400 and not out!
As Scootering magazine celebrates its 400th edition we take a nostalgic look back to the very first issue to see how much things have changed
As Scootering magazine celebrates its 400th edition, we take a nostalgic look back to the very first issue to see how much things have changed.
In the early months of 1985 rumours began circulating within the scootering ranks that a new magazine was on the horizon. At the time there were other alternatives in the shape of Scootermania and The British Scooterist Scene, but they were different. Only available from certain outlets such as scooter-related businesses or on rallies, it made getting hold of a copy slightly awkward. The supposedly new magazine would be different as it was going to be sold nationally through newsagents and retail outlets. This meant two things: one was that it would be far easier to obtain a copy, and the other was that it signalled progress of the scene.
By now scooter rallies were reaching their peak and plenty of entrepreneurs were making money from it all, so perhaps that had already happened. News of the impending first edition was welcomed by both scooterists and dealers alike. Now there was a national platform from which to advertise from or read about what was happening on a regular basis. No one ever doubted the decision and this was exactly what was needed at the time. From now on if you wanted to read what was happening in the world of scootering all you had to do was simply go to your local newsagents and pick up a copy, or perhaps even easier… have it delivered to your door.
When it came to celebrating this important milestone in the magazine's history we thought we would do it in a different way for a change. Rather than just highlight some of the events that have happened over the last 34 years, instead we decided to go right back to the first edition, going through what was reported and exactly how the scooter scene was at that time. To help, some of the interesting pages and topics have been laid out with actual images that were taken that year, a sort of illustrated history showing just how much things have changed. Apart from one thing... the passion we all have for scooters, which has always been the same.
1) The inside of the front cover was a huge advert for DISC 85 held at Donington Park. The weekend’s events would see various custom shows as well as bands performing. It was topped off with scooter racing and showed just how diversified a rally could be when held in the right location.
2) Pages four and five were full of news, but if anything were rather blandly laid out. Amongst other things such as rally dates and club news, a report that Allspeed were expanding their premises. Remember them, the importer of the Spanish Serveta, which by this time was suffering from poor build qu uality. Hardly s urprising as one w week the factory e mployees would be b building sewing m machines, followed b by scooters the week a after, allegedly.
3) The Lambretta Club Great Britain announced it was holding its first major custom show at Telford that summer. Making its debut at that show was none other than ‘Sign of the Snake’, the stunning Lambretta built by Mick Howard. It picked up awards for Best Lambretta and punters’ choice becoming one of the hottest custom scooters on the circuit that year.
4 4) According to th he article, the fi first scooter to be fe eatured was one b belonging to a c chap called B Brendan McNallyy. I I’m m pretty sure we all kno know him better as legendary painter Maca of DTC fame. Thee Lambretta in question was his Rosa Bianca GP, which has been one of the most iconic and copied race paint schemes of the last 35 years. At the time Maca was more interested in racing it than anything else, though.
5) Adverts were plentiful, even though it was the first edition. Do you remember this: ‘Scootering World’, a magazine that survived for just one copy? Spread across the front cover was one of the all-time greats, ‘Italian Stallion’. Back issues were being offered here for just £1.50 and were a collector’s item, according to the print. They weren’t wrong, with copies selling for over 10 times that amount in the early days.
6) It seemed that many of the paint shops around back then were keen to be seen in the magazine. After all, this was the height of the custom paint revolution that was sweeping the scooter nation at the time. One such advertiser was ‘Sweet dreams, whose paint artist was none other than Paul Karslake, son of Lambretta legend Mike. Having painted ‘dazzle’, the top custom scooter at the time, they were keen to cash in on the fact, even though the advert looked like it had been cobbled together in a few seconds with a stencil set.
7) Page 32 would belong to the first custom Vespa ever featured – ‘The sweetest feeling’. Popular on the show circuit that year, it was painted by Maca, who proved that his allegiance lay with Vespa as well as the Lambretta.
8) The first rally report was from Morecombe, where two things could always be guaranteed – damp, wet weather and run-down old slot machine arcades. Never the less it had some great venues and drinking establishments, and was one of the favourites on the rally calendar throughout the 1980s.
9) Undoubtedly the top custom chopper at the time was ‘exile’ built by Russell Mitchell. Even so, there were plenty of other good examples providing strong competition. Though the Lambretta was by the far easiest to convert, there were plenty who proved you could do the same with the Vespa. Russell later moved to America where he runs the successful company Exile Cycles.
10) Taking up residence on the back page were Midland Scooter Centre run by Dave Webster and Norrie Kerr. Staying loyal to the magazine, MSC have remained there ever since. The premises at the time of the advert was based at 13 Station Road, but they moved soon after to 61/67, shown in the pictures. Dominating the scooter racing championships at the time, their on-track success was mirrored in the shop. Norrie left at the end of the 1980s and today owns VE UK.