Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2021 i Scootering

All the signs and signals that we will emerge via the Government’s published stages from this lockdown are aligning and starting to click into place. I’m seeing an increasing number of social media posts, of people finally getting out and about on their scooters and meeting up in small ‘Covid-compliant’ numbers. Indeed, my own solo ‘test and development’ rides on the TargaTwin have now progressed to ‘butty runs’ out to various chip shops for lunch, and to meet up in a socially distanced manner with other scooterists. What a small step it may seem, one that we all previously took for granted, but I liken it to a bloke who used to frequently dine out and regularly complain that a particular restaurant didn’t have enough choice on the menu, but…

The Spitfires recently unveiled four live dates during July. They are July 16 – Chinnerys, Southend; July 17 – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes; July 22 – The Horn, St Albans; July 23 – The Suburbs, Guildford. Tickets available from https://linktr.ee/TheSpitfires. Originally scheduled for April/May this year, due to lockdown restrictions, their Life Worth Living spring tour of the UK has been moved to October and November this year. Original tickets remain valid; tour and ticket details from: http://bit.ly/SPITFIRESTOUR SPITFIRESTOUR…

It’s the news we’ve all been waiting for: this year’s Isle of Wight International Scooter Rally will be going ahead over the August bank holiday weekend, August 26-30. The entire VFM team has been working throughout lockdown to bring what they believe will be the best rally of the year, maximising the potential of the brand-new venue, Sandown Airport. There’s already an excellent line-up of live entertainment planned, together with the legendary custom show and of course everything else the island has to offer. Although the rally will ultimately be subject to Government Covid-19 guidelines and restrictions, every step has been taken to ensure the rally is run in a safe manner. The Isle of Wight rally is always spectacular, and after a year of lockdown this promises to be…

Stone Foundation have announced a series of four rescheduled UK dates during June and July, postponed from 2020. Also, two new dates have been added, the full schedule is as follows. June 30 and July 1 –- Blues Kitchen, Manchester; July 16 – Queens Hall, Nuneaton; July 23 and 24 – Jazz Cafe, London (both sold out); July 31 – Junction, Cambridge. The first five dates are seated, socially distanced shows. Ticket details for the dates plus for their October/November autumn tour, also postponed from last year, available via stonefoundation.co.uk…

Classic Polini Classic Vespa exhaust systems for smallframe Vespa models are produced with a mild steel body, finished with a clear coating and fitted with an aluminium muffler to finish off the system. The exhausts not only deliver the performance you require but look stylish as well. The exhausts are designed purely for sporting use and are non-road legal. VP000269 Polini Evolution Exhaust – Vespa 50-90-100 VP002050-S Polini Evolution Exhaust – PK50/PK80/PK100 VP002051-S Polini Evolution Exhaust – PK125 Automatic The Polini muffler has a modern design: it has quality finishing touches and it’s very reliable thanks to its extraordinary mechanical resistance; it is lighter than the original muffler. The increased power gives the engine an optimal performance, improving the acceleration and pick-up. The sound is energetic but padded thanks to…

It doesn’t matter which marque’s concerned, every development in performance exposes a weakness somewhere else. To date improvements in chassis technology have largely concentrated on aftermarket suspension units, with little thought given to steering bearings. These are critical to achieving good handling and the traditional caged ball bearings fitted to classic scooters are positively agricultural compared with the tapered bearings used on modern performance motorcycles. This problem’s been troubling the team at SIP for some time and they’ve recently launched a range of tapered roller bearings that catapult scooter steering into the 21st century. This type of steering head bearing can withstand much greater forces and allow a freer operation of the steering when under load. They are capable of holding the forks or steering column more solidly and are…

'' In August this year the BSSO will be putting on a track day and race school. If you fancy experiencing a racetrack and tuition from some of the very best scooter racers in the country… (probably in the world) then keep an eye out for it. One thing I can virtually guarantee you, though, is that if you think you are fast on the road you may just be in for a pretty big shock out on the track!” Ispent a lot of years chasing some of the fastest scooter racers around the circuits of Britain, but other than occasional flashes of brilliance (usually in the rain) I never made the podium. Yet when I’ve gone out with club road riders we can come to a roundabout or bend…

