Innehållsförteckning för July 2025 från Scootering

In April 2022 the world of scooter racing was rocked by the first fatality experienced in British scooter racing. Stefan Manoli was in his first season of racing and was an all-round good guy who loved scooters. He was a smallframe Vespa fan and it was natural that Stefan would join Team Hornet, who are dedicated to racing smallframes. Dave Bristow is the head honcho at Hornet Racing and has built the team around racing these machines. Speaking to Dave, he cannot help but feel some guilt as not only was it him who got his friend Stefan into racing, but Dave is chair of the British Scooter Sport Organisation, and it was down to him to deal with the fatality of his close friend as well as the organisational…

It seems like only yesterday that Mark published his first book, the hugely popular Taking in the View, Life from a Scooter, in which he detailed his scooterist career which began in the 1980s. With his second volume he tackles a very different subject, the social life that surrounded scooters in the 1950s. The inspiration for the book came in the form of a photograph album owned by a friend and that featured the exploits of his mum, Brenda, and her friend Arlene. The books tell the story of the adventures shared by two young women, weaving through the photographs and ephemera contained in the albums. Described by Mark as “part Lambretta, part social and part scootering history”, the album’s contents depict a fascinating era in the evolution of our…

From humble origins in Eastern Europe, Elizabeth Smolen rose to become a trailblazing rider and businesswoman. As we’ve mentioned in earlier news articles, her scooters and the ephemera that tell her story are part of an exhibition at the Williamson Art Gallery and Museum in Birkenhead. According to Daniel Doyle, who has helped to curate the exhibit, footfall has been excellent and not just among ‘traditional’ scooterists. If you’d like to join the crowds, the exhibit is time-bound but don’t worry; it doesn’t close until December 20, so there’s still plenty of time to be inspired. More info: www.williamsonartgallery.org…

It’s been almost four years since my wife Tracy and I moved from South Yorkshire to the Isle of Wight. Having embraced all that the island has to offer, I thought it was about time that I introduced my island pal, Dan, to the glories of my home county. The Armando’s open day is always worth making the trip for, and this year there was the added incentive of the unveiling of a mural depicting ‘Jimmy’ on the shop’s wall, this being unveiled by none other than Yorkshire’s latest resident Phil Daniels. As always, the Armando’s team know how to put on a party and all too soon it was time to head back south. We’ll see you on the island in August.…

For some, simply owning a scooter is enough but for others, owning a specific make or model is crucial, with some taking ownership to another level entirely. For Chris Wooden, only the GT200 (aka TV200) would suffice, but he wouldn’t just settle for any Lambretta GT. Being a Londoner himself, it had to be a Londonregistered GT and one, more importantly, that still had its cherished green log book. The first GT he bought and restored met the criteria exactly. Once restored and suitably accessorised, BLY 682B was featured in Scootering magazine in March 2009. Two other GTs followed, firstly AKL 89B (an original Kent bike which was also featured in Scootering) and finally 159 HPD, an original paint ‘63 GT, which had spent its life in Mitcham, just a…

After a busy few weeks filled with road-grimy rally scooters, new carbs on test, a Polini themed Vespa and the beautiful little 1954 Model F Lambretta still parked in the corner awaiting further attention, I found myself returning to a topic that’s become a bit of a hot one lately: ignition systems. Specifically, the SIP Vape units that more and more riders are fitting to their Vespa and Lambretta engines. Now, I’ve had a fair few of these through the workshop over the past 18 months, both static and variable versions, fitted to all manner of road and performance builds. After running them, testing them and in some cases adjusting them, I’ve developed a fairly solid opinion on what works best in different situations. So, I thought it might be…

With the crankshaft and gearbox now properly fitted, shimmed and spinning freely, the Lambretta S2 ‘rusteration’ project has reached a pivotal point. After much careful preparation, from case prep and bearing/seal installation to alignment checks and critical clearances, we now move into the phase where power gets transferred. In other words: the drivetrain. Last month’s work was about establishing the beating heart of the motor. With the brand-new BGM 58/110 crank installed and the gearbox fitted and shimmed to a tight 0.08mm end float, we’ve got a rock-solid foundation. Both ends of the engine now rotate freely and within specifications, giving us confidence that everything from gear engagement to crank clearance is working as it should. It’s the kind of preparation that pays dividends later, in both ride quality and…

