This is the first of a series where I’m sharing people’s 80s scooter photos for those of us who love to reminisce about that period. Rich and I spent a lovely couple of hours going through his whole collection where we jogged each others’ memories, remembering some great times.
I first met Rich in 83/84 and his first rally was Morecambe 1984 when he went on the back of Pete Bryant’s P200E – he was only 15 so couldn’t legally ride the scooter he’d built in his bedroom. I was on my Primavera and we also went with Jo Rockall, Rob Beckinsale and a guy called Mike. it took us forever to get there as some of us hadn’t passed our tests, and many of the cities en route didn’t have decent bypasses back then.
So we went through the middle of Newbury, Oxford and Manchester, to name just a few! Rich loved it and it was the first of many rallies he rode to, including Scotland (on the back of my PX in 1985, and then on his own scooter the following year).
He always owned Vespas, and was a good mechanic. I lost count of the times he had to adjust my points on the way to Newark in 84. I also have a photo of him taking a clutch apart, I think at Weston one year. It’s crazy to think of the major issues that were fixed thanks to a rally stall selling spares and a few mates sharing their tools and knowledge.
Rich was a proud member of the Midhurst Detours Scooter Club, but also hung around with the Talismen a lot, travelling the length and breadth of the country with them. There was the famous story that Gary Mann shared where they rode two-up on Gary’s PX to Scarborough and on the way home got as far as Leeds and decided to ring the RAC. After disconnecting a few important wires they got recovery home to Bognor, after pooling their cash to buy a steak dinner and (bizarrely) a Zippy soft toy each.
Once they arrived at Rich’s house, Gary reconnected the wires and sped off home to Worthing, overtaking the RAC van on the way!
Rich built a lovely custom P Range with a fantasy theme, but I’m not sure if it ever saw the light of day. It was painted by Dave White of Birdham, who also painted my Dangermouse Vespa. I’ve got a feeling someone found the panels decades later, still intact.
I hate talking about Rich in the past tense because he sadly died in January this year, but I feel that the best tribute I can pay is by sharing these photos, which he wanted me to do, so that his contribution to the scene, and our lives, will never be forgotten.
Absolutely brilliant,the good old days
I couldn’t agree more!
I have had many scooters since 1978/9 and still have my scooters pics
Hi Ali really saddened to hear of Richards passing.
I first met you and Rich in 84 at Newhaven Fort where there was an all nighter and bands playing and if i recall some of the older lot from my town got into a chair throwing contest with the Nomads SC from London but my memory is not what it was…
Diz dropped the news on me but i could not make the service due to fate conspiring again.
The photo montage really brought back some memories, it would be good to catch up at some point as i haven’t seen anyone since Camber in the early 2000s although i do have a memory of crashing at Gary’s place in Bognor at some point but i could not tell you exactly when that was.
All the very best
Bill
Hastings
Hey Bill, so lovely to hear from you! Would really love to catch up – maybe at the Bulldog run on May 19th (a rideout to Midhurst). x