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Peroxide Dreams

They say good things come to those who wait, a phrase extolling the virtues of patience, and you need no better example than the Lambretta gracing these pages.

Back in 1987, Tate (as he’s known to his friends) began building his custom scooter, acquiring the frame from a friend. He chose a Lambretta GP as his base model, and in keeping with trends at the time opted for portrait style images of the chosen subject matter to be painted over a base coat.

“When I started this project in my early 20s I had a fascination with Marilyn Monroe plus any female with this look,” explained Tate. “However, now in my late 40s I would probably re-think the subject if starting again, especially now I’m married to Claire who would question my motives...”

Well said young man, and of course such themes were popular back in the 1980s, both Marilyn and Debbie Harry – among others – inspiring a handful of custom scooters.

Tate actually got the proverbial ball rolling early on, spraying the scooter himself with a black base coat with silver eerie dess and gold, blue and red candie flashed over the top. The panel work was then taken to airbrush artist John Spurgeon who, while still creating masterpieces today, was the name found on what seemed to be every other custom scooter back in the 1980s. Tate took with him material for John to adapt, and as is often the case, following discussion about the project the expert artist explained what would actually look best depicted on the scooter...

• Read the full feature in Scootering magazine - February 2012!