Since 1978 I have been obsessed with Italian shopping bikes of the Lambretta and Vespa models one of my early memories is of me window licking Miles Kingsport's in Hull due to their latest delivery of the Vespa rally 200.

My eyes would glaze over as I watched the Beverley Mods Scooter Club ride through the town like conquering heroes on their copper and brass steeds, a very intoxicating image for an easily impressed teenager.

It wasn't long before I was to get my first Lambretta and bedecked with the ubiquitous Korean Patterned Parka I was off to rampage through Scarborough, 1979 was a good year.

I had my first taste of Northernsoul at Rudi's in Scarborough and The mighty Bub span the discs that washed over me and through me entering my DNA to define who I am to this very day, nothing fancy but Judy Street's "What" was thee sound at the time and it formed part of the soundtrack to my youth, happy daze.

Some years on and I now run one of the biggest scooter clubs in the world with 578 members, blowing my own trumpet I know but I am extremely proud of this. I am also a Northernsoul fanatic and love going to Allnighters.

I find my self meeting more and more people who are the same age as me, 47, and often five or even ten years my senior who tell of their exploits whilst riding Italian Shopping trolleys.

To be honest, the amount of people who tell me that they used to ride Lambretta to Wigan Casino the car park must have been chocker block with them yet I have never seen one picture of a scooter out side The Casino?

Is this just dreamy wishful thinking of people imagining their past Scootering or is it true?

How popular where scooters amongst the Northernsoul fraternity?

stockport mod squad shoud of made your list there bud 1978 1980 when it split into stockport crusaders and whatever your right about north and south though pre quadraphenia there were no clubs left down south. did any of you go to southend in 78 /79 for the fight and pulling down the tent. plus manchester lions was dead on its arse by 79 /80 with one fat old geezer sat in a pub on his own talking about scooter racing and blagging ale off us pesants and he rode a bike anyway after one particully boring evening we cut the ht lead off his bike wanker

"...The early eighties saw a new “Mod: emerge, one that needed to throw away all of the trappings of a fashion blip, the clothes changed to a more practical and cheaper alternative to suits..."

How I wish I could look half as good in a tonic suit nowadays as I imagined I did when I was 16!!

(I'd look like Alexie Sayle now!)

Edited February 14, 200916 yr by mel brat

When i was 16 which is a few years ago now i was Given Free a lambretta not sure of the model, when i was in my local scooter shop which deals in vespas and lambrettas i told the bloke about it and described it he(it had little handles to take the side panels off) said it would be worth about £3-000minimum(could this be about right??) i was gobsmacked as i GAVE IT AWAY

chris

Edited February 14, 200916 yr by ChrisOD1964

...he said it would be worth about £3-000minimum(could this be about right??) i was gobsmacked as i GAVE IT AWAY...

chris

...whereas you could have swopped it for a half-decent original Northern Soul classic at current prices!

It amazes me how much both the Northernsoul scene and the Scooter scene mirrors each other, the scooter you are on about sounds like a Lambretta SX 200.

They aren't particularly rare just rarely available and command around the three grand mark.

Unfortunately there are a few dodgy look a likes, LI 150 models dressed up as SX 200's https://www.invidia-scooters.co.uk/Lambretta_sx.html and Spanish Ebor models sold as their more expensive Italian models.

To be honest with you most of the "barn" finds are well and truly gone now and when some one does come across an old Lambretta or Vespa its easy to gage the price thanks to e-bay and good old Google.

I am one of the lucky ones who kept his first lambretta, can't take credit for any foresight it was garaged in 1984 when I joined the Army and used on leave. She is a Lambretta GP 200 and the oldest love of my life.

I have just ordered a new scooter, not to replace her, just to add to my collection. This time I have gone for a "Kit" lambretta, it is going to be a little tricky and it will have a Vespa engine, full Arthur Francis replica paint with Wigan Casino Patches. It will puzzle most and fool the others, I cant fookin wait!

You can see the sort of thing

here: https://lambretta-evolution.co.uk/default.aspx

currently mulling over the new vespa gt 300 think that is the way forward 85 plus mph standard all day and not the ugliest thing ive seen just the price getting in the way £3600 but might have to bite the bullet

I have a Vespa GTS 250 ie fookin mega! Malossi kited with every go faster product available including the bigger back tire. I have ridden her for three years to most national scooter runs with no problems at all, it's the only way to fly!

I had me TV175 cutdown nicked outside the 100club in 86..

NFA98H if any one sees it about

TS1 very fast!

alright simon! cant say i ever remember scoots on station rd!

atb, rob.

I had me TV175 cutdown nicked outside the 100club in 86..

NFA98H if any one sees it about

very late reg for a tv 175

Correct Mel.

