Quadrophenia LI150 fetches £36,000

ImageThe film Quadrophenia was a life changing movie for me, and many others. I can’t believe many people reading this blog would not have seen it, so I won’t bang on about it.

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One of the iconic scooters in the film was Jimmy’s LI150 Lambretta… customised in full mod style (the other of course, being the Ace Face’s Vespa GS). 

After filming finished, the ‘Jimmy Bike’ was sold to scooter dealers Rafferty Newman and put on display in the window of their shop in Portsmouth. It was later sold and used on the road, before being left to rot in the garden of a quiet suburb. In 1995, it was rescued and restored to it’s original glory. And, although it’s not my cup of tea, it epitomises many people’s idea of the classic mod Lambretta.

So much so, it has become a pop cultural icon in it’s own right. And, as the headline revealed, it sold recently at auction, at Bonhams for an eye-watering £36k.

You really wont believe this.

Look what turned up at EuroLambretta in Avignon. I’ve seen it all now.

I’m not going to comment much on this, and the guys at Lambretta Club de France are going to post a full picture set soon… so just sit back, check out these few images and have your mind blown.970937_464268956992548_540892458_n936998_464921640260613_573224549_n601927_464923653593745_2000583273_n954730_464964120256365_1485118549_n

I think the technical term is Paramotor. Powered paragliding (PPG). Powered by an open framed Lambretta. My gob is smacked. My ghast is flabbered. Amazing. I want a go… I think!

EuroLambretta 2013 – England Win on turnout!

3LionsSeries3Figures in from Avignon…
These are the registered attendees at EuroLambretta 2013
ENGLAND…339
FRANCE …140
ITALY …95
SPAIN …74
GERMANY…48
BELGIUM…47
AUSTRIA… 37
NETHERLANDS …28
SCOTLAND …17
POLAND …17
PORTUGAL …15
USA…11
IRELAND …8
AUSTRALIA …8
SWEDEN …7
SWITZERLAND …28
NORTHERN IRELAND/ULSTER …6
SOUTH AFRICA …1

Total from UK; (England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland): 360!
Incidentally, I bet there are some Welsh boys there. Let me know!

Total from the British Isles… as above, plus Ireland… 368!

Good turnout.

Serious well done for anyone that rode there. And bear in mind some countries are smaller than others, and some are further away… big respect for the Yanks and the Aussies, and Chris from South Africa.






EuroLambretta 2014 – Davos, Switzerland

EuroLambretta 2014 FlyerIf you couldn’t make it to EuroLambretta 2013, which is about to kick off any minute now, or youron your way / already there and you are already thinking about next years, it’s in Davos, Switzerland. Now the only two things I know about Davos, are 1) They hold financial summits for the G8 countries there, and 2) It sounds a bit like Davros… leader of the Daleks. So I won’t be much help. But maybe this Wikipedia article will.

The dates are 27th– 29th June, and more details will be forthcoming, once the current Euro is over, from the Lambretta Club Swiss.

It’s actually only 2 miles further than Avignon, according to a quick bit of ‘research’ on Google Maps, but I have heard that Switzerland is quite “hilly”.
I expect this rally will run like clockwork.

Look out Avignon, here come the Banshees…

431849_623167377696188_1441332082_n 602312_596000517085212_1441114386_n 942987_532267426809546_54462707_n 972346_532269443476011_1324697292_n ULC SXThe Banshees ScootersThe boys from the Ulster Lambretta Club (otherwise known as the Banshees) are well on there way to Avignon. Have a great trip fella’s…

I’m posting this, because when I finally decided I needed to get a scooter again, I nearly bought a V#spa from Dave O’Hare from The ULC. If I had, this blog would probably never have existed, but it does, because I bought a Series 2 Lammie instead. Dave send me some bits and bobs from the 4 nations rally anyway…  including a ULC keyring, what a gent. One day, I will get to buy him a pint!

