Innehållsförteckning för August 2020 från Scootering

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 changing lanes as I was filtering past him. He claims he indicated but I am sure he didn’t. He says filtering is illegal and his insurers are being difficult about my claim, saying it was my fault. A. The insurers are talking rubbish.…

Name of scooter & reason: Femme Fatale. Scooter model: LI150. Date purchased & cost: 2005 – £2000. Inspiration for project: A different look. Something that has not been done before. Time to build & by who: Eight weeks by me. Engine spec Kit: 230 TS1. Crank: 110mm x 58mm. Carb: 34mm. Exhaust: Savage Custom twisted. Clutch: BGM six-plate. Gearbox: Four-speed BGM. Dyno done by: Shinny Red. Chassis Spec: Tyres: Scooty. Rims: SIP. Suspension: BGM. Speedo: Veloce. Levers: Custom. Seat: Cult Custom seats – Cheltenham. Fuel tank & tap: 17 litre. Brakes: Disc front and back. Custom made – JM Engineering. Top speed & cruising speed: Top: 86mph. Cruising: 60 to 65mph. Paintwork by: Amy Osborne – DNA 666 Deadly Nightshade Airbrushing. Engraving by: Colin Wilkins. Chrome by: K2 Customs. Hardest…

Well done team May I say I love Scootering mag. I’ve enjoyed reading this mag for years, and thank you for keeping it going through these times of Covid-19. Long may this magazine prosper. It’s such a comprehensive magazine covering all aspects of scootering and scooters, it’s a joy to read, especially in these dark times. I’ve ridden many scooters over the years. My last scooter was a Vespa GTS300, a superb machine. However, as I approach 60 years I’m thinking of buying a Suzuki Burgman 400 as my next scooter. Having test-ridden one, I found it to be a very nice machine for many reasons. Keep up the good work, Richard Gourlay Old dog – new tricks I’m no mechanic but at 66, I’ll have a go with simple…

Name of scooter: Old Skool. Scooter model: T5 classic. Date purchased & cost: Five years ago. It was a Christmas present... definitely cost a bit more than the usual shit he buys me. Inspiration for project: It badly needed new paint. Stevie wanted me to have something as nice as the five scoots he has. I probably embarrassed him riding alongside with my rattle-can paint job. Forced his hand… quite glad about that now. Time to build & by who: Seven months by Steven Smyth. Any specialised parts or mods: Paint and fabrication by John at Clan Customs. Thanks to Frank Carty for painting toolbox door, excellent job; Murdy at Graffix by Reg for wee stickers; John Andrew Corcoran (Corky) for seat and spare wheel cover; Hugh and Steven for…

Name: Rhiannon Donnelly. Job: Nursery nurse. Scooter club & town: LCGB & LCW. I also help run the NWBA with Stephen, I don’t do local scooter clubs because of the politics that come with it. I like to ride my scooters with friends rather than being told who to ride with. First interest in scooters: When I was in school. Friends who I hung around with had scooters. First scooter: Vespa ET4, that lasted around two months, then I decided that I wanted a proper scooter. Favourite scooter model: Vespa GS. Favourite style of custom scooter: I like the classic look of a scooter. I appreciate the time and effort that has gone into custom scooters but they’re just not for me. First ever rally: Rhyl, we didn’t get back…

Name of scooter & reason: Christine – as it’s already tried to kill me! Scooter model: Vespa Sprint. Date purchased & cost: May 2018, £1800. Inspiration for project: Crashing in a ditch! Time to build & by who: Myself and Chris Matthews, taking more than a year. Any specialised parts or mods: Numerous! Engine spec Kit: Quattrini water-cooled 172 on T5 casings with reed block. Crank: Cut race-crank with Wiseco 66mm piston. Carb: Mikuni flat slide 28mm. Exhaust: JL. Clutch: Cosa. Gearbox: Standard. Dyno: After engine rebuild Chiselspeed 23.5bhp! What brand of oil do you run: Exol Optima fully synthetic 1.5 jugs to 5ltrs. Chassis spec: Tyres: Michelin city grips. Rims: GTS 12 inch. Suspension: Front Bitubo rear SIP performer. Cable brand: SIP. Seat: SIP race-style seat. Fuel tank &…

