BEEP BEEP BEEP, the sound of the alarm going off at 6am on a Sunday, not something I normally set for a Sunday morning but today would see me leap out of bed full of excitement.
I threw on some clothes, brushed my teeth and gave the beard a brush and that was me, about ready to head out the door. Normally it would be great to ride to an event, but when the event is a 100 miles away at Mike Phoenix’s in Denton and for pre-1957 Lambrettas then that would be a very long ride indeed. So with my Model B in the back of the car I set off from Hinckley and headed up to Mike’s where I was greeted with a very warm welcome, Mike and his staff had put on a lovely spread of fresh pastries and topped us up with tea and coffee.
The event, organised by Kev Walsh in collaboration with Mike Phoenix, Goofy’s Lambretta Preservation Society and Armandos, was to see participants travelling the 33 miles to Armando’s in Sheffield via the Snake Pass and over the Peak District.
Lined up outside Mike’s for the challenge were 3 model B’s, a model C, a model D125, a model D150, a model D150 racer, a trio of Ld’s, a series 2 sidecar outfit and not forgetting from the Mike Karslake museum the wonderfully restored Lambro 200 owned by Goofy. Not as many turned out as I had initially thought there would be, but who cares, the day was about making new friends and enjoying our scooters. There was an abundance of Lambrettas, Vespas, Scomadis and Runners all there to accompany us on the challenge.
Personally I’d been wishing for an event of this kind for a while now so I was really excited to have a laugh riding these old gals over the Peak District. Lets face it, with a stable of scooters and the fastest being a model B doesn’t make a practical scooter for a club ride out, the anticipation was amazing in the days leading up to it and for once I’d have some company.
I don’t think everyone set off from Mike’s and one of the model B’s turned around halfway up Snake Pass, maybe the rain put them off but it really wasn’t much. I was dressed fashionably for the occasion, trainers, shorts and a Hoodie and not forgetting an openface helmet.. probably not the wisest of moves to forget my riding gear.
Justin on his model D125 was happy enough keeping me company at the back of the pack and for the most part we followed Goofy in his Lambro which seemed at times like it was being driven by Ken Block. Both of our scooters performed extremely well considering the terrain, the D150 certainly had an advantage on us and the steep incline of Snake Pass was a real challenge. I was down to first gear in parts and holding up the traffic behind and Justin’s was pulling slightly better on the inclines. I was having fun nonetheless even at 15mph!, with any head wind I find it more practical to ride with my head tucked down between the handlebars, which normally gives my club mates a laugh it’s like trying to ride a scooter with a fully erected wind break otherwise.
Our speed was around 25mph average, having examined my gps and map I’d clocked 51mph, which to my surprise was not on the massive down hill I originally thought but on another section just before Ladybower. The road surface in places was astonishing, focus was on the road ahead and planning the diversions around the pot holes and bumps in the road. Anyone that has ridden or owned a model B before will know you want to avoid these at all costs but with speeds of 40mph+ in places this can be a challenge in itself.
The road is extremely twisty and the views are spectacular, I just wish I had a helmet cam to capture it all with. Once we got to Ladybower we were greeted by the Sheffield Aces SC who’d organised themselves to ride in with us from Ladybower Cafe. Not wanting to appear rude but I also didn’t want to loose the momentum I didn’t stop at Ladybower and carried on towards Crosspool. I thought about taking a detour via Riverlin Valley instead but I carried on towards Crosspool and onto Broomhill. By this point having just conquered another incline from the Rivelin Dams the majority of scooterists had passed Justin and I.
We soon arrived at Armando’s, the DJ was playing some Northern. Guido and Giulio were behind the counter making everyone feel welcome and the bbq was blazing outside and the queue of hungry scooterists were keeping the ladies busy.
It always amazes me looking round Armando’s workshop, the build quality of their restorations are phenomenal and plenty of original condition scooters are always in stock.
It started to rain again and a few of us that needed to head back to Mike’s set off for a quick stop at the petrol station and we were on our way, heading back the same route as we came. The rain didn’t last for long and we seemed to be hooning along at 40mph towards Ladybower again. The mobile speed camera van was still sitting there in wait for unsuspecting motorcyclists, not a chance that we were breaking any speed limits on that road, however just a little further along the road officer dibble was in the middle of the road waving us all in to a layby. I guess he was more curious as to what we were riding than anything else.
A few details taken and we were soon on our way again, we’d now increased in numbers as someone else had caught us up… the Scomadi, and the 2 model D’s soon left me on the incline back up to Snake Pass as I was back down to 15mph first gear riding but once over the crest I saw 46mph down in to Glossop. When we got to Woolley Bridge I spotted the Model B, one of the Ld’s and the model D racer outside a rather fine looking establishment which most would call a pub. If it was a choice of riding over Snake Pass and back or the pub…. the scooter will win every time for me.
This was it after 3 hours in the saddle we were back in Denton and outside Mike’s again. New friends and memories were made and a look to doing it all again next year. Maybe a route less gruelling perhaps for a scooter made with 1940’s technology… but really, what an absolutely great experience.
Johnny Lambrettista (manufacturer of Diablo fuel tanks)
Special ‘I made it’ legshield banner.
