Approx 70 or so motorcycles of all shapes, sizes and ages were entered into the Oliver’s Mount Race Circuit Hillclimb on Sunday 8th October. Vintage bikes, classic bikes, modern sports bikes and a few supermoto/motocross bikes thrown in for good measure make for a good spectacle!

But those of us with good taste really turned up to cheer on the four Lambretta riders competing. They were all flying the flag and helping to promote the ‘Scooters on the Mount’ side of the hillclimb events.

The competitors race up part of Scarborough’s legendary Oliver’s Mount road race circuit. It is an anticlockwise track, which is very rare in racing. The bit the hillclimb sprint uses, starts in the area normally used for the pits and finishes at the top of the main hill – the highest point on the track.

The riders go up one at a time with a 30 second or so delay, which makes for constant flowing action. The bikes go in category order – classic, then modern and in different capacity limits too.

 

Everyone bought something, but Jaws, determined not to be outdone, bought a whole scooter! A very nice patina S2 in completely standard trim. Everything worked, and it ran nicely. The new scooter was loaded up on to the back of Alberto’s pick-up truck to go back to the B&B. 

 

For the first time on the trip, Timmy was in a beer mood, so everyone headed out to find somewhere to eat and drink. Local bar found, beers drunk, pizza eaten – then it was time for the shots… The rest of the night was very funny, but you know the old saying ‘what happens on holiday, stays on holiday’ so it’s best not to mention about Timmy falling head first into hedges on the way back to the B&B! Everyone knows what he’s like after being plied with three beers, so several shots of Black Sambuca on top of a few pints certainly did the trick, and took care of the entertainment for the rest of the evening.

 

An ancient relic and the Tower of Pisa
An ancient relic and the Tower of Pisa

They knew the Vespa would eventually come in handy
They knew the Vespa would eventually come in handy
 
Tuesday 17th July
 

The plan had been to go to see the Piaggio factory and the museum today, but Timmy blew red on the breathalyser and wasn’t going anywhere. T didn’t fancy it and Gerry went for another pushbike ride, so it was left to Jaws and Martin to visit the Piaggio Museum in Pontedera, meeting up with Kevin and Vicky again, who rode their scoots from Belgium to visit the museum. The four of them drove together over to Pisa for a quick look at its most famous tourist attraction, and to stage a photo shoot in front of the tipsy building. They quickly did the photo shoot, which apparently is not allowed. When the men with guns came and told them to move they didn’t hang around. 

 

The Famous Five – from scrapyard to Italy: Part 2 | FEATURE
 

Martin and Jaws headed back to Lucca to meet the guys at the B&B and then Jaws went off to meet Alberto at Nicola’s bar as arranged, before heading off to the beach for a couple of hours. That evening an invite had been extended for dinner at Alberto’s Mum and Dad’s prior to the club meet.

 

After a massive, delicious dinner and being treated like royalty it was back to Nicola’s bar for the monthly club meet and a few glasses of shandy. There was a very good turnout of members and the Lucca boys were so friendly and welcoming that everyone was chuffed to bits to have stayed an extra day to attend their monthly club meet. 

 

The Famous Five – from scrapyard to Italy: Part 2 | FEATURE

The Famous Five – from scrapyard to Italy: Part 2 | FEATURE
 
Fundraising
 
After explaining about the charity being fundraised for and showing them the Sector 3 t-shirts, specially printed for the journey along with the bag of goodies that certain scooter dealers and MERU had donated, they started throwing money into the kitty, grabbing themselves a memento and encouraging their mates to do the same. Every member donated something, and all were so generous with their donations that the best part of £500 was raised that night, with Nico himself putting down 50 Euros for the last Sector-3 t-shirt on offer, and the 6th spare “Bugzi-Saurus” going for 20 Euros! All in all, it was a great night and at the end of the evening. Having said our farewells, the promise was made to come back in a couple of years.
 
 
Words and photos: Tim Wilson
 
 

Coming up in part 3

 

Mission accomplished and with some charity money in the pot our travellers head back via Lake Como. We’ll bring you the final instalment next week.

 

Part two gallery

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