Scootering - October 2021 - Preview

T TAFFSPEED THE EFFECT

D DROPKICK MURPHYS M

Gone, but not forgotten

Coool Celtic custom

PLU US

DIE SAU spa!

Pink pig Ve

VESPA ROAD TRIP SIP team tour

INCORPORATING

AFTERMARKET TUNING

Lambretta exhausts

LAUDA TX TRIBUTE Stunning Vespa street racer

MIKE KARSLAKE The legacy of Mr Lambretta

■ Torbay Lambretta Dealer Focus ■ Vespa Cush Drive Tech ■ VCB Oakham ■ Scooter Trader ■ azin ne ■ Show w Us Your Scooters ■ Mailbox ■ Music & Books ■ Kickstart Classic Scooterist Maga ws and More…

News ■ Product Review

Editor: Dan Clare Email: dan@scootering.com Publisher: Tim Hartley Publishing Director: Dan Savage Art Editor: Kelvin Clements Designers: Michael Baumber, Charlotte Fairman, Fran Lovely, Tracey Markham Production Editor: Pauline Hawkins Contributors: Stu Smith, Nik Skeat, Paul Green, Stuart Owen, Big Stan, Sarge 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 34 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £54. Export rates are also available – see page 34 for more details. UK subscriptions are zero-rated for the purposes of Value Added Tax. Sales and Distribution Manager: Carl Smith Marketing Manager: Charlotte Park Commercial Director: Nigel Hole ADVERTISING Emma Thurman – ethurman@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 (November 2021) is October 7, 2021 On sale in newsagents October 28, 2021 SCOOTERING is published monthly by: Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ. © 2021 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: 0330 390 6555.

Printed by: William Gibbons & Sons, Wolverhampton.

FREE!!

DIRT L LAMBRETTA MAINTENANCE DIGGERS M Thrills and spillss SUPPLEMENT on the dirt track S

RIDING IRTY DIR

NIGHT BLUES

Reliving the dream

INCORPORATING

es I’m sure you knew

SCUDERIA S MBRETTA LAM VELOCE!

New cylinder kit comes to market

when I bit off more than I could chew!

Living in Broken Times – Mod culture movie scooter

Years of waiting are finally rewarded

US PLU

o’knackers. However, our cover scooter this month is certainly not that; in fact it is anything except a bag o’knackers, though it is a pig. It’s a pink pig, Die Sau (female pig or sow). What a cool idea, and I love the way the whole ‘beast’ is marked out with dotted lines, the same as a butcher’s diagram, to show the cuts of meat; schulter (shoulder), hals (throat), etc. To overlay this unique paint job, over what is clearly a well-built street racer, is genius. I love it.

However, Die Sau doesn’t stand alone this month when it comes to receiving praise.

Looking at Dropkick Murphys and the Nikki Lauda Vespa, I don’t know how to pick a favourite. It’s like asking a parent to choose a favourite child. Okay, I confess, it’s the Nikki Lauda T5. Its racing heritage and simplicity is a box-ticker for me. If, however, you think I have clearly announced the wrong favourite, or anything I have printed over the past six years has offended you, then please email immediately, strongly outlining your disgust, to: stan@scootering.com Anyway, that’s enough of my ramblings, it’s my final belter this month… stay safe and enjoy the issue!

Dan

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THIS WAY OF LIFE…

GORGEOUS VESPA RALLY eature ■ RettroTech Dealer Focus T5 Tech Innocenti Nostalgia Fe Mod in Film ■ Classiic Scooterist Magazine ■ Mailbox ■ Music ers ■ News ■ Product Reviewss and More… ote ■ Show Us Your Scoo

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think at this point most people expect me to pen some sort of navel-gazing ‘fond farewell’ tripe, spraffing on like a teary-eyed Gwyneth Paltrow at the Oscars about what a magnificent journey it’s been, what I’m doing next, and thanking a long list of people… yawn. No. What I am going to talk about is the stellar line-up of scooters in this edition. I must confess, though, I would also have liked to tell you a bunch of details about the plethora of cheeky little numbers which I have passed to my capable replacement, Stan… but I won’t steal his thunder.