Theft and shrubbery Hi Dan, I hope you are well and avoiding the virus. The Vespa v Lambretta article in the latest Scootering brought back a memory from the late 60s. There was a big national Vespa rally at the Lincolnshire Showground, just north of Lincoln and us local Lambretta boys were getting some grief from the thousands of Vespas flying around. Anyway, a couple of the club decided they would get a ‘souvenir’ of the event by going in the dead of night and removing one of the long banners promoting the event from the showground railings. They were taken to our clubhouse and proudly displayed only to find some others had the same idea and we ended up with two banners. We heard the banners were missed and…

Name: Tony Robertshaw. Scooter club & town: Halifax – T’old Reckless SC. First interest in scooters: 1982. First scooter: Mk1 Vespa 125. Favourite scooter model: Vespa P200E. Favourite style of custom scooter: Lambretta custom choppers. First ever rally: Great Yarmouth. How did you get there: By scooter and it was a bloody long way! Any funny stories: One Friday night I was going on a pub crawl around Halifax, so asked my mom who used to ride scooters if she would ride pillion and take my scooter back home; she agreed. We set off and arrived at the Orange Tree pub where we held our meetings, I said goodbye to my mom and off she went. A couple of minutes later one of the lads, Coxy, came running in saying:…

Name: Clive Pollock. Scooter club & town: I don’t do politics, Basingstoke. How and when did you first become interested in scooters: Always loved the music which was associated with the scene, so owning a scooter just become part of it. First scooter: Absolute heap of a Lambretta Li150 Series 3, metal flake with Vega legshields. Favourite scooter model: Vespa GS. Favourite style of custom scooter: Anything with a twist. First rally or event: IoW back in the early Eighties – can’t remember exactly what year as back then was a bit of a blur lol. Funniest experience with a scooter: Heat seizing with my drunk mate on the back. He woke up, couldn’t hear the engine and got off while we were still coasting. He rolled in front of…

In recent times, Lady Luck has been positively beaming down on Rod Sammons, and specifically so in the sphere of scooters. Firstly, he was on the lookout for a decent smallframe Vespa to run around on locally. Rod ended up buying a 1977 V50, with less than 10 miles on the clock. While his ’77 Vespa 50 was indeed something very (err) special, after being discovered, it passed through several hands on its way into Rod’s ownership. “Ever since I first got into scooters in the early Eighties, I’d hankered after finding a scooter tucked away, local to me, in a shed or garage. Getting my Vespa 50 reawakened that desire, and I started trawling through local sales online. All that came up of any interest was an advert with…

Rainbow Children – The Launchers (Island Farm Studio) A complete change of pace from London band The Launchers. While their breathtaking debut album was a skanking breath of fresh air, this single is a much more relaxed and laid back affair, albeit one with a positive message running through it. Giving a positive message to the coronavirus pandemic can’t be easy, but the band have managed it here in this bubbling reggae-drenched outing. Promising the children of the world that they have a brighter future ahead than staring out of the windows at a world that they can’t currently take a part in, it addresses an issue. There will be a day when all this craziness ends. There will be parties for kids and adults alike. And this radio…

Name: Gavin Chamberlain. Scooter club & town: Banbury Scooter Club. First interest in scooters: As a 14-year-old Mod. First scooter: Vespa PK50S. Favourite scooter model: Any 1970s Vespa, Rally, 150 Super, SS180, Sprint etc. Favourite style of custom scooter: Classic…Vespasian. First ever rally: Great Yarmouth 1984. How did you get there: On my PK50…very slowly. Favourite rally: Love Woolacombe… Saturday in town then the do, Sunday in Ilfracombe then the mad Sunday night. Least favourite rally: Enjoy them all but if I had to say it’s the ones that are not by the seaside… Funniest experience involving scooters: Coming off the back of my PK50. I was trying to pull a mate’s peak off his open-faced crash helmet while he was riding next to me… he braked and I forgot…

