ImberBoy

Ady didn't you used to play "Tribute to Betty" by Frank Spencer? Love to get a file of that fooker!

Well that didn't go as well as planned? Mind you I'm thicker than a whale omelet!

Cant find John Edwards version on the TUBE? Any one got a file please? XX

Fookin mega bieng a Divvy!

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Barney SSSC great idea mate!! Mark....... Kin brilliant lol lol "IOW should be called soulfull vanning" Pete Salford Knights!! Me and Derek are taking the scooters to Middleton as soon as my new one is done in June, you up for it?

Ello Steve!! Now that was a good day, that lady was your mum! F.B, never said any thing about a forum? I am referring to a Scooter Club with real people and real scooters, not Cyber men!! Oh and as far as font size, you know what they say.... The bigger the font the smaller the wanger and mine is like a baby carrot!

Apart from saying "I just know", how the fook would any one ever tell if it was a fake or not? I bet with today's technology it would be easier to forge a copy and flog it, how would any one really know? I am at present making my own copy using an old ashtray and my scanner, it looks fookin mega.

The old water Geezer by The Ascots or the fantastic and very touching Doris Troy - I'll Do Anything, which of course is about a young bride telling her newly married husband that he can do her up the trumpet.

I have a Vespa GTS 250 ie fookin mega! Malossi kited with every go faster product available including the bigger back tire. I have ridden her for three years to most national scooter runs with no problems at all, it's the only way to fly!

It amazes me how much both the Northernsoul scene and the Scooter scene mirrors each other, the scooter you are on about sounds like a Lambretta SX 200. They aren't particularly rare just rarely available and command around the three grand mark. Unfortunately there are a few dodgy look a likes, LI 150 models dressed up as SX 200's https://www.invidia-scooters.co.uk/Lambretta_sx.html and Spanish Ebor models sold as their more expensive Italian models. To be honest with you most of the "barn" finds are well and truly gone now and when some one does come across an old Lambretta or Vespa its easy to gage the price thanks to e-bay and good old Google. I am one of the lucky ones who kept his first lambretta, can't take credit for any foresight it was garaged in 1984 when I joined the Army and used on leave. She is a Lambretta GP 200 and the oldest love of my life. I have just ordered a new scooter, not to replace her, just to add to my collection. This time I have gone for a "Kit" lambretta, it is going to be a little tricky and it will have a Vespa engine, full Arthur Francis replica paint with Wigan Casino Patches. It will puzzle most and fool the others, I cant fookin wait! You can see the sort of thing here: https://lambretta-evolution.co.uk/default.aspx

Tabs it gets quite complicated, you are correct that Quadrophenia was a major boost to the cult, but it was not a second wave, it was a "Mod Revival". Mod in its popularity fizzled out of main stream interest in the late sixties and in exactly the same way as Northernsoul did; it carried on with its die hearts evolving into various metamorphosis's of the cult driven by practicality and geography. Quadrophenia gets the credit for "The Mod second wave" The second wave, if there was such a thing, was very much a north south divide thing with "Northern Mods" a term coined retrospectively to describe the very different slant the Northern Scooter Clubs had on "Mod". In the north of England and predominantly on the M62 corridor in towns and cities grown from the industrial revolution, Lambretta and Vespa sales continued when concessionaires all but closed in the south. Vespa and Lambretta where more abundant in the north and became deeply rooted in the psyche of northern youth culture. A love affair with scooters was a little more passionate and faithful oop north. Scooter clubs of the seventies where big and ultra cool with clubs such as; BURNLEY & PENDLE SC, Preston Wildcats, Chorley Mod Squad, Bolton Spartans, Trojan SC Morcambe, Beverley Mods, Scunthorpe Path Finders, Birkenhead Cloud 9, Manchester Lions SC, Selby SC, Leeds Central, Salford Knights, to name a few. When Quadrophenia hit the screens there was a massive surge during two hot summers of Plastic Mods rubbing shoulders with the big boys from the seventies clubs, this was never a second wave, it was a Tsunami! I can remember the sad demise of the Mod Revival and I can time line it no better than "The Specials" in 1979 smashing the charts followed by the embarrassing (if you where a Mod) "Fun Boy Three" in 1981. 1981 the party wasn't over, some of the revelers wanted to continue drinking, well after the tonic drain pipes and the pork pie hats became naff. The real wave, the nitty gritty wave, the wave that silently swept along unnoticed by the former band wagon Mods was happy to flow without the blessings of the fashion police. The early eighties saw a new "Mod: emerge, one that needed to throw away all of the trappings of a fashion blip, the cloths changed to a more practical and cheaper alternative to suits, the ex Army and Navy Shops where the new tailors. The scooters changed as well, the lights and mirrors where ditched in favor of tuned engines with the emphasis on getting to the rally rather than posing. We saw a health mantle being passed with honor from the Northern Mods to the new "Scooter Boy" and the Vespa and lambretta gods where happy. Come about 1998 another explosion took place, "The born again's" came. And in perfect mirroring with what happened to the Northernsoul community we had the raise of the cheque book customisers and the CD experts. The prices of scooters shot up beyond all recognition driven by the now middle aged mid life crisis Mods. Tabs, sorry for drowneing on.