Suffice to say, he now has several digital folders bursting with articles and scooter features, which I have passed to him in order to give him a decent head start. Not that he needs it; as you will soon find out, Stan is one of the few blokes who I think can do an even better job than I have of putting this magazine together (did I blow my own trumpet there?), and I look forward to being a ‘regular reader’ in future, just like everyone else. In fact, I’m looking forward to being ‘the other side of the bar’ so much that I might even start sending in the occasional letter of complaint telling him: “There are too many adverts” and “We need to see more autos” in the magazine. But I digress.

When someone tells you a vehicle is a ‘right pig’, it usually means it’s a bag

classicmagazines.co.uk/pre-order-sco

Stunning RB230 Special

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The final belter…

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No.422 August 2021

£4.50

CONTENTS Welcome letter from the Scooter: 03editor 52Feature Out of the fire A warm welcome to the October edition of Scootering.

06Kickstart

The upfront section with all the latest news, views and product reviews!

14Feature Scooter: Die Sau Exactly 50 years ago Porsche entered Le Mans with a unique one-off designed car, but what created the most attention was its paint scheme.

This Vespa pays homage to that very same classic.

26

Reader’s Ride: Madspeed #116

All scooter builds start with a plan, and sometimes during the course of that plan things develop which cause the outcome to exceed your expectations… as was the case for Shaun Bailey during this comprehensive restoration and rebuild of his Lambretta.

30Mailbox

Readers’ letters, laughs, feedback and fury – get it off your chest!

32Show us your scoots!

The best of our readers’ rides as sent in by you.

34Subscriptions

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.

Profile: 36Dealer New school, old school

Torbay Lambretta is rapidly earning a reputation for its excellent mail order spares service. Stan paid the team a visit to see what’s behind the website.

Feature Scooter: 40Celtic Custom

Individual taste for a certain type of music or band is often a significant influence in scooter customisation, as is the case for Dropkick Murphys!

Mike Karslake – 46 The continuation of Mr Lambretta!

With an established museum dedicated to the Lambretta, it was time to exploit its potential, inviting the world to see what it had to offer…

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Building a street racer is never a straightforward process; sprinkle in a background filled with excitement and this Lauda Tribute TX was always going to be a winner…

Dealer Profile: 57 K A Bell Scooters & Team George Racing

Kev Bell’s first interest in scooters started while he was still a youngster. Back then he had no idea whatsoever that nearly 40 years later he would be the proud owner of a scooter shop…

Pandemic T5: 61Project Cushty!

It’s almost time to put our T5’s motor back together but before we do it’s time for a little preventative maintenance, rebuilding the cush drive.

Fenderlight 74 Vespa Tour Vespa Club Munich

The Vespa Club Munich organised its first Fenderlight Vespa Tour in 2021, and it was an epic event, as Ralf reports…

Never miss from only £20 an issue

Aftermarket tuning 78 options: Part 9 – Lambretta exhausts

Subscribe today on page 34

Having previously looked at internal tuning components within the engine, and as this series comes to its penultimate instalment, we now switch to the exhaust (or expansion) pipe.

Vespa Days 2021 – 84British Rutland The smallest county in the country, but with some of the most marvellous scenery, Rutland was the host for this year’s postponed national VCB event – Vespa Days.

Road Trip South of 94Vespa France

This year the SIP Team Tour was on old Vespas. This time, the team’s destination was Provence in the south of France and the scooter meeting in the small village of Mormoiron.

103Classic Scooterist

Mau Spencer presents the legend that is… Classic Scooterist magazine.

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84 WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 5

KICKSTART Royal Alloy takes five From a standing start Royal Alloy has become one of the best-selling scooter brands in the UK. It’s a situation that should improve even further with the arrival of its Euro 5 compliant 300 models.

It’s accepted wisdom that part of complying with increasingly severe emissions regulations means a reduction in power. Thankfully no one has told that to the technicians in Royal Alloy’s development department.

When the next batch of new 300cc machines arrives in the UK later this year, the RA engine’s output will have risen from 16.6kW (22.26bhp)

@ 7250rpm to 18.5kW (24.8bhp) @ 7500rpm. There’s also an impressive amount of torque, with Royal Alloy quoting 23.0Nm @ 5000rpm.

