Back when we had hair

My SX150 Here’s a picture of me on my Lambretta SX150, taken a few years back. Marty Bryce

Early adventures

My GP150 from around 1982-ish which I bored out to 175cc. It was turquoise blue and white until I painted it this colour on my mum’s lawn (as you do); you could see outlines from her bedroom all summer.

Scooter was bought from the old Dyrons shop in Leeds (can’t remember how much for). Rode it to school a few times; then one day trying to bump it off, the engine picked up and dragged me down the street, right into a brick wall (luckily I had my brother’s helmet on or I’d have been a goner). The helmet split and I had gravel in both knees and hands; I told Mum I fell off my pushbike as I was too young for the scooter; can still remember her dabbing pure iodine into my knee and me nearly kicking her across the kitchen.

When the 125cc law came in, I dropped the engine down to 125cc (Dad made me and supervised me doing it). After that I lost the interest, sold it for £90 and ended up buying an old Escort.

Mike Tomlinson

Memories from ‘71

My SX200 finished in Polychromatic Red and Ocean Blue. Photo taken at purchase in 1971 – wish I’d kept it. I was 16 and took a loan out to buy it as it was one of the best in Teesside. I passed my test first time and used to put a suitcase on the rear rack and head off to Scarborough with the girlfriend. I eventually bored it out to 225cc with a smooth profiled inlet and outlets; I also fitted an Ancillotti seat and exhaust on it along with a Dell’Orto 30mm carb.

Mal Heighton

Uncle Bob

Robert Allen, my uncle – a bit of a Face by all accounts! Picture is circa ’64 and shows him on his Lambretta TV175, which he later wiped out and ended up in a coma for a few weeks!

Stuart Marshall

Then and now

My wee brother Robin McKeen wearing my M51 Parka standing next to my Vespa Douglas 100cc; he actually still has hair! The picture is circa 1987 and was taken in my home town of Livingston, Scotland, where I was a member of The Arrows All Mod Club. I spray painted the scooter myself with spray cans.

I used the scooter to get back and forward to my first job, and my wife, Gwen, and I travelled far and wide on it over the years I had it.

Here’s a modern-day picture of us both on our Lambretta Li150

Special. Had it for about 25 years and intending a full nut and bolt restoration, but never got it done yet – runs great though. However, I will restore it when I get time during retirement. You can see I don’t have much hair left, so I guess I fit the criteria for this article. Darran McKeen