TS1 very fast!

Malc that would be puuuuuuurfect

Ian I have read your frank and often funny account of Simon Soussan, it's a great slice of Northernsoul history and I have put off until now to tell my Simon Soussan story. As a youngster I would work at soulbowl stacking shelves and making tea, I was fourteen at the time and I would often be left to run the shop. Simon would pop in with his latest tracks and I would make him strong Moroccan coffee, he used to say that it always reminded him of home and drift away to another place, I think I was one of the few to see the more softer side of Simon Soussan. Simon used to say to me "America was 'the land of opportunity' and that there was 'pussy everywhere", he would then tell how his mother kept cats and the love of his life was an American Maine Coon cat his aunt Doris gave him. His love of pussy was genuine and he dreamt of opening a Cat sanctuary in Mansfield. I was always being sent to the chemist to get Vic's Vapor Rub and Menthol Vapor Inhaler, Simon suffered constantly and sounded a little like Kenneth Williams! Once I found some NUMARK menthol crystals and did him a bowl of hot water, he spent nearly twenty minutes inhaling the hot vapors. When he surfaced there was a massive grin on his face "Hey, baby boy. Are you're nostrils blocked my friend? Well, you will breathe forever when you do this baby boy. I have just found the ultimate sinus-deblocker"! Soussan's notoriety came from being something of a record dealer/bootlegger in this scene but he was dedicated to finding new sounds and soul. One evening Simon asked if I would accompany him to the states and help him sort through some records, I had been doing this after school for the last year and new most of the labels and kinda had a feel for the good stuff, in fact most of the big guns who take credit for their discoveries used to come into the shop and ask me for advise. I didn't know any better and hey it was part of the job any way. I was amazed that my mum and dad gave me permission to go with Simon, mum had loved cats and my dad was always on about getting more pussy. Soon we where touching down in LA. It was brilliant, the first week we spent in Detroit looking through all the dumpsters and warehouses and vaults of Motown. Im remember seeing a huge packing crate of Frank Wilson "Do I love you" on Soul, there must have been three million of the fookers there! We then went to stay at the YMCA in downtown LA, it was a bit of a dive but there where a couple of DJ collectors over from the UK who loved it, they spent most of the time walking about in towels talking to the American Navy lads and getting saunas and stuff with them. It was a bit creepy I must admit watching them dressing up as traffic cops and bikers, they where always singing "Its fun to stay at the Y M C A". Simon said to me that he could turn that bummers song into a hit! On red hot afternoon we where to meet up with Jackie Wilson, Ian Dewhirst and Ady Croasdell begged to come along so we found our selves waiting for Jackie to turn up while we sweltered in the mid day sun, it was hot! Jackie Wilson always gets the reputation of being a gentleman and all round good egg, I did not like him one bit! He turned up driving a massive black Cadillac and beckoned us to get in, Simon Ian sat in the front and I got in the back with Ady and Ian. The first thing he said to us was that his air con was broken and he couldn't open the windows, it was like a fookin hot box! We drove around Pershing Square three or four times, and then Jackie Wilson let out the loudest fart you have ever heard! Simon turned to me and said, "Hey, baby boy. Are you're nostrils blocked my friend? Well, you will breathe forever when you smell that baby boy. I have just found the ultimate sinus-deblocker"! I giggled like the school boy I was then noticed Ady had been sick all over the front seat. Simon and I landed back in England to a gloomy overcast day, we bagged up all of the records for him to post off to his list of customers, he call it his "Divvy List" I saw him a few months ago, he now runs a Cattery in Mansfield with his cousin. I asked him how he was and he said that his nostrils where still blocked.

