Scootering April 2018

FREE

Spirit of 84

Scooterist Meltdown

Vespa Upgrade & Tuning Supplement

inside!

Elite Vespa three-piece

hard luggage

custom #382 April 2018

PLUS

Unsung Hero

WW2-themed chopper from the Quality Chrome stable

‘Autobiography’ DDK-painted stunning

Lambretta custom

BUTCHERS GARAGE

LE MANS GULF

SCOOTER SECRETS

CHECK OUT THIS

RUSSIA FROM BEHIND

THE IRON CURTAIN

SCOMADI RACING

CUSTOM CREATION

Stealth Vespa ■ Darrell Taylor Tech: variable ignitions ■ Vespa Club Britain update ■ The Lady is a Vamp custom ■ Scooter Boy Tales ■ dealer spotlight ■ readers’ rides ■ Scooter Trader ■ Events Guide and much more…

WELCOME Editor: Dan Clare Email: dan@scootering.com Publisher: Dan Savage Designer: Charlotte Turnbull Picture desk: Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield and Angie Sisestean Production editor: Dan Sharp General queries and back issues: Tel: 01507 529529 24hr answerphone Mon-Fri 8.30am-7pm, Sat 8.30am-12.30pm 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 40 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £49.20. Export rates are also available – see page 40 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 Gary Thomas – gthomas@mortons.co.uk Tel (01507) 529417 Emma Buxton-Rockley – ebuxton-rockley@mortons.co.uk Tel (01507) 529410 Divisional advertising team leader: Zoe Thurling 01507 529412, zthurling@mortons.co.uk ADVERTISING DEADLINES The advertising deadline for the next issue of Scootering (May 2018) is Thursday, April 5, 2018 On sale in newsagents Thursday, April 25, 2018 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 © 2018 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, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HU. Tel: 0203 787 9001.

Printed by: William Gibbons & Sons, Wolverhampton

The Professional Publishers Association Member

What about the loyal subscribers!

I

t’s common practise for publishers to make tempting offers aimed at attracting new subscribers to a magazine. We do it now and then, sometimes via email or post, other times by means such as Facebook. As far as email and postal offers are concerned, you either get an uptake on the offer, or you don’t. However, when it comes to Facebook, you can be guaranteed of one thing… a response! Whether that response be good, bad or ugly is another thing, but you’ll get one either way. Generally speaking, other than the positive response from people accepting the offer, one of the few negative retorts we receive is this: “What about something for the loyal subscribers!”

Well, you spoke... we listened: Scootering Extra is a new club offering our loyal subscribers something more. Of course, being a subscriber you already get a huge discount on the cover price of the magazine, free postage, and the magazine delivered to your letterbox before they go out on the newsstands (Royal Mail permitting!). So what does Scootering Extra offer? Well, a number of things… firstly, we are in the process of digitising our entire historical archive of magazines, and there are nearly 10 years’ worth of mags uploaded already… all fully searchable with keywords!

You wanna find an old review of an exhaust? Search it on Scootering Extra. You wanna find an old Vespa tech article? Search it on Scootering Extra. You wanna seek out that old picture of you at a rally, or a scooter you once owned which featured in the mag?

Search it on Scootering Extra. It’s all there, with more being added each month, and that’s just for starters. We’re also teaming up with valued partners, to bring our

Scootering Extra members a series of exclusive offers: discounted insurance, discounted scooter products, helmets and clothing. Scooter legends VE and national insurance companies Lexham and Bikesure are already on board, and we have more in the wings waiting to be added. But hang on, there’s more… every month we have more material than we can fit into the magazine, it’s like trying to stuff a gallon into a pint pot.

So the web becomes our perfect portal to add those unseen images, extra clips, and behind the scenes action… exclusively for Scootering Extra members. We hope to build such a valuable array of tangible offers, searchable archives and unseen material, that the thought of not being a subscriber drives you insane! If you’re already a subscriber, see the advert on page 99 for instructions on how to log into the new system. For those who haven’t yet subscribed, all you need to do, to save money on the magazine cover price, have it delivered to your door each month, and access the Scootering Extra magazine archives, exclusive offers, discounts and added bonus material… is ring the team on: 01507 529529 or alternatively visit: www.scootering.com/extra and sign up.

Sorry for the ‘hard sell’ this month, it’s not my usual editorial opener, but I’m so damn pleased to be able to offer these fantastic extras to our loyal subscribers, I had to shout about it for at least one edition! It’s not often you’re able to open such an amazing and valuable archive of back issues to the wider audience, so the fact that we can is well worth shouting about! Anyway, enough of my ramblings, it’s another belter this month… enjoy the issue.

