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Wilkinson Racing
Beautifully original
The flyscreen! Underestimated accessory?
Markus Fröschen’s NSU Lambretta
HIGHLANDER RESURRECTION THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!
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Beginner’s Vespa Tech ■ Ford Mexico Vespa ■ Dealer Special Nostalgia Feature ■ Classic Scooterist Section ■ Show Us Your Scooters ■ Mailbox ■ Music ■ News ■ Reviews and more…
No.410 AUGUST 2020
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Editor: Dan Clare Email: dan@scootering.com Publisher: Tim Hartley Publishing Director: Dan Savage Designer: Chris Abrams Picture desk: Paul Fincham Production: Pauline Hawkins General queries and back issues: Tel: 01507 529529 24hr answerphone Lines open Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk Archivist: Jane Skayman 01507 529423 Email: jskayman@mortons.co.uk Subscription: Full subscription rates (but see page 26 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £49.20. Export rates are also available – see page 26 for more details. UK subscriptions are zero-rated for the purposes of Value Added Tax. Subscription Manager: Paul Deacon Circulation Manager: Steven O’Hara Marketing Manager: Charlotte Park Commercial Director: Nigel Hole TRADE ADVERTISING Emma Buxton-Rockley – ebuxton-rockley@mortons. co.uk Tel (01507) 529410 Divisional Advertising Manager: Tom Lee – tlee@mortons.co.uk Tel (01507) 529412 Group Advertising Manager: Sue Keily ADVERTISING DEADLINES The advertising deadline for the next issue of Scootering (September 2020) is August 6, 2020 On sale in newsagents August 27, 2020 SCOOTERING (USPS:020-245) is published monthly by Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ USA subscriptions are $60 per year from Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. Periodical Postage is paid at Bancroft, WI and additional entries. Postmaster: Send address changes to SCOOTERING, c/o Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. 715-572-4595. chris@ classicbikebooks.com SCOOTERING is published by: Mortons Scooter Media, a division of Mortons Media Group Ltd © 2020 All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any way without the written permission of the publisher. ISSN 0268 7194. Distribution: Marketforce (UK) Ltd, 3rd Floor, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP. Tel: 0203 787 9001. Printed by: William Gibbons & Sons, Wolverhampton. The Professional Publishers Association Member
Welcome to the August edition of Scootering!
I
have to admit, I’ve no idea what my kids find so fascinating about these social media platforms. I quite like Facebook for keeping in touch etc., but when it comes to Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and now the latest child zombifying demon… TikTok, I’m lost! When I was a lad, my mother spent Check out the Scooter Factory YouTube page and be sure to subscribe (it's free!) hours trying to get me back in the house. I’d be raking about all over the place referring to her as ‘the dishwasher’). In the end, on my pushbike, often begging for an extra hour I decided that half these YouTube experts were down the woods, or at the park or BMX track just people like me, blokes who ‘knew a bit’ with my pals. Now, I seem to spend hours trying about a specific topic, and so they talked about to get my kids OUT of the house! All I get from it into a mobile phone-camera… I had a crack, them is an occasional teenage grunt from and well, blow me down… now I’m a YouTuber! behind a screen which has been stuck to their I told my kids, half-believing ‘dad was now face for the past 24 hours! Inevitably though, cool’… but I was just met with cringing disdain. during lockdown, I spent a little more time Thankfully though, these ungrateful sprogs are stuck to a screen than I should have… I tried a not my core audience… scooterists are, and few of these Zoom meetings to get together with they love it! The channel has had thousands of friends, but it wasn’t for me. One thing that did views, hundreds of comments, and a healthy strike a chord though, is YouTube… I’ve spent wedge of subscribers… all in only a few weeks. endless hours on there, and the bit I love… is It’s a great way for me to help out fellow learning new skills! I even watched a tutorial on scooterists with tech articles and product how to fix my dishwasher, top brownie points reviews, as well as putting forward great offers with the Mrs (she was just pleased; I’m not from the magazine... win-win. So if you need any help calculating the compression ratio of your Vespa, selecting the right ignition timing for your Lambretta, or even jetting your Dell’Orto PHBH carb… be sure to look up The Scooter Factory on YouTube. It’s child’s play... it must be if I can do it! Anyway that’s enough of my ramblings, it’s another belter this month… stay safe and enjoy the issue. Dan
S C O O T E R I N G WA S B R O U G H T T O Y O U W I T H T H E H E L P O F. . .
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, welltravelled 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 flamboyant than Liberace and more manic than a mouse swimming in a vat of Red Bull. Another ’80s scooterboy turned journalist, digging up the very finest scooter stories from Russia to Rochdale.