Don't worry too much if they are in color coz most photo shop type progs make em black n white to a good standard, hope this helps?

Andy R that would be mega! Middelton would do nicley as you can park your scoot right out side! No strictly Scooterists but it will be great to see the scooters there.

I spent quite some time in Germany as a British Soldier; I served in Hohne, Gutteslogh, and JHQ. Gerd Baum, is a good friend of mine, I think he is from D¼sseldorf originally? Sunny the dancer, Carsten Fox and Michael Wink, there where a few excellent DJ's with some tasty collections. I did the Scooter thing and the Northernsoul thing from 1996 to 2005. Happy times! Loved the passion and the friendliness. My first ever nighter in Germany was The Modernes club in Bremen. I caught Terry Callier with Martin Kraut in Hamburg, met Silka and Michael on many runs at The Filthy and Sly do's. I was a member of The Hiede Hietzer

PLEASE DON`T LAUGH, BUT THIS IS WHAT I RIDE AND I LOVE IT This is mine, aint she a Beauty

When I was in Germany I did a couple of write ups, I hope no one minds me adding theme here: The Velvet & Silk Mod-Weekender Krefeld Found my self in a strange town.............. Krefeld, West Germany to be exact! Saturday the 24th of September and there is nothing going on, Carol and I are a little bored "What to do, what to do?" Quick surf of the net to find some thing local, any thing will do, and then we find "The Velvet & Silk Mod-Weekender Krefeld" only forty minutes from us! The flyer promises, live bands, ride outs, music and sixties markets! Quick time appreciation and we can get there in time for the ride out, "where did I put my Parka?" You've got to wear the right clothes, be careful not to pick or scratch your nose Suitably attired in our old and trusted Parkas, Carol and I were soon Scooting towards Krefeld. "The Malossi kitted Vespa purred away a real horrorshow, a nice warm vibraty feeling all through your guttiwuts!" The roads were clear and even, the sun was shining and we found our way to the rendezvous point at Krefeld's train station. The appointed hour for the ride out was 1500hrs and we had arrived at a quarter too so our hearts sank some what as there was no one else there! But when you ask in a strange town, they say don't know, don't care, and I've got to go, mate We waited and waited and to be perfectly honest I was starting to get a little pissed off! At twenty five past, Carol and I decided to 'Bin it" Just as we were about to climb back onto the Scooter I heard the comforting sound of a Lambretta! It was the ubiquitous Mario from D¼sseldorf riding his Lambretta DL 150, after exchanging the customary hellos. Mario informed us that there were two sides to the train station and guess what...... we were on the wrong side! Three minutes later we arrived at the correct place. You can't be weird in a strange town; you'll be betrayed by your accent and manners. Now before we go any further I would like to say for the record that I am not an expert on the German "Mod" Scene, so my observations are purely based on a comparison of what I know of the British Scene compared to those assembled at Krefeld. Carol and I rode up to this group of about fifty, The Scooter we were riding was a Metallic Orange Vespa PX200Disc with an Ironing Board back rest and a Malossi 225 kit, as far as I am concerned it looks a bit "Mod"? I was expecting a plethora of dazzling Mod Scooters, dazzled I was not! They worry themselves about feeling low; they worry themselves about the dreadful snow The group consisted of some of the tiredest Vespas I have ever seen in one place, no that's a lie, I have seen this site one or two times before usually in the "Scooters for sale India" section on the internet! The Mods were not the peacock strutting models I normally would see, It looked like a scene from a Austin Powers themed stag party were the costumes had been hired from the cheep and cheerful fancy dress shop! My next criticism was their hair! Those that still had it certainly had not visited a decent barber for some time and no self respecting Mod would be seen out with such unkempt hair and hair styles! Long sideies and thick locks do not constitute Mod! My blood was boiling, I was now the self appointed Mod Police and I was taking names and kicking ass! Next on my list of horrors were the shoes!!! Can't you get boot polish in Krefeld? Well, can ya huh can ya!!! If our lass had bought her clippers and I had my trusted "Kiwi" black, we would have made a fortune or at least made em look clean! Though I've only been here for three weeks now, I've got blisters on my feet Both carol and I were amazed and I was falling into shock! The run organiser approached