Name: Gavin Chamberlain. Job: Plant and buildings manager. Scooter club & town: Banbury Scooter club – Banbury. First interest in scooters: As a young 14-year-old Mod, got my first scooter and quickly realised I was a terrible Mod. First scooter: Vespa PK50S bought second-hand from Northwood when I was 16. I came off it 11 times in the first year of riding, but only once since then… Favourite scooter model: Vespa Rally 200 or SS180. Favourite style of custom scooter: I like classic originals and street racers, admire the work that goes into full-blown customs but they are not my cup of tea. Always loved the Armandos style of Vespa as well. First ever rally: Gt Yarmouth 1984… wet and windy, tent got blown away on the first night and…

Name: Neil Dymond. Job: National operations director (UK). Scooter club & town: Hardly Rideable Owners Club & British Forces Scooter Club – live in Upton Grey, near Basingstoke. First interest in scooters: About 1986 through psychobilly music – bands used to play scooter rallies! I was a late starter as I was (and still am) a biker. First scooter: PX125 – which was pretty slow compared with the motorcycles I was used to at the time! Favourite style of custom scooter: Fast matt black cutdowns/chops. First rally or event: IoW 1987. How did you get there: Scooter. Favourite and worst rally/ event: I enjoy them all, bad weather, breakdowns, hangovers are part of it. Furthest you’ve ridden on a scooter: I lived in Portsmouth until a couple of years ago,…

If your scooter club is holding a Do or Event, just drop us a line for some FREE advertising. Unfortunately we can ONLY accept details by post: Scootering events, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, LN9 6LZ, email: diary@scootering.co.uk or online: www.scootering.comPlease keep wording to a minimum and be warned that listings may be edited due to space restrictions. Due to the Government’s advice regarding Covid-19, please check with event organisers that these events are going ahead before setting out. JULY 24-26 National BRSA #5, Weymouth. 24-26 Tin Soldiers SC weekender, Scots Club, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK3 5BX 24-26 AONSC 35th Anniversary Rally, Southam Rugby Club, Station Road, Southam, Warks, CV47 2DH. www.aonsc.co.uk. 24-26 Summer Scrum by Driffield Midnight Runners - 10th Anniversary, Driffield RFC. Tel 07868 050620. 31-01 The Right Direction…

Name: Vince Wooloff. Scooter club: Kelly’s Heroes SC. First interest in scooters: Since 1982 when I was in the Royal Navy and needed transport while stationed in Yeovilton, never looked back since. First-ever rally: Isle of Wight ’84. Favourite rally: Oddballs, putting it on has taken over my life, but no complaints from here. What it stands for, the charities it’s helped, the hundreds of friends I have made from doing the rally. Favourite custom scooter of all time: Alien. Your most recommended scooter part or related item: A good solid stator plate, not one of those cheap cast online auction rip-offs. Which insurer & breakdown do you use: Bennett’s &AA. Name of scooter: Oddballs Asylum. Scooter model: Started as a Spanish P200, now running a PX125e lump. Inspiration for…

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 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 and 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. Rik Bardsley More…

British Historic Racing is the main organisation which BSSO scooters race with, and they have had to cancel the remaining meetings for this year, so at the time of writing there are going to be limited opportunities to see any scooters racing on track. For many, the very real fear of there being zero opportunity to race this year led to one of our own members offering racers a chance to get on track via his established car racing series. So mid-August, scooters will once again be joining the Time Attack series for a weekend at Cadwell Park. In September the second scooter endurance race will go ahead at the Teesside circuit, and at the moment that is all we have that is solid. I’m picturing the enthusiastic racers looking…

Name: Martyn Burrows. Job: Builder. Scooter club & town: Gloucestershire. First interest in scooters: 1976. First scooter: Lambretta SX150. Favourite scooter model: Lambretta GP. First ever rally: Great Yarmouth. How did you get there: Rode on my scooter. Any funny stories: At Weston-super-Mare rally when I got so drunk over the weekend I was riding back and I stopped for a pee and a fag. I then fell asleep and woke up the next morning well late for work! Favourite rally: Woolacombe, it’s just an all-round good place, it’s run well and has a nice vibe. Least favourite rally: Scarborough when it rained, my tent leaked and I was soaked all weekend. My scooter broke down on the way home and I got fined by the law for no tax.…

Name: Karen Clark. Job: Full-time mum. Scooter club & town: Animals fae Naboombu/Galston chapter. First interest in scooters: When I was 11, seeing local Mods running about on scooters. I fell in love with the cool look, the sound and the smell of two-stroke. First scooter: Vespa 125 Primavera, I was 16. Favourite scooter model: Lambretta S1, older the better. Favourite style of custom scooter: Bit of everything and anything really, especially when folk have put their heart, soul and imagination into it. First ever rally: Portpatrick, Lowlanders SC. How did you get there: Two-up on a Mk1 T5, with no back rack, the entire camping gear had to go on my back. Nothing beats the ‘determined to get to a rally’ workout! Favourite rally: Kelso, great run down, beautiful…