Admittedly those figures will be taken at the crank, but nevertheless an increase of just over 2bhp isn’t to be sneezed at, particularly when Piaggio is currently quoting 17.5kW (23.8bhp) @ 8250rpm for its HPE powered GTS. The Euro 5 compliant engine will be fitted to both TG and GP models with the first deliveries to the UK being expected sometime in October. We’re already in the queue for a tesst ride... www.royalallloy.com

Lambretta essential maintenance book The latest offering from the Lambretta history series is a technical publication on essential maintenance for your Lambretta written by Scootering columnist and tech expert Stu Owen. It’s full of important information about keeping your Lambretta on the road and in perfect working order – anything from general checks to fault-finding and diagnosing. This A4 book, containing 130 colour images within its 40 pages, is available worldwide through the Amazon print-on-demand platform so is continuously in stock (£12.49), being the first publication in its Lambretta technical series. To order simply go to the Amazon platform in your country and type in ‘the Lambretta technical series’ and it will bring up the publication.

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Urban Series – Kickback shirt The Kickback shirt is a soft cotton casual shirt on the outside and a technical riding garment on the inside. Oxford’s description of this item is modest; it’s packed with features, made from durable cotton and is fully lined with 100% DuPont™ Kevlar®. It also has hidden structure stitching, Coats nylon-bonded thread and overlays (hidden extra layers of material).

I chose to complete the item’s road test on a clear day, because it’s simply not designed to be worn in inclement weather. I already knew that the shirt was packed with as much protection as possible, so I wanted to see if it could bridge the gap between the temptation in warm weather to ride without the use of protective clothing or the feeling of being obliged to wear a fully protective jacket.

It didn’t let me down; the shirt not only looks good, it’s wind and water resistant too, so if you’re caught in the odd shower it’s reassuring to know that you’ll be okay. The outer material stretches, the upper box-type pockets offer a useful amount of space for a mobile phone or wallet and the secure internal pocket is handy. The zip fastening is overlaid by press-studs maintaining the appearance of a buttoned-style shirt and the inner belt loops offer an added element of safety.

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’ve done some minor mods to my scooter. Do I need to tell my insurer?

A. The short answer is yes, your insurers will always need to be

informed about any significant modifications. Bear in mind also that their definition of ‘significant’ may differ from yours so if you’re not sure whether to tell them, the

sensible thing is to err on the side of caution and do so. The worst-case scenario, although rare, would see them voiding your cover – something you really don’t want.

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.

Upgraded Lambretta horncast side rubbers Fitting a Lambretta horncasting, with those troublesome side rubbers to contend with, often presents a challenge; so to deal with the problem MB Scooters has redesigned them.

Mark of MB explained: “The inside part is longer and the outside is tapered, which cures the age-old problem of the rubbers moving as you’re struggling to get the screws in. The upgraded items are also longer than needed, so you can trim the shape to whatever horncasting you’re fitting. Just heat them up in boiling water, spread the rubbers apart and push them in place; when they cool down they should stay put!”

The items fit all Series 2 and 3 models and are available in black or grey.

More info: www.lambrettaspares.com

SF Stainless: Royal Alloy & Scomadi Easy Stand Having realised that a lot of Scomadi and Royal Alloy riders didn’t like using the factory-fitted sidestands, and some of the older riders were having trouble getting their scooters on to the factory-fitted centre stands, SF Stainless decided to address the issue.

“We listened to the issues raised and with this in mind we developed the Easy Stand. The Easy Stand only takes a small amount of effort to roll the scooter backwards into an upright central fixed position, and only the same amount of effort is needed to roll the scooter forward off the stand,” explained company owner Steve Ferris.

SF Stainless is keen to remind customers that the Easy Stand is not intended to be a replacement part and so it’s described as a convenience parking stand.

Easy Stands are fitted with rubber feet in a choice of black, white, red, grey and brown and cost £107 plus postage and packaging. Fitted with Italia alloy feet they retail at £115 plus postage and packaging.

More details, photos and videos of the Easy Stands in action can be found on the SF Stainless Facebook page.

Send a PM for more info: www.facebook.com/SFStainless.rsp

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 

KICKSTART

Arai Tour-X 4 Being a former authorised Arai dealer, in a previous life within the motorcycle industry, I needed no persuading as to the benefits and qualities surrounding this brand. Budget constraints are something which affect most of us, and Arai never claimed to be the cheapest… but they are good, very. I won’t bore you with all the geeky tech-info surrounding Arai’s own in-house safety tests, five-year limited warranty, multiple shell sizes, ECE 22-05 approval, washable/removable interior, and facial contour system… it would take too long, and I don’t want to lose you before I get to the stuff which matters.