The second wave was only after the success of Quadrophenia.

I can still smell Green Onions even now

I went to Morecambe on a regular basis and Stafford a couple of times by scooter, but TBH was more common to go on bus or train. I know it wasn't first generation soulie but still.....

Oh, and ImberFella.... not bragging either but I started scooterings biggest forum... and any chance you can stop using such a big font please?

heres my gts 250

and am pictured on my Li 150 special as my avatur top left ,took this to skeggy butlins soul w/ender the other week

very late reg for a tv 175

If i remember right it was bit of 2 scooters but the lump was a tv175

Jet black with chrome fittings and a snetterton seat. 30mm Delorto carb.

plan to take my scoot to brid w/ender in june and skeggy grovsner w.ender in september a few of mates doing same so if your going to anyone of these an you have a scoot bring it along and we can sort something out in the way of a rideout

If i remember right it was bit of 2 scooters but the lump was a tv175

Jet black with chrome fittings and a snetterton seat. 30mm Delorto carb.

Cant beat a good cutdown with a snetterton can ya heres mine never been to a niter on a scooter just madness in the morning id say think id regret it

went to wigan 1976 -1979 most weeks cannot remember many scoooters in the car park coulkd have been some but i dont remember any. asthe late 1970s was the second coming of the mods most them that i knew were into ska i think you have to go back to the twisted wheel manchester in the sixties to see loads of scooters parked outside an allnighter visit twisted wheel .net or better still go to the wheel its open twice a month its fantastic spike (49)

I have a Vespa GTS 250 ie fookin mega! Malossi kited with every go faster product available including the bigger back tire. I have ridden her for three years to most national scooter runs with no problems at all, it's the only way to fly!

The go faster bits didnt stop a 70 year old woman in a ford escort telling you to "Learn to drive young??? man" at the IOW did it

stockport mod squad shoud of made your list there bud 1978 1980 when it split into stockport crusaders and whatever your right about north and south though pre quadraphenia there were no clubs left down south. did any of you go to southend in 78 /79 for the fight and pulling down the tent. plus manchester lions was dead on its arse by 79 /80 with one fat old geezer sat in a pub on his own talking about scooter racing and blagging ale off us pesants and he rode a bike anyway after one particully boring evening we cut the ht lead off his bike wanker

I was there at Southend '78.....I remember a load of lads sitting along the tent pole on the top of the marquee and the band playing inside. I said to my mate 'I wouldn't go in th.......' and before I could say the end of the sentence, the tent collapsed......what I was going to say was 'I wouldn't go in there, the music's sh*t'

I had me TV175 cutdown nicked outside the 100club in 86..

NFA98H if any one sees it about

What do you expect.....robbin' Cock knees....good job I filed off the chassis number

I was too young to go to Wigan as you well know Simon , but scooters and northern have always been inextricably linked for me. Used to take scoots up to the 100 Club from the early 80s onwards, and always remember parking up amongst rows of other scooters outside some of the great London soul nites like the Function At The Junction. And Mappy I well remember that we used to have to keep an eye on our bikes then as thieves were rife. In fact I had to desperately wriggle away from John, the 100 Club's big doorman, one night, as he somehow thought when I said "I've got to go and check on me scooter in the back alley", it was a euphemism for "follow me round there and give me one". Eek! But there will never be anything quite like riding home in formation through empty London streets early on a Summer Sunday morning after a cracking niter, crossing the river and checking the awesome view as we headed back to the Southside.

The husband Justin is quite a bit younger than me, and was part of the third wave of scooterists from the late 80s, if there was such a thing, and never did the mod thing at all. He rode his SX from Blackpool to just about every niter throughout the 90s, mad fool, and we've still got a garageful of assorted runners, wreckers and white elephants projects. I'm a Lambretta girl myself, but we have got a GTS 250 and I have to admit it rides like a dream.

Long may the association continue.

Our eldest boy Leon:

go to a number of scooter do,s and this year will be at scarbro at easter and isle of wight august bank holiday

many of these have northern soul events and a large number of scooterists are into the music with some decent dj.s on the scene

maybe we should form a soul source scooter club

SSSC what do you reckon

Edited February 21, 200916 yr by barney

go to a number of scooter do,s and this year will be at scarbro at easter and isle of wight august bank holiday

many of these have northern soul events and a large number of scooterists are into the music with some decent dj.s on the scene

maybe we should form a soul source scooter club

SSSC what do you reckon

Sounds like a plan to me Barney you can be No 1 we will have to form a commitee

I have scooters myself but I dont remember people turning up at nighters on them though. but I remember a soul night in Matlock in the early 80s and a bunch of Mods turned up because they thought thats what mods do they were all dressed like Suggs ,macs,pork pie hats the full kit and danced like him too but then again it was Matlock "Hey gimme six "

FB are you SBW Nik ? I am Mr M

Hi Simon, never had a scooter in the 70's, here's me on mine, as you know, been over to Holland and various places,

And if you remember him, here's Mozza (taken today) on his TS1

Notice the back patches !!