BEEP BEEP BEEP, the sound of the alarm going off at 6am on a Sunday, not something I normally set for a Sunday morning but today would see me leap out of bed full of excitement.
I threw on some clothes, brushed my teeth and gave the beard a brush and that was me, about ready to head out the door. Normally it would be great to ride to an event, but when the event is a 100 miles away at Mike Phoenix’s in Denton and for pre-1957 Lambrettas then that would be a very long ride indeed. So with my Model B in the back of the car I set off from Hinckley and headed up to Mike’s where I was greeted with a very warm welcome, Mike and his staff had put on a lovely spread of fresh pastries and topped us up with tea and coffee.
The event, organised by Kev Walsh in collaboration with Mike Phoenix, Goofy’s Lambretta Preservation Society and Armandos, was to see participants travelling the 33 miles to Armando’s in Sheffield via the Snake Pass and over the Peak District.
Lined up outside Mike’s for the challenge were 3 model B’s, a model C, a model D125, a model D150, a model D150 racer, a trio of Ld’s, a series 2 sidecar outfit and not forgetting from the Mike Karslake museum the wonderfully restored Lambro 200 owned by Goofy. Not as many turned out as I had initially thought there would be, but who cares, the day was about making new friends and enjoying our scooters. There was an abundance of Lambrettas, Vespas, Scomadis and Runners all there to accompany us on the challenge.
Personally I’d been wishing for an event of this kind for a while now so I was really excited to have a laugh riding these old gals over the Peak District. Lets face it, with a stable of scooters and the fastest being a model B doesn’t make a practical scooter for a club ride out, the anticipation was amazing in the days leading up to it and for once I’d have some company.
I don’t think everyone set off from Mike’s and one of the model B’s turned around halfway up Snake Pass, maybe the rain put them off but it really wasn’t much. I was dressed fashionably for the occasion, trainers, shorts and a Hoodie and not forgetting an openface helmet.. probably not the wisest of moves to forget my riding gear.
Justin on his model D125 was happy enough keeping me company at the back of the pack and for the most part we followed Goofy in his Lambro which seemed at times like it was being driven by Ken Block. Both of our scooters performed extremely well considering the terrain, the D150 certainly had an advantage on us and the steep incline of Snake Pass was a real challenge. I was down to first gear in parts and holding up the traffic behind and Justin’s was pulling slightly better on the inclines. I was having fun nonetheless even at 15mph!, with any head wind I find it more practical to ride with my head tucked down between the handlebars, which normally gives my club mates a laugh it’s like trying to ride a scooter with a fully erected wind break otherwise.
Our speed was around 25mph average, having examined my gps and map I’d clocked 51mph, which to my surprise was not on the massive down hill I originally thought but on another section just before Ladybower. The road surface in places was astonishing, focus was on the road ahead and planning the diversions around the pot holes and bumps in the road. Anyone that has ridden or owned a model B before will know you want to avoid these at all costs but with speeds of 40mph+ in places this can be a challenge in itself.
The road is extremely twisty and the views are spectacular, I just wish I had a helmet cam to capture it all with. Once we got to Ladybower we were greeted by the Sheffield Aces SC who’d organised themselves to ride in with us from Ladybower Cafe. Not wanting to appear rude but I also didn’t want to loose the momentum I didn’t stop at Ladybower and carried on towards Crosspool. I thought about taking a detour via Riverlin Valley instead but I carried on towards Crosspool and onto Broomhill. By this point having just conquered another incline from the Rivelin Dams the majority of scooterists had passed Justin and I.
We soon arrived at Armando’s, the DJ was playing some Northern. Guido and Giulio were behind the counter making everyone feel welcome and the bbq was blazing outside and the queue of hungry scooterists were keeping the ladies busy.
It always amazes me looking round Armando’s workshop, the build quality of their restorations are phenomenal and plenty of original condition scooters are always in stock.
It started to rain again and a few of us that needed to head back to Mike’s set off for a quick stop at the petrol station and we were on our way, heading back the same route as we came. The rain didn’t last for long and we seemed to be hooning along at 40mph towards Ladybower again. The mobile speed camera van was still sitting there in wait for unsuspecting motorcyclists, not a chance that we were breaking any speed limits on that road, however just a little further along the road officer dibble was in the middle of the road waving us all in to a layby. I guess he was more curious as to what we were riding than anything else.
A few details taken and we were soon on our way again, we’d now increased in numbers as someone else had caught us up… the Scomadi, and the 2 model D’s soon left me on the incline back up to Snake Pass as I was back down to 15mph first gear riding but once over the crest I saw 46mph down in to Glossop. When we got to Woolley Bridge I spotted the Model B, one of the Ld’s and the model D racer outside a rather fine looking establishment which most would call a pub. If it was a choice of riding over Snake Pass and back or the pub…. the scooter will win every time for me.
This was it after 3 hours in the saddle we were back in Denton and outside Mike’s again. New friends and memories were made and a look to doing it all again next year. Maybe a route less gruelling perhaps for a scooter made with 1940’s technology… but really, what an absolutely great experience.
Johnny Lambrettista (manufacturer of Diablo fuel tanks)
