OWNER DETAILS
Name: Gavin Chamberlain.
Job: Plant and buildings manager. Scooter club & town: Banbury Scooter club – Banbury.
First interest in scooters: As a young 14-year-old Mod, got my first scooter and quickly realised I was a terrible Mod.
First scooter: Vespa PK50S bought second-hand from Northwood when I was 16. I came off it 11 times in the first year of riding, but only once since then…
Favourite scooter model: Vespa Rally
200 or SS180.
Favourite style of custom scooter: I like classic originals and street racers, admire the work that goes into full-blown customs but they are not my cup of tea. Always loved the Armandos style of Vespa as well.
First ever rally: Gt Yarmouth 1984… wet and windy, tent got blown away on the first night and ended up getting a B&B for the second night (cost £3 for the night!).
How did you get there: On my PK50… took forever.
Any funny stories: First night out with Aylesbury Scooter Club as a young inexperienced 16-year-old. We were riding over to Dunstable for the RSG 3rd anniversary. Going through the bends at Marsworth reservoirs I didn’t see the bend and rode straight into the hedge. Had the nickname of Hedge Hopper for a while after that. Furthest you’ve ever ridden on a
scooter: Scotland a few times, Holland and a week touring Normandy, France.
What do you like about rallies: Getting out on my scooter and riding from one side of the country to the other, great to see everyone when there and then riding home. Favourite custom scooter of all time:
Vespasian. Your most recommended scooter-related
item: Having a bike ramp to save your back. Which insurer do you recommend:
Carole Nash, rider policy for all my scooters with breakdown and foreign cover. Which breakdown company do you
recommend: I use my insurance firm as it cuts out having the RAC/AA come and tell me it can’t be fixed, which I could’ve told them three hours before. What would make the scene better:
Needs more youth if it is to survive in its current form.
Favourite scooter dealer: I use Scooter Centre in Germany and Allstyle in the UK; both do excellent parts with speedy delivery.