WELCOME Hello and welcome everybody to both a new year and a new look for your favourite Scootering magazine.
O
ver the last year or so we’ve conducted a readers’ survey and spoken to many of you, either in person or in writing, to ask what you want from your favourite scooter magazine. We’ve listened to what you have had to say and made a few changes accordingly, and at the same time freshened it all up a bit too. We know you consider Scootering to be the best scooter magazine out there; and our unrivalled knowledge, experience and attention to detail with each article is something we’re very proud of too. If you’re reading this page after a quick page flick then we hope you appreciate the feature scooters in greater detail than ever before, while the front half of the mag has been transformed into KICKSTART to include all your old favourites plus loads more . We also have two massive features this month – one being the interview with Graham of Kegra Scooters. Over the years Sticky and I have prided ourselves on offering probably the most comprehensive interviews with the big names of the scooter scene in the world, and we continue that this month, chatting with Graham about everything from grass track racing to developing an adjustable exhaust for a record breaking 132mph Lambretta! Speaking of interviews, it seems I was the only British journalist at the launch of the new Vespa Primavera recently to pay more than a passing interest in the scooter’s new front suspension. Why was that? Well, firstly I do have that unhealthy obsession in scooters which makes me naturally inquisitive about such things. Secondly, if it’s a good idea and it works, what are the chances that we’ll see it on other Vespas in the future? Turn to page 42 to find out… Anyway, the other big spread had Sticky been sharing his extensive knowledge of scooters by putting together the Buyer’s Guide to the Vespa PX, probably the most prolific scooter on the
rally scene today and one that many of you are likely to be considering the purchase of in the next few months. There’s plenty more to enjoy this month and we hope you do. Please let us know your thoughts either way, and feel free to get in touch if you’ve any contributions or questions regarding any of the features this month. We’ve all got a story for Into The Sunset, know someone who’s owned a scooter for longer than you’ve been out of nappies or have an oddball scooter or question unanswered that’s been playing on your mind. Drop us a line about them all. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your Christmas and New Year celebrations, and don’t forget, if you’re lucky to discover an iPad or similar device under the tree with your name upon it, Scootering is also available as a digital magazine and available for download from App store and the like.
NEXT MONTH
If you’re considering buying a SIL Lambretta GP then wait until our February 2014 edition when we’ll have another comprehensive buyer’s guide from Sticky. He’s also taking a closer look at a couple of other Indian Lambrettas while he’s at it, and discovers that there are some rarities that make even some Innocenti models look common by comparison. Meanwhile, we’ve got a photoshoot with a stunning show-winning Lambretta booked in as we speak, so that should be spread across the pages next month for you to get up close and personal with. In the technical section we’ll be catching up – after a few cold months – with things in the shed and Barrie looks at clutches. We’ll also review the crash helmets we’ve been wearing recently and they’ll be plenty more besides, so see you in February! Andy
www.scootering.com www.scootertrader.com Editor: Andy Gillard Email: editorial@scootering.com Publisher: Steve Rose Contributors: Sticky, Richie Lunt, Barrie Braithwaite, Iggy, Jordan Lewis, Steve Dawson, Nik Skeat, Dave Oakley, Sarge, Ann, Lobby, Joe Dick, Peter Sundfeldt and Lee Daniels. Many thanks to all other scooterists and clubs that have also contributed to this issue in some way or another. Cover: Photography by Joe Dick Designer: Charlotte Turnbull Reprographics: Simon Duncan Group production editor: Tim Hartley General queries and back issues: Tel: 01507 529529 24 hr answerphone Email: help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk Archivist: Jane Skayman Tel: 01507 529423 Email: jskayman@mortons.co.uk Subscription: Full subscription rates (but see page 54 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £47.88. Export rates are also available – see page 54 for more details. UK subscriptions are zero-rated for the purposes of Value Added Tax. Distribution: Comag, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middx UB7 7QE Tel: 01895 433600 Printed by: William Gibbons & Sons, Wolverhampton
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Free ads, personals, club do’s & events These are all to be booked via the website at www.scootering.com or via post to: Scootering Magazine, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ The next free ads deadline is Thursday, January 2, 2014
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Subscription manager: Paul Deacon pdeacon@mortons.co.uk Circulation manager: Steven O’Hara sohara@mortons.co.uk Marketing manager: Charlotte Park Email: cpark@mortons.co.uk Production manager: Craig Lamb Publishing director: Dan Savage Commercial director: Nigel Hole Associate director: Malcolm Wheeler Managing director: Brian Hill 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 © 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any way without the written permission of the publishers. ISSN 0268 7194
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CONTENTS 03Hello & Welcome
89Tech Torque
06Kickstart
90Specialist Services
We hope you enjoy your new look Scootering magazine.