The number of kits out there for the Vespa large-frame small-block engines is huge, with many variants of each, and it’s clear to see that this level of competition means there is no room for complacency. In an attempt to offer the best, manufacturers can’t just rest on their laurels and are constantly developing what they have to offer. In saying that, there is a wide choice for those who want just a slight increase in power, to those that want an out-and-out monster engine. This is good news for the customer, who has plenty of options when it comes to tailoring their needs. The other benefit to the customer is the cost which, because of the crowded market, means manufacturers need to be competitive in order to avoid being…

The development of The Green Hornet started in 2018 after Dan McQuillan had been on holiday to Greece. While relaxing in the sun Dan decided to hire a Vespa for a few days and the experience reignited his desire to get another scooter. When he returned to the UK Dan began his search. “After looking around and not really knowing what I was looking for, I ended up buying a PX166. It was modded-up to its eyeballs and it had bling all over the shop. I stripped the additions and accessories off and made some minor modifications to the engine to make it my own.” Having made his own improvements, things didn’t go according to plan. “I soon learnt that things go wrong, and that you have to constantly play…

Now that the clocks (and the British weather) have changed, it’s time to start getting back on to two wheels. And although lockdown restrictions are now easing, it’s still time to be cautious. At the time of going to press, the Government has stated that most social contact rules will be lifted to some extent in the coming weeks, meaning that certain allowed larger scale events can go ahead in England (although this ruling may vary within the other UK countries). This is good news (especially given the recent announcement that the IoW rally is going ahead), but let’s not get too excited or carried away. By nature, people will start out with good intentions of abiding by the regulations – but then again, we all know what can happen…

Funky moped article sparks off memories Hi Mau, Reading your recent Vespa Pedali article brought back some memories. I had a new Douglas Vespa 50 Special for my 16th birthday in December 1973. I first saw the scooter in September 1973 at a scooter shop in Newton Abbot. The next Monday I went into Godfrey Sampson’s in Barnstaple to order one at a cost of £145 on the road. The model was so new that Sampson’s could not get one in time, so Mum rang around and found a red one at Bridge Garage, Exeter so I got it on time. I wore through the rear tyre in early 1974 and had to wait two weeks to source a 9in tyre. My friend had one that had the pedal start…

This article is the first part of a running series brought to you in conjunction with the Screaming Scooters website. This will be followed in future issues by individual articles, again looking at scooter life from a female perspective. Girls’ scooter clubs are not a new thing and when Exit 17 SC was formed during 1981 in the Chippenham and Corsham areas, there were quite a few girls who became part of the club. These included Debs Law, Bev Steel, Sally Roberts plus others. When Exit 17 decided to spread their wings to include the Melksham area, they became quite a large club and although there were still club connections, by this time period, specific girls’ clubs were starting to form. One such club was the VC Modettes, run by…

When it comes to creating the street racer of your dreams it's not as easy as it first looks, but what is? You may have a vision in your head of how you want it to look but without carefu I with your planning, it's easy to get it wrong. Doing a standard restoration is a lot less complicated as you already know what the end product should look like before you start. With a street racer, every aspect needs to be looked at in fine detail as you're creating a unique machine. The engine, paintwork, brakes and many other things need careful consideration - not forgetting the fabrication required to make it all fit perfectly. There's no point sending the bodywork for painting only to realise you haven't cut…

Having done all the fabrication and dry build to your street racer, the next stage is to get it painted. This needs to be carefully thought out, making the design as accurate and close as it can possibly be to the finished article. Though the paint scheme doesn't make any difference to the performance it does to the looks. Get this part of the build right and you can be assured that your street racer project will have a successful conclusion. Choose a base colour first The easiest way to start is by choosing the base colour. This is what will lay over the majority of the bodywork and what any other colours will sit on top of. There is no given rule on what colour to use but some…