me with a fag in his hand, does he know who I am! He spoke English with a fake American accent, he said a few things to me but I was looking at his shoes! I watched him walk to his scooter, a vespa 50 Special; I concentrated on my jaw dropping as he concentrated on bump starting this little Italian Classic. One hundred pounds spent on the flyer and three dollars on the scooter, I would have had him publicly flogged! The rest of the group were talking and trying there best to look uncool as the run organiser entertained us for twenty minutes with his "I can push a vespa 50" routine. I studied the gathering; there were a few student types, some of the old and bold Mods from D¼sseldorf and an unhealthy smattering of Scooter Boys consisting of Krefeld's "Danger Seekers". They all ignore me 'cause they don't know; I'm really a spaceman from those UFOs As soon as the little Vespa 50 started, we donned our helmets and took off for the ride out. Krefeld is a busy little city and we wrestled the vespa through its smooth cobbled streets whilst playing Russian roulette with the trams and tram tracks that reminded you of your own mortality as your back tyre danced the tango of death! Carol was oblivious of the riding conditions and relaxed as the charming city unfolded before us, I concentrated on not shitting myself as Mod after Mod zipped in and out of the procession as if on tuned fifty kits! I needed a bit of air in my back tyre so indicated to turn into a garage, thank you to those who waited for me. Tyre inflated and it was back onto the road to play "Where has the ride out gone". I'm not too good at that game, so after half an hour it was time to ride back to The Dutch border and home. I've finished with clubs where the music's loud, cause I don't see a face in a single crowd The plan was to have a bite to eat, a little kip, we are both middle aged now, then back to Krefeld's Magnapop Club for the Night Do. A shit, shower and shave later we were on our way. You've got to move in a straight line, you've got to walk and talk in four four time The Magnapop Club is a typical student dive with concrete floors, there are the normal trendy posters declaring that they are cool and hip, you know the ones, film and band posters. It seldom works and a little more imagination is needed as this place came across as grotty and cheap. The usual cliental are those with not too much dosh in their pockets and I suppose the owners of the club are used to the "Pot Noodle student loan brigade". I look in the mirror, But I can't be seen, Just a thin, clean layer of Mister Sheen The entertainment looked promising with two live bands and both Dutch and German DJ's who were capable of steering the trendy bendies into a Modernist frenzy, well that was what it suggested on the flyer. The first DJ was a Dutch chap, Michel Da Capo T. (Utrecht-NL), "Vould you like a schmoke and pancake?" His set consisted of some sixties "Hammond Organ" and "Freak Beat" this could of gone down a storm but the night was still young and the punters were not yet in party mood. I enjoyed the first DJ set and I did appreciate the mans vinyl collection, the time was now 2200hrs and the first band was now setting up. Break it up, Burn it down, shake it up, Break it up The first of the two bands were the German four piece "Surf Band" named Cave 4 who play numerous Sixties Punk and Rock'n'Roll classics. Cave 4 consist of, Trich - Bass Guitar Oeli - Guitar and Vocals Joerg - Guitar Marc - Drums. Now here was the turning point of the weekend, it went from being a bit "naff' to WOW!! Hold on coz we're gonna partyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! This was the sound of brain blasting supersonic surf guitars; this is the sound `Pulp Fiction! The set ripped up the audience into a blended thrash of Mods n Mockers who really needed this boot up the backside to let them selves go! Cave 4 blasted out Journey To The Stars, Too Cool To Talk To You, Hot Ride, The Rebel, Boy Don't Tell Me, God Loves Cowboys, Sheena Was Right, Toes On The Nose, Nice Girls, Shapes Of Things To Come, Boulevard Patrol, Gotta Get Myself Together, Margaya and their latest version of the ELVIS classic "Burning Love" I can honestly say that I was stunned! The set was electric, fast and furious, if you ever get a chance to see this ban do! The band finished its last belter and the house lights went up in order for the stage to be cleared and the next band to set up. Let me tell you how it will be There's one for you, nineteen for me 'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman The young lads setting up looked as if they had just stepped straight out from the set of "Kevin and Perry Go large". Complete with