A new section of the magazine packed with old favourites alongside new, informative features. Kickstart includes news and reviews of both products and music, archive material, opinions, rumours and whispers, handy hints, oddballs and more. Workshop Essentials, Gathering Dust (old 80s custom scoots), readers’ letters, personals can now all be found here, and each month we’ll have a Quick One with someone from the scooter scene too!
36
Another Man’s Cause
Our cover star custom Lambretta GP, which takes a poignant look at the Falklands War.
42
First Ride – the New Vespa Primavera
What’s this new Vespa like on the road? Does it look better in person than in photos? Can you finally store a full face helmet under the seat? Plus exclusive interviews with those behind the design and new front suspension.
50
58
Sometimes simplicity is the best. Take this Vespa PX for example, effective without complexity.
56
The Book of Scootering Rules
We continue our tongue-in-cheek look at the rules of old – this month, organising your scooter club’s pre-season do.
58Club do’s & events
Your letters and questions answered, knowledge shared and tips offered. Please feel free to get in touch.
Whatever you want, from painters to platers, you’ll find them all here.
92Back to Basics
Step-by-step advice on how to change your Lambretta exhaust.
97Scooter Trader
Classified and business advertising, for all your scootering needs.
Scootering 104Practical Buyer’s Guide
Advice and tips on buying and running the world’s favourite geared scooter.
Show us your 121scoots!
Pictures of you, on your scoots – simples, eh?
Scooter 124Various Club Events The Tre Mari (three 126seas) Vespa Raid
Sticky tours southern Italy on a Lambretta, and tells you why you should give it a go too.
Li 125 132Lambretta Special
A very neat scooter from Sweden, inspired by Team Gulf, Steve McQueen and the 1960s IoM scooter rallies.
138Into the Sunset
Another of your tales of trials and tribulation. Keep ’em coming folks!
A calendar of scooter related events for the forthcoming year.
Great Eastern Scooter 63Rally, Mablethorpe Warmwell Scooter 65Rally, Dorset 70Cal-look Cutdown
A very tidy Vespa T5, chopped, trimmed and looking very neat too we may add.
Scootering 76Classic Interview
Graham Best and 30 years of Kegra Scooter Centre. From grasstracking through KRP, rotary disc induction Lambrettas and more.
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18
132
KICKSTART
Dave’s Nostalgic Custom Corner
The 1980s scooterists adopted a universal uniform to show allegiance to the scooter scene.This included a small 10cm square piece of cotton emblazoned with the latest custom creation and rally details – the Paddy Smith rally patch.
T
he Paddy Smith quickly became the proof of attendance to an event, and was even sought out immediately on arrival, even before a trip to the off-licence! The scooter I have tracked down here was built by owner Dave Vincent (Vince) who often worked on Paddy’s stall at rallies taking the 50p for scooter tapestry. This is Memorabilia, Vince’s tribute to the scooter rally patch of old that you could only buy at the event – as long as you attended it of course... Owner: Vince. Hometown: Birmingham. Scooter Club: Olympics SC. Scooter Name: Memorabilia PSD Originals. Year built: 1990. I’d had the scooter for a few years and it was due a rebuild. As I was working on the PSD stall at the time both myself and Paddy thought it would be a good theme! Paint: John Spurgeon sprayed the main colour and Paddy screen-printed the patches onto the panels. Engine: Originally a Taffspeed 205, now a Stage 4 200. The exhaust is still the original Taffy made by JL – the actual first one ever made! Fabrication: All pretty standard apart from the seat base, splash plate and rear mud flap which I made. Chrome: London Chroming, all from 1990... and still pretty good. Do you still do rallies? Yes as many as I can, but mainly on my GTS. My club and the Mansfield Monsters organise the Cleethorpes Rally and I work for VFM whenever they need me. Funniest memory: Just after building the scoot I went to the Fort William rally two-up with my mate Orville from the Glevum Stax SC. Going through Glasgow a car came past shouting and pointing at us, so we just gave them the Vs. However, when we looked down we noticed our luggage had slipped onto the exhaust and was one fire! Things didn’t get much better on the return as around the same point the big end went and we found neither of us had recovery! Favourite event: Anywhere when you are with your mates, the sun is shining and the beer is flowing! Favourite custom scooter: I like all types, anything well done – Exile, Dazzle, South’s Gonna Rise Again, to name but a few. Favourite dealer: The ones I’ve used over the years – Taffspeed, Gran Sport, SIP, Readspeed. Anything to add: This scooter was actually an ‘extra’ in the TV series Boon in 1985.
