The Past
formed in June 2003 and numbers increased rapidly, currently standing at forty plus members of different ages, sizes and backgrounds but all with the same passion for the scooter scene. But this wasn’t the beginning of Torbay’s relationship with scooters.
(number 74) started in 1956. The main Vespa dealer in Newton Abbot Jack Green was instrumental in forming the Club he also helped to keep it going too as Torbay Council ran a fleet of Vespas for many years.
Founder members of the club attended the Douglas Works National Rally in Bristol in 1956, and in 1968 were the best-dressed Club at the Cheltenham Rally, members had Royal Blue boiler suits. For the first three years the Club mainly had runs over the summer months and also held treasure hunts and proficiency tests. In 1960 they started runs throughout the year and the membership of the club continued to grow.
The first National Rally in Torquay was in 1962 followed by 1965 and 1968, and the club continued to flourish until the early 1970s. By 1974, however, it was decided to close the Club. However, members have still kept as friends and every three or four years we have had a get-together.
Founder members of the club attended the Douglas Works National Rally in Bristol in 1956, and in 1968 were the best-dressed Club at the Cheltenham Rally, members had Royal Blue boiler suits. For the first three years the Club mainly had runs over the summer months and also held treasure hunts and proficiency tests. In 1960 they started runs throughout the year and the membership of the club continued to grow.
The first National Rally in Torquay was in 1962 followed by 1965 and 1968, and the club continued to flourish until the early 1970s. By 1974, however, it was decided to close the Club. However, members have still kept as friends and every three or four years we have had a get-together.
The South Devon Showmen
The Torbay and Newton Abbot Vespa Club
Eighteen scooterists assembled at the Mannor Inn in Market Street, Torquay on Thursday 26th July 1962. Regular Club Evenings were run by the Social Committee and Club Runs to various venues in Devon took place on Sundays, with a few extended weekend runs to sporting events across the South of England or camping in Cornwall. The black and yellow legshield banner became a popular sight over a very wide area of the country.
The first Scooter Gymkhana was held in August 1962 at Forches Cross, Newton Abbot. Similar rallies were then held annually, attracting almost 200 entries at venues near Denbury and the old Greyhound Racing Stadium at Kingskerswell. Navigational Rallies, Treasure Hunts, Economy Runs and Mud Trials were also popular with members. The most competitive found themselves entering scooter racing events near Plymouth and came home with a good share of Gold Medals and trophies from the Isle of Man Scooter Rally.
Road Safety was important to members, not content to hold their own internal Road Safety and Maintenance competitions they also organised an annual competition within Torbay Road Safety Week. We participated in Babbacombe Fayre raising money and having entries in the Concours d’Elegance and Scooter Queen events. Club Chairman Peter Fox led the instruction of learner drivers along with suitable qualified scooter members. Peter was eventually awarded a BEM for his work, but passed away somewhat suddenly some years ago - a true case of the best ones go first.
The Torbay Scooter Club “The Tigers”
Socially there were two teams competing in the Torquay Skittles League and to this day there is still a TIGERS team - currently in Division 7. The squad includes four of those who attended the inaugural meeting 44 years ago. Many of the sporting events we held were filmed on 8mm film and are still held for posterity! A monthly magazine “Tiger News” was produced and many are stored away.
From a position of great strength the members romanced, married and produced families. We started in the era of Mods and Rockers squabbling on various seaside locations and suffered the signs being turned from ‘open’ to ‘closed’ when we arrived outside a cafe; being judged by the bad publicity for the vehicles we rode. Having enjoyed 25 years or so at the top our membership dropped, mainly due to a lcak of new members and the government brought in legislation covering cubic capacity and driving licences. The range of makes of scooter shrank considerably and manufacturers were putting vehicles on the road that barely bore any resemblance of the scooters as recognised in 1962. The family members wanted to bring cars along on the runs and when it gets to more cars that scooter it was time to call it a day. Looking back it is hard to put a definite date on it but that was probably around 1987.
Some ( but not many) of us do still ride our Vespa’s. It’s is nice to carry on the exchange of a nod or wave with younger riders. The older riders have a wealth of stories to exchange when we meet. Do you remember when.......?
Thanks to Ted Parrot for his memories
From a position of great strength the members romanced, married and produced families. We started in the era of Mods and Rockers squabbling on various seaside locations and suffered the signs being turned from ‘open’ to ‘closed’ when we arrived outside a cafe; being judged by the bad publicity for the vehicles we rode. Having enjoyed 25 years or so at the top our membership dropped, mainly due to a lcak of new members and the government brought in legislation covering cubic capacity and driving licences. The range of makes of scooter shrank considerably and manufacturers were putting vehicles on the road that barely bore any resemblance of the scooters as recognised in 1962. The family members wanted to bring cars along on the runs and when it gets to more cars that scooter it was time to call it a day. Looking back it is hard to put a definite date on it but that was probably around 1987.
Some ( but not many) of us do still ride our Vespa’s. It’s is nice to carry on the exchange of a nod or wave with younger riders. The older riders have a wealth of stories to exchange when we meet. Do you remember when.......?
Thanks to Ted Parrot for his memories
The South Devon Showmen S.C.
Scooters at Paignon Harbour.
1966 Scooter Rally in Torquay.
1966 Scooter Rally @ Torquay Harbourside
Torbay 1965