Last weekend saw a return to Championship Scooter Racing for the first time since October 2019 and despite the weather throwing a few curveballs (when was the last time it didn’t though?) the on-track action was in no way diminished by the long layoff since last October’s non-championship “Southern Cup” at Lydden Hill. The first meeting of the season always welcomes new riders to the sport and this year saw six riders taking to the track for the first time. The Lambretta Club of Great Britain Production Class saw Wayne Barker, Harry Smith and Simon Palmer putting on the orange bibs, whilst Glen Swallow and James McNally did likewise in Group 4. Anthony Maxwell was the only newcomer out on an auto in Group 10.
The races were as usual split into two “grids” the Stock grid for standard bodywork machines (LCGB Production Class and Groups 4, 4e and 10) and the Super Scooter grid for Groups 6 and 6a. (Check out the BSSO website for class specifications). Stocks The Stock grid was headed by some thrilling racing between Justin Price of Team DSC and Stuart Day of SRP Racetech with the two seeming to be inseparable on track throughout the weekend. After the first two races each had one victory to their name with less than a second between them over the line both times and an exciting third race looked to be following the same pattern, in some very wet conditions, before Stuart ran too close to the wet paint on a curb and had a high speed off to tarnish his weekend (rider all ok). Reigning champion Drew Duncan followed them home with John Woods next along.
LCGB Production Class Third across the line in all three races and taking a hat-trick of victories in the LCGB Production Class was Graham Tatton who had some good battles with his own teammate Stephen Hamilton. Stephen returned to the class full time on a Lambretta for the first time since the inaugural Production Class in 2016 when he came close to taking the title. Also, at the front of the class was the ever-improving Jeremy Steele of Team JPS and Nikita McNally of DTC Racing/Chiselspeed on her first meeting onboard a Lambretta. Having previously impressed on Autos. The rookies Harry Smith and Wayne Barker both looked good on their first outings and improved throughout the weekend in what were tricky conditions for a first time on track.
Group 4 The ‘standards’ class saw a different winner in each race, with James McNally, joining his sister on track for this season, taking a race win in his first-ever race as the other riders dropped away. The ever-quick Tom Shaw had some issues with the SRP Racetech machine of Chris Geyton but managed to pick up a class win on his first time out on a geared scooter. Dave Bristow managed to borrow an engine for the Sunday races and came away with the final race victory to end his weekend on a high – after blowing his own engine up on Saturday morning. Glen Swallow has recently purchased the ex-Replay Racing machine of Darren Conneely and had a few issues, including a crash, to contend with and unfortunately failed to finish a race.
Group 10 This class should have featured the defending champion Mark Shirley but a blown engine in practice meant he had to sit out the weekend’s races. Teammate Chris Cook took two class wins on the other Chiselspeed Zip and newcomer Anthony Maxwell impressed with three steady rides, improving each time and was rewarded with a win when Chris failed to finish in race 1.
Super Scooters The Super Scooters grid of Group 6 (Geared) and 6a (Auto) saw the Team DSC pairing of Steve Wright and Justin Price sharing the spoils at the front of the race with two wins for Justin and one for Steve over the course of the weekend on their RB kitted Lambrettas. Chris Cook was next home in the first two races but a retirement in race 3 allowed Zack Tingle to take second place after improving all weekend on his first outing on the SRP Racetech Group 6 Lambretta. Drew Duncan had his best Group 6 results with a trio of third places.
Group 6a Defending Group 6a Champion Nikita McNally had a frustrating weekend with a crash and mechanical issues pushing her down the order on the ChiselSpeed Zip. Steve Hamilton came back from a snapped throttle cable in race 1 to take the class wins in races 2 and 3 on his Gilera Runner, with Mark Shirley taking the other race win after borrowing Chris Cook’s Group 10 Zip to get some track time.
Full results and laptimes etc., as well as technical specifications and details on how to come scooter racing, can be found at the BSSO website
Thanks to Lee Hollick for the race images, you can find more and buy your favourites by clicking here
Scroll through Lee’s race gallery above

In the video above, Jer Crew talks to Graham Tatton about his first five years of racing. We first spoke to Jer at his first ever race meeting back in 2016. You can see that original video here.

