Содержание выпуска: June 2019 — Scootering

SIP proudly present the second edition of their TACHO KARACHO quarter-mile Race for Vespa and Lambretta scooters as part of the ‘German Vintage Scooters Championship’ DBM right in front of SIP Scootershop in Landsberg, Germany, on July 27. Food, beer and café facilities are available, and parties will be on both the Friday and Saturday evening. DBM Race Schedule: 09:00 Technical acceptance and entry 10:30 Riders’ meeting 11:00 Training & warm-up 12:30 Start of race 17.30 Award ceremony Classes start in order: K 1b: Old School class (cylinders before 2000) K 5: Rotary valve class (motors without diaphragm) K 1a: Small frames up to 155cc K 6: Street Racer (beginner class) K 1: Small Frame Sport (open class SF) K 3: 200cc class K 4: Pro Sports (open class) BoA:…

Name: Tony Holland Job: Retired maintenance fitter Scooter club and town: Rotherham Scooter Club How and when did you first become interested in scooters: I used to stare in ‘Roppers’, a scooter shop on London Road, Sheffield, and dream. I can remember seeing young mods hanging around. One scooter in particular sticks in my mind as it used to blow smoke rings out of its exhaust. I thought it was cool at the time First scooter: First had a scooter at 16, an Li 150 Series 2 for transport to work. Hand-painted, still with points, but I thought it was great Favourite scooter model: I think it would have to be the Li Series 2. It’s physically bigger, which appeals to me Favourite style of custom scooter: Old school race…

I was in acoffee shop the other day, talking with some motorcyclists about finding routes and directions. They were sitting with cups of coffee, a road atlas, an Ordnance Survey map, mobile phones and a sat-nav. It was an interesting mix of old technology and new. These guys were in their 50s and were planning a 75-mile route to the East Coast, aiming to find some scenic routes, off-the-beaten-track, and avoiding dual carriageways. As they were on BMW adventure bikes, they didn't mind taking roads less travelled and even the odd track if need be. It sounded like fun. The conversation and their (intricate) planning led me to hark back a little and reminisce on the navigation methods we used to get us to runs and rallies back in the…

The sign of a great custom scooter is that it never stands still. This year Toby Taylor’s Rossi replica boasts a new carbon fibre mudguard and unbelievably detailed mural. “I looked at the T5 carbon fibre mudguards that were available off the shelf, but they all seemed too shallow,” said Toby. “Eventually I commissioned a canoe builder in Scotland to build me a one-off item. I’m really pleased with the result, but it was terrifying drilling the holes out. Maybe I should have done that before having it painted…”…

Name of scooter / Reason: ‘Little Dragon’ and ‘Green Hornet’ both are Bruce Lee inspired Scooter model: GP200 and P200e Date purchased & How much did it cost: GP £900 - 2007 P200 £1800 - 2003 Engine: What’s the spec - Little Dragon: Stage 4 tune, Sterling exhaust and 30mil Dellorto carb’ Green Hornet: Standard engine with a Polini exhaust Top speed and cruising speeds: Both scooters cruise around 60mph and I’ve never really ridden either flat out Are the scooters reliable: Yes Paintwork & murals: ‘Little Dragon’ base coat by myself and murals by Gaz Greenlove (commissioned through Paul Hindle of Eyecandy Custom Paint). ‘Green Hornet’ base coat by myself and murals by Colin Fitzgerald of Garage Artwerks Overall cost: GP £2600, P200 £2800 Is there anyone you wish…

More 4-stroke tips I've very recently become a satisfied owner of a Scomadi TL200. It's a 2016 model with just 2700 miles on it. I had my PX200 for sale and the owner of the Scomadi contacted me to ask if I fancied doing a deal. I was unsure at first and spent a few days deliberating, but decided to take him up on his offer. I'm pleased to say that I have been pleasantly surprised how good the Scomadi is out on the road. I have tried scouring the internet to get information on how to perform basic maintenance, but there is not a lot out there, unless I'm not looking in the right place. Is there any chance of an article covering basic maintenance, showing the location of…

I’ve visited scooter dealers located everywhere from modern retail parks to Victorian mills, but the directions for Wessex Scooters were definitely a first. “Just follow signs for the Atomic Weapons Establishment, look for a red post box, go past the ‘Do Not Enter’ signs and we’re in there,” were the cryptic directions given by Wessex Scooters’ Roger Green. The scene that greeted me was sheer scootering perfection. A 1950s Vespa was parked outside a wooden outbuilding, whilst inside Roger and his business partner Neil Humphrey were working on a GS. It could have been a scene from the 1950s, and from the outset it was clear that both Roger and Neil have a shared passion for this era of Italian scooters. Whilst the mainstay of British scooterists are of an…