To put it bluntly, the Tour-X 4 is an extremely versatile helmet; no matter the riding conditions, the Tour-X 4 is the helmet you want to be wearing. It can be used without visor with goggles, without peak but with visor, any way that suits you.

Ventilation is well thought out and easy to use. The multiple inlets and exhaust vents see to it that your noggin is precisely the temp you want it to be and ensures comfortable journeys.

This is further assisted by the pull-down chin spoiler which helps minimise wind noise and also aids with the extraction of hot air from the face area.

Visor is Pinlock-ready, and a clear insert lens is included.

I have yet to find any other mechanism or spray which more effectively prevents misting and fogging of the visor, even under extreme wet and damp conditions.

Shell construction comes in the form of SFL (Special Fibre Laminate) using special fibre layers, crowded with fibres right to the shell surfaces

Sena 5S intercom

To say this intercom is a doddle to fit and set up is an understatement. There is always the obligatory faff of taking out your helmet liner and packing all the bits in where you need them to go, but Sena has got the earpiece shape, size and thickness just right. Wiring is almost perfect in length, and the fastening clip for the 5S unit slips neatly and quickly on to your lid. That is the hardest part done. Now, I’ve paired loads of these types of systems, and invariably, unlike Ronseal… they never do what they say on the tin. However, this is by far the most straightforward item I have ever set up, and not only was the pairing simple to do and worked first time, but the functionality of the item itself couldn’t be more intuitive to use. I have it set up and paired to my phone, and tell Siri what I want, and it happens… directions to a destination, find local petrol stations, information, the lot. It has added an entirely new dimension to my riding, not to mention the rider-to-rider (or rider-to-pillion if you carry one) communication. I have one unit in my own Arai helmet, and a second in my wife’s Shark Explore-R lid… it saves a lot of shoulder tapping, muffled shouting and waving of hands.

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and bonded with special ed resins formulate

by Arai, to dispeerse impact energy over o the widest possible area – the shell’s main job – through strength, structural integrrity and impact flexibilityy.

Arai’s Dry-Cool liner transfers heat and moisture away from the rider quickly and efficiently. To offer an even better snug fit and enhancing the comfort to the lower jaw, the Facial Contour System (FCS) works with a foam spring support in the cheek pad that compresses and rebounds, providing the necessary support without excessive pressure. Giving even more ability to craft the perfect fit and comfort, the cheek pads now feature a 5mm peel-away layer for added room if needed.

What’s it like out on the road?

Arai fit me better than any other brand, and I have tried plenty.

So, the fact is, when a helmet is this light, this comfortable, and this well vented… it is always

With this unit you get high-def in-helmet speakers, high-def two-way intercom and integrated LCD screen; and all the features you need. Bluetooth keeps you connected to your riding companion or passenger with HD Sound quality, music sharing and audio equaliser profiles built right in. With even more features packed in, it also lets you answer phone calls hands-free, listen to FM radio and hear your GPS prompts. The 5S features a helmet clamp kit and boom microphone.

The jog dial makes for an intuitive user interface that is much easier to control while riding, which means you’lll ride safer.

The newly redesigned in-helmet speakers are optimised for both physical comfort and impressive audio performance. klyy The LCD screen enables you to quick verify your connections and settings before you even put your helmet on.

Conversely, you can also manage device functions hands-free while riding using the voice commands. And the glovefriendly jog dial is perfect for changing volume or answering your phone calls while on the go.

RRP: £119 per unit More info: www.sena.com/product/5s

going to be a pleasure to ride p with. The fact that you forget you are wearing it says everything, plus, it looks good, and provides a fabulous field of vision... something I prize highly. I can also say, having fitted a Sena intercom system to the helmet, that the earpieces fit beautifully and don’t end up applying unwanted pressure to my lugholes. Wind buffeting was average for this type of helmet, and internal wind noise was commensurate with the number of air vents I opened or closed.

The neck seal was good, and I still love the tried and tested double-D ring faster… it ensures the correct tension EVERY time.

RRP: £579 More info: www.moto-direct.com

RST Pro Series Adventure-X It’s a long time since I have donned a textile jacket and felt this comfortable and secure. By secure, I don’t mean it doesn’t make my bum look big, I mean that I have every confidence in the construction quality, materials used, safety rating and body armour fitted, sufficiently to inspire confidence when riding. It’s comfy too. The comfort side of things is actually a huge relief, as when I first lifted the garment I was surprised by its weight, however once worn and out riding, it was simply unnoticeable.