While Warren was building and racing his Runner, hewas also spannering for friends competing on production Lambrettas. It was inevitable that Warren would try his hand, but how did he find the transition from auto to geared? “At first it felt like I was sat on the floor!” he began. “I was told that the Lambretta’s handling took some getting used to but the lower centre of gravity seems to suit my style. One thing I can’t get on with are cutdowns, there’s far too much weight on the wrist. The general riding position and excess vibration, in my opinion, make them an excruciating ride. Friends said there was no way I could make a full-bodied machine go as fast as a cutdown. A challenge I readily accepted!” Although he’s…

Scooter model: Lambretta LI 150 Silver Special Series 3. Date purchased & cost: April 2017 – imported from Italy. Inspiration for project: I wanted a standard original classic scooter, which would make a nice workhorse. Time to build & by who: The scooter was fully working when I bought it. Over the past three years we’ve turned the scooter into a nice rally-going scooter without compromising the standard look. All the work has been carried out by my husband, Stephen. Any specialised parts or mods: A good engine set-up, which was built into the original casings, R1 shock, a full BGM DC ignition system, again all the work was carried out by Stephen. Engine spec Kit: Imola Ultimate 186. Crank: AF High Power 58x107. Carb: Dell’Orto 28mm open mouth. Exhaust:…

Paul saw the Sprint with its water-cooled engine advertised on social media. “I liked it, I did a deal, cash was exchanged and I brought it home,” Paul smiled. Job done, you might think? That wasn’t to be; Paul’s first trip out on his newly acquired scooter was a memorable one, but unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. “My first ride-out was to the A19 Scooter Club’s Ride to the Runway do in 2018. During the journey I had no end of issues, and had to discontinue the ride when the carb rubber came off due to the engine overheating. Because of the problems I experienced I never made it to the do and it ended up with my mate recovering me and the scooter from the roadside.” Shoot-out With…

Launched in 1965 the Vespa 150 Super, VBC1T was the replacement model for the preceding Vespa 125, VNA and Vespa 150 VBB. It was similar in appearance to the Vespa Sprint – albeit the Super, parked up next to a Sprint, could be said to resemble a Sprint that has been put through a particularly lengthy boil wash! Like the Sprint, the Super had a small glovebox integrated into one of the side panels, with a lockable access door. Neither a large frame nor a smallframe Vespa, nor could the Super be perceived in any way to fall in the category of the early wide frame Vespas; the Super was unique, with its slightly angular lines, its trapezoid-shaped headlight with a handlebar set-up to suit being specific to that model…

Name of scooter & reason: Yambretta RD350 YPVS – because it is one! Scooter model: GP 150. Date purchased & cost: June 2019, took it in part-ex for my DRZ 400 powered Lambretta. Inspiration for project: I prefer going quickly and always wanted a YPVS powered scoot. Time to build & by who: Four months by Gary Hancox. Engine spec Engine: Yamaha 350 YPVS. Exhaust: Purchased from Italy and adapted to fit scooter. Gearbox: Standard, 18/30 sprockets. Carb: Lectron. Dyno: 50.04bhp at the rear wheel. Paintwork & murals done by: Industrial satin black for car chassis – signwriting by Ascot Signs (Scott Manser). Overall cost: About £13k plus the donor scoot (had to replace most parts from donor scoot i.e. forks, legshields etc.). Is there anything still to add to…

Without getting too technical or going back into the classroom for a physics lesson, the power delivery through any engine can be quite complicated to explain. The physics surrounding a force being created and exerted on the next object could have you scratching your head. Explaining it in simple terms, the expanding flame front in the cylinder sets the piston moving up and down and starts the motion off, the resulting chain reaction reaches its final destination when the surface of the tyre meets (and turns) on the road. When Innocenti produced the LI engine in the mid to late 1950s it was a mechanical work of art. So much so, that apart from a few simple upgrades it stayed largely the same right up to the end of production…

Stone Foundation – The Light In Us/Freedom Starts 100% (Vinyl Single) Stone Foundation were scheduled to play a series of tour dates in spring 2020 but like everyone else they’ve had to reschedule things. Their tour now (hopefully) runs from October this year until December. Already several dates have sold out. There’s a brand new studio album scheduled for release in September, although that is not yet set in concrete; the title of their new record hasn’t, as yet, had its title revealed. In the interim Stone Foundation are remaining in contact with their ever-growing number of fans worldwide, by broadcasting unseen footage from shows on their last tour online, along with a ‘live’ merchandise tour. As well as this, Stone Foundation have released a brand new single (limited…

