October/November 2013 Editor: Mau Spencer 01507 529408 Email: mauspencer@classicscooterist.com Group production editor: Tim Hartley Publisher: Steve Rose Contributors: Contributors: Rich Addison; Dennis Bell; Henry Byer; Dave Dry; Ashley Lenton; Paul Martin; Dave McCabe; Moxy; Rob Sumner; Phillip Tooth; Dave Walker; Andy Westlake; Steve Wright. Apologies to anyone we’ve forgotten. Some of the articles within these pages express the opinions of the contributors and are not necessarily those of Classic Scooterist. Design: Sarah Scrimshaw Reprographics: Simon Duncan Divisional advertising manager: Sandra Fisher sfisher@mortons.co.uk Advertising: Jo Scarbro 01507 524004 jscarbro@mortons.co.uk Subscription manager: Paul Deacon Circulation manager: Steve O’Hara Marketing manager: Charlotte Park Production manager: Craig Lamb Publishing director: Dan Savage Commercial director: Nigel Hole Associate director: Malc Wheeler Managing director: Brian Hill Editorial address: CLASSIC SCOOTERIST MAGAZINE PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ www.scooteristscene.com General queries and back issues: 01507 529529 (24hr answerphone) Archivist: Jane Skayman 01507 529423 jskayman@mortons.co.uk Next issue published: Nov 20, 2013 Editorial deadline: Oct 25, 2013 CLASSIC SCOOTERIST (ISSN:1756-9494) is published bi-monthly by Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ UK . USA subscriptions are $36 per year from Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. Periodical Postage is paid at Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Postmaster: Send address changes to CLASSIC SCOOTERIST, Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. 715-572-4595 Email: chris@classicbikebooks.com www.classicbikebooks.com Distribution: COMAG Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE USA subscriptions: $30 per year (Six bi-monthly issues) available from Motorsport, 31757 Honey Locust Road, Jonesburg MO 63351-9600m USA Periodicals postage is paid at Jonesburg MO. Tel. 636-488-3113. Fax 636-488-3196 Printed by: William Gibbons & Sons, Wolverhampton © Mortons Media Group. All rights reserved. No part of this publication maybe reproduced without prior written permission.
Independent publisher since 1885 Member of the Professional Publishers' Association Having trouble finding a copy of this magazine? Why not Just Ask your local newsagent to reserve you a copy each month?
4
CLASSIC SCOOTERIST – OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013
22
26
Show-winning Vespa 92L2
Richardson’s 30 Mark Ridgeback rustoration
34
The Yanks got the jeep; the British got the Welbike…
38
42
American Microcar Museum auction
Amelia’s Lambretta Cometa
Andy Kirkby’s SX150
What does the future hold? The economic climate of the past couple of years hasn’t been very positive and this has been reflected in the scooterist world (I can tell many tales of people selling their pride and joy to make ends meet, or because they’ve been made redundant). But if this year’s Isle of Wight scooter rally is anything to go by, maybe that’s all about to change? This started to become obvious from the moment I arrived at Red Funnel’s Southampton Terminal to board my ferry; the queues were the longest I’ve experienced for many years with scooterists queuing out of the dock gates, through the municipal park next door, and even out on to the road. If you were lucky, then you might have managed to catch the ferry you had originally booked on – but for
quite a few, this wasn’t the case. I had even been told tales of people even missing the ferry after because of sheer volume of people trying to get to the Wight Isle. This initial indication of an increased attendance was reinforced once I was on the island with wall-to-wall pockets of scooterists to be found everywhere. The only exception to this appeared to be Smallbrook Stadium on Saturday morning where attendance was slow (possibly due to the nightmare logistics of getting into the site) – making some traders very unhappy. Sunday however, was a totally different scenario with the annual rideout taking over an hour to depart from Ryde; this was compounded at the Sandown Rugby Club destination with worries where to put everyone and
many people commenting that this was the largest rideout attendance for many a year. If the scooter world is providing a guide as to what’s happening to the world economy, then the future is bright – the future is scootering.
www.classicscooterist.com
ARE YOU A SUBSCRIBER?
