Run fromthe ScumWeekender,Newquay (May 16-17)
After the usual months of meticulous planning Run from the Scum 2014 was upon us and untypical for UK scooter events and Cornwall, the weather forecast for the weekend was glorious sunshine all the way. The site started filling with a steady stream of scooters from midday on Friday, coming from as far afield as Yorkshire, Liverpool and Kent. Many of those arriving in the bright sunshine seemed a little perplexed at the lack of need for their waterproof riding gear, a pleasant occurrence for once! The evening entertainment commenced at 7pm over at the site’s refurbished venue, imaginatively called the Venue, which was already populated with a number of scooter types partaking of a cooling beverage in and outside the, ahem, venue? It wasn’t long before Scum’s regular Friday evening DJs Joe, Simon and Lee & Dave of ‘Club Peel’ had enticed those budget drinking in their caravans to venture out for a shuffle or a fraternise. Prior to the weekend the site management had expressed concern over the use of talcum powder on their newly refurbished dance floor. They had asked us to impress on those attending that the use of talcum powder on the dance floor was
strictly prohibited and we obliged via our Facebook event page. This of course was like a red rag to a bull and the site security was kept busy for the evening trying to police those twinkle-toed dancers who took their chances Great Escape-style to dispense talcum powder discreetly through trouser bottoms and other more blatant means. By 2am the venue’s floor had been well and truly given a scooter party animal’s baptism of fire as everyone who should be older and wiser staggered off merrily to their humble abodes. Saturday morning saw another scorching day with the hardy traders who had braved the wilds of Cornwall taking the opportunity to set up early in the glorious sunshine. Sue and Darren from Section 8 SC had the show ’n’ shine in full swing by 11am to get the judging done and trophies presented before the ride out left at 1pm. Neil and Tom of the Troglodytes SC had organised this year’s ride out and took us 12 miles or so along the coast road north of Newquay to the fishing town of Padstow, home to TV chef Rick Stein (if you like expensive fish ’n’ chips). Taking in some stunning coastal views along the way. They had even arranged with the harbour master for free parking around Padstow’s harbour –
although I don’t think he’d expected 146 scooters to turn up that afternoon. Saturday evening’s entertainment at the site’s venue started with an early evening special guest acoustic performance from Tom Hingley, former frontman of the Inspiral Carpets who gave us some superb renditions their hits. Saturday’s trio of all girl DJs Emma Cox, Tracey Screamcheese and Cheryl G picked up the pace and took care very nicely of the evening’s vinyl selections. Saturday night’s band The Mighty Offbeats took to the stage about 10ish, delivering a storming performance and whipping the assembled crowd into a ska frenzy for a sweaty hour and 45 minutes until the DJs wrestled back control again. Emma brought the night and the weekend to a close at 2am with a Tony Class tribute set that left a tear in the eye of more than a few revellers still standing at the end of what had been a cracking night. The organising clubs: Troglodytes SC, Section 8 SC and Southern Templars SC, would like to thank the 500+ hardy scooterists who braved the scorching weather and tortuous beer sampling to attend this year’s Run from the Scum! Alex
www.scootering.com | 127
WELCOME
I
sn’t scootering brilliant? No, not the magazine (although we’re proud of that naturally) but scootering in general? Since the last issue I’ve clocked up thousands of miles on Lambrettas, been to a wedding attended by people whose friendships have been forged over the last 25 years or so of riding scooters, caught up with some old friends from donkey’s years ago, made new friends from both the UK and abroad, and sadly attended the funeral of another – although the laughs and chaos at Tony Class’s grand sendoff would have tickled him too! So the July issue of Scootering here carries reports of a great time had at the BSRA Rally in Kelso, Scotland, while also featuring a fantastic road trip on an old Vespa Primavera from Italy to the Balkans, perfect to whet your appetite for adventure on your scooter. Elsewhere we test ride the new Piaggio MP3 500, the latest scooter from Italy to come packed full of gadgets and electrickery, while at the opposite end of the scale, Sticky tracks down a very rare British scooter from the 1920s that is arguably a pioneer of those sold today. Yes folks, the current scooter market can trace its roots back to the Gloucester Aircraft Company here in Blighty!