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…

Would you like to have the final word? Send us a couple of high-res images of you and your scoot, together with a few details about it, and we’ll do the rest. stan@scootering.com SC: How and when did you get into scooters? PT: “As a teenager I was into the Mod scene and The Jam. One of the influences which led me to scooters was the Vespa wiring diagram on the inner sleeve of the All Mod Cons album. I started looking for a scooter when I was 16 and after I’d got the word out, I managed to purchase an Italian GP200 for £90!” SC: Did you keep the GP? PT: “When I turned 17 I started riding it, but because I was into 60s Mod-style scooters its modern…

The scootering community has been shocked by news of a road crash that claimed the lives of Yate and Sodbury SC members Rob Best and Marie Jones. The two riders were part of a group from the Gloucestershire club who were heading to Normandy when their convoy and a car were in collision on Saturday, May 31. The circumstances are still being investigated but Rob died at the scene while Marie died later in hospital. As we went to press two other club members were still in hospital, one of whom was in a critical condition. Our sympathies and best wishes go to Rob and Marie’s families together with all Yate and Sodbury SC members. We also wish a speedy recovery to the others injured in the crash.…

AGV Tourmodular helmet The Tourmodular claims to offer more comfort than its Sportmodular stablemate, but does it live up to that claim? I’m a big fan of AGV helmets, in fact the Sportmodular has been my ‘go to’ lid for the past few years. When offered a chance to try the touring version I grasped it with both hands, however I’ve been so attached to my Sportmodular that this helmet has sat patiently waiting its turn for a few months now. I wish I hadn’t waited so long. Although both helmets tackle the same ‘flip front’ market, they’re completely different products. While my Sport, with its carbon fibre construction, weighs in at 1409g, the Tour, also in a medium shell size, is a slightly porkier 1696g. This is almost entirely…

We all love to reminisce and remind ourselves of the 1980s scooter scene that was once part of us. Social media is awash with photographs that allow us to remind ourselves of those times and, for a moment, cling to our long-lost youth. In fact, for many, it’s become an obsession, reliving it through the scooters, music, etc, trying to deny the ageing process that can’t be reversed no matter how hard we try. So, while the grainy polaroids from the past give us our nostalgia fix, to others they become an inspiration. "Lewis can be forgiven for not remembering too much about his first scooter rally, the Isle of Wight in 2006. He was only one year old at the time" Surround sound In all fairness Lewis can be…

Every month you ask our resident tyre expert, Rhodz, sales manager at Cambrian Tyres (the UK’s largest motorcycle tyre distributor) and dedicated PX rider for his recommendations. This month we talk about riding in hot temperatures. Feeling the pressure under heat Q: Hi Rhodz, I am overseas on my scooter for a few weeks in ‘hotter than UK’ temperatures. Do I need to keep a special eye on my tyres over here? Kind regards Andrew (riding in the South of France) A: Hi Andrew, You would be correct in checking tyre pressures. It’s not a drastic change but it may be noticeable at 1-2 psi for every 10C increase in temperature. Normally going from a colder climate to being in a heatwave will affect this. The science part of this…

After last month’s deep dive into chassis upgrades, where we fitted a full suite of BGM suspension components, our GTS300 HPE is riding better than ever. The handling is crisper, the ride is more composed, any inadequacies of the standard set-up have been banished. If you’ve followed the series so far, you’ll know we’ve slowly but surely been transforming this scooter into something that not only performs better but feels more dialled in and rewarding to ride. But high-performance parts and dyno-tuned upgrades only go so far if you’re not looking after the basics, which brings us to this month’s task. It might not sound glamorous, but giving your GTS even just a basic service is arguably the single most important thing you can do to keep it running sweetly…

Many of the scooters we acquired hadn’t seen any action in years, decades perhaps, but the simple design of the two-stroke engine meant that they’d still run. Often, a bit of fresh petrol and a drop of oil down the plughole was all it would take to stir them back into life. The Lambretta finds were easiest because if a spark and some fuel were present, they would always fire up, running like they did the day they left the factory. We would use them for as long as possible before they gave up the ghost, and the inevitable strip down loomed. The problem was that because we didn’t need to do much to them, we didn’t gain any knowledge of their workings. It was an extremely slow learning curve,…

Q. Where and when did the record runs take place? A. Over the Whitsun bank holiday weekend, Straightliners held their World 2RAT records meeting at Elvington airfield in North Yorkshire. The meeting ran over four days from May 22-25 and the various classes allowed riders to establish new records over several distances. Q. How long is the track? A. The track is measured over 1.25 miles with four disciplines: standing start mile, mile and a quarter, flying quarter and flying kilometre, where top speed only, not the time, is recorded. Adie is no stranger to this type of event, having achieved 122mph in 2022, so it would be some step up if he wanted to go faster. Q. Were there many scooter entries? A. The only scooter entrant was Adie…

