MAN & MACHINE
Name: Shaun Freestone Scooter club & town: Norwich Broadsmen. How and when did you first become interested in scooters: I was a Mod in the 8os when I was a kid and always wanted a scooter but was too young, didn’t actually get one until I was about 19 when a mate had one and got me interested again. What was your first scooter: Vespa PX125 cutdown. What is your favourite style of custom scooter: Full blown Vespa with engraving etc. have always loved Ray Ward’s Lisa Stansfield Vespa. First rally or event: Great Yarmouth ’91. How did you get there: Vespa PX125, clutch cable broke as I pulled into Yarmouth and didn’t have any tools so had to crunch the gears in to get home.
Name of scooter & reason: Detroit Soul Scooter model: PX200. Date purchased & cost: I purchased it in 2013, traded a PX200 and some cash. Inspiration for project: I always wanted a custom scooter and love a bit of Motown. I saw this for sale looking a bit sorry for itself but I knew it would be a good start so bought it. Time to build & by who: It was originally built by Simon Blackthorn in 2006 then went through a few owners. I bought it in 2013 looking a bit run down and unloved, stripped it down and had a lot of the main paintwork redone. I changed the mural on the spare wheel side, added the record sleeves and records and fitted a new mudguard with the Stevie Wonder mural. I rebuilt the engine, and added engraving via Adi Clarke and Quality Chrome. Engine barrel and piston: Malossi 210. Case: Standard case, ported and matched to Malossi by my mate ‘Rushy’. Flywheel: Standard but painted as a record. Exhaust: 1980s pitone. Clutch: BGM Superstrong. Gearbox: T5 Fourth. Carb: Standard 24/24. Are there any other unique details: Twisted forks and stand, fork link ground and a plate welded in for engraving, 80s anti-dive kit, front headlight guard, tombstone back light, flywheel painted to look like a record. Paintwork & murals done by: Matty Evans originally (front mural glovebox and engine panel) and Daz at Air-FX when it was all redone. What was the hardest part of the project: Sourcing a new old stock Pitone exhaust and anti-dive kit. Both took nearly a year to find. Is there anything still to add to the scoot: I’m planning to change the mural on the front and add an engraved spare wheel cover. Is there anyone you wish to thank: Daz at Air-FX, Adi Clarke, Rushy for doing the matching for the Malossi, and the wife for letting me spend the time and money on it.