Dan

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 3

CONTENTS 03Letter from the Editor

A warm welcome to the April issue of Scootering.

06Kickstart

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

14

Unsung Hero

A beautiful custom chopper belonging to Keith of Quality Chrome, with Col at Garage Artwerks providing the stunning artwork, and backdrop to Keith’s military family history.

23

Scooter Boy Tales

24

Show Report: Kev Walsh Parts Fair

Another story of misdemeanours and clueless scooter tinkering from the halcyon days of the 80s.

Our man Stu meets up with Kev as he kicks off the season with his first of many parts fairs.

28

Show Report: Spirit of 84 Scooterist Meltdown

Jamie Godley gets the miles in to party and play drums at Meltdown in Germany.

Report: Burton 34Show Brewers #smileforsteve

The lads at Burton Brewers kick off the season with their renowned annual event, this year being a tribute to a legend – Steve Haynes.

39Mailbox

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

40

Subscriptions

Buy one now! Get your mag delivered to the door, earlier than newsstands, and save money… cool.

42

Show us your scoots

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

Spotlight: Scooter 45Trade Specialist

Stan continues his guide to the best bits of Ireland (by scooter) with another top tip in the build up to VWD – this time combining a visit to Scooter Specialist NI.

50Ginger Stepchild: Part 2

Having taken an up-close look at the blood, sweat an tears which went into building the custom scooter ‘Ginger Stepchild’, we now sit back, relax, and enjoy the finished product.

4 | SCOOTERING | APRIL 2017

with 57Interview Bernard Lawler

A closer look at veteran scooterist Bernard Lawler, his achievements, his scooter, and his awards.

62Gulf Scomadi

It’s a favourite film, actor and paints scheme for many... and this Le Mans based Scomadi looks every inch the race thoroughbred in this livery.

Ride – Ramie’s 70Reader’s ‘Elite’ Vespa

It’s not often you see a custom Vespa with an Elite three-piece hard luggage set, so take a good look, it’ll be a long time until you see another one!

74Butchers Garage Russia

Chops, tunes, music, fashion and scooters… you won’t find this garage on any tourist map!

28 104Black Widow

Your essential guide to the scene – What, Where & When!

Italian stallion Christian Giarrizzo looks at this very understated stealth machine and investigates its hidden charms.

Words 84Scootering & Sounds

110Autobiography S2

Torque: 88Tech Hermes CDI on test

120Scooter Trader

80

Club Do’s & Events

The best of scootering words and music as reviewed by Nik & Sarge.

Darrell Taylor looks into the pros and cons of variable ignition gadgets.

This DDK painted scooter is pristine and very much ridden. Take a look at this curvaceous beauty in all its glory.

Your sales and classifieds section – including Specialist Services & At A Glance.

Tech Torque: Lambretta Dave’s Nostalgic 93 performance review – the 128 Custom Corner final chapter – the 50th edition Can you translate success on the track to performance on the road? Stu Owen, one of the UK’s most successful scooter sprinters, closes his winter series on Lambretta performance analysis with some stunning stats.

Tech Torque: Essential 97 scooter repairs with Stu Owen

It’s Dave O’s 50th ‘anniversary’ for custom corner and he come up trumps with this nostalgic classic…The Lady is a Vamp.

130Reader’s Ride

Our favourite reader’s scooter this month, something different and unusual… that’s for sure.

No need to chew up your sprocket components in fitting; Stu explains all.

99Subs Club!

Not a subscriber? You’ll wish you were now, with our new club making it just too juicy and fruitful to resist.

Check out the details on page 99.

101A word from the VCB

The introductory piece from the VCB, as part of our new and ongoing Vespa Club updates.

Never miss from only £20 an issue Subscribe today on page 40

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KICKSTART QUATTRINI WARS CONTINUE!

The new 210cc smallblock Lambretta kit from Max Quattrini has started quite a tuning frenzy. The latest entry to the quest for power has come from the stable of Darrell Taylor… his latest tune uses a 35mm TMX Mikuni carb, Variatronic Ignition, a 61mm stroke crank, which takes the kit up to 221cc, and of course his own detailed porting and tuning techniques, hitting a current peak of 39.6bhp and 28lb-ft torque. With a few changes and upgrades still available, Darrell envisages cracking 40bhp very soon. We will keep you posted.

