Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2025 i Scootering

It was back in 1964 that Ralph Appleby got into the Mod scene and scooters. Like a lot of kids at that time he was getting paid a half-decent wage so when he was 16 he bought himself a Vespa 125. Since then, Ralph’s passion for scooters has grown and over the years he’s developed all types of custom machines. However, the inspiration for this build came through a most unexpected event. Around 2013, Ralph was riding his Model D with a friend and had a front tyre blow-out, which caused him to come off the scooter. The accident caused a lot of damage and as a result he had to sell it to a pal who was interested in restoring it. Ralph was extremely fond of the scooter and…

NEW STREET ADVENTURE – WHAT KIND OF WORLD? – NEW ALBUM New Street Adventure made their name with a fresh take on classic soul and incisive lyricism, but after disbanding in 2018 it seemed the story had ended. Fast forward to 2024 and the brand-new album What Kind Of World? is a return and a rebirth. Stu secured an exclusive track-by-track interview with the band’s founder, guitarist and vocalist Nick Corbin. What Kind of World? Stu: The title track opens the album on a deep and moody note. What were you seeking to capture? Nick: I wanted to open the album with a moody, blues-influenced track in the vein of Syl Johnson, OV Wright, Curtis Mayfield but still make the chorus feel uplifting, with harmonised vocals. The verses paint a…

The death of Mike Karslake in November 1990, at the relatively young age of 58, sent shock waves through the Lambretta community worldwide. Still regarded by many as ‘Mr Lambretta’, Mike had amassed a huge collection of Lambrettas which were displayed at his museum in in Northlew, Devon. When the family decided that it was time to part with the collection and the auction was announced, it attracted buyers from around the world. Today, Mike is still remembered with fondness by those who knew him, as are the events held at Northlew, and a machine with provenance that places it in the Karslake collection still carries a certain cachet amongst enthusiasts. The images provided by Tim represent only a fraction of the lots on offer but nevertheless mark one of…

Q. How do I check what size will fit me? A. Measuring your head size is pretty straightforward, but it’s much easier with a little help from a friend. Ask them to wrap a tape measure around your head, approximately one inch (25 mm) above your eyebrows, and past the top of your ears. If you’re tackling this job on your own, stand in front of a mirror, so you can see what you’re doing. When trying on a helmet, look for the correct size, which is usually displayed on the back. Hold it by the ends of the fastening straps and pull it over the back of your head (which is smaller than your forehead, making this easier). If it doesn’t fit snugly, it’s too big. Check that the…

Brighton Mod Weekender, held over the August bank holiday, has played host to a few. Notably, 50 years of Mod (in the media) in 2014 and the 40th anniversary of the film Quadrophenia, some of which, of course, was filmed on location there. Both were rather spectacular celebrations. Last year was the diamond jubilee of Mod (in the media), which went almost unmarked. Being historically accurate, Brighton Mods and Rockers ‘clashes’ took place over the Whitsun bank holiday weekend in 1964; nonetheless, the golden jubilee was celebrated to the maximum over the August bank holiday weekend in 2014. It was back in 2005 when the New Untouchables relocated their August bank holiday weekend gathering to the south coast’s spiritual home of Modernism, Brighton, where it has been based for two…

This year, with the date falling on a very warm weekend in holiday season, the North Wales Expressway was not doing much expressing for most riders, with many having hours added to their journey. But, as always, once at the circuit, the race vibes kick in and the journey is forgotten. Anglesey has great garage facilities, so most riders took the option to hire a garage to give a great space to work in, with lights and power. There was very little by way of wind across the track, and temperatures were in the mid-to-high 20s, which made for a great weekend of scooter racing at the fast Trac Mons coastal circuit. As always, the stock grid is the first in the race sequence and despite a few riders being…

First unveiled at this year’s Vespa World Days in Spain, the Officina 8 special editions have taken a while to land in showrooms, and we think that they’re among the nicest modern auto specials to emerge from Pontedera. The end of the Second World War found Italy’s industries shattered. Companies such as Piaggio, with its expertise in shipbuilding and aeronautics, had been specifically targeted as part of the Allies’ strategic bombing campaign. With peace came the need to rebuild, and to do this meant targeting markets that had not previously been considered. At Piaggio’s Pontedera plant, a special team was established to create a solution to the country’s need for affordable, reliable transport. It comprised designers, draftsmen, mechanics, master metalworkers and test riders who all worked as a team to…

As the end of the 1950s approached, it was time for Peter Agg to reflect on what he had achieved since taking control of Lambretta Concessionaires. His involvement had come a year after the company was started, but having gained control early on, he had a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve. It had taken a tremendous amount of hard work to reach the summit of his goal, and this had involved many skilled people along the way. As 1959 approached, the peak was finally in sight and required one more push to get there. All change Regardless of how well the Lambretta was marketed in Britain, it was the product itself that was the most important thing. Thankfully, Innocenti had continued development unabated throughout that time and…