Big Stan
’80s scooterboy turned long-distance rider. Be it local, national or international, he’ll ride anywhere in his quest to bring you the tastiest scooters, best roads, trade interviews and hidden gems.
Sarge
With over four decades of riding, rally-going and competing on both Lambretta and Vespa scooters under his belt, this former Freddie Mercury lookalike is still going strong. He’s a top DJ too, don’tcha know.
CONTENTS A warm welcome to the August edition of Scootering.
06Kickstart
The upfront section with all the latest news, views and product reviews!
After a set of unforeseen circumstances Paul Gray grasped the opportunity to brush himself down and develop his race-look performance Vespa…
What makes a 52 dealer special so unique?
A seductive scooter, with an even more seductive UV paint job…
The dealer special has been a major part of scooter business since the 1960s. What is it that makes them stand out from the crowd?
25Mailbox
Rideable 62Hardly Rat Yambretta
16
Feature Scooter: Femme Fatale
Readers’ letters, laughs, feedback and fury – get it off your chest man!
26
Subscriptions
l t
HIGHLANDER RESURRECTION THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!
t i
Mau Spencer presents the legend that is… Classic Scooterist magazine.
ll t
95Classic Scooterist
d it’
4 | SCOOTERING | AUGUST 2020
The readers’ buy, sell, swaps and wanted section
it’
beaten)
91Scooter Trader
d
Feature Scooter: 46 Muscle Vespa (Bruised but never
It’s been on the naughty step for a couple of years but lockdown has seen Stan’s PX return to the workbench.
t
A love of scootering and classic scooters inspired Rhiannon Donnelly who, with the help of her husband Steve, has nurtured and developed two beautiful scooters.
Torque: 90Tech Friends Reunited
ll t
Scooter: 40Feature Classically Devoted
Countless numbers of custom scooters were built in the 1980/90s, many long gone. However, some still exist but need overhauling to live once again.
Underestimated accessory?
i
At 23, Warren Wilkinson is the current British Scooter Sport Champion, a towering figure in the world of two-stroke auto tuning and the owner of a successful workshop. Scootering had to pay him a visit.
yscreen! flyscreen! The fl
t ti
Profile: 37Dealer Wilkinson Racing
Feature Scooter: 82 Highlander Resurrection
Markus Fröschen’s NSU Lambretta
Th t
The best of our readers’ rides as sent in by you.
With Stan’s PX poised for a return to roadworthiness it’s time to upgrade his old Pinasco rims for the latest catalogue items.
Beautifully original
0
us your 34Show scoots!
Torque: Time 80Tech For Change
Wilkinson
| #410 AUGUST 202
Basing a custom scooter around a retro theme has plenty of options. Quite often it’s racing pedigree machines that provide the biggest and best inspiration.
Tuning a Lambretta engine is fine if you want to go faster – however the transfer of power, and its burden on components, is often overlooked.
Dealer Profile Racing
t i
Scooter: 28Feature Mexico Vespa
68
Tech Torque: Power: The Chain reaction – Part 1
S
Get your mag delivered to the door, earlier than newsstands, and save money… cool. Plus – gain access to all the benefits of the ‘Scootering Extra’ subs-club.
68
Matt black and modified machines are yet another legacy of the scooterboy years of the ’80s. This pair features hooligan engines too!
PLUS
letter 03Welcome from the editor
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■ Ford Mexico Vespa Beginner’s Vespa Tech Feature ■ ■ Dealer Special Nostalgia■ Show Us Your Scooters more… Classic Scooterist Section ■ News ■ Reviews and ■ Mailbox ■ Music
No.410 AUGUST 2020
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28 WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 5
KICKSTART WHERE’S YA TOOL?
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 scooterrelated 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 used without fear of breaking something). But no matter your level of budget, whether you are a ‘top of the line’ man, or a ‘basics will do’ kind of bloke, one thing I always suggest… is buying from a reputable dealer. Avoid eBay tat from spurious sellers at all costs. Though eBay isn’t the problem in itself if the seller is a
Lambretta flywheel holder (holding) double ended
This tool will hold 90% of Lambretta flywheels. It is double ended and will hold normal Italian Series 3-type flywheels as well as the AF/J range, early Motoplat and Indian electronic flywheels. The only flywheels it will not fit are the later Spanish Motoplat electronic flywheels and some early Series 1 and 2 flywheels. These now come with a removable handle so they fit into the toolbox. This tool is preferred to jamming a screwdriver in the fins and risking breaking off a fin. RRP: £19.20 (mrb0253) For more info: www.lambrettaspares.com
Lambretta flywheel holder for BGM and Varitronic flywheels This flywheel holding tool holds the flywheel on the main centre nut to avoid any damage to the flywheel fins. For using with long GP/SX type engine mounts. Fits easily in your toolbox. RRP: £8.40 (mbgm0407) For more info: www.lambrettaspares.com
6 | SCOOTERING | AUGUST 2020
known (reputable) dealer… the problem with eBay is that in-between the reputable dealers is a sea full of sharks, touting their tat… tools which will snap in the blink of an eye. Buy cheap, buy twice… better to get it right first time. So let’s take a look at some of the quality tools you may want to consider for your collection, sturdy and robust items which are more than fit for purpose. And if you want to see a practical on any of the items included, keep an eye on editor Dan’s Scooter Factory YouTube channel.