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a r e v a m i r P a p s Ve scooter, new
, e l y t s , n o i new s n e p s u s w e n
e m a n old
The new Primavera is blatantly a newVespa that’s been named after a classic many of us know and love. So will it also become a legendary scooter? The new front end setup may just make that so….
W
hile the Super Sport version of the GTS 125 and 300 was simply stickers, and the retro-inspired Vespa S passed under the radar for most, the new Primavera has certainly got people talking. What, you mean you didn’t associate the GTS Super Sport with the Vespa SS180 or the Gran Turismo of old? Or the square headlight version of the automatic LX with the original Vespa S of the 1960s? Maybe that’s because they were little more than cosmetic makeovers of current models, whereas this Primavera is a brand new Vespa.
Pedigree chums
Although we won’t always admit it, many Scootering readers do have a soft spot for modern Vespas, even if they think they’ll never ride one of these new fangled, automatic scooters. Ever. Unlike pretty much any other scooter brand today, the Vespa has a pedigree that can be traced back via an unbroken line to the very first model of 1946. And as the people at Piaggio reminded us at the recent road test launch in Barcelona, it is the only manufacturer to introduce a brand new ‘all-steel scooter’ in 2013 (probably in 2014 as well, but you can never be certain). The Vespa has also retained its parentage within the Piaggio group rather than being a brand name that’s been passed around, repeatedly sold to the highest bidder like an ageing thoroughbred stud, devalued by every new sale. The Vespa’s overall style has remained constant, and while things have certainly become more modern since the ET4 arrived in 1996, the Vespas of today still have that certain something.
Classically Italian
And so to the new Primavera. Influenced by the limited edition Vespa 946 that arrived in the showrooms mid 2013, it will replace the Vespa LX in the range. It’s a mass produced scooter and as far as the European markets are concerned (as well as America and Australia among others), our Vespas are still produced in Italy. Yes there are parts within each model that will have originated from farther east but, like all manufacturers these days, Piaggio has to remain competitive. You don’t think that every component of a Volkswagen-owned Bentley motor car is 100% made in Crewe, do you?
Mablethorpe 2013
Being mid November,VFM’s end of season event at the Haven Golden Sands Resort on the Lincolnshire coast is more of a‘party’ than a rally... but who am I to complain about that?
A
bright start to the day soon saw a steady trickle of scooterists arrive, and around the site caravans were fired up and stocked with supplies, which from the look of the debris on Sunday mainly comprised of slabs of beer and pizza! As usual the main pull of the event was the entertainment on offer, which included an amusement arcade and swimming pool for the kids, and several venues for the bigger boys and girls out there. All three large rooms played a mixture of tunes; The Soul Lounge, a Jamaican Vibe in the Chill-out Room and ‘whatever’ in the main hall. There were also five live acts playing over the weekend; The Graveyard Johnnys, DC Fontana, Top Cats, The Talks and Neville Staple’s Band. During the Saturday the main hall was transformed into a dealers’ market, and outside a small but well represented custom show took place. After buying all my scooter
related Christmas pressies, a look around the customs and the ‘hair of the dog’ while listening to the excellent Top Cats, we decided to venture into the nearby town to see how the local pubs were doing. Being quite a small town it wasn’t long before ska/Mod CDs were being broken out in an attempt to keep people located, but as the night drew in a steady stream made it back to the venue – some more successfully than others, eh Billy? With Neville Staple as the headliner the dance floor was packed and before we knew it the lights were back on to signal the finale of the 2013 season. One nice touch was when Miles Hobbs (complete with two broken wrists) collected his BSRA runner-up award. For those of you that don’t know, he and his wife Kate were involved in a very serious accident on the way up to Bridlington in October. I’m sure we all wish them both a speedy recovery. Hairy Dave
Club do’s & events
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FITTING A NEW LAMBRETTA EXHAUST
The reason for an exhaust change could be because your existing one has fallen apart, you are looking to upgrade to a performance expansion system or simply fancy a change from one manufacturer’s to another... You will need...
