MAN & MACHINE
Name: Matthew Babbington Job: Network engineer. Scooter club: Northampton Vespa & Lambretta SC. First interest in scooters: As a young Mod getting lifts on the back of my neighbour’s Lambretta LI down our back alley. First scooter: Lambretta Series 2 TV175. Favourite scooter model: Gran Sport 150. What is your favourite style of custom scooter: Not
really into customs, but do like some of the vintage Vespa street style racers.
Funniest experience with a scooter: Unluckiest was when I took my VS5 GS150 to the Isle of Wight last year and as we were leaving to go on the main Sunday ride out my exhaust tail pipe decided to break away from its weld. So I was then designated cameraman on the back of my mate’s T5, while the GS got left behind.
Furthest you’ve ever ridden on a scooter: I.o.W Favourite Scootering Magazine feature: Man and Machine featured scoots
Name of scooter: ‘Baldet Deluxe’ Scooter model: Vespa Gran Sport VS4, but was originally a GS3 Augsburg from Austria. Date purchased & cost: April 2015 £4000 from Austria.
Time to build & by who: Thirteen months by Stephen Gregory at VMS Vintage Motor Scooters. Paint by Matt Sutton I-paint.
Any specialised parts: GS150 60mm longstroke. Nagy CNC head. Vespazio GS sports exhaust with a Rimini clover tail it’s loud! Trezzi Dante GS seat. Pinasco GS rear adjustable shock. 12v Pinasco.
Engine spec – crank: Kingwelle 60mm Longstroke. Carb: Polini CP23. Exhaust: Italian Vespazio GS Sport. Clutch: Pinasco Light 6T. Gearbox: Original, Primary Pinasco 65t
up-gearing. Porting work by: VMS. Describe engine performance, power delivery and
scooter handling: The scooter handles well. It has excellent torque and will do around 65-70mph. Paintwork: The talented Matt Sutton of I-paint. What was the hardest part of the project: The pilot jet being stuck solid in the new carb, which had to be machined out. Do you have any advice or tech tips for anyone
starting a project: If changing original engine spec especially to a Vespa classic do your research first. First, speak to the sellers and owners who already have it. And keep all the original parts you’ve taken off for another day or another chapter in its history.
Has the scooter won any show trophies: VMSC Extravaganza 2017: Best Vespa 1946-1970, Runner-up Vintage first time shown Guernsey 2017: Best of Show Tin Soldiers 2017: Best restored Vespa, Best Vintage Vespa. Anyone you wish to thank: Stephen Gregory owner of VMS Ilkeston for the long-stroke conversion. Matt Sutton I-paint. Andreas Nagy and Ralph Bollag for specialist Vespa parts. Gary Lining for some excellent leads.