Lambretta flywheel puller/extractor
A double-ended, Italian/Indian/Spanish flywheel puller. This particular multi-flywheel pulling tool works with all models of Lambretta scooter. The majority of flywheels use the smaller threaded end, this being the Italian and Indian types. The larger threaded end fits the later Spanish-type flywheels. To make it simple MB have engraved Spanish and Italian on each end. They have also made the extractor screw use the same head size as the flywheeel nut and the screw end is pointed to locate on the crankkshaft end so as not to damage the threads. RRP: £17.56 (mbl0180) For more info: www.lambrettaspares.com
Lambretta clutch holder
This thick steel clutch holder will let you safely and easily hold your clutch assembly while you undo/tighten the clutch nut. Using a screwdriver can damage your sprocket, chain or casing so it makes sense to use this tool. It basically works by locking up your clutch spider and sprocket against your shocker bolt to hold the clutch still. Small enough to fit into your toolbox, comes with a drilled hole to hang on a wall. RRP: £26.40 (mrb0149) For more info: www.lambrettaspares.com
T-bar extractors for Lambretta magneto housing and end plate
Another tool copied from the original, remade in slightly different lengths so the handles don’t foul in use, unlike on the original. This tool is used for removing the magneto housing and the gearbox endplate, you just insert each piece into the threaded hole and evenly twist away. RRP: £18.70 (mrb0155) For more info: www.lambrettaspares.com
Lambretta crankshaft drive side pulling sleeve
There is no point spending money on a crank that has been checked for alignment then going and hitting it with a hammer to fit it. This tool allows you to safely and easily pull your crankshaft into place. Simply fit the tool over the crank on the drive side and then use the drive sprocket bolt to pull the crank in. RRP: £19.20 (mrb0201) For more info: www. lambrettaspares.com
Lambretta Series 1, 2, 3 and GP clutch compressor four-hole tool
I’ve seen all sorts of cobbled-up ‘get me home’ bodge jobs used on the roadside for this job, but in the workshop… this is another essential. Nothing else will do when setting up clutches on the bench. Product code: BD06812 RRP: £18.99 More info: www.beedspeed.com
Piston locking tool for both Lambretta & Vespa
How many times have you seen a piston crown damaged from where some likely lad has been stuffing a screwdriver through the plug hole? This is the perfect bit of kit when setting up ignitions and a ‘positive-stop’ is required. Product code: BD00495 RRP: £6.99 More info: www.beedspeed.com
Lambretta engine mount removal/ fitting tool
If you don’t want to risk breaking you engine casings in a vice, this is the proper tool for the job. A little heat to warm the cases always helps too. Product code: BD08350 RRP: £42.50 More info: www.beedspeed.com
Rear hub puller Lambretta S3 – 3 hole/7mm
Been bashing your rim/ tyre with a wooden mallet to release the hub? Well, to decrease the risk of bashing in your rims, use the proper tool, you tool! This is he eavy duty/quality item. Product Code: BD0333 31 RRP: £16 peed.com More info: www.beedsp
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 7
KICKSTART Vespa & Lambretta con-rod holder
This tool will work on nearly any singlecylinder vehicle. It is designed to rest on the base gasket face and hold your con-rod (and therefore your crank). The shape of it means it is possible to use it with the engine still in place as it won’t fall, it will hang from your con-rod. Made from super-light, strengthened anodised alloy. RRP: £28.44 (mrb0156) For more info: www.lambrettaspares.com
Vespa PX/T5 petrol tap removal tool
This is one of those tools you just don’t want to be without. Getting those taps in and out of Vespa tanks is a right faff, and this tooll IS essenttiall. Prooduct code: BD14195 RRP P: £14.99 More info: www.beedspeed.com
Lambretta & Vespa engine bearing drift
Lambretta rear hub, drive and flywheel side, plus Vespa PX, Rally, Sprint, T5 drive and flywheel side bearing drift tool. Yes, you can use bits of old tube and various sockets if you like, but this is a staple item for any serious engine builder. Endless applications. Product code: BD07248 RRP: £24.99 More info: www.beedspeed.com
Vespa clutch nut tool
Nowt worse than going to change your clutch and finding the nut is ‘Vespa specific’…groan. You will need this tool in such cases. Product code: BD04966 RRP: £9 More info: www.beedspeed.com
Vespa clutch compressor
Vespa flywheel holding tool
This is one of those very rare tools I’ve always been disappointed in; I’ve never been convinced that it’s that much better than a home-made item in my toolbox. Not often I say that, as I believe in the right tool for the right job. Still, it’s better than a big chisel or flat-bladed screwdriver. Product code: BD14810 RRP: £8 More info: www.beedspeed.com
