Tommy’s Tips will be appearing in Scootering until our September edition. Hopefully they will assist those readers who wish to pass the A2 motorcycle test before the new, more stringent test comes into force next October.
Tommy’s Tips are prepared by Tom Blears, the proprietor of Tommy Bee Motorcycle Training.

The tips are meant to be read in conjunction with the DSA Official Publication ‘Official Motorcycling CBT, Theory & Practical Test’ (ISBN 978-0-11-552645-9), price £7.99.

Buy The Official DSA Guide to Learning to Ride - £6.39 on Amazon

Much more in the current issue of Scootering Magazine...

You may remember last year (in the November 2007 issue) we brought you an exclusive interview with Gianni Quartieri who had worked at Innocenti from the pre-Lambretta days right up until 1983, well now we bring you another rare insight into the goings on within Innocenti in Milan by way of an interview with his boss, Luigi Cassola.

Now retired and living on the
coast a couple of hours away from Milan, Luigi Cassola is a sprightly 88-year-old that has certainly not let his advancing years inhibit his activities, and that includes riding a Lambretta D150! Employed by Innocenti from 1947 until 1977, he began as a mechanical engineer working under engineer Torre who rose to be in charge of the experimental division. As a result Cassola is credited as one of the men behind some of the greatest achievements attributed to the Lambretta brand.

A precise, methodical, animated man– a typical engineer if you will – he is not only happy to talk about some of the projects he was a big part of as an employee of Innocenti, such as the record-breaking Lambretta of 1951, but retains his enthusiasm for these ventures. So much so in fact that he was often drawing explanatory diagrams and graphs to further explain the development of exhaust pipes, engine power, fuel consumption and to show the ideal power curve for a world record breaking scooter!

Much more in the current issue of Scootering Magazine..

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Well before the well supported ‘Long Way Down’ adventure through Africa upon top-of-the-range Beemers, intrepid scooter riders had been venturing into the ‘Dark Continent’s’ desert terrain. One of the most amazing, yet little known attempts was undertaken in the early 50s by ‘man of mystery’ Alvin ‘Spike’ Rhiando.

Under African skies

A DVD worth buying would be one of the Vespa team tackling the 1980 Paris Dakar race, described in Scootering last month. Some film footage of their tortured experience must exist somewhere, surely? Before them I’m aware of numerous examples of African desert scootering on Lambrettas (Model C and so on), Vespas, a Terrot, and even a Durkopp Diana. No doubt there were many more unsung heroes struggling through the dust and heat on smaller wheels whose travails went largely undocumented.

It’s debatable who was the first to chance a scooter in the Sahara, but Spike Rhiando’s foray must have been among the very earliest. Not a great deal has been written about this early 50s exploit. Firstly, I suppose it is by nature a subject of only limited specialist interest, and secondly, because anything to do with Spike Rhiando seems to end up with an air of mystery about it – just when you think you’ve reeled in a ‘fact’, doubts have a habit of creeping in and myths emerge like desert flowers after the rain. So a caveat must be issued regarding the story of this fascinating personality.

Much more in the current issue of Scootering Magazine..

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Scooters are my biggest two-wheeled passion and like many others I’ve ticked most of the usual boxes: been on loads of great rallies, ridden some long distance journeys including trips through Spain and Italy, built some trophy winning custom scooters, pulled a few wheelies past the chippy and infamously (or stupidly!) got my knee down at the Isle of Wight on my SX a few years back.

I’m into anything with two wheels (apart from big fat cruisers) whether it be scooters, motorbikes or even push bikes – but unfortunately racing had always eluded me. Like many before me I had a big list of excuses including; the lack of time and money, the ever-present worry of broken bones and the fear of being last past the chequered flag. With my 40th birthday just months away, however, being too old was not another excuse I wanted to add to the list so it was time to sort it out.

Much more in the current issue of Scootering Magazine..

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WIN a pair of Ikon originals!!

With the new range from Ikon Footwear set for release in May, to celebrate their collaboration with Bruce Foxton, we have a pair to give away to one lucky reader!

The closing date is 31 May 2008 and the first entry pulled out of Gary’s school gym bag after that date wins a pair of Ikon’s new Gibsons!

All you have to do to enter is answer one simple question!

To enter the competition >>

Much more in the current issue of Scootering Magazine..

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