There’s a report from Scotland on scooter racing which also took place over the May bank holiday weekend, as well of course as all the usual amazing scooters (Forrest Gump on a Lambretta – who’d have thunk it?) plus some tech tips, the latest scooter news and product information. Enjoy… Andy
Next month…
In next month’s Scootering we’ll be giving away a FREE 32-page supplement looking back at Mod in general, as well of course as mentioning it’s been 50 years since the tabloid press first became a way of Modernism as a youth culture. In the main magazine we’ll have reports from the Tre Mari in Italy and the Newark and Cleethorpes BSRA rallies, as well as World Vespa Days and EuroLambretta. Yes folks, we at Scootering are still clocking up as many two-wheel miles as we can! Sticky gathers some motorbike-engined scooters for some back-to-back riding, there’s scooter racing and there will be some more amazing scooters to drool over. Right, better get packing again I suppose!
www.scootering.com www.scootertrader.com Editor: Andy Gillard Email: editorial@scootering.com Publisher: Steve Rose Contributors: Sticky, Richie Lunt, Barrie Braithwaite, Iggy, Sargie, Jordan Lewis, Dave Oakley, AM, Leonardo Lucarelli, John Woods, Lee Hollick, Tim Scott and Lee Daniels. Many thanks to all other scooterists and clubs that have also contributed to this issue in some way. Cover: Photography by Tim Scott 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 28 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £47.88. Export rates are also available – see page 28 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
TRADE ADVERTISING
Gary Thomas – gthomas@mortons.co.uk Etta Hargrave – ehargrave@mortons.co.uk Tel (01507) 524004 Fax (01507) 529499 Advertising team leader Richard Sinclair Email: rsinclair@mortons.co.uk
ADVERTISING DEADLINES
The advertising deadline for the next issue of Scootering (August 2014) is Thursday, July 3, 2014 On sale in newsagents July 24, 2014
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, July 2, 2014
Member of the Professional Publishers Association
p28
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 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
Having trouble finding a copy of this magazine? Why not Just Ask your local newsagent to reserve you a copy each month?
Contents 03Hello & welcome…
Vespa 92L2 98The World Model
It’s July, the weather ain’t bad, there’s rallies everywhere and we’re bloody lovin’ it!
The humble Bristol Vespa, still wowing them today. Bellissimo!
06Kickstart
Show Us Your 108Scoot!
The front section, as always packed full of information including news, reviews of products and events, opinions, rumours and whispers, Workshop Essentials, old custom scooters from yesteryear, handy hints, one-owner scooters, readers’ letters, personals and plenty more.
30
Forrest Gump
Life is like a box of chocolates, and scootering can be a bit random too. I mean, who’d have thought such a film would inspire a custom Lambretta?
38
First Ride – the new MP3 500 ABS ASR
Anti-lock brakes, traction control, Bluetooth technology, 100mph threewheeled scooter – Piaggio is raising the bar even higher with its latest machine.
44
Classic Scootering – the Gloster Unibus
The pioneers of modern scootering may not have lasted long, but the legacy from this British company is still here today.
50Club do’s & events 60Kelso Scooter Rally
Old snaps from the family album, or evidence of your ride out yesterday – send them all in.
Balkan 110The Primavera
Seven days, six nights, 1243 miles and less than €500: two people on an old Vespa to Mostar.
122Scooter club do’s
Various club events, from all over the UK.
128Unlucky 13
Jon Gilbert’s green cutdown Lambretta RB225. It’s not unlucky at all (well, not really), but it is quite fast!
Racing 136Scooter Round 5
The 2014 BSSO circus moves to Scotland.
138Into the Sunset
Another of your tales of trials and tribulation. Keep ’em coming folks!
Calendar of scooter related events.
A cracking ride up to Scotland for the May bank holiday, followed by a brilliant weekend in Kelso.
69Venlo Scooter Rally
After last year’s ice-fest on the Dutch/German border, sunshine arrives in Venlo.
72The AM-SX
Our cover star Lambretta SX200, full of fine details, neat touches and plenty of desirability.
78Back to Basics
Lambretta rear hub oil seals, and how to change them.
86Specialist Services
Whatever you want, you’ll find them all here. Hopefully.
91Scooter Trader
Classified and business advertising, for all your scootering needs.