SIP’S 21ST CENTURY CABLES

There are few forms of transport so dependent on control cables as classic scooters yet few riders give them a second thought until they fail. Now German scooter innovator SIP has taken on the challenge of bringing the control cable into the 21st century. The result is a range of ‘professional’ cable sets.

Engineered to fit a variety of models without any cutting, they feature pre-stretched stainless steel wound cables, PE lined outers and welded ends. SIP claims improved throttle responsiveness, more positive gear selection and a smoother clutch action. Now that the permafrost in Stan’s garage has finally thawed he’ll be adding them to his PX and reporting back after his Abejar to Belfast ride this June.

RRP (Vespa PX) £49.40 www.sip-scootershop.com

ELEC-TRICKERY AT RETROSPECTIVE As cities across Europe continue to fight air pollution, the race to find a practical electric town vehicle is well under way.

Walthamstow-based Retrospective Scooters is the latest to enter the fray and as owner Niall McCart explained, the company’s approach is aimed at keeping classic scooters on the road.

“At Retrospective we’ve built a reputation for adapting classic scooters for modern road conditions. The introduction of London’s Low Emission Zone could mean the end of the road, literally, for many

two-strokes. Although electric conversions have been offered elsewhere they all require extensive frame modifications. Our solution can be installed and reversed without any cutting or welding.”

The prototype unit is equivalent to a 50cc two-stroke and has been fitted into a Vespa small frame using the standard Vespa fitment points. Even the standard shock absorber is retained, meaning that steering geometry is unaffected. Batteries, which are capable of powering the scooter for around 80 miles, are located where the petrol tank would normally

fit and can be removed for charging indoors.

“The electrics are complicated,” added Niall, “but once we’re satisfied with the prototype the possibilities are endless.

Almost any classic scooter will be capable of conversion and more powerful motors are available from our suppliers.”

Prices and production dates are still to be confirmed but the team at Retrospective are confident the prototype will be the star of their open day which is being held on April 21. www.retrospectivescooters.com

NEW ITEMS FOR VESPA AT VE VE has increased its range of universal 2T PWK carburettors, and added three new sizes: 24mm, 26mm and 28mm versions join the already popular 30mm, 32mm, and 34mm sizes to cater for an even greater range of machines.

Also available is the performance cylinder kit that owners of the Vespa GS160 and SS180 have been waiting for. The new 225cc cylinder kit is based on the popular PX 225 kit that is already available and is manufactured from aluminium with a Nikasil bore coating. Designed to be a direct replacement for the standard cylinder, it features an aluminium inlet manifold with

6 | SCOOTERING | APRIL 2018

reed valve. The supplied inlet manifold can use either the original carburettor, or an SI model with a diameter up to 28mm.

Lastly, there’s a new Italian-manufactured gear cluster which has a standard tooth count of 22-18-14-10. It’s aimed at owners who are rebuilding an engine or have suffered the misfortune of a damaged taper or gears. The gear cluster is a direct replacement for standard fitment on the following models: 50 Special, 50SS, 90SS, 90 Racer, PK 50S, PK 50XL, PK 100S, PK 100XL, P125 ETS, PK 125S, Primavera 125, and ET3. www.ve-uk.com

PROTECT YOURSELF There’s an array of products claiming to protect metal from the worst effects of rust, but does reality match the hype?

By pitting old favourites against new kids on the block, we’ve come up with an answer that’s based on real life, not in the laboratory. If you’re a metallurgist look away now, but if you want to protect your ride from the elements read on.

Method: The standard industry corrosion test ‘ASTM B117’ uses a salt solution delivered in a mist, at set temperatures, for a predetermined length of time.

Thrilling stuff. We took some 1960s Italian steel, scrubbed it clean with a wire brush, divided it into equal sections and then applied our test samples. The plate was hung outside and periodically checked for corrosion. After three months there were some surprises, but first let’s introduce the contenders…

metal from rust and corrosion, penetrates stuck parts, displaces moisture and lubricates almost anything.”

What we say: In fairness WD-40 is a water dispersant, not a dedicated corrosion protector. It’s also found in almost every toolbox and is the first port of call for many. Surprisingly, after a month it showed almost no difference to leaving the metal untreated.

The Knowledge: Cost: £6 per 600ml, www.wd40.com Name: Farecla Wax Top What they say: “Constructed from the highest grade liquid wax, gives unprecedented protection and leaves a mirror gloss finish.”