40 years ago there was the 79 mod revival, 2-tone explosion, and Quadrophenia. All three had an influence on the scooter scene in the UK and beyond, with Quadrophenia continuing to be a major influence. There are a number of events celebrating the 40-year milestone of Quadrophenia's launch. A TV special called Quadrophenia at 40 is being broadcast later this year. Major events, with members of the cast attending, will be held in London and Brighton. A celebration of the anniversary is taking place in Chesterfield, curated by Trevor Laird. Six of the film's cast will be attending this event. Trevor Laird, Ferdy in Quadrophenia, has been a hard-working actor since his teens. He attended Anna Scher Theatre school in Islington, along with fellow Quadrophenia actor Phil Daniels. Highlights from…

K-Man & The 45s Stand With The Youth (Stomp) Bouncing out of Montreal, K-Man & The 45s release what I believe to be their second album, and now I need to find their debut! Somewhat reminiscent of The Toasters at their best, with nods to The Beat and even Roddy Radiation at times, this is a big brass-driven album of incredibly danceable ska, the way it used to be. Kicking off with the title track and lead single from the album, with its message that many people of the singer’s age can relate to the student-led protests rather than the parliamentary career politicians (it seems things are much the same wherever you go!), the album touches on drug abuse and addiction, homelessness, domestic abuse and many other topics. Don’t…

The Lambretta exhaust system is a simple two-piece design compromising the downpipe and box section, so why is it so difficult to stop it coming loose? There are various reasons for this and none more so than the way Innocenti made it in the first place. It is vitally important for the exhaust to remain airtight to prevent the spent gases escaping from anywhere else than the end of the tailpipe. The problem is if it does come loose then running issues occur and quite often that’s exactly what happens. Downpipe Starting at the engine end, you have a downpipe that sits flush against the cylinder. There is no recess for the pipe to sit into, just two small 7mm studs to hold it flat against the surface. In between…

The Standard class races were first up and ex-champion Darren Conneely popped up for his first meeting of the year, while Damon Tunnicliffe was guesting on the SRP Team’s group 4 machine after a couple of years away. Local riders Mark ‘Clippo’ Clipstone and Gary Biddle also made appearances on Group 4 machines. Group 4 This was its biggest field in a couple of years. Darren Conneely aboard the Replay/ BGM Lambretta was on top form, taking both of the races that he finished, leaving Jason Metivier to take the other win. Damon Tunnicliffe impressed all upon his return, taking two seconds and a third place aboard Chris Geyton’s SRP machine, putting it to good use. Behind them, Dan Lewis had a solid weekend and was, as always, super-stylish. Another…

Air FX have been plying their trade in Norwich for some 15 years. Main man, Daz, took time out from his spray booth to give an insight into the jungle-eque base coat paint of Amazon Warrior. Is there a specific name or description for the base coat on Amazon Warrior and its visual effects? I've heard similar sorts of that style of paint work appearance referred to as Eerie Dess. I've also heard the terms Flip and also Candy Flip in reference to it. I can understand why Flip or Candy Flip, as in certain light there is a bit of a flip to the colours. I prefer to call that particular paint work Swirl, because there's a bit of swirling needed to create the look; the pattern. How did…

When the original owner and builder of this beautiful Vespa street racer contacted me I was instantly reminded of its 1991 front cover Scootering debut. Next to his mate on a green GP, Paul’s colourful Vespa looked the business. Interestingly, the pair are still good mates and carry on riding together to this day (Paul actually bought the base model P-range from him back in 1990!). Anyhow, back to the scooter, DTC street racers as easily recognised – although the vast majority tend to be full-bodied Lambrettas, Mr. DTC himself, Brendan McNally, has adapted his design to cut-downs, GTSs, Gileras and obviously the Vespa P-range you see here. So when I found that Paul still has his version, I knew it was perfect for this month’s DNCC feature. Dave O.…

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, so be nice to him. 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. 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…

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 rang my insurers to report that I had been knocked off my scooter. They were pretty insistent that I should use their ‘recommended solicitors’. I wanted to use someone else to deal with my claim, but I’m worried now that I can’t. A: The insurer’s approach is pretty standard, to be honest.…