Below, rookie racer Phil Hallam tells us about his Darley weekend…
Rookie racer, Phil Hallam gives us his view on Darley Moor
After the 2020 season terminated after only 3 meetings there was much anticipation for the forthcoming first race meeting of 2021 at Darley Moor. The van was loaded and in company with fellow novice racer Harry Smith from Stamford Scooter Centre Racing we headed off to the Darley Moor circuit somewhere that neither of us had ever raced before. Harry is a time served rally going scooterist with over 40 years of experience riding both Lambrettas and Vespas.

However, as an experienced motocross rider and experienced racer at a good level, he was looking forward to transferring his experience to 10-inch wheels for his first outing.

The last time we were out BSSO racing was at the Lydden Hill Circuit for the Lord of Lydden event which was a wet meeting at the end of 2020. Which for me added to the difficulty of not only riding a new circuit but also on the Replay Group 4 Evo having its first time on track. So, after nearly an 8-month gap the nerves and excitement were gaining momentum also in company with Harry, we were both Buzzing at the thought of getting out on track at the weekend.

Having set up in the paddock we didn’t have time to get the scooters and clothing scrutineered, so as daylight was fading, Harry myself and Doug Edwards the owner and main sponsor of Stamford Scooter Centre set off to walk the track to give an indication of what to expect on Saturday morning. Having hit the sack just before midnight we were awoken around 3 am as the heavens opened and disrupted what little we had of the night’s sleep. 5:45 am we were up and starting to get things ready as we needed to be dressed with the scooter at the scrutineering bay just after 7 am. Luckily, we were at the front of the queue and swiftly went through with minimum fuss, then we joined the next queue to sign on and collect transponders from the BSSO rep Carole Allision. This again ran extremely smoothly and before long we were back in the paddock, scooter on the bench ready to be given a final once over prior to noise testing.

This was the first time I was to race without the wealth of experience that Paul ‘Chalky’ White, Jon Gilbert and Taylor Neal bring to the paddock, however knowing the bike had been meticulously rebuilt by the forenamed after Lydden Hill I was as comfortable as a rider could be. I was now Joined by Dan Mears who had the unenviable task of keeping me on track and doing everything mechanical throughout the weekend (not an easy task!!). Especially as it was Dan’s first time as a BSSO mechanic without the normal advice that is usually on tap from JG and Chalky, however, we knew that help was always available from the established race teams such as DSC, SRP, Hornet to name just a few. One of the many great things about scooter racing is the great camaraderie in the paddock, as no one wants to see anyone left there instead of being on track. Harry’s Vespa PK like my Gp4 Evo had a quick change from dry tyres to race wets as the forecast predicted yet another weekend of wet racing. Then we were off to sound testing.

Dan mears had the unenviable job of keeping the two rookies on track…
The call for practice came and we were out on track, it certainly helped walking the track the night before as within a few laps my confidence was building as we tried to learn the track, braking, tipping in points and the best racing line. For me, my outing at Lydden Hill had really given me a boost in confidence for riding in the rain and with wet track conditions. The race ‘wets’ really do make a difference and help you press on. However, overconfidence can creep in and towards the end of the session whilst entering the hairpin I felt the bike let go, move from under me and (I’m sure by sheer luck) I ended up upright and with a daft grin on my face and carried on towards the main straight. It was only later when Dave Bristow of Hornet Racing, who was stood behind the barrier informed me that I had leant the bike over too much and dragged the exhaust on the concrete, which caused me to have a huge high side and my back wheel lifted off the ground, forcing me up and over the handlebars. How I didn’t end up sliding down the track I’m sure will remain a mystery but it was certainly a warning shot reminding me that I was certainly a novice with limited track riding experience.

With an initial track time for lap 1 being 1.41 the gap between me and the more experienced riders was far less than it had been in my first three outings. This certainly gave me something to build on over the weekend. Harry also managed a 1.44 lap which was more than respectable for his first time out.

With a quick return to the paddock the bike was on the bench and received its check over by Dan and was re-fuelled. We were ready to head out for Stock Qualifying. Likewise, the PK was given a once over, refuelled and we were in the holding paddock at the start line. Qualifying was certainly a lot quicker than practise as no one wanted to be at the back of the grid, as the grid is very close and the approach to the first chicane can be eventful to say the least. The more laps Harry and I got in (again in the wet) the times kept dropping, with my best and final qualifying time being 1.35 and Harry just behind on a 1.38. The top racers recorded 1.22 1.24 and 1.25 respectively – resulting in a front-row grid of Justin Price, Stuart Day and Chris Cook. Myself and Harry starting on rows 7 and 8 alongside established and experienced racers including Bob West Pat Wickham and fellow Gp4 Evo rider, Jeremy crew.

