Having a scoot
CB inspires another odyssey to pay respect to an obscure classic
When I showed your excellent article in the February 2017 edition on the radical Lambretta V-twin racer to a couple of my scootering mates in the local pub, little did I realise what an effect it would have. On May 27 last year, some of the lads – Mark ‘Sticky’ Stevens and nine friends – set out on eight scooters (all Lambrettas) for Milan to look at said race bike, this being the 70th anniversary of the founding of Lambretta.
They covered 1053 miles on their way out, via Luxemburg, Strasbourg, the Stelvio Pass and Venice, for a few days’ rest and recuperation at Adria on the Adriatic Coast. Then it was down to business with a trip to Milan to visit the Vittorio Tessera Museum and a view of their Holy Grail – the Lambretta racer.
Following this, they made their way to the old Lambretta factory, now derelict – and after some judicious tampering, managed to gain entry and take photos. The return journey to Zebrugge was 694 miles via Switzerland, Belgium and France. Total mileage: 1747 on the continent, plus mileage from Cumbria to the ports. Not bad for ageing scooterists and their mounts. There were only three or four breakdowns, all stator-platerelated. This year the plan is a trip to Norway and the Arctic Circle. ALASTAIR WILSON, WHASSETT, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA