SUPERTUNE: RELOADED
Supertune is in new hands again. Stan reports on what’splanned for one of British scootering’siconic brands…
From its origins as a scooter shop in Croydon during the late 1960s, Supertune has long held a reputation for innovation and quality. Although it’s primarily associated with legendary racer Ron Moss, the brand changed ownership in 2010, when it passed into the hands of Scootering’s very own Stu Owen. Following his race injury, Stu was unable to continue developing the brand so last summer the company was finally sold to Lambretta enthusiast Gary Seale.
New hands, same mission
“I’ve always admired Supertune” said Gary. “Under both Ron and Stu’s ownership its reputation has been second to none.” Although he’s earned his living in precision engineering, Gary’s love of the Lambretta dates to his childhood. “My dad was an enthusiastic Lambretta owner,” he laughed, “Among my earliest memories is being taken to school on a GP200. Unfortunately dad wasn’t a particularly good mechanic. Used scooters were cheap back then and when one broke down he simply bought another, stripping the old one for spares which he sold on. The world’s full of stories about hidden Lambrettas but I know that our old garage has quite a few frames under its floor. The current owner’s up for an excavation but his wife’s vetoed it!”
Among the parade of scooters that passed through the Seale household was a Series 2 Li that Gary claimed as his own. “I built it up with my dad and after my first rally took a hacksaw to the frame.