track suites, trainers, fly away hair and the usual nineteen year old bum fluff. The band was Dutch and called De Biet and by the look of them I was ready to go home!! They disappear back stage for around five minutes only to emerge wearing matching crushed velvet suits and billowy shirts! At least these lads had made an effort. Should five per cent appear too small Be thankful I don't take it all 'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah I'm the taxman The first track they performed was The Beetles classic taxman, out of this world!! De Biet professionally transformed themselves into a dynamic band complete with drum, bass, lead guitar, percussion and a Hammond organ to boot! De Biet injected the sixties straight into the jugular, next up was Heat Wave, they sounded like the Who. I forgot to tell you that it only cost nine euros to get in to see this, I would have paid double to see De Biet. De Biet cranked out Things we said today, Wrong from the start, I can hear the grass grow, Satan's Holiday, Get off of my cloud and believe it or not Pink Floyd's Astronomy Domine with the band proudly announcing to be all Pink Floyd fans! Lime and limpid green, a second scene a fight between the blue you once knew. My only criticism of De Biet was there rather strange insistence on bringing on a young Dutch girl who murdered a few Dutch sixties songs with her tuneless mother tongue, my advice to you guys is ditch the chick! I think it was a classic case of "I want my girl friend to sing" or maybe her dad owns the van? If you drive a car, I'll tax the street, if you try to sit, I'll tax your seat. If you get too cold I'll tax the heat, if you take a walk, I'll tax your feet. De Biet stole the show and both carol and I were glad to have made the effort to turn out, it was three o'clock in the morning before we decided that we decided to bale out. Michael Wink had just completed his DJing set; he is by far the best Mod and RnB spinner in Germany. Don't ask me what I want it for If you don't want to pay some more 'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman On our way home we reflected on the day, I have to take my hat off to the German Mod Scene, it is seldom given, if ever, any kudos from the German Scooter Boy Scene and to be honest there is no love lost between them. There does not seam to be the same "cross over" from one cult to the other? Pity really as we had a fantastic night, I can not forgive the state of their Scooters and I do think a little more effort is needed on some of their grooming. Now my advice for those who die Declare the pennies on your eyes 'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman And you're working for no one but me. I look forward to next weekend at the "Unique Club" in D¼sseldorf were the next mod weekender will take place, stay cool. Monsters of Funk and Soul Weekender After last weeks trip to Krefeld's Mod Weekender, it was now time to get 'Hot funky and sweaty' in D¼sseldorf's Unique club as part of "The Monsters of Funk and Soul Weekender". The promoter promised to bring together a highly charged cocktail of musical genres, Funk, Soul, Northernsoul and Acid Jazz. The DJ crew were Gerald Jazzman, Henry Storch, Michael Wink, Benne, Eddie Piller, Karlsson, and Agent OO Soul. The Funk scene is way COOL and the "Funky Funksters" seamed to wallow in a free and easy atmosphere void of the usual night club clichs. You aint going to see any handbags on the dance floor and you aint going to see groups of testosterone fuelled Chaves glaring "Oi Oi" What you do get are the Trendy Bendy beautiful people out for a roller coaster ride through the powerful, yet forgotten back catalogues of rare black dance music. Those steering the Acid Jazz and funk scene have winkled out some of the best, rarest and at times surprising and crazy! Dance Floor Toonz from the most unlikely of places. To find that Funky Vibe on a shiny black piece of plastic aint that easy, most finds come after thankless searching of back street record shops and record company warehouses. Time and money by the shed load has gone into this scene and if it wasn't for the likes of Keb Darge and Gerald "Jazzman" Short's Herculean quest for those allusive discs then the scene would not be the quality it is! Check out https://www.jazzmanrecords.co.uk to hear these disks A few years ago I interviewed Keb Darge for the NorthernSoul magazine "Manifesto" Keb crossed over to the dark side of funk selling a considerable collection of NorthernSoul records to peruse BBE records. BBE and Jazzman Records have dominated the funk compilations over the last few years, with both Keb and Jazzman DJing; every were that is anywhere! Jazzman was on tonight at the Unique Club in D¼sseldorf spinning his tasty box of Funky vibes. Jazzman Records was established by Gerald Short in the 90's as a music dealer. Later he went on a mission to re-release the best and most obscure & rare tracks from the late 60's and early 70's. His aim was to bring the long forgotten sound that didn't get any recognition in that time period. Over time, as Jazzman label was running he set up two more labels, 'Stark Reality' releasing even more obscure but modern produced music. 