scooter history

From factory standard to faster and flashier: How scooter customisation became an industry

by

Mark Lancaster

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15th July 2026

Ever since scooters came off the production line, they have been altered in one way or another to change both their appearance and performance. Stu Owen reports… Undoubtedly, both the Lambretta and Vespa were classic designs, capturing the public eye the moment they rolled off the production line in the 1940s. It wasn’t just the…
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The lost origins of Scootering magazine

by

Mark Lancaster

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12th June 2026

Most scooter historians know that Scootering is the child of Back Street Heroes but, as Stan explains, that’s only part of the story… In August 1981, I’d nursed my Vespa 50 Special to Scarborough, where word of mouth said that there was to be a large gathering of scooters. The previous year a group of…
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Model F Racer

by

Mark Lancaster

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26th May 2026

Innocenti produced several open-frame factory racers, but none of them were as outrageous as this example from Jeff Wilkes. Within months of Lambretta production starting, Innocenti began building factory racers. Entering them into endurance races was seen as a great way to promote the Lambretta brand by proving their reliability and strong build quality. This…
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