This 70s luggage carrier range is designed as a homage to the type of chrome accessories available for Vespas produced in the 60s and 70s. The carrier follows the fluid form of the rear of the scooter’s frame and is ideal for the stowage of smaller, less bulky items. It is fixed to the scooter using the pillion’s grab-rail, which remains fully functional. This item can be used in combination with both standard and sports seats. For more info: www.sip-scootershop.com…

Bruce Lee's Cantonese birth name was Lee Jun-fan, which means ‘return again’, and this was given to him by his mother, who felt that one day he would return to the United States once he came of age. (She had originally named him Sai-fon, meaning ‘Small Phoenix’.) The English name Bruce is thought to have been given to him by the hospital attending physician, Dr Mary Glover. Bruce Lee also had three other Chinese names: Lee Yuen-cham, a family/clan name; Lee Yuen-kam, which he used as a student name while he was attending La Salle College; and his Chinese screen name Lee Siu-lung, which means ‘Little Dragon’.…

Playboy bachelor and media mogul Britt Reid is the owner and publisher of the Daily Sentinel newspaper, but as the masked vigilante the Green Hornet, he fights crime with the assistance of his martial arts expert Kato (Bruce Lee) and his weapons-enhanced car, the Black Beauty. On police records, the Green Hornet is a wanted criminal, but in reality, the Green Hornet is masquerading as a criminal so that he can infiltrate and battle criminal gangs, leaving them and the incriminating evidence for the police to discover. Beyond Kato, Britt's dual identity is only known to his secretary, Lenore ‘Casey’ Case and District Attorney Frank P Scanlon.…

Recently fitted to Roger’s lovely Douglas 92L2 is Pinasco’s new reed valve kit. This has been mated to a well-established set up that’s been taken to Vespa World Days in Celle and toured the Lake District. This is set up as a 3-speed, 160cc and although it was still being run in at the time of my visit, Roger’s already noticed a significant difference. “The reed valve smooths out the rather erratic tick-over, which is characteristic of these piston ported Vespas,” he said. “It makes for a much more relaxing experience.”…

Phil Hallam, who’d ridden in with a large group of riders, including several members of Burton Brewers S.C. Phil’s scooter is an S.G Engineering road-legal ‘works edition 230’. “It’s the first road-going model Stuart’s done, so I suppose you could say I’m his test rider!” joked Phil. “The scooter’s built to be a fast road tourer. It was recently dynoed at 36bhp, and the paint work is in the colours of Kenny Roberts’ Yamaha speed-block,” he added.…

Trevor Laird has a special invitation to any of those who rode to Brighton for the first day of filming Quadrophenia. The first 40 people (being the 40 year anniversary) from north of Chesterfield, who can prove to me, with photographs or some other proof, that they rode there on the first day of filming… I'll give each of them a pair of tickets for Chesterfield June 1 FREE! It’s as much a celebration for all those that rode their scooters to Brighton from the north as it is ours. Email proof to Quad@four-ty.com along with contact details.…

Name: Nigel Tollady Hometown: Bolton When did you first get into scooters: 1979 Your first scooter: Vespa 50 Special Your favourite scooter model: Vespa Classics/GS Your favourite style of custom scooter: Street Racers First rally or event: Morecambe 1980 How did you get there: Vespa 50 Special Favourite and worst rally/event: Always liked Morecambe – early 80s. Skegness was a nightmare to get to Funniest experience with a scooter: Seeing my mate come off his scooter and chipping his front tooth! Furthest you’ve ever ridden on a scooter: Bolton to Isle of Wight What do you like about rallies/events: Stopped going in 86/87, but liked them all What’s your favourite Scootering magazine feature: This one! Ha, ha! Your favourite custom/featured scooter of all time: Little Rascal! Ha, ha! What’s the…

There are few items of kit that truly revolutionise anyone’s riding experience, but summer gloves certainly fit that category. If you’ve never tried a pair, the sensation of cool air flowing through a well-designed pair is sheer joy. Sunshine or not, a tumble still hurts, and even at low speed hands are particularly vulnerable. String-back driving gloves will do nothing to keep a rider out of A&E. One of the few gloves to meet recently mandated CE safety standards are RST’s Rider Gloves. Made from a synthetic hybrid material ,they feature knuckle protectors, double layer palm protection and a fixed comfort mesh lining. After using them over the Easter weekend at Scarborough, there’s every indication that these will feel well ventilated on even the warmest of days. Despite conforming to…