The problem with embracing new technology is that a new and improved version comes along fairly quickly. Iknew this would be the case when I bought a set of Pinasco’s split tubeless rims but they were an obvious choice when planning my trip to Croatia. Even then there were plenty of tubeless rims on the market, each of which offered more control in the event of a puncture than traditional tubed tyres. What Pinasco offered was flexibility, being able to change a tyre without tracking down special equipment and, if all else failed, I could whip out the valve and fit a new tube as normal. The idea wasn’t new; generations of scooterists have tried sandwiching a rubber membrane between traditional rims, most of them unsuccessful. Instead of sealing the…

Name of scooter & reason: The name is: Highlander Resurrection because it is a resurrection of the old custom scooter Highlander from the 1990s. It was the first custom scooter I saw when I was 16 years old. The scooter was on the Venlo Scooter Rally and I was very impressed by the scooter. So my love for the custom scooter was born. Sccooter model: Vespa PX. Time to build & by who: From December of 2012 until summer of 2020. Most things I built by myself, but for some special parts I got a lot of help from my friends. Any specialised parts: The foot brake was ch hanged to a new one – designed by myself an nd a friend for the hydraulic rear disc brake. I added…

This is the third issue of the amalgamated format, but in reality it’s the first edition of Scooterist that’s been produced ‘from scratch’ (the last months’ worth were what we’d planned to be in our June/July issue). Like some of you, I’ve been on furlough, so haven’t been in a position to make any comments on some of the various opinions about the merger that have been stated in the press or on Facebook (some of which I feel are slightly misguided or misleading). Okay, it’s different to before, but we’re definitely not out! Scooterist has a long and rich heritage under its belt and we will strive to make sure that legacy will live on in whatever way, shape or form the future may dictate. No one could have…

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 the same venue, but on the 1st Thursday of each month from 7.30pm. For up-to-date information visit their Facebook page: 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 Based in Poole, Dorset we are a mixed club of both Lambrettas and Vespas. We meet at the New Inn, Poole on the first Wednesday of the month with a…

With lockdown having scuppered just about every scooter-related event in the calendar, a large portion of us have been busy in the shed or garage, getting on with that all-important scooter-related job. My man cave ‘lockdown therapy’ of choice has been engine building, it’s been a joy to get back at it and wield the spanners again. With that in mind, what better time to take a look at some of the tools on the market available for Vespa and Lambretta scooters. Some of these may be considered ‘bare essentials’, something I wouldn’t use any other item for (like a flywheel holder as opposed to jamming a screwdriver between fins, etc.). But other tools may be treated as a luxury (say a con-rod holder, where another item may reasonably be…

Skegness is my favourite rally. It’s local, being only 100 miles from home, and the only one I regularly go to nowadays. In 1982 it was the closing rally of the season for us. Learning from the mistakes of our earlier rallies, we met in a car park rather than the pub, and left straight after work. Therefore we rode in daylight, and sober. We also all had enough money for a B&B, so no more sleeping rough. Being early also meant we had a crowd of locals watching us as we rode out, we were celebrities. A steady ride soon took us into Lincolnshire, mile after mile of flat fields full of cabbages... they must really like cabbages in Lincolnshire. Although we were still new to this scootering game…

Scooter model: Lambretta Series 2 LI 150. Inspiration for project: I bought the scooter from the previous owner who’d had the scooter built for him. Time to build & by who: Iain Wilkins, Keith Newman made a few bits and supplied some of the parts for the scooter. Matt at I-Paint sprayed the scooter. And credit to the previous owner for having such good taste! Engine spec: Completely rebuilt by my husband, Stephen, using MB seals and bearings, he also added the Varitronic ignition system. Kit: Casa 185. Crank: BGM 58 x 107. Carb: 25mm Dell’Orto. Exhaust: BGM V4 Clubman. Clutch: Standard 4 plate with GT springs. Gearbox: 150 Series 2. Chassis Spec: Tyres: Michelin S83. Rims: BGM chrome split rims with the centres painted in off-white. Suspension: RIV slimline,…

