REPORT: Isle of Wight Rally
It’s the world’s largest scooter gathering but did this year’s IoW rally also provide a glimpse of scootering’s future? If you’ve never been to the IoW Rally it really is a must. If you stopped attending because it became ‘too big’ you may be surprised at
Seven pages of news and photos from the jewel in the scootering calendar’s crown.
When I think of the IoW 2017, it won’t just be the stunning weather that I’ll recall, because this was the year that ‘other’ scooters showed up in numbers. As a barometer of the British scooter scene there’s nothing better than the IoW Rally. It was unwelcome in the 1980s, barely survived the lean years of the 1990s but is now an established part of the island’s economy. It’s also the occasion where the most ardent of scooterists can be found mixing with those less experienced or obsessive. Add in members of the public drawn to the spectacle and the result’s a truly unique atmosphere.
I’m not suggesting for one moment that the established classics were close to being in the minority, but it seems there are a lot of riders out there whose tastes extend beyond the usual suspects. Of particular note were the number of other marques at the rally, and I’m not referring to mainstream autos such as the GTS or Scomadi.
Unbelievably the Dragster generation are now entering middle age and presumably seeking the same nostalgia kick as 1980s scooterboys and it’s fair to say I saw more Dragsters at the IoW than I’ve seen anywhere for a long time. What attracted my attention however were the number of Djangos, Modenas, Milanos and other kindred machines that had made the journey. Perhaps it was the weather that produced such a relaxed atmosphere but for once classics, customs, autos and Mod themed machines rubbed shoulders without any ill will.
For decades scootering’s been dominated by two marques. Now it seems that Scomadi’s runaway success combined with the end of two-stroke production has opened people’s eyes to other possibilities. We constantly debate how to attract newcomers; perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised if they bring their own ideas.
If you’ve never been to the IoW Rally it really is a must. If you stopped attending because it became ‘too big’ you may be surprised at just how much has changed. It’s a cliché but there really is something for everyone on the IoW. Just bring an open mind; you may see the future unfolding before your eyes. Words & Photgraphs: Stan Additional contributions: Alan Moxon-Waddell