What we say: My dad spent most Sunday mornings waxing the Cortina and always swore by car wax’s miracle properties.

Sadly he was wrong.

The knowledge: Cost: £20.34 per 1000ml, www.farecla.com

Name: ACF-50 What whey say: “A state of the art, anti-corrosion/ lubricant compound that has been specifically designed for the Aerospace Industry”.

What we say: Spray application crates a foam allowing easy coverage of hard to reach areas.

The knowledge: Cost: £14 per 369ml, www.acf-50.co.uk Name: XCP Rust Blocker What they say: “Trust the powerful and unique XCP formula to provide long lasting protection against moisture and other corrosive elements.”

What we say: XCP is the new kid on the block. This was the most viscous of our test samples and is probably best brushed or wiped onto

The contenders.

surfaces where you want it to do its thing.

The knowledge: Cost £17.25 per 400ml, www.xcpprotection.com The verdict: In our entirely unscientific test, XCP has it by a nose, though ACF-50 took a very credible second place. They may average out at around twice the price of some other options but if ever proof was needed that anti-corrosion products work – here it is.

Name: Bare metal What they say: Er – it’s metal!

What we say: Predictably, our control sample was the first to rust.

The knowledge: A Lambretta splash plate, what else can we say?

Name: WD-40 What they say: “WD-40 Multi-Use Product protects

December, all ready to go.

March, a clear victory for the rust blockers.

HAVE YOUR SAY AND WIN HELD GEAR! Here at Scootering towers we like to think that our magazine offers the best feature scooters, product reviews, rally reports, travel stories, technical articles and much more for our readers, but we realise we’re a bit biased... and that’s why we want to hear your thoughts on the mag.

Whether you have been a subscriber since day one, or just picked up your first copy now, we want to know what you think about it. What’s hot and what’s not? So, we’ve created a simple online survey at www.scootering.com and we’d really appreciate if you could take a few minutes to complete it.

As a ‘thank you’ for completing the survey, all respondents will be entered into a FREE PRIZE DRAW to be in with a chance of winning a Held helmet or gloves. One lucky winner can choose from either a Held by Schuberth H-R2 full-face helmet, worth £419.99, or Held

by Schuberth H-C3 flip-up helmet worth £419.99. There will also be three pairs of Held Gore-Tex Air n Dry gloves up for grabs, worth £175.99 each. Many thanks and good luck in the prize draw!

Dan Clare – Scootering Editor

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 7

KICKSTART REVIEW LAMBRETTA

AND VESPA STREET RACERS BOOKAZINE

T

uner, member of the exclusive 100mph Lambretta Club, writer and Scootering contributor Stuart Owen’s latest project is a bookazine, the subject matter being Vespa and Lambretta street racer scooters.

Which, believe it or not, have been evolving pretty much ever since scooters as we know them have been around.

Stuart’s guide comes in a decade-bydecade overview, packed with an abundance of both archive and more recent images, many of which have not been seen before.

There are factory made specialist machines that were commercially made to appeal to the need for (additional) speed. Enhancing the text of each 10-year time span chapter is an abundance of boxed out sections which put a spotlight on some of the more significant contributors to the development of street racers over 60 or so years.

Some aforementioned factory models feature alongside selected dealer specials such as now legendary names like Supertune, Wildcat, Arthur Francis S-Type, AF Rayspeed, and Armandos with other sections focusing on a variety of types of carburation including various Amal types, early fuel injectors, tyre technology, kits, exhaust systems, ignitions, even seats.

Informative, well researched, laid out in a chronological manner, it’s a publication that can be read in a mini marathon single sitting or alternatively akin to a coffee table style tome, it also lends itself to dipping in and out and devouring the many insightful morsels at a pace that suits the individual.

It’s a fair statement to say that without

question, improvements to standard, stock items are of interest to practically every scooterist. A constant factor over the years is that successful performance and handling modifications, approaches and changes were often first proven on specialised scooters in scooter sports events. These were then eventually offered to the road going scooterists who wanted a bit extra in both power and performance from their machine. Of course that particular fact is mentioned and referred to in the Street Racer bookazine.

While I found Stuart’s Street Racer guide deeply interesting and extremely informative, the text enhanced, illustrated and amplified by a vast variety of street racer scooter pictures, which bears out the ‘one picture speaks 1000 words’ adage… to me there are a couple of small omissions. With the title limited to a total of 132 pages, there are some compromises regarding a few things that were worth either a mention or in most cases, something more significant.