Pete

Edited February 22, 200916 yr by Peter

am already a member of 3 clubs, but like the idea of an association of likeminded soulfull scooterists who could get together with their scoots at w/enders and do a bit of riding

and maybe form a club with a suitable logo , any ideas

Sounds like a plan to me Barney you can be No 1 we will have to form a commitee

I'll be secretary if I can have a special outfit to wear Our first meeting can be at the King Lud in August. Or maybe we can have our own tent at Hipshaker...

I'll be secretary if I can have a special outfit to wear Our first meeting can be at the King Lud in August. Or maybe we can have our own tent at Hipshaker...

Oh no not the bloody mods again

IOW should be called soulfull vanning

IOW should be called soulfull vanning

Oh My God, Scooterboyworld comes to Soul source !

Give it a rest will yah! Nik, tell Him

Paul

The go faster bits didnt stop a 70 year old woman in a ford escort telling you to "Learn to drive young??? man" at the IOW did it

Ello Steve!! Now that was a good day, that lady was your mum!

F.B, never said any thing about a forum?

I am referring to a Scooter Club with real people and real scooters, not Cyber men!!

Oh and as far as font size, you know what they say.... The bigger the font the smaller the wanger and mine is like a baby carrot!

Barney SSSC great idea mate!!

Mark....... Kin brilliant lol lol

"IOW should be called soulfull vanning"

Pete Salford Knights!! Me and Derek are taking the scooters to Middleton as soon as my new one is done in June, you up for it?

Pete Salford Knights!! Me and Derek are taking the scooters to Middleton as soon as my new one is done in June, you up for it?

What and "fly " home in the morning , I'll think about it ......

Oh My God, Scooterboyworld comes to Soul source !

Give it a rest will yah! Nik, tell Him

Paul

We,re here gotta get Dread on here Nik

bloody chrome polishers

Here's mine...

Rarely ridden to an event as the helmet would ruin my hair (lame excuse as if you know me I don't have much hair to ruin).

And in case Munchkin reads this...I know it's a Vespa!

But...I do now own a GP Manx Replica and did own an Li150 (S1), Li 150 (S2) and Li150 (S3) in addition to the SX225 that I destroyed on the way to and from the Euro rally to Cork back in 1998 (I think).

Scooters at Wigan....heres a few pics and my AF250 and TS1 225.Northern soul along with scooters never died out throughout the seventies in the north (pre Quad).

superfly.bmp

my af and me.bmp

Edited November 15, 201113 yr by wiggyflat

Sounds like a plan to me Barney you can be No 1 we will have to form a commitee

I have scooters myself but I dont remember people turning up at nighters on them though. but I remember a soul night in Matlock in the early 80s and a bunch of Mods turned up because they thought thats what mods do they were all dressed like Suggs ,macs,pork pie hats the full kit and danced like him too but then again it was Matlock "Hey gimme six "

FB are you SBW Nik ? I am Mr M

I think you are describing Mickey Pierce mods

Here's some shields made by the Okeh scooter Club from Blackpool in 73.I wonder what sort of music they liked!!

Scooters at Wigan....heres a few pics and my AF250 and TS1 225.Northern soul along with scooters never died out throughout the seventies in the north (pre Quad).

some great pics remember a few of these back in the day...

notice the Hoewich lads to parked in the corner on wigan capark.... Laney etc just cant remember other lads names didnt one go out with carol mccarthy....

And if you like old scooters and northern sounds here's something I prepared earlier

Soulies with scooters.

Here's mine...............

Toooooo many hobbies

ATB

Doc

Very nice collection of fine looking scooters there, whats the spec of the non lambretta engined machine ?

Very nice collection of fine looking scooters there, whats the spec of the non lambretta engined machine ?

Many thanks

The Joker is a YZ250

Doc

very nice chris!!

Nice choice of motor there its 2stroke & should be fairly rapid through the gears being a moto x motor very nice indeed

some nice scooters there i must agree,i ride gp2oo's myself a custom 1 called "italian whine" (won a few trophies that) currently building another in gloss black to be named "backdrops and teardrops" which obviousley will have a northen theme,good a idea having a soul source scooter club,as for scoots going to wigan(i live there) i only went 3times due to my age but dont recall ever seeing any, even when the bolton road runners came en mass to a soul nite at sinclairs nite club in wigan they used public transport,through the 80s and 90s hardley ever saw any scoots at allnighters(1 outside keele once) i think its a romantic halcyon idea but not practical thats why it never was a "normal" scenario.i for one wouldnt / couldnt be able to relax for the thaught that my pride and joy had been damaged or my only mode of getting home had been stolen. thats why i never rode one to an allnighter since i got into both scenes in 81

Dr Pickles. that thing looks ANGRY !!