Euro Lambretta 2013 – Avignon

EuroLambretta 2013 AvignonI should have posted more about this ages ago… but as I’m not going, (I’ve never done a “Euro”. One day, one day.), I’m  just too envious of all you Lambrettisti who are making their final preparations, or are even on their way.

If anyone wants me to post any pictures, tales of the journey or the event itself, I’ll be more than happy to.

Euro Lambretta Avignon CampsiteLooks like the weather is going to be good too. This picture was taken from the official campsite, yesterday.

Keep an eye on the Facebook page; here.

Good luck guys (and girls), have fun, ride safe.

Drummer Lee Rigby – Ride of Respect

Drummer Lee RigbyLee Rigby Army Flag Lee Rigby Tribute FlowersWell done all scooterists, bikers and others who turned out to honour the memory of Drummer Lee Rigby, horrifically and brutally murdered on the streets of our capital city. An emotional day for many, marked with due respect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Dskw2PK1LkHelp for Heroes – Support for our Wounded Want to do something positive? Visit Help for Heroes.

Help for Heroes Statement:

United in support.
There has been an extraordinary public reaction to the brutal murder of Drummer Lee Rigby last week. Hundreds of thousands of people, revolted by this dreadful crime carried out in full view of other innocents, have united to show that they will not be intimidated.

For many, that desire to show support has been focused on doing good to counter the bad. H4H was created in 2007 out of a simple desire to ‘just do something’. We were distressed at seeing so many young men and women with dreadful injuries and wanted to help. Over the last five and a half years that simple desire to ‘do our bit’ has enabled thousands to benefit and has proven that we are not helpless; we can and have done something very good indeed.

Lambrettista. Now on WordPress.

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With the sad demise of Posterous, the ‘platform’ which got me started on blogging in the first place, I had to look round for alternatives. WordPress seems the way to go… so here I am. All the old content from the Posterous site should import later… and things might look a little different around here… but rest assured it will still be dedicated to “the world’s finest motor scooter” The Lambretta.

In the meantime, until the end of the month, you can still check out the old Lambrettista here: http://lambrettista.posterous.com/

Twitter? Here’s some scooter people you may want to follow

Instead of a regular #FF (Follow Friday – where you post links of other Twitterers you may think of interest to others), I thought I’d complile the ultimate scooter related list. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, UK, US, Europe, Worldwide, Shops, Clubs, Blogs, Forums and Individual Scooterists; I should probably sort it into some categories, but that’s for another day.

If you’re not on it, you probably don’t follow me on Twitter (@CrocodileJock – if you want to follow me I’ll add you to the list). If you don’t want to be on list, let me know, I’ll take you off. 