Noteable by its absence was the Malossi kit, with the 210cc, albeit requiring crankcase mouth transfers modifying, was without question, one of the most significant developments for the large frame Vespa engine. Also omitted are the Teutonic (German/Austrian) Vespa street racers, that had to comply with restrictive

Never miss an issue 8 | SCOOTERING | APRIL 2018

TUV laws, yet revolutionised and innovated many changes to Vespa street racers on a worldwide scale. Fresco both over and under kickstart variants as well as Mickek exhausts, I think should have warranted a deeper retrospective overview.

Many 80s scooterboys and girls doing the National rallies on their P-Range Vespas throughout the 1980s, despite the vast majority being on a tight budget, favoured a combination of 28mm Dellorto and Simonini exhaust. Which was a very basic Vespa street racer, but a street racer nonetheless. I would have liked to have seen a few more dealer specials from over the years included too, PJ Oakley Lambretta and Grimstead Hurricane Vespa. Perhaps am I being a little bit too picky? However, if this was a full-size book, such as Stuart’s excellent Lambretta Concessionaires, available space would almost definitely be there for filling, and perhaps a few more brand names linked to street racers that could be looked at a bit more in depth.

Stuart’s Street Racer bookazine is available via all good newsagents and magazine outlets, as well as online.

Despite the previously mentioned, it is a worthwhile, informative and damn good read. Order online: www.classicmagazines. co.uk or 01507 529529.

Sarge

from only

£20

Subscribe today on page 40

KICKSTART

LARGE LAMBRETTA COLLECTION PUT UP FOR SALE A collection of more than 120 Lambrettas amassed by Colin Bunn has now been put up for sale. Colin spent years collecting as many different models as possible and housed them next to where he lives in Spain. Having now decided to take life easier as retirement looms he has come to the difficult decision to sell them. The collection is made up of Italian, Spanish and Indian machines, some of which have been restored. Other examples still have their original paintwork as they were deemed too good to be touched and are exactly as they left the factory.

Also for sale are rare spares and accessories. They are being shipped from Spain to England and will be sold through Disco Dez Scooters; all inquiries must be made to them. The first dozen have just left for England and already a great deal of interest is being shown. Judging by the quality and rarity of some of them it is expected they will be bought up quickly.

Enquiries: 07815 739181 or info@discodezscooters.co.uk

QUICK RELEASE FASTENERS Easy as 1-2-3...

The fitting and removal of Lambretta running boards is probably one of the most fiddly and frustrating jobs I have ever come across. You normally only need to do it where there’s something wrong and I’d rather get straight in to the problem than mess around while artic trucks come hurtling past! For some time, I’d been looking at quick release fasteners so you can easily remove the running boards from the frame. Several of my fellow Lambretta riders had suggested the DZUS® QuarterTurn Fasteners from Southco and so I quickly bought some. However, what I did not realise, was the art in selecting the right length fixings, or studs, as Southco calls them. Although my initial efforts worked and were a vast improvement, I was struggling as some were too short, making their use not quite as slick as I had intended.

The DZUS® Quarter-Turn Fasteners were developed for the aerospace industry.

They were intended to securely hold panels in place that are regularly removed for inspection. The fasteners use a quarter-turn mechanism that is an over

10 | SCOOTERING | APRIL 2018

centre design, meaning that they require a sustained force to undo and will not rattle loose. However, this design relies on the selection of the correct length fixings (studs) being used from the start.

The stud feeds into a frame-mounted clip-on receptacle with twist action.

With respect to the running boards, you may need to open up holes to allow the studs to align correctly.

This in mind, I then spoke to Southco regarding the selection of the correct DZUS® Quarter-Turn Fasteners assembly.

The installation is simple, requiring nothing more than a pair of measuring callipers and a little patience. You need to know the measurements of the individual elements that are being fastened together and add them all up. Make sure you take into account any additional washers and the clip-on receptacle for the frame itself.

I had opted for an additional plastic washer for paint work protection (normal stud length takes into account one plastic washer). The following measurements were used in conjunction with a table available on the Southco webpage.

Frame: 5.8mm Running boards: 3mm Additional plastic washer: 0.5mm Clip-on receptacle: 0.8mm Bridge piece: 3.9mm Obviously the bridge piece only affects two of the fixing points and can be discounted for the others. When these measurements are compared with the Southco table, it means a stud length of 17 (without bridge piece) and 21 (with bridge piece) are required for my scooter.