Name: Paul Gray. Scooter club & town: Harrogate and District Vespa Club, Harrogate. First interest in scooters: In the early ’80s my friends had scooters but I could never afford one! First scooter: T5 with slightly extended forks and Lambretta mudguard. Favourite scooter model: All Vespas but especially old ones and T5s. Favourite style of custom scooter: Chopper and rat look. First ever rally: YSA Invasion 4 Lepton 2007. How did you get there: On scooter; T5. Any funny stories: When I crashed this scooter into a ditch and an off-duty policeman stopped to check to see if I was okay. Favourite rally: Kelso; always welcomed by the locals and Meltdown in Germany – it’s one awesome weekend. Least favourite rally: None really, rallies are what you make of them…

Scooter model: 1979 Vespa 150 Super. Date purchased & cost: June 2014 for £150. Time to build & by who: Five years preparing and collecting parts, one year to build by myself. Engine spec: Complete engine bought off eBay for £800 direct from Stu at SG Engineering December 18, I believe he had a tax bill due... Kit: Parma 190. Carb: 24mm. Porting work by: SG Engineering. Dyno done by: SG Engineering. What brand of oil do you run: 3% Castrol. Chassis spec: Tyres: Michelin. Suspension: YY. Seat: SIP. Fuel tank & tap: Standard & BGM fast flow. Describe engine performance and scooter handling: Handles really well, accelerates well and smooth through the gears. Any other details we have missed: Rally 180 forks fitted that I have had sitting about…

Name of scooter & reason: Yambretta RD250 – because it is one! Scooter model: GP 150. Date purchased & cost: About eight years ago, swapped for an Indian GP in bits. It was nothing like it is today, everything has been changed but the Yamaha engine was already fitted into the frame, which is what I wanted it for. Inspiration for project: I prefer cutdowns and I prefer going quickly. Time to build & by who: It has evolved over eight years from a pile of rubbish when I got it (honestly, it was shocking) to what it is today. More recently Gary Hancox has had a hand in doing many parts for it. Engine spec Engine: 1976 RD250 air cooled. Exhaust: One-off handmade – Performance Fabrications (Sunbury-on-Thames). Clutch: One-off…

In just a short time Oddballs rally, held at Abingdon Rugby Club, has become one of the biggest gatherings of scooterists with a taste for the weird, wacky and wonderful. Run by scooterists for scooterists, with all proceeds going to charitable causes, more than £40k has been raised so far. With a ‘back to the scooterboy era of the ’80s’ aura, it’s no surprise that Oddballs has gone from strength to strength. One of the many aspects contributing to Oddballs’ successful rise is the fun factor, which runs through Oddballs rally from Friday till Sunday. Each Oddballs rally has had a theme – previous choices have included Pirates and The Wild West. This year’s theme, recently scuppered by Covid, was set to be Arkham Asylum, home to fictional comic book…

Fitting the rims isn’t a difficult task but there are some tips which make it even easier. However the most important tools you’ll need are patience and washing up liquid. Getting the valve seated is the hardest part of the process. I find it best to soak the valve in a mug of boiling water. This softens the silicone and makes it more malleable. Having lubricated the valve with washing up liquid it’s simply a case of wrestling it into place. This takes some persuasion but try not to use a metal screwdriver as this could damage the valve. I find a plastic bladed car trim tool works best. If the valve won’t seat, get another mug of boiling water, have a brew and try again. If your tyre pattern…

Name: Michael Zinnen. Job: Carpenter master – project manager, fair construction. Scooter club & town: No club. I live in Aachen. First interest in scooters: In 1994 when I was 15 years old – imprisoned by older friends who drove a Vespa. First scooter: PX 80 – the current Halloween PX Der Fluch des Michael Myers, seen in Scootering magazine No.169 from April 2000. What is your favourite style of custom scooter: Vespa racer from the 1990 years. First rally or event: My first rally was the RUN in Venlo, 1995. How did you get there: I rode on my PX 80 with my brother on his V50 Spezial. Funniest experience with a scooter: That I could buy my favourite custom scooter – the Highlander. Furthest you’ve ever ridden on…

What does the future hold for Wicksteed Parts Fairs? Home of the twice-yearly scooter parts fairs, Wicksteed Park announced in June that it was going into administration, citing as part of the problem the huge financial strain imposed on it by the Covid-19 situation. In an effort to save the park, a small group of employees have formed a new, smaller company, backed by Wicksteed Charitable Trust (the owners of the park). Anyone wishing to help save it is being asked to donate to a fundraiser via the following link: www.justgiving.com/wicksteedcharitabletrust Whether this will help to raise enough money to secure the park’s future (and the future of the scooter parts fairs) is unknown at the moment. IoW rally postponement Most of you will have heard by now that the…