When loyalty, craft, and creativity meet, remarkable things happen. Capturing the heart of scootering and football culture, Mark Harris’s Vespa is a dazzling story of rebirth told through metal, paint, and passion. Stu Smith reports…
For Mark, the bond between football and scooters has always been more than just surface decoration. It’s about identity, loyalty, and history. His custom Vespa, 1919… Peacock From The Flames, is a masterpiece born of devotion, both to his lifelong football club, Leeds United, and to the craft of self-build custom scootering. The result is a machine that radiates power, pride, and the unmistakable vibe of something made with heart.
Reborn
The scooter’s name is a clever nod to Leeds United’s origins. In 1919, when Leeds City was expelled from the Football League for financial irregularities, the club was effectively erased overnight. Yet from those ashes rose Leeds United, reborn at the same Elland Road ground, then known as the Old Peacock Ground, after the pub that still stands across the street.
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Leeds supporters were soon nicknamed “The Peacocks,” and, in that rebirth, Mark found the perfect metaphor for his own creation. “It’s a twist on Phoenix from the Flames,” he explains. “Leeds were literally born again in 1919, so Peacock From The Flames just felt right.”
Mark’s journey into scootering began the way it did for many, with a cinema ticket and the everlasting influence of Quadrophenia in 1979. “I saw the film, and that was it. After that, I went straight out and got myself a Vespa GL150, which I’ve still got today.”
Building the Dream
Mark acquired the scooter that forms the foundation for this project, which was little more than a bare frame and a couple of boxes of bits approximately three years ago. But what he saw was potential.
Originally, the plan was for a sleeper, subtle, and understated. But as ideas evolved, those ideas gave way to something far more ambitious: a full-blown, metal-flake, 1980s-inspired custom, bursting with energy and layered with symbolic touches connecting it to Leeds United’s history.
The entire project took roughly three years of on-and-off and was completed by Mark in his workshop. “In respect of the paint, it was going to be my first ever attempt at a full respray. I’d never even picked up a spray gun before, so YouTube became my best mate! I made plenty of mistakes, but I also learned how to fix them, and that’s half the fun.” He smiled.
Power with Purpose
The engine setup developed by Mark is designed to deliver power, performance, and reliability. The process began with an engine strip and rebuild, pairing a Malossi MHR 221 top end with a 60mm Mazzucchelli crank, ensuring a perfect balance between high-end performance and long-distance durability.
Fuel delivery comes via a PHBH 30mm Dellorto carburettor, assisted by a Mikuni fuel pump to maintain a constant flow at sustained speeds. A SIP 3 exhaust system provides the right combination of back pressure and flow, giving the scooter a sharp, confident note without compromising torque. The BGM clutch offers smooth power transfer through a standard gearbox, tweaked with a T5 fourth gear for a livelier top end.
The front forks have been modified to accommodate a disc brake, replacing the original Mk1 setup. Combined with adjustable SIP suspension front and rear, the scooter feels safe, secure, and responsive, and handles confidently whether cruising to rallies or opening up on long straights. The upgraded fuel delivery keeps performance consistent, while modern electrical tweaks like a GPS speedo and combined temperature/rev counter give Mark real-time control without cluttering the headset. “It rides like a dream, with plenty of power through the rev range, and it’s got a GPS-verified top speed of 68.5 mph.” He explained.
Technically, the setup is a testament to Mark’s mechanical understanding. “I’ve built several engines over the years, and I’ve blown a few up in my time, but that’s all part of the learning curve, and this one’s built to last.”
Art in Motion
In terms of the paintwork, Mark’s dedication truly shines. Working from bare metal, he smoothed out seams, corrected imperfections, and layered a silver base coat beneath multi-coloured metalflake, creating a finish that bursts with life. Over this, he airbrushed yellow, blue, and white flames, which are a subtle nod to Leeds United’s colours before carefully blending each hue to achieve a flowing effect. On the legshields, in pride of place, a single airbrushed peacock rises through the flames in a symbolic representation of Leeds United’s rebirth, emerging from adversity with renewed strength and pride.
The seat was built by John “Corky” Corcoran, and replacement badges came from Andrea Tredi in Italy. The familiar Piaggio logo on the horn cover has been replaced with ‘ALAW,’ short for ‘All Leeds Aren’t We,’ the club’s enduring terrace chant, while below it sits the classic 1970s Leeds badge, a symbol of the club’s golden era. “It’s subtle,” Mark notes, “but if you know, you know.”
Despite the football symbolism, Peacock From The Flames isn’t just a custom machine; it’s built to be ridden. “I didn’t want something that just sits under a spotlight. This is meant to be out on the road. That’s where scooters belong.”
The balance between vintage character and modern functionality defines the build. Its unmistakable P-range lines, stance, and mechanical simplicity all remain, yet every detail has been refined.
Even the smallest touches reflect Mark’s technical care and attention to detail. “It’s all those little things that make it ride the way that it does. Nothing’s there for show, everything’s there because it works.”
Beyond the Badge
For Mark, the Leeds United theme runs deeper than colours. It’s about what the club represents: endurance, rebirth, and pride. “Supporting Leeds since 1970, you get used to ups and downs,” he laughs. “But you stick with it, that’s what loyalty is, and that’s what this scooter is about. You take something broken, rebuild it, and make it better than before.”
That ethos, resilience through adversity, is the thread connecting club, builder, and machine. Just as Leeds United rose from financial collapse to Premier League revival, Mark’s scooter rose from bare steel to gleaming brilliance through sheer determination and craft.
1919… Peacock From The Flames is a living, breathing work of art that fuses the worlds of football, engineering, and self-expression into one cohesive vision. Every element of the build speaks of Mark’s passion for both his club and scooters.
It’s a build that reflects Leeds United’s spirit, hard-earned pride, rebirth through effort, and a commitment to doing things the right way, and much like the club it honours, 1919… Peacock From The Flames is proof that no matter how many times you get knocked down, what truly matters is how you rise again.
Words: Stu Smith
Photos: Mark Harris
Man and machine
Name: Mark Harris
Scooter club & town: The Saints, Bury St Edmunds.
Most memorable rally: Isle of Wight ‘82 and ‘83… they were just brilliant. I can’t remember why, but if you can, then you weren’t there!!
Name of scooter: 1919… Peacock From The Flames.
Scooter model: Vespa P221E
Kit: Malossi MHR 221.
Crank: 60mm Mazzuccelli.
Carb: 30mm Dellorto.
Exhaust: SIP 3.
Clutch: BGM.
Suspension: SIP adjustable.
Seat: Custom by John “Corky” Corcoran.
Any advice for people starting a project: Don’t panic. An engine build is straightforward if you remember how it came apart; if not, take photos and videos. In terms of the paintwork, be prepared to make some mistakes, but don’t give up. Learn how to put them right and don’t do it again!
Is there anyone you wish to thank: The beauty in my life, my wife Donna, who stopped me from hitting the rum when anything went wrong!