If your street racer started out in standard form chances are after it's finished the power output will have at least doubled. That's fine - the intention was to build a fast road going scooter all along. The brakes it was initially fitted with won't have the stopping power to cope with the forces now going through them and neither will the suspension. The simple solution is to fit better brakes with stronger stopping power and a stronger shock absorber to alleviate the problem but unfortunately it doesn't stop there. This is where the laws of physics take over and it can get quite complicated. Understanding the law When energy is produced it transfers from one component to the other. If the scooter is moving very quickly and the brakes…

Over the last five editions, we have gone through the important steps of building a true street racer, and the equipment and engineering required to make your project a successful one. This, the last part of this series, covers the things that finish it all off, including the fine details that make the difference between a street racer which is good to one which is exceptional. Some touches are to a certain extent essential items, whereas others are done purely for cosmetic purposes. Rev counters The majority of street racers tend to have a rev counter fitted and, in all honesty, any tuned two-stroke should have one. As both the Vespa and Lambretta fall into this category, then the same principle applies to both. The reason for needing one is…

Stu Smith Vespa and 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 Cosa sympathiser, 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 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. A Vespa and Lambretta enthusiast, BSSO professional and general good egg. Stuart Owen Scooter rider, rally-goer, restorer and author. Reaches the parts other scooter journalists just can’t reach. LCGB ‘life member’, 100mph Lambretta Club owner and scooter restoration expert to boot. Rik Bardsley More flamboyant…

Kenda is well known to cyclists, off-roaders and car drivers the world over and now, with its Kozmik range, Kenda has its eyes firmly on the hearts of scooterists. Available in a range of sizes to suit both 10in and 12in wheels, Kenda claims that the Kozmik is a “premium quality, dual compound scooter tyre with superb all-round performance. Its durable centre compound combined with softer shoulder zones offer increased confidence when cornering. The tyre also offers additional wet weather grip thanks to specialised tread sipes and reservoirs which improve water evacuation from around the contact patch.” Priced at around £30, the Kenda Kozmik K6022 is available in black; now, however, if it lives up to its manufacturer’s claims, there’s also good news for fans of whitewalls. These have been…

HJC overview The new-for-2021 F70 combines cutting-edge design with upgraded features for a fresh, must-have helmet. Stu’s take The F70 is packed with technology and innovation, and brings in an appearance that doesn’t go unnoticed. The carbon fibre composite weave outer shell is lightweight and delivers a comfortable fit with enhanced looks and shock-resistant performance. Inside the helmet there is a SuperCool comport liner and MultiCool cheek pads, which are made from anti-bacterial fabric to provide enhanced moisture-wicking and quick-drying functions. The crown and cheek pads are also removable and washable, and the advanced channelling ventilation system offers a full front-to-back airflow which flushes heat and humidity upwards and out. Peripheral vision is excellent, the integrated dark smoke sun shield is situated neatly behind the external main visor and provides…

Even the most ardent Lambretta enthusiast must concede that on-board storage space has never been the marque’s strong point, even more so when a long-range tank’s been fitted. Fortunately, Pat and the team at Saigon Scooter Centre have come up with a neat solution that uses under-seat space to store a basic selection of tools. We are also assured that the fastenings have all been vibration tested! The kit, which includes tools, is available as an accessory to all their metal-based seats, including those for Vespa models, and costs $75. More info: www.saigonscootercentre.com…

Ever since the first scooter rolled off a production line, owners have been trying to improve their woeful lighting systems. The introduction of High Intensity Discharge (HID) or Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology offered an obvious solution but unfortunately legislation failed to keep up with progress. Until very recently the mere presence of an HID or LED headlight bulb conversion was enough to ensure an MoT fail. Fortunately, the powers that be have finally woken up. An instruction in DVLA Special Notice 1-2021 now advises MoT testers to treat motorcycles fitted with HID or LED conversions in the same way as if they were fitted with ordinary bulbs. However, the conversion still needs to comply with all other elements of the test, including headlight aim.…

