JANUARY 2003

28/01/03 : ISLE OF MAN!
 
You may or may not be aware that the Isle of Man Scooter Rally from yester year is back! And the date: Bank Holiday weekend 2nd-5th of May. A bit about the event's history... Through the 1960s and early 1970s the IoM 'Scooter Week' flourished, but as interest in scooters waned, the rally eventually petered out. As the late 1970s mod revival brought another wave of young and boisterous scooter riders together, the IoM government became worried about the prospects of trouble and banned any organised scooter events on the island. That ban stood from the early 1980s until last year which brings us to the present: Lambretta Club of Great Britain are the main organisers but the event is not just for their members, it's for all scooter riders. The LCGB have organised discounted ferry and accommodation deals either in B&B's or on a large campsite in Douglas. These prices include traditional scooterist evenings of entertainment, including Motown legend Edwin Starr playing live. Scootering is a major supporter of the event, and the current issue includes details of the accommodation and ferry deals that are available. Alternatively you can find out more at www.lcgb.co.uk/iom or phone Kev Walsh on 0151 426 9839.
 
The good news for all you speed freaks is that Twist & Go will be a major sponsor of the sporting events planned for the weekend, and this will be an excellent opportunity for you to try your hand at sprinting and circuit racing at vastly subsidised prices. Twist & Go will be sponsoring the sprinting on Sunday at Jurby airfield, with trophies up for grabs in an Automatic Street Class for road legal machines, and also a Race Class. This will be very much a 'Run What Ya Brung' event, with demonstrations of some of the fastest road and race scooters in the UK. Entry is free and your only cost to race is £12.50 for one-day insurance and licence. On the Monday, scooter racing comes to Jurby - organised by the British Scooter Sport Organisation - with classes for automatic and classic scooters as well as sidecar outfits. On top of the regular classes, there will be a chance for road riders to sample the thrills of the circuit in a guided parade. Anyone with the required safety equipment can have a go on their road scooter for just the cost of insurance. More details about the sporting side of IoM, what the regulations are and what support the BSSO can give anybody interested in competing can be found on their web site at www.scooterracing.org.uk or you can contact BSSO Chairman Geoff Mason on 020 7551 1570 (Fax 020 7551 1461). BSSO, The Old Beer Shop, 92 Shortmead St, Biggleswade, Beds. SG18 0AP.
 
Whatever takes your fancy, racing, sprinting or just soaking up the atmosphere, let's see all you scooterists old and new at the Isle of Man, 2nd - 5th May.

23/01/03 : Coming soon from PSN Scooters a plastic moulded instrument housing console (for rev counters/tacho's etc.) The housing can be fitted just below your handlebars and will blend in with the rest of the bodywork. Andy at PSN says the prototype should be ready next week, so pics to follow. Looking for those seemingly hard-to-find NGK spark plugs? Andy at PSN also says he has some NGK B85EGV's in stock at £8 minus 5% if you mention that you're an Italjet Dragster.com member. PSN Scooters can be contacted on (01924) 445449 or via email.

22/01/03 :

X-RACE UK CHAMPIONSHIP 2003
ROUND 1 - SUNDAY 30th MARCH
SANTA POD RACEWAY

2003 is here and so begins a new sprinting season and the introduction of the all-new X-RACE UK CHAMPIONSHIP! The action is set to take place over five rounds at Elvington, Avon Park, York Dragway and Santa Pod. So if you've been thinking about having a go at drag racing this could be the perfect time to start! The rules for the championship are simple, it's anyone versus anyone, geared scooters versus automatics! In order to make things fair and square though there will be two separate classes:
 
Street Class - any road legal scooter (geared or automatic), any engine capacity.
 
Sprint Class - any non-road legal or NOS-kitted scooter (geared or automatic), any engine capacity.
 
The championship itself will involve a points system with two sets of points for both the eighth of a mile and the quarter mile. Ten points will be awarded to whoever gets the quickest time (not speed) at each round, nine points for second place and so on down to one point for coming tenth. No points will be awarded for eleventh place and below, likewise if you miss a round you miss your points! Trophies will then be awarded to the winners with the most points for the eighth of a mile and quarter mile in each class at the end of the final round.
 
When can I race? Rounds 2, 3 and 4 of the championship will take place at NSA (National Sprinting Association) meetings which will give people the chance to participate in some professional sprinting, however the dates for these meetings are yet to be confirmed. The rules for the championship will remain the same though your bike will be scrutineered by NSA officials. The first round of the championship will take place at Santa Pod Raceway in Bedfordshire on Sunday 30th March and the final round will take place on day two of the SANTA POD HIJACK (Sunday 3rd August). So if you want to enter the championship then you better make sure you're there at the first round in March!
 
How much does it cost? Entry fees vary from venue to venue but at Santa Pod expect to pay a £10 admission fee at the gates plus £15 when you sign-on, you'll then be entitled to unlimited runs up the strip! Try to get to the venue early and you'll also need to bring a valid UK Driving Licence in order to sign-on.
 
How do I get there? Santa Pod Raceway is well sign-posted off the M1 motorway, leave at junctions 14, 15 or 16. Nearest British Rail station: Wellingborough. Santa Pod Raceway is situated at: Airfield Road, Podington, Wellingborough, Northants. NN29 7XA. Ticket/Info line: 08700 782828. Official Santa Pod website: www.santapod.com
 
For info on future meetings check out the official X-RACE UK website at www.x-race-uk.info (still to be updated) or for more info on the NSA (National Sprinting Association) check out www.sprinting.org.uk
 
Dates for rounds 2, 3 and 4 T.B.D.
Round 5 - Sunday 3rd August, Santa Pod Raceway.