Few scooterists can claim to have clocked up anything like the miles enjoyed (or endured?) by the German scooterist Markus Andre Mayer. Having been encouraged to put down his adventures in print, Markus has responded by penning his autobiography, called 10 inch Tales. Perhaps best known for his ‘Around the World in 80 Days by Vespa’ trip, that adventure is just one in a series of long-distance rides that Markus has placed under his tyres. This is another book that we’re still to read, Stan having just ordered his copy from Amazon. Once he’s devoured it, we’ll give you an in-depth review. More info: The book is available in both English and German on the Amazon platform.…

MORE TO COME: AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH KENNEY JONES Following the recent release of The Autumn Stone box set there’s a suggestion of much more exciting material on the horizon to come from Kenney Jones, other similar artists and Immediate Records, so Stu caught up with the man himself. Stu: I’d like to start by talking to you about the Small Faces. How did that begin? Kenney: It all started when I met Ronnie Lane. I was learning to play the drums and he was learning to play guitar. We met Steve Marriott, who worked in the shop where we bought our instruments, and the rest is history. Stu: What were the influences that led to the decision to form the band? Kenney: We all just wanted to play. We…

Send Us a Postcard Every month we love to share your adventures both big and small. Whether it’s a local rideout, a rally at the rugby club or something more adventurous, send Stan your pics with a short account of what happened, and we’ll do the rest. stan@scootering.com More accustomed to the thunder of hooves, seven times a year Kempton Park Racecourse, on the border of Surrey and Greater London, plays host to one of the largest motorcycle jumbles in the UK. In recent years one of these dates has been themed around scooters and for 2025 that was Saturday, May 10. Although the main attraction is, of course, the opportunity to pick up a bargain from the assorted traders there’s also an on-site show, with the opportunity to pick…

As we all get older the daily gamble of life and the odds of not knowing what is round the corner become increasingly stacked against us. A good example of this is the story of Ingrid and Roger Knott, who are some of the kindest and friendliest people on the classic scooter scene who always kept themselves busy attending as many events and social meetings as possible. Over the years Ingrid’s had a few medical issues, but nothing to stop her enjoying scootering with her husband. On the other hand, Roger was as fit as a fiddle; lean and didn’t smoke or drink excessively, so when all their friends heard the shocking news that he had suffered a stroke, nobody could believe it. Thankfully, Roger is still with us, but…

As we clock up the fourth instalment in our PX-treme tuning series, the humble PX200 ‘dyno donkey’ continues its slow transformation, not with expensive bolt-ons, but with a methodical and measured approach to home-brewed engine tuning. Last month’s session proved particularly satisfying. We’d already widened the exhaust port and seen marginal top-end gains, but it was the cylinder head work that brought our real taste of progress. By machining the head to correct the excessive squish clearance and raise the compression ratio slightly (both still well within safe tolerances) we squeezed out a very healthy 1.3bhp increase at peak and nearly 2bhp at 6000rpm. From a relatively simple modification, the dyno told a clear story: better combustion efficiency equals better power. It’s a reminder that careful measurement and solid fundamentals…

JUNE 21-22 Totally Unstable SC All Dayer, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB6 SH Website: Totally Unstable Scooter Club (Facebook) 27-29 Eurolambretta, Ayr, Scotland 27-29 National Scooter Rally, South of England showground, Ardingly Sussex, RH17 6TL JULY 4-5 Moduska Scooter Rally, (South Birmingham Scooter Club) Thornborough Farm B38 9EH Tel. 08448 700000 4-6 The Laichers @The Loft Scooter Rally Weekend. The Loft at East Grange Farm, Speyside, Moray. Laichers2024@outlook.com 6 Vespa Club East Leeds Multimeet, The Gaping Goose, 41 Selby Road, Garforth LS25 1LR 10 Monthly Scooter Meet of Skegness Area Scooterists, The Lumley, Skegness PE25 3QJ 11-13 Guernsey Scooter Rally, St Peter Port, Guernsey 18-20 Farmyard Bash 2025, Court Farm Country Park, Wolvershill Road, Banwell Weston-S-Mare BS29 6DL Email. swscooterclubs@outlook.com 19-20 BSSO Round 5 at Darley Moor Race Circuit, Derbyshire (as part of…