Scooter World – Newark
It’s a format like no other – part custom show, part auto-jumble and part sportsman’s dinner. For five years Scooter World has provided a break from the winter blues and 2017 was no exception...
Show report from the event organised by Classic Scooterist Magazine.
Held just off the A1 at Newark Showground, Scooter World is part of the Carole Nash Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic. It’s an opportunity to catch up with friends, covet some beautiful machinery and pick up the odd bargain or two. Occupying two undercover (and heated!) halls on the far side of the field, Scooter World is far more than a custom show, it’s more a themed weekend of scooter-related activities. Whether you fancy trying your hand at speed stripping a Vespa or Lambretta engine, want to see a classic fired up or meet some of scootering’s most iconic names, Newark offers it all.
This year’s event opened with the custom show, a personal highlight being an incredible water-cooled Series 2 that generates 39.5bhp at, wait for it, 10,580rpm! With understated paint this really was a street sleeper. Among the array of machines entered into the custom show were some beautifully patinated examples and inspired custom schemes. Just when it seems there’s nothing new, along comes a Lambretta painted in The London Midland and Scottish Railway Company’s colours!
When the custom show results were announced on Sunday, Dave Thomas’s ever-popular 1965 Vespa Mona collected two trophies – Best Vespa and Best in Show. I didn’t envy the judges’ task as there was barely anything to separate the Mona and Martin Robinson’s stunning 1948 Lambretta Model A racer which took the award for best Lambretta.
Throughout the weekend there were several presentations covering all aspects of British scootering. These ranged from sidecar racing to building Sting’s ‘GS’ for Quadrophenia. If that mix wasn’t eclectic enough, Mau of Classic Scooterist magazine acted as master of ceremonies for a charity auction of memorabilia and riding equipment with most bidders walking away with genuine bargains. The beneficiaries of this year’s show were the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance and RNLI.
Although it’s not necessary to attend both days, the highlight for many is the Hall of Fame charity event held on Saturday Evening. This is probably the best opportunity for anyone with an interest in scooters to meet and mix with the best known names in scootering. This year saw special tributes to both Chuck Swonnell and Stuart Day, together with the 100mph scooter awards and a charity auction of memorabilia. Sunday saw more of the same before everyone dispersed clutching trophies, long sought-after spares or simply inspiration for their winter projects.
Newark doesn’t follow the ‘rules’ of any other event in the scootering calendar; ‘unique’ is an often overused adjective but it describes this mid-winter warmer perfectly. Keep an eye on the date for 2018 and treat yourself to something completely different. Words & Photographs: Stan