Name of scooter & reason: AlphaTauri F1 – this celebrates my passion for F1 and motor racing in general. This will be my sixth motor racing tribute. Scooter model: 1978 GP – Vijay. Date purchased & cost: April 2020 for £1600. Inspiration for project: Lockdown and pure boredom setting in while being on furlough. Time to build & by who: Ten months by me and the Banbury guys helping out. Any specialised parts or mods: Forks and front disc all done by Mike ‘The Bike’ Davis. Choke, fuel lever, carb grille, sprint rack, splash plate and front grille by Chas Speed. Rear light and grille frenched in. Vespa cut-down legshield toolbox welded in. ENGINE SPEC Kit: Imola 186 with Mammoth head and cowling. Carb: 30m Delly. Clutch: AF clutch. Ignition:…

I’m hoping your readers may be able to help. I have a client who was involved in quite a bad scooter accident a couple of years ago. He has really struggled psychologically with getting back on his scooter, despite really wanting to do so. He wants to have some Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (‘CBT’) to help him with this. Ideally, he would like a therapist who has specific, direct experience of helping people get back on two wheels. He is in the Wiltshire area – do any readers know of anyone in that area (or possibly further afield given the power of Zoom) who could help him with this? If so, please email me at stephen@wildwoodlegal.co.uk…

World domination in any given market is what most companies dream of, outselling all others in the field and appearing invincible, regardless of the competition. So how was it that in May 1971 it all finished, and the final Lambretta scooter rolled off the production line at the huge Innocenti factory in Milan? Only a decade before, they held the title of the biggest seller of two-wheeled vehicles both at home and abroad (in the UK). Such was their might and dominance, that at one point many companies gave up even trying to compete with them… so how could it all end just a few years later? It wasn’t an overnight collapse of the company, or fierce competition that pushed Innocenti out of the market. Quite the opposite, in fact;…

Name of scooter & reason: Vespa Madspeed No1; it’s the only Madspeed Vespa out there. Scooter model: Vespa Mk1. Date purchased & cost: in 2017 for £1200. Inspiration for project: To keep a legendary scoot on the road. Time to build & by who: About two years. Engine spec Kit: Malossi MHR 210. Crank: 60mm Mazzucchelli bell crank. Carb: 28mm PHBH with reed valve. Exhaust: Malossi power exhaust. Clutch: Banded Cosa carbon fibre clutch plates with extra strong springs. Gearbox & sprockets: P200 box with T5 fourth gear. Ignition timing: 18 BTDC. Carb jetting specs: 130 main, 55 idle, 70 choke and AV264 Atomiser. Porting work by: Andy Liddle, Spanner Monkeys. Dyno done by: Wazza, Wilkinson Racing, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire. What brand of oil do you run: Rock oil synthesis…

I’ve known for some time that a trickle charger was the solution to my problem but couldn’t believe that installing it could be so straightforward as claimed. As things turned out, it’s actually easier than I’d expected. STEP 1 The GTS’s battery is located under the centre mat and access is gained by removing the four visible screws. Next, undo the two screws securing the battery strap and pull it away. Terminals can now be disconnected. Always remove the negative feed first. Now the old battery can be lifted free. Don’t throw this in the bin, take it to a recycling point. STEP 2 Remove the plastic tray and inspect the compartment for corrosion. Don’t skimp this part as the battery compartment is a frame-killing rust trap. Treat and paint…

Name of scooter & reason: Rally Master with a Modern Twist. Scooter model: Italian Series 2 Li150. Time to build & by who: A year thanks to Covid-19, main build by Keith Newman K2 Customs. Engine by Chiselspeed. Any specialised parts: SIP rims. EGT gauge. Scootronic tacho. K2 GPS speedo. Charger outlets/battery. K2 Custom front mudguard. K2 handlebar choke lever. K2 Custom back rack. Hydraulic front disc. Engine spec Kit: Quattrini 210. Race Crank: 60 x 116 (218cc). Carb: 28mm Dell’Orto. Exhaust: CST10. Clutch: AF cassette clutch. Gearbox: AF Clo5e five-speed. Porting work by: Martin at Chiselspeed. Dyno done by: Russ at Chiselspeed. Describe engine performance, power delivery and scooter handling: CST Stage 3 Touring Tune. My mate worries about me as I ride like I stole it! Are there…