'Funk45' was also established to reissue Deep Funk/Hammond Funk rarities. Gerald "Jazzman" Short is one of the worlds most prolific and active figures preserving and re-issuing rare funk and jazz today. With 50 releases and rising on 7 inch through his Funk 45 and Jazzman imprints, and his two excellent double LP compilations, Gerald continues to introduce funk veterans and newbie's alike to the never ending depths that were late 60s, early 70s, black music. Just before jazzman took to the decks I managed to grab him for a few Q&A. The first impression of jazzman is that he is a quiet unassuming guy with a real passion for his music, 37 years young and here by invitation from the organisers. Jazzman praises the Unique club and is well aware of its importance in Germany, tonight he will drop in his latest discovery, Sheila Wilterson - Baby you're a jive cat. Gerald has the records, I peep in his record box, in there is "Can't You See" by Freedom! It should have been played over and over again, it is an excellent seventies disco soul track that oozes sex appeal, I love it! "Do You Really Want to Rescue Me" - Elsie Mae an absolute stormer that could easily bring the house down at any nighter! Give this track some more plays pleaseeeeeeee!!! Simon: How did you start? Jazzman: I moved from my home town in Middlesbrough to London some years ago looking to get into obscure sixties and early seventies music. I was a little disillusioned with the main stream and spent a lot of time listening to new and rare stuff played by John Peele. When I arrived in London Kiss and Jazz FM were playing some well serious dance that had never been heard by the majority, I was inspired to start collecting. At first it was just for my own pleasure but as with most collectors you start to buy and sell in search of the more rarer and harder to find tracks. Simon: Were did your quest for black plastic take you? Jazzman: I used to get a load of stuff from "Soul Bowl" and also a load from mail order from the states. It was inevitable that the states had to be visited because one find usually leads to another; there is quite a lot of detective work to be done looking for rare records. Some times you will strike the mother load, other times you can return with a few discs. The money tag on the track aint important, what counts is the groove; it has to take you there. This is the only thing that is important. People on The Acid Jazz and Funk scene want to hear new, quality stuff and don't get hung up on hearing the same old same old. Simon: Were did you get the vibe from? Jazzman: I used to go to Dingwalls in London the DJs where Gilles Peterson & Patrick Forge who where playing what I thought sounded good, funky and danceable; I never want to be pigeon holed so I try to be as musically diverse as I can. I want the dance floor to be full but I will not play it safe! The average funkster will not be as snobby as on the northern scene and I think there is an easier acceptance of newer sounds. I will flit back and forth from musical genres playing some Acid Jazz some Funk and even some Northernsoul; this is what this scene is all about, good quality rare music. Simon: Do you play CD's? Jazzman: No! and I hope it never comes to that! Simon: Have you ever played on the Mod scene and what do you want to get out of tonight? Jazzman: I have never done anything on the Mod scene and I suppose what I want out of tonight is a full dance floor. Simon: Thanks for talking and good luck with your spot. I enjoyed the night, I enjoyed talking to Jazzman. Gerald "Jazzman" short's Top Ten 1 Manteca - Afro Funky (GRT) 2 Soul Pleasers - Baby Don't Cry (Living Legend) 3 Gladys Knight No - one Can Love You More TMG 4 Nathan Davis - Cecen Tizi (TRT) 5 Poncho Sanchez - Half & Half (Picante) 6 Charlie Rodrigues - The Theme (Triunfro) 7 The Firebolts - Everybody Party (Greenback) 8 Curtis Walker - That's the Way the World Works (Bet) 9 Elaine Brooks - I'm so Blue (Vibra) 10 Ronnie Knoller - Raunchy Rita (Alba) You can sample some of Jazzman's stuff on his website, give it a visit and expand your mind. Stay cool and funky! https://www.jazzmanrecords.co.uk Click here to visit Jazzman's web site. Simon Cuerden