Ten years may seem like a long time, but as we age, it passes very quickly, to the extent that we sometimes almost forget what has happened during that time and how our lives have changed. Don’t worry, I’m not going to get too philosophical, but looking at the scooter scene, it has changed dramatically over that period. There are mixed feelings among people about whether the changes have been good or bad, or whether they have improved or ruined the scene. That depends on where you are coming from, and if you wish the traditional values of what is accepted in scootering circles to remain. The thinking behind that is simple: getting a scooter as a teenager, riding around all night long on them, attending rallies, and perhaps sleeping…

The 1980s had been huge for the scooter scene, and we were happy to be part of it. What began at the start of the decade was a journey like no other, and as it came to a close, significant changes had occurred. The most notable and biggest thing that none of us could change was that we were now all 10 years older. While that may have seemed insignificant at the time, it was only when you looked back that you realised how important it was. We were all wiser, or so we thought, and although mistakes had been made, we had learned from them… well, some of them. Owning a scooter at 16 years of age was a naive and sometimes dangerous occupation. You were the enemy of…

Speed measures how fast an object is moving, while acceleration measures how fast its velocity changes over a certain period of time. If an object remains at a constant speed, it is not accelerating; however, if the speed increases, so does the acceleration. The two are connected, but they have distinct meanings, and it can start to get a little complicated. So, before we start showing graphs and long equations resembling Einstein’s blackboard, let’s try to explain it in layman’s terms. Just for reference, this is about sprinting; therefore, it is all done in a straight line. When a vehicle completes a quarter mile, it is measured in the time it takes to achieve it, therefore, the acceleration. It’s a bit like when manufacturers claim their car does 0-60mph in…

Oddballs Rally has transformed into one of the most anticipated rallies on the calendar. It’s become something of an institution, it could be claimed, that some of the Oddballs rally regulars should be in an institution… such are the crazy antics that take place there annually. We’ll come in out of the rising sun... In recent years, Oddballs has held a silent disco on Thursday night for early arrivals on site. This year, Thursday it seemed, was the new Friday, with many arriving a day earlier than usual. With pitches claimed and tents erected, some opted to wander off-site to the closest hostelry. Rather bemusingly, the nearest pub had, after 50 years, undergone a name change, from the Magic Midget to the Roaring Raindrop. Originally named after the record-setting MG…

The journey north started early doors as my new GTS was booked into Ron Daley’s in Barnsley for its first service before heading up the A1. The service was done in good time and I was on the A1 just after 11 with another 200-plus miles to do. The journey went well apart from pushing through slow traffic around Glasgow during rush hour and eventually arriving in Stirling around 5.30… just in time for dinner and a few cheeky beers! Well, I say dinner… an Indian after a few drinks with the Mad Vespa Club at the Golden Lion. Up bright and early, it was off to Stirling County Rugby Club to help finish setting up. Seems most of it had already been done and just a few touches before…

At the helm of this slick looking machine is Frank ‘Franko’ Brazier, and his race-replica creation is more than just a custom build; it’s a moving tribute to Joey Dunlop’s legacy. Franko got into scooters when he was just a teenager, after he’d spied one in a shed over the road near to where he lived. “Me and a mate went over to see the fella who owned it, he let us have it so we stripped it down and rode it for fun on the fields; I think it might have been an SX200 or GT 200!” After Franko’s initial contact with scooters he turned to performance cars, nevertheless his underlying passion for scooters remained with him. Almost 50 years later, in 2021 and quite out of the blue,…

After a bit of a false start last year, it was definitely all systems go to make this year’s ‘Bella’ weekend another memorable event for all who attended and again I was encouraged, coerced, bullied and eventually bribed (with cake) into attending to give a helping hand. To be honest, even though these Germanic Rollers are not actually my thing, the weekend is wonderful and the members are always a pleasure to be around. The event is low key and very well run, with technical workshops, scooter chat and a rideout. There is a very friendly, welcoming vibe, with a spread of people from their 20s right up to the oldest member, Eddie, who is a nonagenarian, and one of the original founding members. So, without further ado, I will…

How to use the guide We’ve divided the market first by capacity, and then alphabetically within each category. We can’t possibly give values for every classic scooter, there are far too many variables for that, but we have included data for three of the most common machines; a Vespa smallframe, Vespa PX and Lambretta GP200. These should allow comparisons between ‘then and now’ and help anyone switching from classics to modern scooters, or vice-versa. We’ve started with models from the usual suspects but over time we’ll be adding more models to widen the range of information available to you. The data Most of the data is taken from manufacturer’s websites, this can vary between manufacturers depending on what methods are used to test their machines. For example the type of…

In next month’s issue: My Life - My Rules. A superb feature scooter as showcased at this year’s IoW rally on the official Royal Alloy stand. Owned by rally-going scooterist Lucy Smith, this TG300 is a fab scooter from every angle. Plus, Stu Owen delves into the details of the Innocenti Dealer Conventions, with some interesting insights and amazing images. Also, we will bring you all the usual technical features, news, product reviews and so much more. On sale Thursday, October 23.…