48
The Isle of Wight international scooter rally – the people; the machines; the music…
72
BSSO action and reflection at Lydden Hill
Fill in the coupon on page 6 and take advantage of our money-saving offers.
decoking 76 Exhaust – fun with caustic soda
Transforming a useless 78 Lambretta back brake
9 What’s new?
34 The Paratrooper’s scooter
72 BSSO scooter racing
11 Win a crash helmet
38 Andy Kirkby’s Lambretta project
76 Exhaust decoking
IN DETAIL A round-up of the latest gossip and gadgets In our free-to-enter competition
15 Rated or hated?
New products on test
17 Mailbox
Readers express their views, ask questions and show us their pictures
22 Amelia’s Cometa
Born and bred into a scooter life from a young age
26 Richard Gabb’s 92L2
Show winning 1957 Douglas Vespa
30 Mark Richardson’s Ridgeback
A Lambretta TV2 enigma
mauspencer@classicscooterist.com
The Yanks got a four-wheel drive; the British got the Welbike…
Reintroducing some SX appeal
42 Gone in 60 seconds
American Microcar Museum auction
46 Back in the day
The VCB at Woburn Abbey
48 The Isle of Wight scooter rally
Full coverage of the 2013 event
61 Rallies and rideouts
A roundup of all the latest scooter events
70 Talkin’ ‘bout My Generation More news from the younger scooterists
The Lydden Hill / John Uffindell tribute race
Fun with caustic soda and potatoes!
78 Dead stop!
Transforming a dodgy Lambretta brake
80 Scooter clubs
Meet and greet your local club
81 Club profile
Clyde Valley SC
82 What’s going on?
A guide to planning your days out
86 Scooterist classifieds
For all your wants and needs
90 Vespa 946
The final betrayal of an idea – or a beacon for the future? CLASSIC SCOOTERIST – OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013
5
BORN AND BRED IN A SCOOTER LIFE
Going to your first scooter rally on the Isle of Wight aged five, it could only be in a child seat alongside mum and dad; but that’s one of Amelia Richardson’s first memories of the scooter scene. Now aged 18, the enthusiasm that dad Marc has for Lambrettas has rubbed off on his student daughter.
I
n Amelia’s own words: “It’s all I’ve ever known.” It’s great to see youngsters enjoying the scene as the majority of us remember such great times when we were aged 18, going on rallies across the UK. But if we don’t encourage more of the younger generation into the scene, then it will just fade away (like most of my mates’ hair – heee heee)! Amelia’s first scooter was a Vega, which was a surprise 16th birthday present from her parents (dad Marc had built it out of a right old scrappy machine). Needless to say, looking at Marc’s scooter collection, it would have been a nice restoration in the end. Learning to ride the Vega was a new experience for Amelia – one of dad’s mates, a wet field and suddenly loads of people were joining in to help teach her to ride. With the family originally coming from Yorkshire, Amelia explained that her favourite rally has always been Bridlington at the end of the summer season; and one of her happiest memories is of her and her dad dancing in the Spa to her favourite band, The Selector (shame there’s no pictures of that eh Marc)! Amelia did also make a point of saying she didn’t feel there isn’t really a bad rally in her eyes – and the only way she can see any of the scene improving, is to spread the word to the younger generation to get more involved. This was highlighted at the recent Cleethorpes national rally where the Young Guns SC held
mauspencer@classicscooterist.com
CLASSIC SCOOTERIST – OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013
23
an alldayer in a venue near to the campsite. So there is an up-and-coming young scooter scene developing on the circuit – which has got to be good for everyone. As for the younger generation riding scooters, the Cometa Amelia now owns couldn’t be a better machine. Talking like an expert already, Amelia tells me that the most important thing is to do a dry build of any project you take on – this is something I’m sure Marc has instilled in her brain from a very young age. Watching him produce some lovely Lambrettas over the years, the detailed process of restoring her 40-year-old vehicle was a slow process. The flower details on the Cometa hint back to the psychedelic era of the 1960s and 70s, so it looks very retro. With Cometa/Vega production running from 1968-1970, it was very futuristic looking for its time with its design being inspired by the landing, in 1966, of the first men on the moon. To this day, the design could almost fit in with the latest
24
CLASSIC SCOOTERIST – OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013
Piaggio Zip scooters currently on the market. The 75cc versions were the larger capacity of the two variants, as a 50cc engine was also produced as the Lui. The Cometa version had lubematic oil injection for the fuel system and also an up-and-over sports exhaust in matt black – Amelia’s exhaust has been given a little bling with the cover being chromed though. With just under 10,000 of these little trendsetters being produced in all versions, they weren’t a massive success – but distinctive they were. The Italian-marketed Lui was produced in silver or orange and the exported models of the Vega/Cometa were produced in red, turquoise and green with the 75cc motor in the Vega and the 75SL (lube system) in the Cometa version. I’ve seen a few of these little machines at custom shows over the years with full-sized Lambretta engines transplanted into them, but I really like the original designed motor, which was used back in the day for grasstrack racing, etc.
