THE WISDOM OF YOUTH
The demise of scooters as a hobby has been forecast for at least 20 years, but Jay sees things differently. “The scooter scene is the best thing I’ve ever got myself involved in. From going for a Sunday run with a few mates or travelling down to the Isle of Wight, nothing can beat the feeling of being with a group of guys who all have the same interest and are out for a good time. I love the excitement the scooter scene brings, you never know what’s going to happen when riding an old two-stroke.
“I think the scootering scene is looking promising for young riders like myself. I’ve started to see younger folk at events, which is good. I’ve often said ‘You’ll never understand it until you try it’ and encourage people to come along and experience it. Nothing beats the feeling of packing your bags and heading off for the weekend.
“When it comes to the future of two-strokes I believe in living each day as it comes. I don’t think it’ll happen for some time yet so I’m not too concerned. To me a scooter is a two-stroke Vespa or Lambretta, that’s it, but I do think people get hung up on who can call themselves a scooterist. To me it’s just an individual who jumps on a scooter to enjoy themselves. Whether that’s a trip to the shops or a national rally it doesn’t matter. For me the most important part of the scene is the people. I met my best mate through scooters but it’s not just about local guys. I know a lot of people from all over the UK. It’s great when you get recognised and can just drop into a conversation about scooters. After all that’s what we all love, isn’t it?”