The Super Scooter qualification then took place with myself and Harry riding in both Stock and Super classes, we knew it was going to put additional stress and wear on the scooters but additional track and race time as a novice is invaluable. I recorded a 1.36 and harry managed a 1.43 in somewhat wetter conditions. Again, the gap between ourselves and the front row was significant with the front row of Stephen Wright, Jon Chitoglou and Nikita Mcnally recording times of 1.21 and 1.23 respectively.

The one and only race on the Saturday was Production race 1. A wet and greasy track and a full grid. Unlike the bigger circuits there is only a matter of a foot between each row of the grid. As I’m not known for my great starts, I knew it was going to be interesting as almost immediately after the start you are hit with a chicane.

As the red flag went down and the start lights changed from red to green off, we went. The lighter PK ridden by Harry went past me on the back wheel as if he was back on the motocross track. In an attempt to gain space, I took a tighter line into the first sharp right-hander trying to undertake some of the riders who had been quicker off the Mark. This almost ended up in disaster as I’d asked my brakes to do far more than possible. Narrowly avoiding T-boning Bob West, I squirrelled to the outside of the track having stalled and (due to luck more than judgment) managed to bump start the scooter and off I went into the main straight dead last. However, the Replay Evo bike was running sweet and handling well and I gradually started overtaking some of my fellow novice racers making good use of the difference in power between a production bike and an Evo bike. 90mph in the wet and with wind increasing was certainly an experience as the bikes were moving somewhat particularly on the long back straight. As the laps progressed my lap times dropped and I went from a disastrous first lap of 1.41 down to 1.35s mid-race finishing with a new personal best of 1.33 on my last lap. Harry also improved his times from a 1.49 finishing with 1.37. His many years of racing motocross certainly came in handy as the conditions worsened. So first race I finished 16th and Harry 20th.

Sunday morning and the first Super Scooter race was upon us. The rain had stopped and we opted for dry tyres, hoping the rain would hold off. Riding and competing with the more powerful Gp6 bikes and a slightly less congested grid appeared to bring both myself and Harry on. As confidence grew, we hung on to the tail of legendary Racer Bob west on his Production bike, lap after lap and tried to follow his lines and pick up as much as we could. There is a saying that smooth is fast and consistency is also key to a good race. And who better to learn from? Lap times of 1.33 and then down to 1.28 resulted in my best ever finish of 9th. Harry again improved finishing in 10th with lap times between 1.35 and down to 1.33 on his best laps. The second Stock race saw me finishing 18 out of 25 and with lap times down to 1.27. Harry finishing in 23rd with a best time of 1.37.

My final race of the weekend was dogged when my gear cable went on the practice lap, which left me without first gear. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and rather than pulling off the starting grid I battled on, slipping the clutch to get me off the line and out of the slower corners. I still managed a best lap of 1.28 and an 11th place. Harry came in 13th and had a consistent 1.34.

However, despite the best efforts of Dan Mears stripping down the engine, the borrowed clutch from DSC boss Darren Scott couldn’t get fitted and set up in time. I knew I would be getting read the riot act from Jon Gilbert and Chalky but my youthful enthusiasm and desire to race and improve subsequently proved to be the biggest rookie error of my racing career so far. It won’t be happening again!! Harry continued and subsequently finished 16th and 12th in his final 2 races continuing to demonstrate his lack of fear of the appalling wet dirty and greasy conditions gaining much respect from many of the established and experienced racers.

In general an excellent first outing with some great racing and great camaraderie, all made possible by the BSSO race committee who have spent many many hours of their own time in finally getting us out on track. The scooter has been stripped and cleaned and ready to go to JG Scooters and Replay Racing for the all-important pre-race preparation.

I’m sure race footage will feature on the BSSO Facebook page soon which will be worth watching as well as the photographs taken by Lee Hollick who endured the foul weather to capture the action.

Phil Hallam
#50 Team Replay /JG Scooters

Additional images, Dan mears