21/01/03 : Italjet Dragster.com are pleased to announce a new advertiser on the site - Virgin Bikes. Brand new Dragster 180's are currently on offer at £2799 (which works out at £83 per month on a personal loan of 11.6% APR). However all the other Italjets have free insurance, UK delivery and first service labour. You can view all details by going into the 'Scooter' section of the Virgin Bikes website. Simply click on the banner above and have a look. Also, while you're there, register on-line and you will automatically be entered into the Virgin Bikes Free Prize Draw to win a spanking new Dragster 180. It'll only take a few minutes of your time, worth a try I reckon...

16/01/03 : Well, the filming took place yesterday at Elvington as planned with the lovely Rio (Jane Omorogbe) as presenter, the day was a good laugh and the mood was high-spirited despite the gale force winds. Some serious speeds were achieved though going down that runway with a 60mph tail wind behind us. It was a long day in the cold but hopefully Carlton TV (who filmed us) will make it all worth it when we (myself, Karl Russell, Andy Pearson, Rich Haywood, Joe Elliott and Ryan and Ralph Saxelby) see ourselves on TV. The programme 'Revved Up' will be broadcast on ITV's main channel (ITV 1) on Friday 24th January at 11:30 pm. So if you wanna see some of the best Dragster's in the UK don't miss it! Also, check out the next issue of Twist & Go for a full report on the day's antics...

13/01/03 : Of interest to those of you thinking about customising your handlebars, some news about Nude Bars from Jonas Erasmie (aka DP) from Hojladan.com in Stockholm:

" The above item is a complete bolt-on Nude Bars kit with stem and bars. The stem is straight and available in two lengths: short stem MM91710102 blue, MM91710123 titanium or MM91710104 red and made for SR and NRG but would most likely also fit Gilera Runner and Italjet Formula. The long stem MM91720102 blue, MM91720104 red and MM91720123 titanium is made to fit Aerox but would probably fit the Dragster aswell. The price is quite ok at 68€ for bars and stem complete, some of us have forked out 3-4 times that on expensive downhill stuff... "

" The above item is a multi-function instrument for 119€ that has a digital tacho and warnings for fuel, oil, lights and 'Richtungswechselanzeige' (which must mean turn signals). It's meant to be mounted on the pin across the handlebars but I think it can also be fitted straight onto the bars. It's available for Piaggio MM918V1910 and with some luck it might work on a Dragster 125-180, Runner and SR125 (which all have Piaggio motors). The MM918A0510 is for the SR50 and since it uses the same Minarelli engine as Dragster 50cc it might work but for the Formula you're on your own. "
 
" I don't claim that these will fit Dragster, Formula or Runner but after fitting Nude Bars to both my Dragster and Formula I have looked at a bunch of solutions and this seems like an easier and cheaper way than buying several MTB Downhill stems until you find one that fits and you like the look of. Atleast there's a straight bolt-on kit for the SR50 that will also fit the SR125... "
 
For a complete listing of Metramorfosis parts look here.
 
Let's see those custom handlebars this summer...

10/01/03 : Bikes Direct in Kent are closing down and have two Dragsters to clear at bargain prices: one Dragster 50cc (Red) £1700 and one Dragster 180cc (Black) £2000. Finance is available. 3 year manufacturers warranty included plus years breakdown recovery. For more info contact John Bishop or call 01322 280262.
 
More TV... Next Wednesday myself, Joe Elliott, Rich Haywood, Karl Russell and Andy Pearson from PSN Scooters are gonna be filmed by Carlton TV for 'Revved Up' ITV's new motoring series transmitting on Friday's at 11:30pm (you can watch it tonight). The presenter is Jane Omorogbe who is/was 'Rio' in the TV series 'Gladiators'. I'll let you all know when you can expect to see us on TV.
 
UPDATE: Some stills from the last TV stint which myself and Joe Elliott were involved in ("How To Blow A Billion" which was broadcast on Bravo TV last December) can be seen here in this new Gallery collection. A movie download to follow (still awaiting permission).

06/01/03 : Happy New Year! Hope you all had a good Xmas.
 
So, 2003 is here and the dates for the five round X-RACE sprinting championship will be finalised soon. As previously mentioned the final round will take place at the SANTA POD HIJACK probably on day two of the event (Sunday August 3rd). Dates and venues are likely to be governed by the dates for meetings set by the NSA (National Sprinting Association) as the championship will be run under NSA rules, for more info check out the NSA website. This will give everyone a chance to take part in some professional sprinting. Don't worry though it will be just as informal as other sprinting meets. The action is more than likely going to take place at Santa Pod Raceway, Avon Park, Elvington and possibly York Dragway but this is still to be finalised.
 
Furthermore, the championship will be covered in Twist & Go magazine throughout the year and trophies will be awarded to the winners at the end of the championship. These meetings will also be a good starting point for anyone who's new to drag racing and for anyone who's wanting to check out the performance of their scoot on the drag strip. If you have any questions or queries at all, feel free to email.
 
UPDATE: You may have noticed that a 'News' forum has recently been added to the Message Board. This has been introduced so that anyone can now share any interesting news items that they find/hear about regarding new scooters, motorcycles, technology, basically anything that is relevant and of interest to the scooter community.