A4 softback book
Written by the editor of Scootering magazine, a must-have bookazine for all scootering fans is here… ‘The Art of Scooters’. If you thought that attaching chromed spotlights and mirrors in a Mod style was the only form of scooter customization, or that TV shows such as American Chopper were some sort of new innovation, then think again! More than 140 custom scooters from around the UK and Europe can be found in the 132 pages of ‘The Art of Scooters’ which are sure to stun its readers.
Looking at the scooter scene from the 1950s to the present day, ‘The Art of Scooters’ opens up the world of intricately engraved and gold-plated engines, radical scooter engineering and some award-winning artwork that will blow readers’ minds.
Drawing heavily on the colour archives of Scootering magazine each page brings you a new work of art from the world of scootering, from radical chops to engine transplants, accessorised Mod-style scooters to fully mural Lambrettas, classic P-range Vespas and many more. The inspiration for these machines is just as vast: music, conflict, fantasy art of the scooter lifestyle; these and more are all represented and great examples of why many in the world of customized two-wheelers admire these little scooters so much. Names such as Spirit Walker, Wake, Headhunter, DTC, Alien, Sonic Dream and Future Shock among many others will not only be familiar to you by the end of this read, but also the inspiration to customize your own scooter.
‘The Art of Scooters ‘ is priced at £6.99, it will be available from most branches of WHSmith and of course direct from Scootering Magazine by calling
01507 529529 or by visiting
Classic magazines >>
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Contents
Introduction
And index of scooters
One Man’s Mission
Dazzled by Wake
In a 50s Style
The postwar years
A Way of Life
That’s scootering…
The Swinging Sixties
Mod styling
Cult Status
The legendary Vespa P-range
70s Fashion
Groovy man...
Cuttin’ it Fine…
Chopped scooters
Extreme Surgery
Full engine transplants
Remember the 80s?
Metalflake, vreeble & more…
Bolt On Delight
Accessorised customs
It’s a 90s Thing
New decade, more show winners
Musical Culture
From Aswad to Zodiac Mindwarp!
Racing Ahead
The sporty side of customising
A Friendly Invasion
It’s not just the Brits you know…
Conflict
Battle-themed scooters
The Future’s Bright…
...for custom scooters
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The Art of Scooters - Extracts
50s
“Contrary to popular belief,
scooter sales in the UK and
indeed Europe were greater
in the 1950s than the 1960s,
despite the Mods hitting the
latter decade’s headlines.”
60s
By the time the 1960s arrived, food rationing in the UK had ended, Rock 'n' Roll had landed and things were generally improving following the ravages of World War Two.
“The Mods did what every
good underground youth
culture does just as the
mainstream finds out about
it, it imploded...”
70s
The 1970s were much more
than a stopgap between the 60s and 80s
or the decade that brought us Glam and Punk rock.
For the scooter scene, the 1970s were very important indeed…
80s
“Through 1981/82 the
youngsters looked to their peers
for inspiration and the
new ‘scooterboy’ look
began to take over.”
90s
OK, let’s all blame Thatcher! And of
course people growing up, having
mortgages and children and generally
changing their lifestyle too. Whatever the
reasons, the early 90s were a quiet period for the
scooter scene and this was obviously reflected in the
custom scooters too. For much of the decade there
seemed to be far less ‘stunning’ scooters around,
although the quality was still high.
A Way of Life
“Customisation comes in all shapes
and forms, which is what keeps the
scene so vibrant and the
critics busy debating the
latest show
results.”
Chopped scooters - Cuttin' it fine
There are a few debates as to
where the theory behind
chopped scooters comes from.
Some say it’s a desire to emulate
motorcycles, yet others remind us
that skeleton Lambrettas (those
stripped of all bodywork) have been
around since the 1960s.
“No matter where it began,
the cutting or chopping of
a scooter is possibly the most
radical and provocative
form of customisation.”
Bolt On Delight
“The revival of the late 70s saw
the Mod culture once again
making headline news and
scooters were being pulled
out of the woodwork left,
right and centre.”
“It wasn’t long before custom shows
were overrun with rows of red and
white SX200s, where previously you
would have been knee deep in gold
plating and intricate engraving.”
Conflict
One recurring theme when it comes to customising scooters is that of a historical conflict, artwork often commissioned to pay tribute to fallen combatants from over the years.
Music Culture
Despite the Mod movement evolving from 'Modernists' with an affection for Modern Jazz of the late 1950s, it's bands like The Who and Small Faces that are immediately associated with the scooter scene.
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Further information
For further information please contact:
Charlotte Park
Marketing Manager
Mortons Media Group Ltd
Tel: 01507 529342
Email:
cpark@mortons.co.uk
Editor’s Notes:
Scootering is published by:
Mortons Media Group Ltd
Morton Way
Horncastle
Lincolnshire
LN9 6JR
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