August is a notoriously busy time in the scooter calendar, so when I learned about a petrol-head festival for lovers of Italian motorised vehicles I didn\’t hold out too much hope of getting many scooterists interested… I couldn\’t have been more wrong.
For those that missed the adverts on Social Media, Festival Italia was a new venture by the Brands Hatch team to \’celebrate the beauty and history of Italian motoring\’. Well no festival would have been complete without the addition of Italy\’s most iconic shopping bikes to compliment the Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Maseratis etc. so Dave Sawicki (VCB) and I (LCGB) set about getting involved.
A few emails and calls later and we had registered our respective clubs with the organisers and had confirmation that any attendees under our club banners could attend for free and (probably the clincher) get to do a lap of the Brands Hatch circuit. Both the VCB and LCGB were very supportive sending us club banners and magazines to hand out on the day, whilst Dave and I set about inviting everyone we knew for a free day out.
Sunday arrived and amongst all the Fiats and Lancias queuing at the gate there was a steady stream of Lambrettas that had pre-registered with us. We had been designated a specific area, which for Scooterists of a certain age was conveniently placed between the Bar and the Toilets, and Field Marshall Ginny set about arranging the parking display (top Job). A quick erection (Gazebo) delegated to the lads from FAB SC and we were in business.
We had a great display putting the Ducati and Aprilia stands to shame. I counted over 40 Lambrettas and over 10 Vespas parked in our area and Joe Public loved it. It helped having two scooter icons on the stand; Dizzy had brought the sublime Dazzle and displayed it in all its glory… the non scootering punters were blown away and it was probably the most photographed vehicle at the event. Richard Soloman had also brought his beautiful un-restored Lowline Special, a genuine piece of scooter history; it was great to see it at Brands some 49 years after it had raced at that very circuit.
Once settled everyone took time to walk around and absorb the sights and atmosphere, watching F1 displays, Ferrari racing, eating Italian food and a particular favourite was watching a bloke cook a sausage with the flames shooting out the exhaust of his Masserati.
3pm came which was the allotted time for the parade laps; this is where all clubs got a chance to do a lap of the hallowed track. Much to everyone\’s disappointment we were issued with strict instructions to follow the pace car, stick to 30mph and no repeat NO overtaking. As we waited by the side of the track watching some fiats and minis mix it up Italian Job stylee, the banter started; it\’s fair to say that when they finally let us on the track for some the \’red mist\’ had descended for some and a rather less than sedate lap ensued, helped by the fact the pace car opened up a bit of a gap along the pit straight. The sight of the legendary Vic Dickens flying passed me on his SX with full weekend camping gear still on the back will live with me forever. Whilst mentioning Vic, top marks to the lads from London Lambretta Club who hot-footed it Sunday morning from the LCGB Shipton Rally in Warwickshire direct to the event; with Jerry Saunders setting the pace they did it in two and a half hours. Your support was appreciated.
Once back at our pitch people started to drift off and the event came to a close. All in all a great day and something different from the usual scooter focused events I attend. Next year promises to be bigger and better, and as my Parking Princess Ginny pointed out to me \”We are going to need a bigger area\”.
Tommy
Video by Frank Hall