1
Rubber mallet or wooden drift, straight blade screwdriver, 8, 10, 13 & 24mm sockets, 8, 10 & 11mm spanners, exhaust sealant.
Difficulty rating
A
lthough exhausts from different suppliers might not use exactly the same brackets to bolt the exhaust to the engine casing, the basic method is the same. As such we have used the standard types of exhausts here for illustration. When fitting an exhaust always use a new gasket, nuts and washers at the cylinder end and keep in mind the effect a new exhaust can have on your carburettor settings. Generally speaking if changing from one standard type exhaust to another then no changes should be required, as is the case for similar expansion systems, but always check with the supplier of your new system to be certain. If you are planning on moving from a standard to a performance system then the carburettor needs to be up-jetted or you risk starving the engine of fuel and seizing the top end, usually at high revs and leaving a skid mark in your underpants – as well as on the road. Barrie
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The first thing to do is remove the bridge piece and rear footboards. An 8mm socket or spanner for the footboards, and a screwdriver and usually a 7mm spanner will take care of the bridge piece.
2
Most standard type exhausts have a clamp which seals the U-pipe to the main exhaust body (pictured a good aftermarket type), whereas expansion types generally have springs to secure them. Loosen the clamp or remove the springs at this stage. 4
The main exhaust body may need to be persuaded to move using a rubber mallet or a wooden drift... but do not batter it senseless! If it does not move with gentle tapping investigate further for any fixings you might have missed. 6
Now remove the spark plug and loosen the head cowling by removing the bolts at the mag housing side and the larger securing bolt into the extended cylinder head nut. Slide the cowling forward to gain access to the U-bend cylinder nuts. Then have a cup of tea because it’s about to get pretty awkward...
3
Remove the nuts securing the main bracket and the tailpipe to the casing. Also check for a bolt passing through the exhaust and into the underside of the engine casing, this will be roughly parallel with the oil filler plug in the side-casing. 5
Use a screwdriver to lever the bump stop rubber out and then undo the rear shocker nuts, usually 24mm socket size. Support the weight of the scooter, slide the shocker off and gently let the scooter down. The rear mudguard may catch on the gear swivel, so be careful not to scratch it. 7
This is the fiddly bit! Some types of U-bend have now been designed to allow the head cowling to slide over them but many still rely on turning the nuts a quarter at a time with an 11mm spanner until they are finger tight. Expansion systems vary but many have a stub fixing allowing the U-bend be removed easily.
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 93
INTO THE SUNSET Friday morning the alarm goes at 4.15am; it’s a cold, wet and damp morning.After a mug of tea we load up the scoots and wait for a break in the rain. Five o’clock we set off with just enough time to get to the M6 before the rain hits us again...
