GTS OWNERS CLUB

Pepy27 · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 3:13 pm Post subject: Kettering Scooter Fair

Spotted......

Vintage Red GTS

Avio Grey GTV

Midnight Blue GTS

Me (Portofino GTV) and my brother (Black GT) made a flying visit.

Loads of trad stuff, and some cool looking scoots.

Bigianscooter · Guvernor Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 700

I went and all I can say is since Mr Walsh has taken it over the turnout of dealers is well down and hardly a bargain to be found, ok if you want chrome bling or a T shirt or a born again's parka (yes there were loads of em out today)

Definately not as good as the original Wickstead part fairs where laods of people did stall and bargains galore to be found.

Big Ian

Pepy27 · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:54 pm Post subject:

I must admit to being disappointed. I've not been before and to pay a fiver to get in was a little steep. Shocked

smudger · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:00 pm Post subject:

Is this really down to one man or his organization? I think it is more of a reflection of the modern world. Without wanting to state the obvious it is not 1982 or even 2002 it's 2008!

What this means is there is this massive thing called the internet that we are all using. Also the 'scene' is moving with the times. If you can sell online with a descent website then e-commerce will be far more profitable than the typical back street scooter shop of old. We have all seen well respected dealers go to the wall in recent times, but online retailers like SIP go from strength to strength. Why is that? Well if you can buy online for less then its really obvious why.

I have never been to a rally (I'm unsure if I'd fit in and I know no one who will go with me) and I only bought my first scooter in 2006 at the age of 33, I'd always liked the look of Vespas but never got round to owning one, which is one of my big regrets that I didn't come to scooters earlier. Due mainly to a close family friend suffering sever brain damage on a motorbike at the age of 16, I was 8, I was discouraged/forbidden from riding. Anyway I was always more attracted to the image of an Italian riding along the Amalfi Coast with a hot chick pillion than I was to the image of a guy wearing skin tight jeans, 18 hole DM's and a bomber jacket or the guy with more mirrors than Warren Beaty.

If there are more people offering a 'born again parka' than parts at fairs then it is just a fact of life that these are what sells in the volumes required to make a living. If a lot of the small dealers who offered the bargains mentioned are no longer around that is 'progress', I'll admit, with out getting too political, it's a very Thatcherite version of progress but it is progress in post 80's England. (Like a Darwinian market place where only the fittest survive).

The simple fact is I love my Vespa, I'm not hard core in that I haven't ridden since I was 16, but I do ride to work on my scoot daily and only use the car when I have to. In fact the car will go at the end of the lease in September..

The point I'm trying to make is the scene isn't what is was, it's what it is, and that will move on to something else in the future. In another 5 years there might be scooterists on this site bemoaning the lack of stalls at the parts fairs selling repo parkas, I can hear it now "went to the parts fair yesterday, all they had was Chinese scooters for sale, what happened to all those guys selling parkas???"

The fact is some of us wish we were Ace Face, some Weller others want to be hard core scooter boys and I wish I was a 17 year old Italian living in Sorento with Jessica Alba riding Pillion on my GTS, but we cant all have what we want...

Rant over, hate me if you want.... It's probably for the best...

Bigianscooter · Guvernor Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 700

Some good valid points raised there Smudger, Wink

Here's my slant on a few things

Mr Walsh over the years has achieved some good things that are scooter related and has put in loads of work for the LCGB but has recently gone mad organising that many parts fairs in one year it is killing off the main concept IMHO.

Bling and born agains - yeh it's on the increase more 40 somethings now back on the scene with more money to spend than ever before which is helping push the prices up on anything scooter related especially bling items and rare accesories and attracts more clothes sellers to parts fairs.

You can go to some of these venues and it's like watching a fancy dress party with all these old blokes wearing parkas and oxblood boots and all the scooterboy uniform......but how many still wear it come mondady morning when it's time to go back to work??????

You are 100% right in what you say about the scene being what it is, over the years it has changed so many times and that is what keeps it alive, it's evolved from Mods/scooterboys/physobillys/skins etc etc it has been a rollercoaster ride of fun......my point I think I'm trying to say is if I pay to go to a PARTS fair then thats what I'd expect not a bloody Clothes and chrome fashion boutique Rolling Eyes

I think I'm only jealous as I'm a fat git and none of this new "Lambretta " clothing fits me Embarassed

I aint having a rant or having a pop those who know me will know I'm only taking the p*ss Wink

so please dont get offended by thinking I'm having a dig back

dougl65 · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:48 pm Post subject:

Blackpool Paul · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:17 pm Post subject:

Enjoyed the posts there from Smudger and Big Ian, very acurate observations but if someone wants to buy a pitch and sell clothes, whats wrong with that? if too many clothes stalls then its up to the organiser to refuse some, but if there the only ones willing to fork out large lums of cash for stalls Im afraid the writings on the wall. There doesnt seem to be any bargains in reality anymore, your lucky to find anything you cant buy cheaper on Fleabay for instance, Ive stopped going down there, setting off early, petrol, entry fee, food etc. bet there wasnt any Ancillotti seats for £30, bought one today off Fleabay, and went for a rideout with the club! result! in fact Id say most things are dearer! only if you can still find some obscure original part second hand are you likely to find the trip worthwhile, Hens teeth mean anything? Wink

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Pepy27 · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:29 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure what i expected really but i'm pretty sure i won't bother again.

I could tell there was a social aspect to it as well as selling but if your not part of it then it really didn't offer anything other than to see some very nice trad scoots outside. I should have saved the fiver and just wandered around the scooter parking area. Laughing

suit scoot · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject:

Rhoodman · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:55 pm Post subject:

It used to be free to wander around the outside stalls, and £2 if you wanted to go into the hall. Now there's an 8ft fence around the site, and it's £5 to get in!

On a seperate note, did anyone see that purple metal flake 50 special with the 200 engine hanging out the back and ET forks?
And that 172 dragster for £800?

I had my wallet out at one point....very tempting! But I had no way of getting it home. Taking the van next time! Cool

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Bigianscooter · Guvernor Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 700

The dragster was probably the only bargain I spotted did not spot the smallframe with P2 lump.....mind you I was in and out in 50mins flat Rolling Eyes

Big Ian

GAVSKIN · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:07 pm Post subject:

so let me get this straight........its non scooterists scooter riders moaning about a scooterists event Question

i cant realy see the point in having a scooter and not being part of the scene (but im tottaly biased)maybe these peeeps need to get together and go for a nice picnic or something Laughing

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Pepy27 · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:04 pm Post subject:

smudger · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:26 pm Post subject:

Innocenti · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:30 pm Post subject:

GAV,
your parka you ordered arrived today have sewn on all your patches you got from running a clothing stall on rallies looks good Cool

can also confirm my tonic suit is a bit tight at the moment and may need taking out a bit Shocked

as far as im concerned ride what you like enjoy yourself and dont give a monkeys about the others ...hence the rise of the Darkside Wink

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