A new addition to the Richa textile line-up for the 2019 season is the Galvestone jacket. Despite looking like a casual fashion jacket, the Galvestone is both waterproof and breathable, and features a removable thermal lining as well as D3O armour at the elbows, shoulders and back as standard. The outer material is made from a polyester and cotton mix with a separately removable thermal lining made from a Taffeta membrane with a slip lining of cotton for comfort. For warmer rides, there are ventilation zips on the arms and back to help the air circulate around the rider. Adjusters on the hips and arms ensure a snug fit, and an integrated connecting zip enables the jacket to be connected to Richa trousers with a zip connector. Sizes: S-6XL Colours:…

Available for the Vespa GTS/GTS Super/GT/GT L 125-300cc (03-18), this lamp provides perfect luminous efficiency, a reassuring field of view at night and even increased passive safety during the daylight hours. These are just a small selection of the advantages provided by modern LED powered headlights. The SIP LED headlights require no modification to be mounted. Contrary to the design of other aftermarket LED headlights, available for Vespa models, this possesses a neatly designed central LED strip, so decently upgrading the overall look without sticking out like a sore thumb! The unit is equipped with a high-power LED main/dipped beam and is attached to the scooter’s wiring loom using the original headlight connection socket. The separate cable can be used for the running light function. These LED headlights are available…

Best in Show: Neil Shields – 1961 Lambretta Li125 with 200 engine Runner-up: Trevor Roffey – Lambretta Li 150 chopper ‘Bones’ Best Vespa: Gina Guarnerie – 1959 L152L2 Best Lambretta Frankie Clarkson – 1968 Lambretta SX200 Best Unrestored: Gina Guarnerie – 1959 L152L2 Best Vintage: Rob’ Topp – 1959 Lambretta Li 150 Best Restored: Jon Gray – Lambretta Best Custom: Steve Bant – Lambretta Best Mod: Dale – Madness themed Lambretta and trailer Dave Golds Memorial: Jon Gray – Lambretta Sponsor’s choice: Jackie Blackburn – Lambretta GP200 Punter’s Choice: Ray Crockford – Lambretta Li 150 GCC choice: Trevor Roffey – Lambretta Li 150 chopper ‘Bones’…

Name: Michael Winn Job: Taxi proprietor Scooter club & town: Darlington How and when did you first become interested in scooters: I became interested in scooters at the age of 15 What was your first scooter: Vespa 50 Special What is your favourite scooter model: P200E Favourite and worst rally/event: Scarborough both worst and best for different reasons! Favourite custom / featured scooter of all time: Colin Fitzgerald’s ‘Anima Mundi’ Who first inspired you in the scooter scene: The Jam…

For a few years, the old-fashioned 'Fred in a shed' method of tuning scooters had slowly but steadily developed into something of a more noteworthy process, providing something akin to decent performance. Don't get me wrong, there had been plenty of spectacularly epic failures along the way, but it seemed that light was finally at the end of the tunnel... but could that just be a train coming the other way? Though the TS1 age was now upon us, many still got enjoyment out of tuning the good old tried ‘n’ tested cast-iron Lambretta barrel. Many hours spent in the shed with drills and files, etc, grinding out the ports, and skimming the cylinder head. Once you got it right, an impressive turn of speed could be had, and on…

Awaiting its place on the work bench is another historic machine, but from a more modern era. “I’ve known this scooter for most of its life,” said Neil. “It was bought new from Arthur Francis as a 250 ’S’ Type and hasn’t strayed far from Reading since then. It was originally owned by Les Pearce and he wasn’t afraid of riding it hard. It was a regular sound and sight around town!” Predictably, the 250 conversion went bang years ago and Neil’s considering which kit to use in the rebuild. Although it’s been resprayed, an original panel survives and this is the scheme it will wear once again. As if that provenance wasn’t exciting enough, this Indian GP has another surprise to reveal. “Dave Webster rebuilt the engine at some…

Three decades had passed since Kev Walsh had ventured into the world of scooters. It had definitely been a wild ride over the years with plenty of ups and downs, from the early days venturing out on the road to the hilarious short-lived trip into scooter sport, playing a part of the group that resurrected the LCGB before going on to be one of the main protagonists of the 1980s rally scene. Whatever Kev did it was big and involved a great deal of pressure. Certainly, over the last few years, the power struggles within the NRC were beginning to take their toll. He needed something to take him away from the worry; a release from it all. Running away Kev was a loyal family man. No one could argue…

