Scootering

I’ll confess to having an off/on, love/hate relationship with Quadrophenia. On one hand the film was a cultural phenomenon that changed a generation but on the other it’s spawned numerous clichés. My own introduction to Quad’, on an afternoon that literally changed the course of my life, was courtesy of a Who-loving neighbour; and I still think it’s the band’s best work. That was around nine months before the film was released and perhaps that’s my problem, I’m an album guy. Sorry, but the film was a disappointment to me. It never lived up to my interpretation of the album, and few of the characters were as I’d pictured them in my mind. Indisputably Phil Daniels made the role of Jimmy his own, but I was totally unconvinced by Sting…

Having recently moved into the world of adding trade accounts to its extensive retail offering, Barnsley based Ron Daley’s is pleased to announce its appointment as a Polini dealer. With a range of products that covers both classic and modern scooters, the status of authorised dealer sits well with Ron Daley’s existing portfolio and expertise. As we go to press new items are being added to the website and will be available from stock. www.rondaleyscooters.co.uk…

One of the reasons we’ve shifted our scheduled Lexicon featuring the Lambretta Lince is the subject’s complexity. Fortunately Jaime de Prat Salomone, aka SuperEibar, is coming to the rescue of equally confused souls with his new book, the 160-page Fibreglass Lambrettas 1980-89. Many readers will be familiar with his previous book, the ground-breaking Eibar Lambrettas 1954-1989. In this next volume, Jaime turns his attention to the later models which, you’ve guessed it, featured glass fibre bodywork. Produced in a limited edition of only 350 copies, advance orders are already being taken so if you want to secure a copy ahead of its release at Euro Lambretta in June, you’d better get your name down quickly. www.supereibarperformances.com…

Hot off the press and straight in at the top of the Amazon books bestsellers’ chart within days of publication is Stuart Owen’s latest book, Lambretta Street Racers, The Builder’s Guide. Regular Scootering magazine contributor Stuart Owen is a prolific writer of books about scooters – predominantly, but not exclusively, with Lambrettas as the subject matter. There’s a series that looks at all the aspects of every Lambretta model produced from Series 1 to Series 3. Others spotlight technical developments and innovations, as well as an in-depth history of certain aspects of the one-time worldwide scooter phenomenon. During his time as a competition rider, both racing and even more so as a sprinter, Stuart formed the 100mph Lambretta Club; his latest book draws on much of his own, first-hand experiences,…

This information is provided by Stephen Hattersley, of WildWood Legal, a firm of solicitors specialising in claims for injured scooterists. Stephen, a qualified solicitor for 25 years, has been riding scooters for more than 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. Q. I was knocked off my scooter by a car driver at traffic lights. He jumped the lights as I went through on green. He says the opposite. There were no witnesses. I really want to claim against him but my insurers are telling me it is too difficult as it is…

Incredibly it’s almost two years since we featured Torbay Lambretta in our dealer focus, and it’s fair to say that their mixture of good service, fair pricing and reliable stock levels have served owner Mike Farrell, his wife Mel and the rest of the Torbay team well. While their high street shop in Paignton oozed charm, it couldn’t cope with the ever-increasing volume of sales. Last year the business moved to a dedicated industrial unit in nearby Newton Abbot and that’s now fully operational. What it may lack in charm it certainly makes up for in efficiency. Other than the address, nothing else has changed; Mike and Mel are still a pleasure to visit and their reputation speaks for itself. One tip, if you’re in the area and decide to…