With only an ‘overtaking’ mirror to add to her shiny Cometa, I wondered what other scooters she owned? Well actually “nothing at the moment” was her reply. “I’m just waiting for my inheritance of dad’s collection (look out Marc)! Looking at some of the patches on Amelia’s denim jacket, I’m sure her dad used to own it previously. With that jacket and her blue suede shoes, I think Amelia turned a few heads at the Isle of Wight rally this year. With a love of scooters and the music, I asked her if there was anything she didn’t like about the rally scene – “Hangovers” was her reply. Well I’m sure there will be many of them to come in the next few years. Amelia would like to thank her mum and dad for opening her eyes from a very young age, on just how good the scooter community can be. Words: Rich Addison Images: www.addo-pix.com
www.classicscooterist.com
Tell Me Why?
THE RIDGEBACK Sometimes a certain scooter comes along that just grabs your attention and researching its history has to be done. The Lambretta Ridgeback TV2 is such a scooter and to find one in a complete state, that runs with a little tinkering, is just amazing.
30
CLASSIC SCOOTERIST – OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013
www.classicscooterist.com
M
arc Richardson, originally from York, came across such a TV2 model and although he realised it was pretty rare, it wasn’t until he dug deeper that he understood just how unique this ‘recalled’ Lambretta from the Innocenti stable, truly was. Trying to get to the truth on why and how these machines came about is like trying to find rocking horse doo-dah; so many stories, and to be honest, why would a massive company like Innocenti go through the process of repairing a presumed fault in the weaker Series 1 frame tube that was used in the first batch of TV2s, rather than just replace the frame completely? Paul Slack, from the LCGB, refers to a quote by the late, great Lambretta Museum owner Mike Karslake: “One interesting fact on the TV second series, was presumably that the increase in power highlighted a weakness with the frame. The main frame tube on some very early examples had started to crack, so Innocenti recalled all the faulty models and the production line was stopped. Innocenti’s answer was to cut the frame in half, weld in a flat plate, and then weld the frame back together, thus improving the strength. This decision, looking back at it now, was very strange, it must have cost Innocenti much more money to carry out these modifications than it would have done to scrap the frames and start again. When all current frames were modified, Innocenti improved the strength of future frames by making them from thicker gauge tube. Frame numbers on the TV Series 2 appear in two groups; the first version were mainly the ones that needed the modification and started with a 1; later, thicker frames started with a 2.” More speculation on what happened can be read on http://www.ilambretta.com/ forums, but Paul could be right when he mentioned in one thread that possibly the recall could have actually happened at the factory during testing of the frame and power unit. Scooter owner Marc is of the
mauspencer@classicscooterist.com
CLASSIC SCOOTERIST – OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013
31
n i k c a B ay... the d
More than 1000 scooterists turned out for the Vespa Club of Britain’s 12th annual rally at Woburn Park during July 1964. Pictured is the Sunday highlight which consisted of a twomile ‘two-by-two’ parade. The prize for the longest pennant pole went to a scooterist from Darlington (name unknown). Picture courtesy of Mortons Archive (www.mortonsarchive.com)
RALLIES & RIDEOUTS
CLEETHORPES N AT I O N A L R A L LY
W
hat better way to celebrate my 50th birthday than to attend a national scooter rally – nothing I hear you shout. Luckily it’s also the wife’s favourite rally as well as being just down the road from our home. Part of the experience we enjoy is the mass ride-in starting every year from the Haven pub on the Grimsby approach roundabout. More people than ever turned out for the spectacular sight of scooterists riding along the main A180 route into the east coast resort. It was a real scorcher of a day and it was a surprise to not see more scooters on the roadside as we made our way down Cleethorpes Road, Grimsby – I’m sure there were plenty of hot clutches by the end of the trip. This year instead of making our way down Cleethorpes prom, then turning round to travel back to the Stamford Club venue, Iggy and the rest of the Mansfield Monsters and Olympic SC had secured a return to Meridian Park next to the Pleasure Island after a number of years elsewhere.
