Scootering October 2019

This 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. Ihope 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…

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, founder of the notorious Scooterboy World 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 LCGB ‘life member’, 100mph Lambretta Club owner and scooter restoration expert to boot. Scooter rider, rally-goer, restorer and author. Reaches the parts other scooter journalists just can’t reach. Dave Oakley Riding and building scooters since 1983, Dave has been a…

The Scooter World halls return to 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…

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 (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…

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. Areport has been…

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 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. 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 long time. How am I going to pay my bills in the meantime? A. Sorry to hear that and hope you recover soon. The good news is…