Becoming the second owner of this LD Mk3 150 in 1960, Dr Anthony Bravery has had this Lambretta for more than 60 years. But it wasn’t until last year that he got it up and running again, after a lengthy lay-off. Dr Bravery recalled: “ODL 569 was first registered in June 1957 and the first known owner was Mr Roger Mathews of ‘The Fairway’, Sandown, Isle of Wight. Mr Mathews was at the time the golf professional at Shanklin and Sandown Golf Club. I bought ODL 569 from Roger Mathews in the summer of 1960 when I was aged 18. “As a very popular holiday resort in the 1960s, there were plenty of seasonal jobs on the Isle of Wight during what was for me school summer holidays. As I…

Given the sheer rarity of the Lambretta ‘rickshaw’ three-wheeler, a special variant of the FDC model, FDC Giardinetta to give its correct name, even anything more than basic information is thin on the ground. Creating an interpretation of the FDC Giardinetta, his own take, reworked to suit a later (wider) model, the FLI, was likely to be a real labour of love. An initial 18 months was spent burning the midnight oil in his home workshop, with additional time spent fine-tuning on the finished project, with a superb end result. Without question, the hardest part of executing the whole operation for Andy was reinterpreting snippets of information about specifically the rear end section of the FDC Giardinetta. Having gleaned information from many sources, Andy came up with measurements – then,…

Name of scooter: Black Betty. Scooter model: Mk1 crossover PX125E E, has locking panells and 20mm forks. But it’s a Mk1. Inspiration for project: Stop the rot…and to stop the MoT inspector complaining about ut the the rust and holes... Time to build & by who: Took it off the road in September 2020 and stripped it down. Fully completed by end of January 2021. Built by me. Engine spec Kit: Polini 221. Crank: Pinasco 62mm. Carb: BGM 24mm. Exhaust: BGM Big Bore Race. Clutch: Pinasco. Gearbox: Standard. Dyno & Porting work by: SG Engineering. What brand of oil do you run: Castrol 3%. Chassis Spec: Tyres: Michelin. Suspension: YSS. Speedo: Standard and unrestored for originality. Cable brand: BGM. Seat: Standard but new cover. Fuel tank & Tap: BGM fast…

Name: Daniel McQuillan. Job: NHS emergency medical technician. Scooter club & town: Burton Brewers – Burton-on-Trent. First interest in scooters: I first got into scooters when I was around 15 or 16 and owned a Piaggio NRG with a tuned Gilera Runner engine. Through owning the NRG I started to go to the Brewer’s Droop rallies with a friend and his uncle and it all started from there. First scooter: Vespa PX166. First ever rally: 2005 – Brewer’s Droop. Any funny stories: I went to work on my scooter; I casually gave it a little rev as I rolled into the garage doing less than 5mph. When I went to turn, the scooter slipped over, hitting a fast response car; I just lay on the floor thinking what a tool!…

Isle of Wight rally confirmed Scooterists breathed a sigh of relief following the announcement of the BSRA that the 2021 Isle of Wight international scooter rally would be going ahead – leaving the way open for a flurry of activity by clubs and individuals to get their entry tickets and accommodation sorted out in time for the event. The rally will take place at a new venue – Sandown Airport (PO36 0JP) – over the August Bank Holiday weekend with the venue’s doors allowing scooterists access from the preceding Thursday. Of course, this will all be subject to the prevailing government Covid-19 regulations at the time – but with the latest official announcements all appearing to be positive, it’s looking pretty certain that scooterists will, at last, be able to…

Preparation is the most important part in the process of transforming what is a standard scooter into a street racer. Al I the decisions made now will determine what it exactly looks like when finished. There are several factors that determine the outcome and no doubt there will be some changes along the way. As long as you have all the major elements right in the first place, subtle alterations won't affect things too much later on, should they need implementing. Draw up a plan and make lists of every component you wish to fit on the machine. Make it into some sort of checklist and tick each one off as you work out where it will go and how it will fit. The two main things to think about…

