SCOOTER DETAILS
Owner’s name: Sacha Freeman Job: HVAC engineer. Scooter club & town: Oxford Roadrunners. How and when did you first become interested in scooters: My stepdad Ray had a series 2 since 1962 and it was dumped in the garage. It always interested me, that and his 60s stories. When I was 14 I was in Wallingford one Saturday and saw the mass of Horny Rhinos SCC riding through. That was it, I was hooked! What was your first scooter: Vespa 50 Special. What is your favourite scooter model: Lambretta GP and most 1950s Vespas. What is your favourite style of custom scooter: Street racer but less is more. 60s style street racers and rusterations. First rally or event: ORRSC custom show at Rivers night club about ’86. Favourite and worst rally/event: Best was Euro Lambretta ’97. Rode to Milan via south of France on pretty much a standard TV175 motor. Funniest experience with a scooter: Used to share a garage with my partner in crime Nik the boy. One day he was showing someone his PK grasstracker so filled it up with a small amount of fuel that was in a jerry can and tried to start it, bumping it etc. then stripped the carb and realised he filled it up with my piss. It was easier than going indoors to use the toilet. What do you like about rallies/events: The ride there. The rallies themselves are pretty much thee same old. The people you go with make it. What do you dislike about rallies/events: Fancy dress brigade is annoying nowadays.
Favourite Scootering feature: I’ve always been a mechanical engineer so anything to do with that. Features on interesting machines too. Favourite custom/featured scooter of all time: 1) Norrie Kerr’s LC1 Vespa smallframe. 2) RS250 Lambretta by Ralph Saxelby. I remember reading the spec when it was first featured in ’93 and was amazed by it. If you had to recommend one scooter part or item ofo riding kit what would it be: I will recommend two, the tubeless rim and the Cyclone five-speed box.
Engine kit: Standard Jet 200. Crank: GP with Varitronic ignition. Carb: 20mm original. Exhaust: AF Clubman. Clutch: Four-plate with uprated springs. Gearbox: Standard Jet/sx Top speed: Will sit at a genuine 60mph. Lay down and you will hit 68mph. It pulls top gear from 30mph very well, it’s almost like you couldd chuck the rest away. The Varitronic kit helps. Is it reliable: Yes. So I should leave it alone. Is there any engraving: Do scratches count? In hindsight, anything you would have done differently: Try harder to have got it cheaper. Your favourite dealer: For Lambretta Ralph Saxelby and Readspeed. Is there anyone you wish to thank: My lovely Emma for being cool when I told her I’ve just bought it when we had a four month old baby. At the end of the day it’s for him anyway. Paul Reid for putting me on to this, cheers mate. Peter Scott for a bit of history on it.