To get the perfect fit it might be wise to measure all of the fixing points individually, as the thickness in the body work may vary. The table can be found via the following link: https://www.southco. com/static/Literature/D8.en.pdf Southco supplies DZUS® Quarter-Turn Fasteners with a variety of stud heads, and I’ve opted for the ‘D-ring’ (bail head) style for sheer speed of release. However, for the more security conscious among us, you can get different head styles that require a security head tool or standard screwdriver/Allen key.

Jordan

National scooter rrallies – an institution built in stone Following past comments in the scootering press regarding the current situation of the national scooter rallies; for a moment ponder these thoughts...

T

he birth of the national scooter rallies as we know them today came at the beginning of the 1980s. Their roots were established in years previous, but the rally scene we recognise and still love today, evolved during that decade.

That was also the period of the highest attendances; sadly those days will probably never return. Even so, almost 40 years on the national rallies are still here and well attended.

I, like a lot of people, like a bit of nostalgia… looking back at grainy photographs and recalling a certain rally.

We were all young back then and partial to sleeping in a freezing cold tent on the rocky ground, living out of the back of a club van for the weekend, often without having a wash or anything substantial to eat, it was part and parcel of rally life. As we get older though, it’s a fact that many now want creature comforts and that often equates to a bed and breakfast rather than a tent or van. This means that the rallies have evolved to suit the needs of us all.

Yes, there is still plenty of camping happening, certainly at inland rallies, but even that is subject to more luxurious equipment and surroundings as we get older. Looking back is fine but the reality is that a vast majority would never attend a rally in that way any more.

Ever since the rallies started there’s been a requirement to keep those attending constantly interested. The easiest way is by means of alcohol, an establishment to consume it in and some decent music! That is what makes the nationals so great compared to inland

rallies. At an inland rally, there is on-site catering and most likely a local pub in the vicinity. At a national, there is a whole town of eateries, drinking establishments, and certainly a few favourites among scooterists available. Then there is the entertainment on offer over the course of the weekend. Again this is the advantage a national rally holds as there can be several venues offering a wider selection from which you as an individual can to choose.

This has always been the lure of the Isle of Wight for example, with several bands or different musical tastes being catered for all at the same time.

Ever since the Nationals began they have always been spread evenly around the country. I think it’s fair to say no one has ever argued that this shouldn’t be the case.

It has, however, been commented on that it’s predictable and that we know which town each rally will be in well in advance.

Possibly so, but there are valid arguments for it being this way. You can’t just roll up at a resort town and expect to put an event on like a scooter rally without alerting the authorities and contacting the local council first. In the old days, many councils didn’t want a rally held in their town because of the trouble they often brought with them.

That scenario is long gone and most towns now welcome scooterists with open arms to boost their economy.

As for the surprise element, does it really matter how long in advance you know about a rally? Yes in days gone by it was kept a closely guarded secret till the last minute.

Now though, any promoter will want their rally advertised as far forward as possible to get as many people there in attendance as

Nationals are vitally important as they connect scooterists across the whole of the country directly with each other and without them that real world connectivity would be gone.

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they can… to pay for venues, bands, staff and so on. With today’s modern technology booking available rooms at a national are so simple – straight from your phone if need be. It can be frustrating finding out the majority of rooms have been booked in advance but isn’t this telling you something? If there was plenty of accommodation available that would send out a signal that possibly the rally was not going to be well attended and make you think… should I go?

Any scooter rally, whether national or club organized, has run a similar format for years, still does and will do so in the future.

How do you change the format? The reality is… you can’t. Well not significantly. They are based on custom shows, music venues, bands, and pubs. Yes, you can use a different DJ or a different band for instance but the concept will always be the same.

In the past, many scooterists moved on to different scenes such as the VW and camper van boom in the 1990s or to motorbike events. The majority of them came back though, and why? Because… many quoted them as being boring when compared to scooter rallies! You could change the venue town every year and keep it a surprise up to the last minute but the fact still remains that its format would remain largely the same.

It’s possible some reading what is written here won’t agree with what has been said.

Maybe so, but the general point is if you don’t like the nationals as they are then don’t go. But think what would happen if they finished due to lack of support! Can you imagine if it was announced that there would be no more national scooter rallies?

It would be a sad day for the scooter scene. Nationals are vital as they connect scooterists across the whole of the country directly with each other and without them that real world connectivity would be gone.

Though they don’t please all of the people all of the time, they are still the backbone of the scene. Do they need changing significantly? Well, that’s for you to decide, but I think not. As the saying goes... if it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it!