The Adventure-X is billed as the Pro Series and is RST’s flagship adventure jacket. As with any safety garment, you are always trying to find a balance between comfort, safety, style and price. RST has balanced the equation well with this one, very well.

If you didn’t know already, the EU changed its regulations regarding motorcycle/scooter clothing. Previously, motorcycle clothing itself did not have to be tested as Personal Protective Equipment, but now all motorcycle/scooter equipment designed to protect

the rider must be tested as PPE. This involves tests such as seam strength and abrasion resistance. The tested garments/equipment then receive an A, AA or AAA rating. The armour is also CE tested and graded as Class 1 or Class 2 armour, depending on how much force it absorbs/transmits to the rider from an impact.

This is a highspecification jacket; it is double layered, made from MaxTex, which is a lightweight high-denier synthetic material that offers great protection and is comfortable to wear. Additionally, a Ballistic textile overlaid over key impact areas along with the triple stitching using a coated bonded nylon thread offers increased abrasion resistance. It features a quilted thermal liner and waterproof membrane combined together. This can be removed easily and stored in the rear jacket map pocket.

This, along with the superior high levels of ventilation in the form of the fixed mesh lining and multiple chest, arm and rear vents, ensures superb

levels of air flow in and out of the jacket, keeping you cool as you ride.

Add in the class-leading armour; it has a CE certification rating of AA and CE Level 2 back protector and shoulder and elbow armour along with TPU shoulder cups, giving you a garment ready to protect in the event of any impact.

Looks and styling shouldn’t count when it comes to safety clothing, but they do... and this jacket looks good. It’s not the lightest item to carry around once dismounted, but that one tiny niggle aside, I find it hard to criticise this jacket at all. It has kept me dry in some severe downpours; though the outer materials did become a tad waterlogged, I remained dry. It’s a warm jacket on cold days, and the removable liner and multiple vents make it a very cool and comfortable jacket on warm days. The safety ratings are excellent, and the price balances very favourably when set against the quality of the product. Well done RST… I’ll be wearing this one for a long while.

Reviews: Dan RRP: £299 More info: www.moto-direct.com

RST PRO SERIES ADVENTURE - X CE TEXTILE FEATURES: CE certification rating: AA Back protector: CE Level 2 Shoulder armour: CE level 2 Elbow armour: CE Level 2 Main outer material: Ripstop Secondary material: Ballistic Waterproof lining: Fixed SinAqua Pro lining Thermal lining: Removable quilted full lining Collar: Removable storm collar Zips: Max Zips Thread: Coats Bonded Nylon – triple stitched Ventilation: Two chest vents, one back vent Connection zip: Yes Inner pockets: Three Adjustment: Arms and waist Outer pockets: Four Molle straps: Two Removable woven patch: Yes Map pocket: Fixed Keyless ignition pockets: Two

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KICKSTART

To Be Someone

There’s a long-running tradition of British crime comedy caper films going back years. They include films such as The Ladykillers, The Lavender Hill Mob, The Italian Job, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Layer Cake, Snatch, and Love, Honour and Obey. After watching Love, Honour and Obey, then a trip to Brighton in 2003, Pete Meadows hatched an outline idea based around speculating on what happened next to the characters, specifically Jimmy, in Quadrophenia. At that stage, he had no idea what moving forward with those thoughts would have in store for him.

Pete, with no previous experience of writing, came up with an outline rough draft of his storyline for a novel, with the intent for it to become a film. He sent it off to The Who’s management, thinking if they didn’t like it as a sequel to Quadrophenia, it might make a decent comedy gangster film.

What started off as a labour of love turned into a seemingly never-ending obstacle course of Grand National proportions. An abundance of huge, daunting hurdles were encountered one after another, involving copyright, threats of legal action, rewrites and plot changes along with redeveloping and renaming characters. The Who’s guitarist Pete Townshend gave his permission for Pete to base his ‘Jimmy’ on the Quadrophenia (album) character. To Be Someone (part 1) was published as a novel in 2011, with To Be Someone (part 2) published as a novel in 2013. Before the two books were launched Pete met with actor, scriptwriter, director and producer Ray Burdis in 2010, who liked the book(s) and thought there was potential for a film. Ray asked Pete to come up with a draft film script. Ray then tinkered around with Pete’s screenplay script to make it work as a film. It goes without saying that to make a film, even a low budget one, funding is required.

