, it’s there to underpin and remind us of the deep-rooted impact and affect the miners’ strike had on communities, livelihoods and the future of British industry. The miners’ strike lasted for a year and involved miners from collieries throughout the country. At the time Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister, and the 1980s had seen a long succession of strikes and industrial action. Some will say that the miners’ strike was an…

Mallory is a very popular East Midlands circuit, and although mainly used for motorcycle racing, also hosts touring cars, superbikes and Formula Three. Historically this was a venue for the transatlantic races where Barry Sheene and others gained their reputations. At around 1.3 miles it is one of the shortest circuits in use – indeed it was originally built as a one mile oval. But it has been reconfigured and extended over the years to include a hairpin and the Bus Stop chicane, which is a section almost guaranteed to create some thrills and spills. A scooter is actually one of the fastest things through the hairpin and Bus Stop section where small wheels make them far more nimble than big bikes. Being a smaller circuit, far more of it…

Lydden Hill is just over a mile long and nestles in a natural amphitheatre in the Kent countryside just off the A2 before you get to Dover. Those of a certain age will remember this as being the venue for Saturday afternoon TV sport rallycross with Murray Walker commentating. The circuit has a long history of racing and was once owned by McLaren, who bought it with the intention of testing F1 cars. The circuit is small but a spectators’ dream, as being set in a natural bowl it is virtually all viewable in several places so you can see pretty much all of a race. The circuit became Tarmac in the early 1960s after converting from grass, but it has always maintained shale surfaces on the inside for the…

Arriving at the Three Sisters Circuit for the first time can be a little strange, as you go from a housing area to an industrial estate to the recreation area. Ashton-in-Makerfield is a suburb of Wigan, which goes part of the way to explaining why the circuit has been synonymous with racing scooters over the years Ask any racer about Three Sisters circuit and you will quickly find the BSSO racers have a real love/hate relationship with the circuit that is arguably the ‘spiritual home’ of UK scooter racing. Through the 1980s and 90s there were more scooter races here than anywhere else and any racer from that area has probably done thousands of laps of this tight, twisty circuit and probably fallen off on all of its bends. Some…

If Three Sisters is the ‘spritual home’ of scooter racing, Cadwell Park is considered by many to be the current home. The Lincolnshire circuit has a bit of everything and is often called the ‘mini Nurburgring’. It is certainly a track of huge history and character and is popular with racers and spectators alike. In recent years it has hosted the final round of the British Scooter Championship so has been the place where champions are crowned. Set in the glorious Lincolnshire Wolds, the circuit is surrounded by and built onto hills and has a fair amount of gradient over its 2.1 mile full circuit lap. Cadwell has seen racing since the 1930s and is considered too narrow for some car racing, but events such as British Superbikes are the…