62
CLASSIC SCOOTERIST – OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013
What a big improvement it made for everyone as well; the campsite was situated in the centre of the park, surrounded by traders’ stalls, food stalls and a rather small beer tent/bar (not sure, but I think that may change next year). With plenty of sun cream and the now popular hat among scooterists walking around the site, it was good to see old friends again for a chat and this year there seemed to be more second-hand parts stalls than the shiny stuff stalls that sometimes overpower some events. There were plenty of clubs and small communal areas with one even having its own leather sofa in the middle of its pitch; it must have been a good Friday evening, as some of the faces looked to be a little more than fragile. At the afternoon custom show there was no missing the park’s tannoy system and the comments were close to being like the announcements from the 1980s hit programme Hi-De-Hi! – it brought a smile to many people throughout the afternoon. Top scooter on the day, winning best in show, was www.classicscooterist.com
Visit www.facebook.com/ScooteristScene to see more photos
the Lambretta ‘Deep Desire’ and it looked amazing. Being shown on the home patch was the Vespa ‘Flanders Field’ whose owner walked away with best paint’ Of all the super custom bikes and restorations on show, the one that caught my eye the most was a stunning Vespa VNB with the deepest paint I’ve ever seen – wouldn’t like to guess how many coats of lacquer that owner Steve Welbourn from Hull had placed on it. After another stroll around the parts fair and a chat with Mel on the bike gear stall (the missus was collecting a new pink crash helmet) it was then back on the scoot and a ride into town for our annual visit to the Monaco fish and chip restaurant. Oh no disaster – it had closed! Luckily, another cafe had opened next door and regular haddock and chips were the order of the day. Most years, we’d set off home after our day trip to Cleethorpes, but celebrating my 50th birthday this week we’d booked into the St James Hotel in Grimsby for the night. Parking up among all the other scooters mauspencer@classicscooterist.com
in the car park, it soon became apparent that this rally was bigger this year than it had been for a long time. Every B&B and hotel was packed with scooterists (we even received a call from the hotel in the afternoon to check that we still needed the two rooms I’d booked and it wasn’t a mistake in double booking). It could have been that everyone had seen the scorching weather forecast for the weekend and decided to make their way across to the east coast. In the evening, after putting on the glad rags, we made our way to Cleethorpes marketplace to meet up with friends and watch my mate Andy play in The Jam’d at their regular gig in Fiddlers. It was standing room only and they sounded great, but the heat in there was a little too much for us old fogies, so we crossed the road to another bar for a topup of cider. All-in-all, the feedback from the majority on social networks after this weekend, shows it’s been one of the best rallies this year so far. Words and images: Rich Addison CLASSIC SCOOTERIST – OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013
63
READERS’ FREE ADS
DURKOPP DIANA TS
1959/60, 20k miles, genuine new battery pack, runs v well, spare cables, r/carrier/spare wheel, needs re-reg, nice orig classic! £2200 ono. 07885 491600. Kent
LAMBRETTA LI125/150
Series 3 1962, restored by ex Eddy Grimstead manager to a high std, 12v electrics, Italian Import Nova, year’s MoT £3500 ono. Tel. 01268 680442. Essex
LAMBRETTA TV175
LCGB, cert 1963, solid cond, removable fly screen, new tyres, shock, brake pads & cables, owned since 02, t&t, value at £3200. 07801 367283. London.
TV 200
1965, Cali import 2 yrs ago, orig, restored to high level, totally std orig barrel, points, carb and exhaust, history, £9250. Tel. 07867 907038. Herts
VESPA GTS
250cc, low mileage, 2005, vgc, very fast & reliable, new front tyre & serviced Sports exhaust, years MoT & long tax, £2000. ono Tel. 07941 527457. York.