S
pring Bank Holiday and it’s time to head north up the M6 for Kelso. We have done this rally for the past six or seven years so the stops for petrol are all sorted in advance. The further north we head the worse the wind and rain gets, so when Lynn can no longer feel her fingers we have an early pit stop. This being the services before we normally stop means it throws my plans out of the window. Lynn heads for the hand dryer in the ladies for 10 minutes while I fill up the scoots. Twenty minutes later, warm hands and a second pair of dry gloves and off we set north... next stop junction 44, A7 (or so I think!). The rain is now battering us and gale force winds blowing us all over the road as we struggle on (the thought of stopping in Longtown for breakfast keeps us going). Riding over Shap I am looking more and more in my mirrors, worrying how Lynn is coping (as she is a little lighter than me!). The journey is now becoming a real drain and I have not been paying attention to how much petrol I am using. After passing the last service station before Penrith my petrol warning light comes on and before I know it all the bars on my dash have disappeared, it is time to panic. I drop my speed to about 40mph to try and save fuel to get me off at the next junction. Lynn, however, decides I need to pick up the pace and overtakes me. I have to speed up and overtake her, screaming and waving frantically till she gets the message to slow down. I see the sign for junction 43 Penrith and head up the slip road. We pull over for a chat and hold a heated debate about why my scoot has used a lot more petrol than hers – I am a lot heavier than her, and have the most luggage on board. We agree Lynn will stay with my scoot while I head off to find petrol on Lynn’s
scoot... but all we can see is fields and farms. A pick-up van pulls up nearby and a guy in a HiVis jacket jumps out to start work on the road signs. I ask him which direction the nearest petrol station is and he points across to what we thought were farm sheds about 800 yards away and says “they sell petrol there.” As we approach it looks like the garage on Heartbeat from the 1950s... but we don’t care, we can see the pumps. We pull up and to our dismay there are chains across the entrance... it’s not open. Our hearts sink. I park and have a look around and down the side of the office is an elderly man working on a vintage car. “Are you open for petrol today… at all?” I ask him. He looks up and says: “Yes, at 8 o’clock, what time is it now?” “Twenty to,” I reply. “Give me a couple of minutes and I’ll open up for you,” he says. I run back to Lynn thinking life’s not so bad after all. “Follow me Lynn,” I cry out, squeezing through a gap in the chains, and I have the seats up and ready to fill up by the time the old chap comes out. We fill up and I go into the shed to both thank and pay the man. “Not far now till the next stop,” I shout to Lynn as I start my scoot. The forecourt has a slight incline so I ride up hill past the next pump and turn around to head back down to the small gap in the chains at the bottom corner. A cold, wet and tired Lynn decides rolling slowly backwards down the forecourt is the best option, and I watch in dismay as she tries to turn and skids on some gravel at the end of the forecourt. She manages to stop but the weight of the scoot and her bag is too much and she and scoot drop to the floor. I put my scooter on its stand and rush to help. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” I shout as she gets up, “are you okay?” “Fine” she says, and as I start to pick up the scoot our friendly old petrol pump attendant appears from nowhere and says “here, let me help
you,” as I begin lifting the scoot up. For a very brief moment we think “oh, what a lovely man,” but as he starts lifting he pulls the throttle… and as we set off across the forecourt I scream to him: “LET GO, LET GO OF THE SCOOT!” But his reply is: “I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO?” So, picture the scene: He is throttle side, pulling the throttle and holding the seat rail. I am holding the handle bars on the opposite side and the seat, while Lynn is holding onto the back and we are all running across the forecourt screaming at each other... and within seconds it’s all over – we hit an unforgiving metal post and end up in a heap behind the poor scoot. We manage to scramble up off the floor, me rubbing my knee, Lynn rubbing her leg and the old guy rubbing his shoulder. As I pick the scoot up I say: “Well, that’s f*cked it!” The front mudguard is in 20-odd pieces, the front rack is bent and on the floor, there is now a large V shape dent in the front legshields, the head set has a hairline crack and the steering is not what it was. The old guy is pacing up and down, nursing his shoulder and I say: “I know you were only trying to help, but look what you have done!” As he starts to walk off Lynn says: “Can I have a word please?” and the man says: “You should not have left it in gear!” To which she replies: “It’s an automatic!” Then he says: “Well you should have turned it off!” and walks off. We spent 20 minutes straightening the steering, removing the remains of the mudguard, taking off the rack and fixing the mirror. Then after a deep breath, we continue on our way, have our breakfast stop at Longtown and continue to Kelso. Once we have time to reflect on the incident and realise it’s only the GTS hurt we have a brilliant time, spending most of the weekend explaining what happened. Rick Barratt
We’ve all got a scooter story to tell down at the pub, and many of you have even said: “I’ve got a great story for Into the Sunset.” Well, now is the time to share it with the rest of us, write it down (between 1000 and 1200 words long please), and send it to: Scootering Magazine, Into the Sunset, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ. Alternatively, send via email to editorial@scootering.com
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