Benji the German Scooter Scene seams to cross over from one genre to another a lot more than the UK scene, I spent many happy years in Germany both on The Northern and Scootering scenes, great Vespas, ropey Lambrettas and a real taste for Northernsoul but a little narrow. Do you know the girls n boyz known as "The Northernsoul family"? I hope to get out again to Germany to a weekender, the scooter thing is very small but superbly brilliant! I miss it!!!

I once rode my GP from Doncaster to London to do the 100 club anniversary, can't remember which one? I think it may have been the 16th? I arrived late Saturday afternoon and went to Camden market to see a couple of friends who have stalls there, opposite was Keb Darge who was selling cloths and a few Funk Cassettes, keb gave me a ticket for the nighter. I remember bombing about dodging traffic and going to Carnaby Street to see the plastic mods lol I went to Merc? And flicked through the records. I remember Alfie Davison - Love Is Serious Business being there as a pressing. Later I parked the scooter right out side The 100 Club! White Lambretta GP 200 with Wigan Casino Patches air brushed, can any one remember it? I spent the night dancing my ass off whilst wearing high leg Doc Martins lol I also rode to Leeds on the scooter to the Griffin Hotel Allnighter with my mate Scotty from Doncaster.

Since 1978 I have been obsessed with Italian shopping bikes of the Lambretta and Vespa models one of my early memories is of me window licking Miles Kingsport's in Hull due to their latest delivery of the Vespa rally 200. My eyes would glaze over as I watched the Beverley Mods Scooter Club ride through the town like conquering heroes on their copper and brass steeds, a very intoxicating image for an easily impressed teenager. It wasn't long before I was to get my first Lambretta and bedecked with the ubiquitous Korean Patterned Parka I was off to rampage through Scarborough, 1979 was a good year. I had my first taste of Northernsoul at Rudi's in Scarborough and The mighty Bub span the discs that washed over me and through me entering my DNA to define who I am to this very day, nothing fancy but Judy Street's "What" was thee sound at the time and it formed part of the soundtrack to my youth, happy daze. Some years on and I now run one of the biggest scooter clubs in the world with 578 members, blowing my own trumpet I know but I am extremely proud of this. I am also a Northernsoul fanatic and love going to Allnighters. I find my self meeting more and more people who are the same age as me, 47, and often five or even ten years my senior who tell of their exploits whilst riding Italian Shopping trolleys. To be honest, the amount of people who tell me that they used to ride Lambretta to Wigan Casino the car park must have been chocker block with them yet I have never seen one picture of a scooter out side The Casino? Is this just dreamy wishful thinking of people imagining their past Scootering or is it true? How popular where scooters amongst the Northernsoul fraternity?

My mate Derek and I intend to ride to Scarborough for the Easter Bank Holiday scooter Run returning home on the Saturday afternoon for a cats lick then onto Rugby Allnighter.

Steve , that was classy mate!