8 | SCOOTERING | AUGUST 2020
Not nearly as essential as the equivalent Lam mbretta version, and can be more eaasily substituted with other work kshop items to do the same job. However it’s noot an expensive item, so still worth considering in order to do the job properly. Product code: BD04416 RRP: £6.99 More info: www.beedspe eed.c com
Vespa flywheel puller
This tool falls into the same category as the equivalent Lambretta versions, it is an essential bit of kit. If you are planning any engine strip downs or ignition timing adjustments, then you will need one. Get a heavy duty/ quality item as a lot of force can go through these. Product code: BD08319 RRP: 7.99 More info: www. beedspeed.com
KICKSTART
LEGAL Q&A 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. Under Highway Code rule 211, filtering is legal and absolutely fine, although you
obviously do need to take a good deal of care as car drivers often just assume it is safe to change lanes without checking. Before changing lanes, the duty was on the car driver to check it was clear to do so, then indicate. If you were there to be seen, then irrespective of whether he indicated, he obviously hasn’t checked properly. If it went to court, there may be a small degree of fault attributed to you but the vast majority of the blame rests
Eric Cope smashes 127mph at Elvington on full-bodied Taylor-tuned Lambretta 250cc On Sunday, July 5, 2020, the stars aligned and the gods of speed looked down upon Eric with favour. In near-perfect weather conditions Eric spent the day re-gearing his machine, and run after run the speeds climbed as Eric increased sprocket sizes to see how far he could go. The result? A final best run of 127.591mph (that’s 205.33kph!) on a full-bodied, road-legal machine, hitting these high speeds not just once… but run after run, showing consistent improvements with gearing changes throughout the day. Elvington was the venue for this Straightliners event, hosted by Trevor Duckworth and team, using the same high-end timing equipment as used for record attempts. The event was run one way only, over a one-mile distance which included the option of doing just a half-mile or combining both distances on one ticket. Following on from recent engine upgrades over the winter, and a previous best of 112.3mph (before he ran out of gearing options) Eric started off gently (or so he thought) on his freshly rebuilt motor, and was shocked to see a first run of more than 119mph. The remainder of the day was spent playing with gearing and tyres to see the insane final top speed of 127.591 over the mile, and an earlier run of 122.875 over the half-mile! Scooter tech spec is a tuned RB225 (71.5mm bore) cylinder, 62mm stroke crankshaft (249cc) to keep it within ‘up to 250cc’ class rules, aalong with a standard ffour-speed gearbox and rrunning in accordance w with the full bodywork rregs. The motor amazingly rruns a standard L Lambretta casing, and ttherefore stud positions; tthus it runs no crankcase porting. An amazing result, a benchmark by which all others will be judged for some time to come.
10 | SCOOTERING | AUGUST 2020
with him. Don’t give up on the claim – insurers will tell you all sorts in order to avoid paying out on cases even where they are bang to rights. If you need advice on a scooter-related legal question, email stephen@wildwoodlegal. co.uk; the best Q & A will be published in Scootering magazine in confidence.
ISLE OF WIGHT WOES Having made what’s probably the most difficult decision in its history, VFM has announced the postponement of this year’s Isle of Wight Rally. Unfortunately the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the guidance surrounding the organisation of large-scale public events placed the committee in an unenviable position. In a press release VFM stated: “The safety of scooterists, bands, our scooter rally crew and the Isle of Wight residents is paramount. We are not prepared to compromise that. We have been constantly monitoring government updates and feel that, currently, this is the only safe option. Under the current restrictions we would be unable to deliver the level of event that the IoW Rally deserves. Thank you to all our fellow scooterists that have shown patience, support and understanding while we have worked through this unprecedented situation.” Pre-purchased VFM 2020 AAA tickets will remain valid for the 2021 IoW Rally, while you can visit the VFM Facebook page or email vfmshows@yahoo.co.uk for further information. Scootering has spoken to the team and it’s fair to say that they are as disappointed to announce the decision as scooterists are to hear the news. It is however a decision that we fully support. Let’s hope the island’s prepared for the party of a lifetime in 2021!
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