Ray Collins, Scooterist Extraordinaire
Written by Mau Spencer
Editor, Classic Scooterist Scene
Raymond Henry Collins was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, on July 16, 1920. He grew up in Bishops Stortford, Herts, where his father had a grocer’s shop.
Although Ray’s technical and mechanical knowledge had now earned him respect and recognition, it was his time spent working with Don Noys that really made him stand out and shine above his peers.
IOM Scooter Holiday Week 1968
Written by Kenneth Wilson
My “S” type Lambretta arrived at Cheltenham railway station in the guards van, and was duly wheeled onto the platform by a young man from Arthur Francis of Watford.
Snetterton 1968
Written by Ray Towle
It was 1968 and I was 17 at the time. I had arrived at my mate Burts house early (before 9.00am) on Saturday morning. We had over the weeks before gathered equipment together and replaced all the cables on his SX150.
He had just purchased this from Norman Ronald (F reg) who had been racing it in Italy; it was a metallic burnt orange 'S' type and had a very crisp sounding exhaust which had been cut and welded back to allow more of an angle when leaning over.
Don Noys, Sporting Hero
Written by Frank Osgerby
Don was born in 1930 and throughout the 60's ran a scooter dealership in Croydon .
During this time he took part in many sporting events including road races, the IOM scooter week, record breaking sprints and even attempting the wall of death on
a Lambretta! He was also an amateur journalist writing several articles for the motorcycling / scooter magazines of the day. But he is best known for his attempts on the British scooter speed records in 1964 and 1965 on his famous GT 200 "Stingray".
Ron Moss, 1969
Written by Ron Moss (aka The White Tornado)
Nev Frost left Supertune to work for Arthur Francis, so Malcolm Clarkson offered to supply me with a Supertune Machine. My most memorable event of that year has to be Cadwell Park, I had entered the specials class as we were still in the regularity trails not racing and the times set were being beaten by Nev in the 200 class. Again disaster in the paddock, piston broke because of to much compression and a crap piston. John Foster to the rescue again, John entered the 200 class so lent me his bike again for the specials.
SUR 52D
Written by Bob Fletcher
I graduated to ‘S’ type ownership through the normal route, at the time, of an Li150, followed very quickly with a series of TV175’s of various vintages. One Sunday on a Club run, we happened to be riding through Loughborough and there in a dealer’s window was a metallic red and white 1963 Lambretta TV200.