LAMBRETTA
Italian, 1963, Series 3, 125cc150cc top end, 12 volts, mint condition, swap for Series 1 or 2 Lambretta must be vgc. Tel. 07525 833676. Nottingham
LAMBRETTA S3 LI150
1967, fully restored, front crash bar, stainless exhaust, long tax/MoT, very reliable, must be seen, £3495. Tel. 01664 565778; 07836 251850. Leics.
LAMBRETTA TV175
Italian, UK registered, MoT to Dec 2013, full restoration, electronic ignition, £5000. Tel. 07791 615768.
VESPA
historic 50cc, with 110 kit, it is a 1969 Vespa Douglas MoT until March 2014, tax, fully restored, mint condition. Tel. 07984 046687. Staffs
VESPA GTV250
Retro, mint condition, one lady owner, t&t, £3600 or £3500 without extras. Tel. 07971 482229. Somerset.
LAMBRETTA GP150
garaged with log book, good condition, €3000. Tel. 35699 893708. Malta.
LAMBRETTA LI150
Special, 1964, vgc, fully rebuilt, very reliable, engine & frame match, £3500 ovno. Tel. 07932 361970. Gtr Man.
LI 150 SPECIAL
1966, original British reg scoot, 175 kit set up on dyno at Chiselspeed, new front hub, bills to prove, t&t, £2800 ono. Tel. Mick on 01423 324929. N Yorks
VESPA 150 SPRINT
196, MoT July 2014, 53 miles only since full restoration, hence immaculate condition, £3500. Tel. 01306 712616. Surrey.
VESPA P150X
Import 1979, vgc for year, only slight rust on f/wheel, MoT Jun 14, runs but carb needs tuning as cuts out periodically, £1199 ono. Tel. 07732 802558. Yorks
LAMBRETTA GP225
TS1, black & cream powder coated, ring for all the extras upgraded to Scooter, £4500 ono Tel. 07747 640312 eves. Bedfordshire
LAMBRETTA SX150
Special, 186 Magello fitted, 1967, 904 miles since rebuild, immaculate condition, t&t, £4250. Tel. 07966 347349. S Yorks.
PIAGGIO QUARTZ
50cc, water cooled, 390 miles only, 12 months MoT, new condition, £560. Tel. 01743 368953. Shrops.
VESPA 150
VBB1T, 1961, reg 125, 218cc Pro Stage 4 engine, P200 gearbox, Revolver exhaust, 12v, £3999. Tel. 07870 110231. Leics
VESPA P200E
1982 model, good solid condition, £1650. Tel. 07806 847060. Gwent
LAMBRETTA LI 150
Series 3, 1963, reg as 125, low mileage, good starter and runs well, recent MoT and tax, £1850. Tel. 07967 000396. N Devon
LAMBRETTA SX200
Spanish Lince, unreg matching frame + engine nos, untampered with, orig solid straight project, engine turns, non runner, £1785. Tel. 07806 549685. Strathclyde
PIAGGIO VESPA 150
3m, €4300. Tel. +39017 390121. Italy
VESPA GT
(Spanish), looks like Vespa 180, 1972, 125 PX engine, t&t, JL expansion s/s exhaust, Nissan burnt orange paint, restored, £2050. 07958 981091. Essex
VESPA PK50
1983, 80cc kit, well maintained, Sports seat, spare wheel, t&t 2014, £1050 ono. Tel. 07904 077454. Cornwall.
REGISTRATION NUMBER WANTED
JUR 18G, 17G, 19G VESPA PX125
177 Polini kit freshly fitted, very tidy scooter, loads of new parts, 12 months MoT & tax, £1300 ono. Tel. 07455 327373. Lincs.
86
VESPA PX 150
Bought new Nov 12, only 170 miles, small ding in r/h/s cover, otherwise like new, warranty balance, £2250. Tel. 01323 761566; 07834 062557. Sussex.
classic scooterist – octoBer/NoVeMBer 2013
VESPA RALLY 180
Classic 1970/1, new 200cc top end and race crank, V5, close chassis/engine nos, ex Californian, no rust, £3000 ono. Tel. 07967 113238. Sussex.
(any JUR/G single or double letters considered). Email mauspencer@classicscooterist.com with information and price. www.classicscooterist.com