4 | scootering | july 2014
98
30
60
136
110 www.scootering.com | 5
F
ilms are a common inspiration for custom scooters, with many featuring over the years from early black and white slapstick comedies to futuristic post armageddon action flicks via the Carry On series. With such a Hollywood blockbuster as Forrest Gump to pull on, the owner of this Lambretta GP Michael Witty knew there would be easily enough subject matter to fill the panel work. He actually says the hardest part of the build was choosing which scenes to use and where to put them. So after purchasing a fairly standard Italian GP125 in 2008, he started a slow but meticulous five year custom build – culminating in the beauty you see here. After stripping down the frame to the bare bones, the bodywork was prepared. This included filling in the panel inserts to create a smooth seamless finish. Once ready it was then despatched to Dave Dickinson to carry out his paint and airbrushing magic. The bright iridescent basecoat, together with black and white murals, mean for me this resembles the favoured late 80s style, which is still a personal favourite. The problem with any well known depiction though is to get the faces right, and I must say Mr D has just about nailed it here. The front left legshield mural of Gump/Hanks is especially lifelike. The film is as wellknown for its quotes as its scenes though, so these also make appearances on the various spare spaces. Among others ‘stupid is as stupid does’, ‘what’s normal anyways’ and ‘together like peas and carrots’ are skilfully sign-written next to the framed art and help bring the whole scheme together.
32 | SCOOTERING | JULY 2014
Aftermarket long-range fuel tank ensures a good ride before having to stop and fill up again.
THE HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTER Forrest Gump was the title of the 1994 multi-award winning film starring Tom Hanks as the lead character. The movie charts Gump’s fictitious life in the USA over several decades, starting in the 1950s. Sat on a bench waiting for a bus he reminisces over his life and loves, and we soon find out he is a rather special individual in all senses of the word. Not only does he influence such icons as Elvis Presley, JFK, Nixon and
John Lennon; but he also plays a role in the major events during US history of that era. This includes involvement in the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, the Civil Rights movement and even the birth of Apple computers! Yet, despite all the things he attains and achieves throughout his life, he still misses out on what he really wants – being with his one true love Jenny.
WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 33
Kelso Scooter Rally 2014 It’s Smiles Better
The thought of riding with a large group of scooters to a rally these days is not one that often crosses my mind, yet it seemed like a good idea to do so to Kelso this year – for a laugh!
W
e decided to break the 400 mile journey up there into two, stopping in the Notts area with friends on the Thursday night before setting off early to join Mansfield Monsters and friends for a mass ride into Scotland. The last to arrive, my earlier morning task had been to visit Scooter Restoration where they managed to find a tailpipe to replace the one from my Casa Big Bore which I’d left somewhere near Luton on the M1 the previous night. The occasion for this ride – should such a thing be required – was Steve Foster (he of VFM fame)’s stag weekend, which it was decided should begin in the old 80s fashion of thrashing a couple of dozen vintage Italian shopping bikes north, all the time trying to keep ahead of the rain clouds. Aside from my tailpipe, Steve’s dirty NGK plug (he was soon championing Champion) and a split carb rubber at Scotch Corner
60 | SCOOTERING | JULY 2014
(ahem, me again!), the ride was incident free and after a gentleman’s lunch at the beginning of the A68 saw 25 scooters hot tailing it over one of Britain’s finest roads that a scooter rider should know. What? You’ve never done the A68? Peaks and blind summits, a roller coaster Roman road, with sharp bends, dry stone walls and beautiful scenery that makes the ride to Kelso even more rewarding than simply getting there and discovering what a good rally it is. And it is. Yes I know that the licensing laws there dictate the bar and loud music should finish at 1am, but seeing a packed silent disco full of scooterists of all ages, dancing around, singing out loud and slurping on carry-outs until the wee hours is proof that we can and will party anywhere given the opportunity. Saturday arrived with a chill in the air, but with plenty to do to keep you busy there was little danger of catching a cold. First stop was the indoor custom show, passing the outside dealers along the
way of course, as well as admiring all those scoots parked outside or still around their owners’ tents. In fact there were quite a few latecomers to the show, such was the draw on ‘one last drink’ the previous night. Inside the variety of scoots was, as always in Scotland, impressive. Three old customs were out again, the Tribute to Innocenti Lambretta, The Greatest Love of All Vespa and Nosferatu cutdown Vespa – all still looking good. There was a fine selection of resto machines too, and I should also mention a couple of teenage entries, notably a restored Lambretta GP from Cumbria (I think) and custom GP ridden up from Essex. The youth scene is growing it seems, and not just in height and facial hair. Auto conversion scooters were well represented here too, the most eye-catching being a trike and a NSU, while there were also a couple of street racer Vespas that could give the Germans a run for their money.