The engine is, in reality, the whole thing a street racer is built around. Quite often it is said by many owners: "This is the engine I'm building - it just needs a scooter worthy of it going in." That's a true statement to a certain extent but the problem remains, what engine should you choose in the first place? This depends on several things and the most important factor is the cylinder kit that is fitted. This is where it all begins with the rest of the engine components following this decision. Before you start there are several things that must be taken into consideration to make your choice easier. Which top end? Deciding on which kit to use can be a real minefield and at the best of…

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 broke my leg quite badly in a scooter accident. It’s a lot better now and I am back at work but it’s not perfect. My employer might be making some lay-offs and I’m worried about finding another job if I lose this, as I’d have to mention about my ongoing leg…

Oxford’s overview Vintage-styled backpack, using traditional materials and manufacturing techniques. Stu’s take Buried beneath the development of the old-world look of this backpack is a hidden layer of modern technology. The item’s key material is a dry wax application, which is applied to all its outer surfaces. Also inside the bag is a removable waterproof liner, which guarantees that the contents remain dry, even when the outer material has been drenched. Two strong buckle straps hold the upper fold-top opening of the bag down and they are supported by two side clips, which keeps everything securely fitted to the body of the bag. When riding with the backpack in place, the padded shoulder straps are comfortable and the adjustable chest belt/ buckle strap adds security and confidence to the fit.…

Oxford’s overview A durable waterproof jacket for the modern-day classic rider. Traditionally styled with four outer pockets and belted waist adjustment, which is removable. Stu’s take The Heritage jacket is constructed with dry wax cotton using durable nylon overlays to ensure protection. The back of the jacket features a dynamic ‘back action’ system which allows the product to flex when riding. The advanced d textiles minimise wind-chill, provide excellent insulation aand the Dry2Dry membrane is waterproof, windprooof and highly breathable. When securely fastened, th he quilted waist belt holds the jacket comfortab bly in place with no risk of flapping and the neck belt is removable to make it optional. The large cuff openings have plenty of adjustment and the large YKK zipper finishes before the bottom of the jacket,…

MB Scooters has been selling its Lambretta two-pole brake light switch for some time now and to complement the switch it has made some small but important upgrades to the rubber fitting. “We’ve redesigned it so it clicks on to the light switch perfectly to seal out the elements and it also fits other makes of switch too,” said Mark of MB. Both items are available direct from MB Scooters Ltd; the switch costs £7.51 + VAT and the rubber costs £2.06 + VAT. More info: www.lambrettaspares.com…

Points of view I had to write in after reading the article featured on page 7 of the March issue of Scootering, headed ‘Sad start to the season’. I am not writing in about the fact that events are cancelled, but the use of the term ‘season’. This seems to be a new term adopted generally on social media and now in Scootering, which I believe is ‘boxing the scene’ and appears to be saying that scooters now get garaged between October and April as a kind of accepted calendar slot. Could I ask, is this ‘hypothetical scooter season’, like the football or fishing season, and what calendar date does it start and end... is it between June and September? As most of us ride scooters all year round, we…

Some things are greater than the sum of their parts – take Blackpool for example. On one hand it’s just another northern seaside town, slightly scruffy around the edges with its halcyon days behind it. On the other hand, it’s Blackpool! “ This isn’t a football scooter, butBlackpool FC is a big part of the town’s identity. Because of their kit colour they’re known as The Tangerines. Using that shade as the base coat was a perfect way to include them in the project without resorting to the obvious mural or club badge.” Kiss me quick It matters not whether you’re a three-year-old wanting to make sandcastles, a teenager looking for a roller coaster-induced adrenaline hit or an octogenarian ballroom dancer, Blackpool has something for everyone. It’s also the home…

Dave knows his craft, and the development of a one-off custom performance Vespa was a break from the norm. The scooter was originally built in 2000/2001 for a good mate of Dave’s, Chris Bruce, who at the time was with West Riding SC. Even though the majority of Dave’s portfolio is geared towards building performance Lambrettas, he clearly had no problem developing a performance Vespa with head-turning custom looks to match. Since the original build, Chris rode the scooter for a couple of years and then sold it to ‘Big Al’ from Bradford Discharge SC (BDSC). “At the time BDSC were all running tuned TS1s so Big Al needed something to keep up. With this in mind I rebuilt the engine with a one-off barrel, which gave the scooter an…