Then there’s the casting and all the other necessaries before the physical shooting begins. More obstacles to deal with. Finally, over four weeks, in 2019, To Be Someone was filmed, largely

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in and around Stevenage in Hertfordshire, with some actors who appeared in Quadrophenia featuring in prominent roles.

To Be Someone made its debut at Berlin Film Festival in February last year (2020), with the premiere and general UK cinema release originally scheduled for April 2020.

However, obvious circumstances worldwide postponed those plans until July 2021. If Pete Meadows thought that with the film ‘ready to go’ all his trials, tests and tribulations with To Be Someone had passed, fate intervened one last time. This led to the original venue (in Stevenage) for the UK launch pulling the plug with only a couple of weeks’ notice. Despite this last-minute stumbling block To Be Someone premiered at The Peartree Pub, with three live bands, some of the cast, and a capacity crowd of 300 on July 25, 2021. Given that restrictions in the UK had only just been lifted and that the entertainment industry, including cinemas – especially independent ones – had been hit hard, those able to reopen to the public opted for big-budget blockbuster movies in the main.

This meant To Be Someone was screened by fewer cinemas than was hoped for when on general release. To Be Someone was also released on DVD in August 2021, the format in which most interested parties are likely to be viewing the film.

The film itself is a British gangster comedy romp in a similar vein to Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Love, Honour and Obey. It has 21st century Mods, scooters (classic ones as well as quite a few Royal Alloys), a scooter shop and also references to the Isle of Wight August Bank Holiday weekend scooter rally as an integral part of the plot. Additionally, extras, as in scooterist and Mod scooter riding extras, include Welwyn Stags, Wasps London, Cambridge SC plus, of course, many of the Stevenage Mod and scooter crowd. The soundtrack features contemporary bands (The K’s, The Mynd Set, Colour Eyed), playing original music, all, at times, playing ‘live’ during the film. As for the cast,

there’s an abundance of familiar faces, (Mark Wingett – Uncle Tommy, Toyah Willcox – Bunny, Leslie Ash – Judy, Trevor Laird – Rudi, Gary Shail – Charlie Boy), all playing larger-thanlife characters. There’s a very evident and real chemistry between them, born more than 40 years ago, a last-gangin-town togetherness which infectiously draw younger cast members into their fold. Sam Gittens plays central character Danny, scooter shop and club co-owner Mod, with Laura McMonagle as Linda (Danny’s wife), Amelia Bath – Daniella (top girl at Tommy and Bunny’s escort agency, located above Danny’s scooter shop), Marc Pickering – Vinny (Mad Mike’s estranged son), Jared Garfield – Sharp Steve (top Mod in Danny’s circle). All is good in Danny’s life until Ginger Tony is released from a long stretch in prison. Through a series of flashbacks, the plot unfolds, and psychotic gangster Mad Mike wants the remaining amount of ‘his’ buzz-bomb pills. Through strong-arm tactics, threats and intimidation he forces Danny into going to fetch them. Even the police appear to be in the pocket of Mad Mike. The stash is hidden on the Isle of Wight in a haunted ruin. Danny enlists help from friends, family and acquaintances to help collect the stash over the Isle of Wight scooter rally weekend. It’s a fun, feelgood, light-hearted British crime caper, with an abundance of amusing moments, scenes and one-liners. A bonus is the scooters entwined in the plot, a good cast and original music too. Quadrophenia 2 it is not, nor is it a documentary of the contemporary Mod scene.

However, if you have a good sense of humour, To Be Someone is more than worth a watch. It made me smile a lot, and laugh more than a few times.

Sarge

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 

KICKSTART

HARLEM SHUFFLE Rudy Mills/ The Crystalites – John Jones/Bombshell (0006) The Cobbs – Joe Gibbs Mood/Hot Buttered Corn (0007) Lloyd And Glen – Mini Skirt and Go Go Boots/What You’ve Got (0008) Following their excellent Hot Sauce (Vol 1) compilation album, very much reminiscent of the Trojan Tighten Up series of the late 60s/early 70s, Harlem Shuffle is back with a trio of scorching 45s, due for release individually throughout the summer.