Name: Anestis Giarikanis Scooter club & town: Athens Favourite featured scooter of all time: ‘Meat is murder’ Name of scooter & reason: ‘Fat Bob’, because of its round shape and also a visual affiliation towards Harley (Fat Boy). Planned to be an elongated Vespa project, but it was suggested that a more driveable option would be something wide, rather than long! Scooter model: Vespa 200 PX FD Inspiration for project: A 1.87m tall, bulky lad on a tiny scoot? No way! The project was tailored for form and a comfortable ride Time to build & by who: Around five months of work in a two-year period, along with problems and solutions, finding, waiting and acquiring parts and, of course, brainstorming! Building made by Thanasis of ‘Rotta Continua’. He did almost…

Whilst a lot of miles are clocked up in the UK, many members travel to the continent to take part in European rallies (let’s hope Brexit doesn’t put a stop to this). Vespa World Days, which takes place in Hungary in June, is no exception to this, as many members have time booked off work to make the journey. Due to the distance, they will be making stops across Europe. This will obviously be quite an adventure and something to talk about in years to come. Vespa World Days was formally known as EuroVespa. However, with the Vespa being popular worldwide, it has now moved beyond Europe and Vespa World Days 2020 takes place in Bali. Due to the distance from Europe, it has been decided to put on a…

Name: Geoff Anscombe Scooter club: Troglodytes SC, Newquay, Cornwall First interest in scooters: I was a Mod in the 60s and bought my first scooter on my 16th birthday. I had no idea how to ride it, but learned on the way home. Obviously wearing a parka and no helmet First scooter: TV200 (GT) 1965 Favourite style of scooter: It was mod but I now find them over the top, exaggerated, with too many mirrors and lights. I now like the street racer style Favourite rally: Isle of Wight. As Inow live in Cornwall I like the long journey to it as it always feels an accomplishment when arriving. I enjoy seeing the many different scooters, which always gives me ideas for a new venture. Obviously I like the music,…

Name: Jim Lockwood Job: School caretaker Scooter club & town: Baildon Scooter Club How and when did you first become interested in scooters: When I was 13. My dad was best mates with Dye Edwards – Dyrospeed (Dyron’s) Your first scooter: Dyrospeed – Jet 200 Metalflake blue (aged 15) Your favourite scooter model: Lambretta GP First rally or event: First National Rally Morecambe ’84 How did you get there: Bus with four school friends (Scotty, Sim, Peter Reed and Sarah Myers) What’s the furthest you’ve ever ridden on a scooter: 200 miles What do you like about rallies: The beer! What do you dislike about rallies: The price of beer! What’s your favourite Scootering magazine feature: Show us you scoots Your favourite custom/featured scooter of all time: Little Rascal Name…

Certainly there are more than grounds for posing that rhetorical question. Especially given that it was during the 80s when many of today’s scooterists had their inaugural experiences of the scene first-hand. Taking elements of tried and tested approaches from that particular period has, during recent times, had an influence on a significant number of new or revamped scooter customs. Norwich-based Mike Kershaw first became interested in scooters during the mid-80s via a mate, Paul Fuller, who had a custom scoot by the name of Dark Sceptre. Three decades or so later Mike created his custom Vespa, Amazon Warrior. Superb base paint work and stunning murals, along with an abundance of intricately engraved brightwork, combine on his pride and joy. This large frame Vespa is unquestionably evocative of many well-loved…

Name: Mike Kershaw Scooter club & town: No scooter club, town Norwich How and when did you first become interested in scooters: 1986, mate Paul Fuller had custom Dark Sceptre First scooter: PK50s Favourite style of custom scooter: Chop/ cutdown First rally or event: Gt Yarmouth 1987 Favourite and worst rally/event: Best was Margate 1988. Haven’t had a ‘worst’ one yet! What do you like about rallies/events: The music, beer and mates. Plastic mods make me giggle, too. Name of scooter & reason: Amazon Warrior. Who doesn’t like women with a full figure? Scooter model: Vespa TX200 Date purchased & cost: Bought in 2013 and cost £600 Inspiration for project: I always wanted full 80s-style custom and had ideas in my head for years, and my dad. RIP pops. Time…

Having sprint record holder Stu Owen and scooter tuning genius Darrell Taylor on the editorial team has been a real boon for both you the reader, and myself as editor. Their respective achievements speak for themselves and they have an invaluable amount of knowledge to offer. So when Stu suggested he put together a performance analysis series in the magazine, I was delighted. All those years of experience put down on paper. As he explained to me at the time: “The bhp levels are crazy now, and yet with all that power, some people still aren’t beating my times from back when I was running with much less.” When I prompted him to explain why he felt this was, he surmised: “I think it’s because people are relying too much…