I've had a few Scoots. first one in 79 (mod revival thing). it was a TV200 series 3, i paid the princely sum of £40 for it, paid the guy in 2 installments.... i got it home, checked her over and made sure everything worked. A mate promptly turned up and asked for a spin, i obliged and never saw him or the Lammy for 3 days!! He decided to go to Skegness

I kept it a while, then swapped it for a Music centre (honestly) , the guy who got it off me is still Riding Scooters in Hull.

I dabbled a bit until about 84, the last rally i went to was Yarmouth, Edwin Starr was on i seem to remember.

A good mate from Grantham went to Wigan Casino in 81 on his Vespa 90 (?) with a pillion, thankfully it wasnt me. If you see a red cut down named 'in the red' out and about, that will be Biz, the very same lad who did the trip mentioned above!

I was 'Scoot-less' for a few years after those days, then in 96 i got myself a Vespa T5, did a couple of Rallies/meets/ride outs, sold it to buy a large sports bike, promptly sold that and got a Vespa Cosa 200, that was a pile of dung, then just recently i;ve got myself a P200E..........

some lovely machines posted, Scooters and the Northen scene go hand in hand as far as im concerned.

A huge respect to the scooter riders of the sixties, like my Dad recently (RIP). Rode scooters and loved soul music. Original 100%.

Then came the re charting of Green Onion's and some miss scripted film based on the south coast bank holiday outings. Wigan Oldies nites during 1979 witnessed a huge increase in the scooter uprising that really fecked off the regular true soul boys and girls. Skinheads dressed as mods, 16 loop airware's common place, poor army surplus parkas and every 20 min's over the mic............there's a scooter being nicked. This uprising got me smacked once, by deluded skinheads, outside Leeds Central thinking soulboys dancing to black music were mods. We were chased, abused and locked in for our own saftey at the The Central with Tony Coleby and many others good soul folks.

Even went to Bradford crown court for fighting our local Yorkshire Braves Scooter boys, in the Yorkshireman pub in Skipton. Soulboys we were, mods they were not. Bought gear off us and then grassed us up. See my post about these non soulies in the Cats Whisker thread.

Thanks.

Edited November 17, 201113 yr by Nick Harrison

One of the reasons I stopped going to Wigan was the advent of the mod revival post Quadrophenia...thing.

I hated the fact the new interlopers on to my scene were asking for out played tunes & talking like they had just invented it.

I remember catching the train from Manchester to Wigan with young lads in tonic suits and thinking how lame they looked. talking about fighting the Wigan punks & generally boring the arse of me

with retro shit. ( the irony is not lost on me)

It was only 9 years before I had worn the same and revival, was a dirty word to me. I would look at the teddy boys in our local pub, old blokes in their late 20's early 30's and think to myself..." my

god how sad."

And here was my scene going down the same route.

Today I have a different view in as much as I value the contribution some of these people made to the rare soul scene, in many respects they were the people who kept it alive and fresh .

whilst I was of on a sabbatical from the soul scene for a couple of decades.

As for scooters up to 79 I had never seen one at Wigan or anywhere else on the NS scene.

I recall a young lad from Stoke who nicked his dads moped he ditched it partway to Wigan and ran the rest of the way ..........................................!!!!!

I went to an Wigan a few times, on the back of a scooter, it was on my mates, Russ from Warrington's Phase 2 (RIP Russ).

I was just into soul those days, but went on it for fun as we just got the train every week usually.

Got to say I went the the all-nighters every week & it wasn't a wash with scooters, not until that whole second phase kicked off, which was really at end days of Wigan, you'd just see the odd few parked up outside down a bit from the cinema, remember chatting with some lads from Stockport Mod Squad once, also some lads From a Birkenhead Club, one called Robbie, who were all very friendly with the Warrington SC.

Also went to Scarborough in 79 too, tons of trouble there, his scooter was a cut down racer & had a Delorto carb, think it was an LI 150, not the most comfortable on the back, but it was super rapid.

A lot of the lads who were into scooters were into soul anyway, but loads were just into fashion & football (& rugby league) violence in those days in Warrington, that's how it was as strange as it sounds.

Aid.

Bugger, missed all the posts aimed at my previous login, FB, so a bit of a belated catch up here.

Mark... lets try and keep Dread, Joe and Slacker away from here please.. You know no one will be able to read Dreads posts, Joe will offend everyone, and Slack will try and flog some pinstriping....