Although people have been racing scooters in Great Britain for over 50 years there has, so far – been no books on the subject. Well, that’s about to change as former scooter racer, Paul Green is planning to get a ‘Scooter Racing Scrapbook’ self-published later this year.
We had a quick chat with Paul (pictured above) to see why he’s decided to write about the sport…
Last year was the 50th anniversary of scooter racing in the UK and it struck me that there is no book telling the story of this unique sport and its people. Yet in some way, the antics of scooter racers has touched the scootering lives of thousands. So I’m putting that right.
Been there and worn the t-shirt
Racing has been a big part of my life on and off over the last 35 years or so. I have marshalled, raced, spectated, organised, commentated and written about scooter racing over this time and it is from this experience and the contacts made that I would like to get the sport and its characters into print. Over the years I’ve got to know many of the legends of the sport, whether it’s racing them (following them), talking to them, laughing with them, occasionally arguing with them. But also there are hundreds who have drifted in and out of the sport and contributed to its story and its character. So I want to include some of those too.
Legends of the sport
A couple of years ago I was thinking that we have lost several legends of the sport in recent years, such as Dave Webster, the Franklands, James Campen and others. As time passes we will naturally lose more. Of course, there are also many others who have raced or been involved in racing in the 50 years that we have been circuit racing in the UK.
There are plenty of stories to tell, like the time when parachutists landed on the track during racing, the day scooters caught fire in the paddock, the sad days when we had crashes and life-changing injuries. The days when the grid was 10 riders wide, or the late-night antics of a race weekend. They are all stories that need telling and the best people to tell them are the ones who were there, or part of those stories from all the periods of racing
I’d like to bring the best pictures together into one place, but also bring the spectators snapshots and the paddock pictures of the people who have contributed to scooter racing over it’s history.
The book will include many of the circuits, the racers, the legends of the sport, the tuners, the teams, the organisers and marshalls, the mechanics and the race fans and of course we must not overlook the rivalries, but also the life long friendships.
The book will be a loose style of scrapbook type pictures, memorabilia, and of course the words of the people involved. There will be some famous pictures published in a book format for the first time, as well as some never seen before. I’ve already got images and videos (over time there will be an accompanying web site) that have not really been seen openly before.
Can you help?
Many SLUK readers will have experienced racing over the years, or benefitted from the developments to scooters that have come from racing activities and I’d love to hear from them. I’ve set up a Facebook Group to help collate together more pictures, and information. So if you’ve raced years ago, or last year – or just watched trackside, or want to tell about how you met your scooter racing hero for the first time I’d love to hear your story
The Scooter Racing Scrapbook Facebook group is online now and I’d really welcome anyone with any level of interest in racing. Or I can be contacted also on mail@paulmgreen.co.uk I’d love to see your pictures and hear your recollections. Everyone who contributes will get their name featured in this unique project.
Paul Green
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