@ScootSafely, @NScutt, @bostonlambretta, @Stellin0, @BMGscooters, @littlerascal356, @silviabes, @PhxScooterClub, @RetroScooterG, @anjieto, @cf31bloobird, @TgSoul82, @Lambretta_Store, @ScooterGeek, @TurdyBoyScooter, @LondonMod, @JacquesCockin, @LambrettaImages, @lambretta_man @PXVespaRider, @scooter italia, @scooterandstyle, @vespabretta, @Vespa_King, @oilyblog, @meekmeister, @lambrettagp205, @luvmylambretta, @joker_79, @indoscootermagz, @DaveSexton7, @lambretta_sx200, @PhilwArcher, @JahSeagrove, @lambrettaparts, @scooture, @ScooterNews, @LambrettaSuits, @lionssc, @ZenosScooters, @love2sc00t, @ScooterBritain, @viajandoenvespa, @Scooter_TShirts, @Scooter125net, @LambrettaClubID, @Mod_Generation, @VespaScooter1, @petethemod66, @MonkeyPicks, @vespasurrey, @LambrettaColin, @SportiqueScoots, @scooternation, @KCScooterRiders, @Vespablog, @vespaexperiment, @nohoscooters, @ celesteisella, @rapidoscooters, @vespagal746, @scooter_boi, @fanaticscooters, @vespa online, @ StoneheadsSC, @SportiqueDenver, @ModWorldGallery, @VespaDetroit, @Marishka, @vespalexington, @SurreyScooterSv, @Novox_e_scooter, @VespaVita, @Bumpstart, @scootrev, @cooperdmev, @daveVespa, @southbayscoots, @LaVidaVespa, @a1zeno, @scootrva, @vespa_org_uk, @NEScooterClub, @scooterclubbog, @VespaofLA, @zenx13, @barnsleysime, @wadotone, @MalossiUSA, @th_capn, @uvscooters, @GVVR, @Michael_Stirra, @VespaClubBern, @scootarded, @Mod_Shack, @scooterjenn, @vescooterspares, @heru_hw, @lambretta60, @2StrokeSmoke, @lambrettaspain, @LamMag, @ScooterLounge, @ScooterWrecker, @scooterchrome, @scootnashville, @SpiParts, @scootnz, @scooterpinups, @Doug_Turner, @RVDMScootPDX, @dtc54, @joneoz, @GazParry66, @ukscooterclub, @ThePilgrimsSC, @RBSCScooterClub, @TitansScooterC, @ScooterCrowd, @topmod63, @scootsuitsboots, @scootercenter, @LincolnMOD, @Retrovespa, @ClassicScoots, @SeattleVCOS, @dougmcp, @ThatVespaGuy, @MRTScooters, @bluerichard67, @Dj_IMOD, @The_Robster_, @SCOOTERATTITUDE, @ scooterclasico, @VespaLand, @Ciaoparis, @ZootScoot, @brayscooters, @innocenti42, @ScooterMercato, @LambrettaRev, @eastsidescooter, @BluevsGreyRally, @vespaloversclub, @redstickscoot, @sipscootershop, @Amerivespa, @vespabk, @scootcats, @ScooterForumUK, @ScootPhilly, @scoottheroute, @ScooterCenter, @Scootr_magazine, @SShipstone, @Salford_Knights, @MalcolmLong, @scootermod, @lollkieran, @scooter_andy, @jgrightnow, @Modtheaceface, @Paella_Pete, @LambrettaClubUS, @mapcy, @TheRealDealSC, @trojan_sc, @trojan_sc, @BhamScooterSynd, @ScootervilleMN, @POCscooters, @ScootClubUSA, @scooterlandusa, @iamascooterist, @Scooterspot, @Scooter_Maniac, @fatcatscooter, @Scootabaker, @stuartbumford, @scootertech, @LambrettaClubCh, @LambrettaStore, @casalambrettauk, @Lambrettaman, @scootrally, @lambretta, @ScooterDiva, @ScooterAlert, @scoot3r, @ScooterCult, @nyscooterclub, @scooterguy09, @scootinoldskool, @deadbunnysc, @ScooterGrooveUK, @PhillyScooters, @scrmovie, @ScooterLust, @jet200lambretta, @metromoto, @JoDaines, @VivoScooters, @Corazzo, @SittKnightsSC, @ChiDistrict_SC, @scootmagapril, @VespaUSA, @vespafans, @SCOOTERIASP, @nycscootering, @Chicago_SC, @mainroller, @ScootRS, @ScooterworksUSA, @old_scoot, @thescooterspace, @scooterism, @davesx200, @rockersvsmods, @stacie_stewart, @lambrettaowners, @DaveModculture, @CrocodileJock, @ScooterLife150

Lambretta model C bits on eBay

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I don’t usually post parts I’ve found on eBay up here, but these are sufficiently rare… well… you don’t see Model C bits coming up all that often do you? A couple wheel rims, a hub and a shock, If you’ve got a “C” it’s probably worth snapping them up, even if you don’t need them right now. Fella’s also flogging a couple of LD carbs. Just a bit of a heads up! Link, or search for Morris5901 on eBay.