Name: Rod Sammons. First interest in scooters: 1981. First scooter: GP125 DL. Favourite scooter model: Vespa GL. Favourite style of custom scooter: Anything that means something to the owner. First ever rally: National rally IoW and local Oxford Road Runners’ meets. How did you get there: By scooter. Favourite rally: IoW 1999 on my £15 Li125. Funniest experience involving scooters: Nothing funny has ever happened to me ;) Furthest you’ve ever ridden on a scooter: To the IoW. What do you like about rallies: Music, dancing and friends. Favourite custom scooter of all time: Sign of the snake. Your most recommended scooter part or related item: A good helmet. Most useless part you’ve ever bought for a scooter: Mirrors. What would make the scene better: For everyone to get along,…

Name: Andy Newman. Scooter club & town: Guernsey Scooter Collective. First interest in scooters: Age of 16 and hooked by the 80s Mod revival and 2 Tone bands, we used to go to Granby Halls roller skating on a Tuesday and then go over the road to the Freemans Arms to try a get a sneaky pint. Tuesdays was also the night that the Leicester Phoenix Scooter Club used to meet there. The little side road was full of scooters, I just had to get one. First scooter: Lambretta Li150 Series 2, (still got it) bought it from a hairy biker that I worked with when I started my first proper job at the GPO for £20. First ever rally: Scarborough 1981. We slept in a timber yard until we…

Name of scooter & reason: The Green Hornet. I love the colour green and after some discussion with a friend that was the name I came up with. Scooter model: Vespa P200. Inspiration for project: I love a slick street racer, silent but with some poke, then at the same time I wanted something that would stand out. Time to build & by who: Roughly 12 months, by myself and my close friend Hodge. ENGINE SPEC Case: Malossi VR-One reedvalve. Kit: Malossi 221 MHR. Crank: Mazzucchelli 60mm bell crank. Carb: Dell’Orto PHBH 30. Exhaust: Malossi MHR Vespa racing. Clutch: BGM super strong with Honda CR80 plates and springs. Gearbox: Malossi straight-cut with uprated cushdrive and springs, Malossi 63-24 and standard P200 with T5 fourth gear. Ignition: Vespower ignition and flywheel.…

Anwick Bardney Barkston Heath Binbrook Blyton Bottesford Caistor Coleby Grange Coningsby Cranwell Digby Donna Nook Dunholme Lodge East Kirkby Elsham Wolds Faldingworth Fiskerton Folkingham Fulbeck Goxhill Harlaxton Hemswell/Harpswell Hibaldstow Holbeach Range Ingham/ Cammeringham Kelstern Kirton Ludford Manby Metheringham North Coates North Killingholme North Witham Sandtoft Skellingthorpe Spilsby Spittlegate Strubby Sturgate Sutton Bridge Swinderby Waddington Waltham Wainfleet Wellingore Wickenby Woodhall Spa…

BUCKS SPARTANS MK SC Based in Milton Keynes, Spartans MK SC is a well-supported club. Info: Ray Reader mobile 07969 263840 or 01908 395961/Lyn Tofts 07831 383377 (for clothing and general info). Facebook: SPARTANS MKSC TIN SOLDIERS SC Meet every Saturday from 9.45am at Captain Ridley’s Shooting Party (Wetherspoons), MK2 2ED. Monthly meet held at same venue, but first Thursday each month from 7.30pm. Up-to-date information via Facebook: Tin Soldiers Scooter Club. DORSET LOWRIDERS SC Based in Weymouth, our members ride weird and wonderful machines. Facebook: Lowriders Scooter Club Dorset. POOLE INNERCIRCLE SC We are a mixed club of Lambrettas and Vespas. We meet at the New Inn, Poole on the first Wednesday of the month with a ride-out every month. More info find Poole Innercircle Scooter Club on Facebook.…