The glorious contrast. That’s one thing I loved about scootering in the 1980s.
Gangs of youths, often scruffy, who’d participate in psychobilly dancefloor punch-ups one moment, and then spin like ballerinas when the DJ played some Northern Soul.
The same kids, dressed in patch-covered army greens could be witnessed riding home the following day on anything from hastily cut-down Vespas to wild chopped Lambrettas. Some would pilot bejewelled custom scooters more elaborate and artistic than all the pretentious shit gathered at the Tate Modern Gallery in London. The contrast between the way they looked and what they rode was enormous. Scooters were everything.
If you wanted to see real modern art, by the kids, in a rolling gallery all you had to do was pop open a can and sit in the middle of a roundabout on any scooter rally.
Gary Dickenson from Solihull is one of those influenced by the kings of bling that were AF Rayspeed’s Super S-types. Machines so heavily laced in terms of metal-flake paintwork that magpies are often seen flying off with them. Or at least trying to.
Why copy a set formula though? If you want a scooter so deep with metalflake paint that it looks like it has been unbolted from a Waltzer, why stick to the S-type/Armandos layout?
Gary didn’t. Hypnotised is the result of a simple solution. Pick a theme and let the artist interpret it in your chosen style.
In this case the theme also harks back to the 1980s. The boundless energy of Northern Irish post-punks clad in snorkel parkas that were The Undertones provided the theme. Their classic album Hypnotised ushered in a new decade of teenage angst with tunes like ‘My Perfect Cousin’ and ‘Wednesday Week’. Gary remains as in love with the album as he was back then.
The artist is Matt from I-Paint in Walsall who has been responsible for many a gorgeous scooter, not least of all Gary’s other custom Lammy ‘Teenage Kicks’. Matt was given a completely free hand to display his talents and mix inspirations from a plethora of ‘old skool’ sources.
The result blends flake, pin-striping, candies and 3D-effects into a seamless rolling artwork. I use the term ‘artist’ for Matt, rather than ‘painter’ because that’s what he is. You need an artistic eye and an appreciation of design to plan a complex pinstripe job like this. There was absolutely no need for Matt to pinstripe the area of frame beneath the seat, but if you are going to town, why not go ‘out-out’?
The complex patterns on the legshields use an old technique of utilising lace curtains as a mask, while Matt learned that a silk scarf can be used to gently lean the sprayed metallic flakes and get them to lie flatter and shine brighter without the need for ten tons of lacquer to seal them. It still took around 4 kilometres of masking tape to create Hypnotised!
While Matt was not sparing the horses on the paint, nor did Gary mess with a low-spec engine for Hypnotised. He plumped for the smooth delivery and awesome howl of Tino’s 250cc Targa Twin motor, backed up by a PM Tuning outboard disc and Targaline shocks to keep the performance in check.
Like the paint-job, the engine is all part of the deal to confuse on-lookers. It is only a 1960s Italian commuter vehicle, so why does it go so fast, sound so good and look so fantastic?
It’s all part of the glorious contrast…
Words, pics & video: Sticky
Specifications
Owners name: Gary Dickenson
Town: Solihull, Warwickshire
Scooter name: Hypnotised
Model: GP
Year: 1969
Engine details: Targa Twin 250
Top speed: 80 mph
Power output: 20-22 bhp
Paintwork: Large glowble silver metal flake with multi layered house of Kolor Kandy. Extensive symmetrical patterns, lace effect, fish scales, cubes and multiple layers of lacquer and about 4km of masking tape by Matt Sutton I-Paint.net
One-off parts: MB old school twin tank conversion
Accessories: PM outboard hydraulic, LTH reservoir, Targa Line shock, dampers and controls.
Coatings & finishes: Chromed forks, stand and splash plate by Gran Sport.
Acquisition? November 2014
Inspiration? Hypnotised from The Undertones album of the same name and a follow on to my other scooter Teenage Kick but utilising more modern developments brakes, engine etc. The paint was left entirely up to Matt whose inspiration came from 1970’s low rider roof patterns, custom skate boards and 70’s choppers/ bobbers.
Perspiration? Being patient. Don’t expect it done in the time you’ve set yourself because it probably won’t be.
Aggravation? Get the frame jigged / checked. Do a dry build, bolt everything together before it goes to paint. It’s a pain in the arse I know, but it will save you time, trouble and money later.
Recommendation? Matt at I-Paint, Scooter Centre GMBH (very efficient) and Martin ‘Robbo speed’ Robinson.
Celebration? All at Urban Scooters (Gran Sport) obviously and “Big John” Deeley for all their help.
Sweet