MAN & MACHINE

Name: Dave Gibbs aka Ravey Davey Club: Armed Forces SC and Leicester Phoenix SC. Job: College lecturer. First Interest in scooters: Became a Mod in about ’78 while I was living near Market Harborough. First Scooter: Lambretta Starstream – it was my pride and joy at the time! Furthest ridden: Northern Ireland to thee IOW, then to Mersea and back to NI. Favourite style: These days I’m into street racers but Mod scoots will always have their attraction. Most useless part bought: Chrome wheels – always going rusty! Recommend one item: A decent jacket – it’s worth splashing (!) out for a decent one. What do you like about rallies & events:: Love meeting up with mates, the laughs, the drink and the music. What could be done to improve the scene: I like the scene as it is and don’t want it to change. I think publicity will attract more interest – look at how many TV adverts featuree scooters these days... Best memory: Travelling on the overnight ferry from Hamburg to Harwich for the Mersea Island Rally in ’96. Me (the only Brit) with 31 drunken Germans, it was hilarious (there and back).

Name of scooter: Bergamo 2 (named after the area of Italy the scoot was first registered in). Model: Lambretta DL200. Condition when bought: Bought as a complete wreck and rebuilt. Inspiration for project: Eleanor, the Ford Mustang in the film Gone in 60 Seconds. Time to build & who by: Built by Custom Lambretta, Milan taking over 500 hours. Engine: Casa SS200. Paint: Pepper grey and black, the same as the car. Specialist parts/accessories: Drop bars, Dellorto carb, Casa ignition, Stratos adjustable shocker, BGM front shocks, JL3 exhaust, front and rear Nissin hydraulic brakes, custom seat, rear light unit welded, vented side panels and long-range fuel tank. Cost: £6600. Biggest challenge: Taking a leap of faith – buying a scooter from Italy thatt I’d never seen and not knowing the blokes I was buying from. Thanks to: All at Custom Lambretta, everyone who gave me their support when my scooters were stolen and my long suffering wife and daughter.