Discovered and mentored by legendary Jamaican producer Derrick Harriott in 1967, singer Rudy Mills cut many tracks that fall into the boss-sounds/skinhead reggae category. Unquestionably his best known is the classic track John Jones, first issued on the Trojan imprint Big Shot in 1968, later featuring on arguably the very best compilation in the aforementioned Trojan Tighten Up series, Volume 2. It was produced and co-written by Derrick Harriott.

More recently, Rudy Mills’ classic number John Jones has featured on the soundtrack of the cult TV comedy series Plebs. John Jones with its incessant, unrelenting rhythm and singalong lyrics was a firm favourite with original skinheads and has stood the test of time, a classic boss sound tune.

It’s backed with an instrumental version, performed by Derrick Harriott’s in-house studio band The Crystalites, who fill the space vacated by Mills’ vocal with a stabbing brass riff. Originally on 45 on the Explosion label, this is the first time that John Jones has been paired with the instrumental take, Bombshell. Scheduled for June release.

The Cobbs were also known as Channel One studio band. Although unknown at the time, the line-up consisted of Sly Dunbar, Rad Bryan, Ranchie McLean and Ansel Collins. As The Cobbs, the phenomenal line-up only recorded four tracks, all instrumentals. For the first time ever, The Cobbs have two of their tracks on one dedicated single. And two rare gems they are too. The Cobbs worked from Joe Gibbs’ Channel One studio in Kingston, no surprise then that the A-side chosen is the sought-

after Joe Gibbs Mood. A shuffling mid-pace slab of boss sound reggae, driven by the dexterous keyboard skills of Ansel Collins.

Back in ’69, the track featured on the B-side of Ken Parker’s Only Yesterday via the Trojan Amalgamated label. The B-side of The Cobbs’ Harlem Shuffle single is Hot Buttered Corn, again originally a B-side on Amalgamated, the flip to Count Machukie – Machukies Cooking in ’69. Although a midpaced number, it has more of a stomping than shuffling aura; once again Ansel Collins works his magic with stabbing organ riffs abounding. Released late May 2021.

Third of the new Harlem Shuffle singles backs a brace of ultra-rare, big money on original issue tracks which will have appeal to skinheads, boss sounds aficionados, Mods, soulies and connoisseurs of late 60s/ early 70s Jamaican music alike. On the A-side, released in Europe for the first time ever, is Lloyd and Glen’s tribute to late 60s dolly-birds, Mini Skirt and Go Go Boots. A scorching slab of island soul, rhythm and soul/style, aimed straight at the dancefloor.

Singalong, call ‘n’ response vocals, blasting horns, and a four-to-the-floor pounding beat underpin this dynamic gem. Originally released on the Jamaican Comet label and BRA in America in ’67, it’s a prized, hardto-find killer that’s finally available at an affordable price. On the B-side is Lloyd and Glen’s What You’ve Got, initially released simultaneously on the JA Wirl label and the highly collectable, highly prized and priced UK Doctor Bird label in ’67. Then it was the B-side of Feel Good Now, which, like the A-side of this Harlem Shuffle single, commands in excess of £300 for an original.

An up-tempo thumping slice of island soul, with a similar feel and structure to early northern soul favourites as well as 60s club soul. There’s a faint flavour of Otis Redding’s version of Respect in there too. A superb

pairing of two genuine rarities, back-to-back, released earlier this year.

Also, a bit of advance news from Harlem Shuffle – Hot Sauce Volume 2 is set for a September/October 2021 release. Hot Sauce Vol 1 was superb, expect more of the same on Vol 2. Watch this space!

Sarge

ETHANOL-RESISTANT FUEL PIPE FROM MB SCOOTERS In preparation for more ethanol coming soon, MB Scooters has made a special resistant petrol pipe. “The pipe comes in black only and so that you don’t get confused with normal nylon type black piping it’s marked with MB Race-Tour. It’s also reinforced in the middle to stop any kinking. As well

 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 

as this it’s designed not to go hard like the clear stuff with coiled springs, it’s cheaper and fits all petrol tank taps and carb banjos,” Mark of MB explained.

The piping is priced in 1, 2 and 3ft lengths to suit standard side carbs and right-hand sized carbs.

More info: www.lambrettaspares.com